Phoenix Rising Card

I created an IG hop based on fantasy ideas. For August I chose for the group to do a phoenix. Now I have NO feather stamps or phoenix stamps but the idea of flames and heat and August just seemed like it belonged so I went for it. 

This definitely stretched my creative brain! I have one feather looking die cut and that's the Sun Flare die by Hero Arts. So I had already tried some die cut versions and it just wasn't coming together so I thought maybe I could get that same shape with stamping foam!

So I took the stamping foam and made an impression of the die and then stamped it and heat embossed it with ruby red embossing powder. I love the sparkle although it's just not quite captured right on camera. I lined the card with dimensional adhesive and added sequins. 

Next step was to make a window to go on the top of the card. I cut out a red frame and gold frame and backed it with plastic wrapping leftover from craft packaging. I was pretty pleased but felt it was missing something...

So in the final version you can see I added a ribbon embellishment before adding it to the card backer as well as I added one of the Tim Holtz quote seals. I LOVE his metal quotes they add so much to any paper project.