(Today’s card is:  5-1/2″ wide x 4-1/4″ high.)

•  Select the correct image! Obviously with a name like Christmas Lodge, this stamp set is perfect for creating a rustic card.  Not only did I use the Lodge image, but the Evergreen image stamped on the back layer also adds a rugged, rustic feel!

 

• Select the correct colors!  Warm, rich colors are often the correct choice for rugged cards.  Early Espresso paired with Cherry Cobbler works well for matting, while Very Vanilla (or Naturals Ivory) is the perfect paper on which to stamp.  Adding a narrow mat of Brushed Gold adds instant elegance.
• Select the correct texture!  The new Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder recreates the look of refined boards…elegant and thematic.

• Select the correct sentiment! A cursive sentiment adds elegance, while block lettering looks more rugged.  I selected block lettering, and used just the “Peace” from the “Peace on Earth” sentiment from the Comfort and Joy set.  The Pearl was colored using a permanent marker and set into a Brad from Vintage Trinkets.

• Emboss!  The Lodge image was embossed using Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Emboss Powder, while the Evergreen was inked with River Rock Craft Ink and embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.

  

I hope you enjoyed today’s card.  I thought if I could do it over,  I would remove the “Peace” sentiment and add Pearls…so I did just that.  But now, I don’t know if I really like it.  I think maybe I should have colored the Pearls.  Which version do you like the best…Pearls or Peace?  Let me know in today’s comment.

I asked Brody for his opinion, but he was too busy helping me unpack my latest Stampin’ Up order.  Removing the packing paper is his favorite part!

As always, your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget, I love answering your questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use.  Remember, I am as close as your keyboard…just email me! Until next time…  

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Lodge (W 123767,  C 123769….Holiday Mini), Comfort and Joy (W 124175, C 120753…Holiday Mini);  Ink:  Soft Suede (115657), River Rock Craft (119719…Craft Stampin’ Spot), VersaMark (102283), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Card Stock:  Very Vanilla (101650), Early Espresso (119686), Brushed Gold (102935), Cherry Cobbler (119685);  Tools:  Heat Tool (100005), Big Shot (113439), Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (123128), Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Emboss Powder (122949),  Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109130), Sponge Dauber (102892), Color Spritzer Tool (107066);  Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls (119247), Vintage Trinkets (118764)

It’s Wednesday and time to take a peek at this week’s Pals Paper Arts card.  If you are interested in a Christmas design with a rustic appeal,  be sure to join me Thursday for the reveal! And in the meantime, please check out this week’s PPA Artist Picks!

Free Card…Anyone? Anyone?

I love sharing my cards, but sometimes I just don’t have homes for all of them.  If you would like this card, please leave a comment on today’s peek and tomorrow’s reveal.  I will use the Random.org random number generator to determine the lucky winner.  I can’t remind you in tomorrow’s post because of Paper Player regulations…so you will need to remember on your own!  You can do it!  Until next time…

Please Note:  My banner is missing in action.  It just disappeared by itself Tuesday afternoon.  Yikes!  However,  I have sent emails to those in the know to see if it can be found. Hopefully it will be back by the time you read this…if not rest assured that a solution is in the works!

Guest Stamper Leslie Swearinger

What a fabulous card vintage-style Christmas card Leslie Swearinger has created!  Leslie is a first-level member of The Schach Pack and is available to assist you with your Stampin’ Up! needs if you live in the Peoria, IL area.  In case you are wondering about the background of this card, Leslie used the Belle wheel to create her own Designer Paper, passed it through the Big Shot with her Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and then gently swiped the surface with a Cherry Cobbler ink pad. 

Seeing this card just sent the Belle wheel to the top of my Wish List!  Thanks, Leslie, for sharing your creative talent with us!

Twins’ Wins

Does this look like the face of a United Kennel Club (UKC) Champion to you?  Meet UKC Champion Cimarron’s What Were You Thinking.  Brody received his UKC title this weekend, and was named Best of Winners.  His sister Muffy also earned her UKC Champion title, and won the Champion class.  For people not familiar with the dog show world, the UKC is different from the American Kennel Club (AKC).  Muffy needs her two major wins before she becomes an AKC champion, and Brody has not even started accumulating his AKC points.  A major show has a specific number of dogs present, and are typically very large shows.  It is difficult to win majors and they are difficult to find, too.  Muffy will be headed all the way to Monroe, Michigan Thursday in order to compete Friday in a major against 31 other female Boxers.  However, at 13-1/2 months old, she still needs to mature physically.  But she will have fun, and she needs to be in a ring with lots of dogs to gain experience.  The Twins did get their official New UKC Champion picture taken together at the show.  I will definitely post the picture of the two when I receive it.

Card Winner

There were lots of comments left on the peek and reveal of this vintage colleage card which was designed as a Paper Players inspiration card.  However, only one can win, and the random number generator selected:  #3  Carol.

Carol said:

Congratulations, Carol! Just email your address to me, and I will send you this card!  And a big thank you for all who left comments.  I really do appreciate the things you have to say! Until next time…