Happy Lunar New Year of the Rat! An Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge

For those celebrating the Lunar New Year in a few days, this holiday themed post is dedicated to you – the year of the Rat. Did you know, the rat is the first zodiac sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle? And 2020 is the year of the Gold Rat!

This is my first post as a member of the Addicted to Stamps & More (ATSM) design theme of which I am grateful to be part of.

I created this card using Hero Arts My Monthly Hero (MMH) kits September 2018, which had an asian/fall theme. I used gold and red specifically because these colors signify prosperity and good fortune.

To create my background, I die-cut the Altenew Circle Quilt cover die from craft foam to create a DIY stamp. I mounted my DIY stamp onto a clear acetate backing then I adhered the DIY stamp onto my MISTI stamping tool.

I inked up the foam stamp with Versamark Embossing Ink and gold heat embossed it on a deep red card panel.

I used a window fancy die from the September MMH kit to cut out a shape in the middle of the card. This is a beautiful frame die with a fall leaves theme that can be used in many other ways.

On a separate piece of cardstock, I gold heat embossed an image of a mouse from the Hero Arts MMH December 2018 kit on the same color red cardstock. I masked off the dandelion because I wanted him to be carrying a Chinese Lantern plant which was also in the MMH September kit. I stamped the Chinese Lantern Plant using versamark ink and gold heat embossed it. I used Prismacolor pencil in Tuscan Red to shade my mouse (lets just pretend he’s a rat) and the Chinese Lantern plant. I used the coordinating dies to cut them out.

I assembled the card by mounting it on top of matte gold cardstock. I attached the mouse holding the chinese lantern plant inside the frame. Then I used the same Tuscan Red Prismacolor pencil to shade the background to create more interest.

Hope you were inspired to join our Holiday challenge over at the ATSM blog. I can hardly wait to see what you create!

I am also entering this project in A Blog Named Hero January challenge – Anything Goes! The challenge ends on the 10th of February so there is still time to join in the fun with Hero Arts.

For those celebrating the Lunar New Year, I wish you all the best in the coming year!

‘Til next time!

❤️

Anna

Note: I am affiliated with some online stores including Altenew, Concord & 9th and Hero Arts. If you use any of the links above, I get a small commission from these wonderful shops at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!