A cardinal visits

 We’re getting near the end of our Christmas cards for this season with a shaker card.  Do you know the significance of a cardinal?  It is said when a cardinal is near, it is the symbol of a visitor from heaven, usually a deceased loved one to bring you peace and comfort.  Plus, they are a beautiful bird.  I see them often in my yard.

Start with the white piece with the 3 rectangles and turn it face down. Apply adhesive around the edges and around the openings.  Carefully put the piece of acetate on the white piece while the white piece is still face down.  With your card still face down, put pop up tape around the edges of the acetate and trim the pop up tape to fit around each of the sides of the 3 rectangles.  Don’t peel off the pop up backing yet.  

Now gently put approximately 6 gems in each of the 3 openings - put them close to the center of each opening.  Remove the pop up backing.  Be careful not to let any of the gems touch the pop up tape.  Then take the solid white cardstock and put it on on the pop up tape. Now you should have a ‘sandwich’ of the white cardstock with 3 cut outs, then acetate, then solid white cardstock to seal the whole package.  See the photos below and please excuse the glare.  It’s tough to photograph acetate.  Make sure the stamped white piece is face down.  I photographed it wrong.

Now take the packet of branches and a cardinal and peel the off the sticky dots.  Place them as shown below and then attach your sandwich to the card base.

Put the sentiment on the green mat and attach it to the inside of your card.  Now you’re finished!