Leafy blessings

I just checked out the brand new Sparkle and Shine Challenge last night and I really liked the inspiration photo.  GREEN!  I loved the fern fronds and also wanted to include a circular element to tie in with the photo.

I don't usually do many shaker cards, but I must have been dreaming of them in my sleep.  Here's what I came up with this morning...

I started by stamping my Paper Smooches Reflections leaf sprig image several times with Versamark on Bazzill vellum.  I heat embossed them all with Zing! Green Metallic Finish embossing powder and then cut them out with the Reflections Leaves coordinating die.  I arranged them into a wreath shape and adhered together with glue dots.  I added some random Marshmallow and Sparkling Clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh around the wreath.  The dove from Paper Smooches A Blessed Christmas was stamped in Memento Black on Distress Watercolour card and die cut with the coordinating die from Blessed Icons Dies.  I coloured it minimally with Copics and positioned on the wreath.
I cut some acetate with a circle die to fit behind the wreath and also a plain white circle of Neenah Solar White 80lb as the back panel of my shaker.  I did a bit of watercolour splattering on the plain white back panel with a paint brush and some watered down Distress inks in Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron and Cracked Pistachio.  I adhered the acetate to the back of the vellum wreath with Multi Medium Matte and created a wall of foam dots around the edge of the back panel.  I piled various green, clear and iridescent sequins in my background and secured the wreath on top.
I stamped my sentiment from Paper Smooches A Holy Holiday with black Archival ink on to a Neenah Solar White 80lb A2 panel.  I adhered to my notecard and finally positioned my wreath on the front of the card.

I love how it turned out, with the wreath leaves overlapping and popped up from the notecard to give it some dimension.  The simple colour scheme keeps it fresh.  I am excited to send this one to someone for Christmas.  Only fourteen weeks to go until Christmas Eve...

Thanks for popping by to take a look and please feel free to leave me a comment!!