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Monday, November 3, 2014

Ornamental Pine for Merry Monday {MM133}

Hi everyone...bet you're surprised to see posting on a Monday!  You know what?  Me too!  I was asked by my good friend Lesley Croghan to be November's featured designer over at the Merry Monday Challenge  and, of course, I said YES!  I am excited to work with all the wonderful folks at Merry Monday AND to bring you a full month's worth of holiday inspiration every Monday in November.
This week, Nina is our hostess and I love the inspiration photo she chose.  The challenge is to create a rustic looking card using creams, tans and browns.  Lovely!  I knew right away which stamp set was perfect for this challenge:
Ornamental Pine is one of those stamp sets that is just so classically beautiful, it will live among my craft supplies for years to come.  Here I paired it with Burlap Ribbon and some [retired] Early Espresso core-dinations cardstock sanded to show the Woodgrain embossing. 

After the pine bough was embossed in white on Crumb Cake cardstock, I sponged over it with Crumb Cake ink to add shading and depth.  I also added some falling snow with the Gorgeous Grunge splatters inked in Whisper White craft ink.  Some dazzling diamonds added just the right amount of sparkle!  Love this pine cone--especially when it's fussy-cut and popped up.  With a little Linen Thread bow it coordinates nicely with the Early Espresso background and the rustic texture of the Burlap Ribbon.
Did I mention how pretty this pine bough is?  Yes, I'm quite sure I did.  It stamps so beautifully and one swipe with an Early Espresso marker and the branch is colored easily.  Love that it also comes with such a lovely sentiment for the inside.

Be sure to check out the work of the amazing Merry Monday Design Team.  I know that you will be inspired by their wonderful creations and will want to play along!  I shudder to think how quickly Christmas is coming so why not join in the fun and get some of your cards made!  Thanks for stopping by today, friends!

Photobucket
Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

17 comments:

KimCreate said...

Congrats on being featured designer this month! Your card is super beautiful and is a beautiful reflection on the challenge!

Marisa said...

Hey stranger :) Sorry for the lack of commenting - life is just too busy. ADORE this card!! Gorgeous use of the neutrals and what a wonderful Christmas theme. Congrats on the GDT :)

Nancy said...

H'mm left a comment but do not see it, oh well.
Love this card the white embossing on the craft cs w/hints of DD is fabulous. The fussy cut pine cone is perfect as is the burlap ribbon and DSP and of course your signature inside could stand all by itself!

Brian King said...

Such a beautiful card, Nance, with so much gorgeous detail!

Wendie Waldman said...

Absolutely beautiful. Love the neutral colors and textures.

Heidi Weaver said...

Hi Nance, I love what you've done with the Ornamental Pine set. What a great, old-fashioned look you've achieved in this card. TFS

Karren said...

I'm so happy you are our Featured Designer this month, Nance. And this card is perfection! I love that beautiful big pine and how you've showcased it is wonderful. So much beautiful texture!

Notes by Nina said...

Wonderful card Nance, I love all the fabulous textures you used and I agree this stamp set is beautiful.It is great that you are joining us this month as our featured designer.

Kristie Goulet said...

Just gorgeous, Nance!! I am so happy you are our Featured Designer this month! I really love this card!

Wendy said...

SO happy to have you joining us this month as our Featured Designer, Nance! Your card is beautiful with those wonderful colors and you used the most perfect stamp set! The inside of your card is just as lovely! :)

3treescreations@gmail.com said...

This is gorgeous!! Love that stamp set!!

Deanne :)

Bonnie said...

I love this pine and I love how you've done it in white and all the texture and interest you've added to the card! I'm so glad you've joined our team for this month!

Katie Melhus said...

What a gorgeous creation with so many wonderful details! So glad to have you with us this month as our Featured Designer! :)

Joanne James - The Crafty Owl said...

This card is gorgeous Nance - That pine looks so real you can almost touch it! Such a class set for Christmas and I love how you made it work with the brown colour scheme. Congrats too on being the MM featured Designer!

Lesley said...

Stunning card, Nance! So happy to have you with us at MM!!!

LeAnne said...

Gorgeous creation for your first week of Merry Monday! Love what you did with the challenge and these gorgeous images!

Louise Sharp said...

Absolutely beautiful! Congrats on being a guest designer - how exciting! xo