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Sunday, September 4, 2011

WMSC#63: I can almost smell the Pine trees!

If it wasn't so hot and dry here in California, I would swear I smell the cool, sweet smell of pine trees in the air.  I guess if I close my eyes and concentrate really hard, I actually can smell them today as I spent the past two days working on a rustic, pine branch themed card for Waltzingmouse Stamps Sketch challenge #63.  This weeks sketch is another great one by Anya Schrier.  If you haven't played along with these weekly sketch challenges, you SHOULD!  They are such fun and you have the chance to win a free stamp set.  Here's this weeks sketch with three very distinct layers, at least that's what first caught my eye. 

There were lots of ideas spinning through my head, but as I am really looking forward to some cooler weather and the Christmas Holidays, I decided to go rustic.  I used Waltzingmouse Festive Foliage stamp set to create some really pretty background paper. 

Festive Foliage

 This stamp set has the most gorgeous pine branches with several different pinecones and berries that can be stamped as a focal point or as background paper.  Here is what my patterned paper looked like before I assembled my card:
Those cute pinecones and branches look so nice stamped on the brown gingham paper.


Since I was going for a rustic feel to my card, I cut some strips of cream colored burlap and made sure the ends were good and frayed.  I wrapped some brown/white bakers twine and tied little knots around each strip, then stitched them to my card using a straight stitch.  Zig zag stitching does NOT work on burlap (ask me how I know this!) and burlap was not the easiest material to sew on.  Wow, does it stretch and slip around, even tacked down ahead of time with some tape.  It sure does add a very rustic feel to a card though.  For my sentiment I chose Waltzingmouse Compliments of the Season stamps.  Such cute fonts and sentiments, just perfect for holiday cards and tags. 

Compliments of the Season
The sentiment is stamped on a rustic cream punched circle and has some texture added with a Linen impression plate.  It is layered on a dark chocolate limitless layer diecut and a few little pearls added to resemble the berries I stamped on the patterned paper.  So what do you think, are you able to smell the scent of pine trees in the air yet?

14 comments:

Kim Heggins said...

I too love Christmas and love your card! It reminds me of when I was little and we would always go up to the sierra mountains for cut our own Christmas tree. I can still smell the pinecones and the trees, such a wonderful scent. I have not yet bused burlap, but now know what not to do with it!

Renee said...

OMG...the background is gorgeous!!
Those pine branches are perfect on that brown gingham...
love them!
That burlap...
it's on my list to pick some up when I finally get back to my schedule...
and it's perfect for this rustic, vintage feel!
And love, love, love that sentiment...
isn't that set just perfect?
Love everything about this! :)

Joyce said...

Love this card. So festive and fall like. I think I smell pine in the air just by looking at it. Nice touch with the real pine cones in the picture. I think I need to get some burlap, too. Very cool.

Kelly S. said...

Oh my WORD do I love that background paper that you made! Such a wonderful idea to stamp over the gingham! The burlap and twine are the perfect touches. Excitement here because tomorrow is the first day of school, but this is making me wish it was Christmas Eve instead :)!

Kim Duran said...

Oh my, oh my you have outdone yourself on this card! How amazing is that gorgeous patterned paper you've created! And the strips of fabric! Clever! I can't get over how pretty this card is! Wow! So glad you've shared your creation with us at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!

Jen Adcock said...

You know, I think I can kind of almost smell them vicariously through this folksy-fab card. Love this! How amazing is that gingham pinecone background?! The burlap is the perfect accent here. Seriously gorgeous. Thanks for the anti zigzag tip. Burlap and I have such an unwieldy relationship. So this ought to help big time. Awesome card!

Artes de Nágela said...

Very interesting, I love the textures you used!

Lynn Mercurio said...

You should be here in St. Louis...on Saturday is was 102 and today it's only 72...WOW, what a swing in temperatures. I just adore this card with the wonderful patterns and texture that the burlap created. FABULOUS creativity with the addition of the red "berries" to your images. LOVE IT!

Marybeth said...

I love your rustic card,with a bit of elegance . With this heat were having your card make me wish I was in a cabin in Lake Arrowhead. Beautiful Cathy .

Tosha Leyendekker said...

What a super fabulous background you've created!! LOVE it paired with the burlap and twine!!

Julia Aston said...

what a wonderful design with the burlap and lovely bg stamping!

Jen Cuthbertson said...

What a wonderful card! I love the background you made and those little strips of burlap are wonderful, rustic, additions! Great job!

Deborah Frings said...

You have totally achieved a rustic look and feel to your Christmas card - it's fabulous! Love the paper you made and the burlap look super. I think I see a winner :)

Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) said...

Wow, what a fabulous card! Love me some burlap :)
Thanks for playing with the Mischief Makers!