Monday, September 09, 2013

Peace - Love - Joy



Hi everyone.  Time for another fun challenge at Merry Monday.  This week we are focusing on Green, White and Woodgrain.  Take a look at the inspiration photo below ...




I was inspired by the country-style Christmas in the photo.  I kept my card CAS with lots of white space so your eye is drawn to the wreath and woodgrain backdrop.  This wreath is made using the leafy branch from the 2-part bird punch from SU! ... it's always great to find other uses for punches and dies.

Here's a close-up of the wreath:


I die-cut a ring of cardstock using the two smallest sizes of circle nestabilities.  I punched out twelve of the leafy branches, cutting off the stems so that they were only about 1/4" or so long past the last leaf.  I molded the leaves to give them shape and dimension using my stylus and mat and then glued the bottom of the stems (only) onto the ring, overlapping the leaves.

The woodgrain backdrop is an embossing folder from Sizzix ... I ran it through with Soft Suede cardstock and then highlighted the embossing by sponging Soft Suede ink over top.  Three strands of twine, knotted in the middle finish it off.



Stamps:  Merry & Bright (Amy R)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Old Olive, Soft Suede (SU!)
Ink:  Soft Suede, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 2-part bird punch (SU!), Woodgrain embossing folder (SU!), stylus, mat, hemp twine, glue, adhesives and dimensionals




I hope you'll join us for the latest challenge -  Merry Monday #74 ... pop over to Lesley's blog to be inspired by the amazing creations from the rest of the Design Team!!




42 comments:

Kristie Goulet said...

Beautiful card and beautiful inspiration photo! Love your take on it.

Bridget said...

Simply perfect, Loll, couldn't think of a more LOVELY creation to come out of this inspiration photo!

Stamps and Paper said...

Another inspirational Christmas card Loll....so easy yet so effective...you little pile of Christmas cards are steadily growing aren't they?

Anne

Unknown said...

Wonderful card Loll, great concept, thanks for all the inspiration you give, I so enjoy your blog every time you post.
I have not been commenting much of late, but I am here and watching. A bit under the weather as usual, but hanging in there.
Keep them coming!!!
have a great week.
Hugs
Donna

Anonymous said...

Great card! :)

shirley-bee said...

Fab card, Loll! I love all the dimension on the wreath.

sandie said...

Hi Loll, this is perfection! I love the wreath and really want to give this a go. The twine is a perfect match and unusual to see a knot but I love it x

Unknown said...

What an ingenious use of the bird/leaf punch Loll - this is a gorgeous card and the colours are lovely - very peaceful.

Karen x

MaryH said...

Love your take on the inspiration photo. You're a master at simple, elegant, stunning! Love it! TFS

Brenda in IN said...

This is so lifelike. The leaves look real. So pretty.

nancy littrell said...

Thank you, thank you Loll for your complete description on how to make your gorgeous wreath. It looks stunning over your soft suede woodgrain eb layer. Love your knotted twine too. I just have to CASE your card to show my girls. They will flip over your design....just like I did!

I am actually in the middle of making my MM74 card. Your DT really inspires me. TFS my friend :-)

Bonnie said...

What a beautiful wreath, Loll! Your shaping really makes it stand out! Love the way you did the woodgrain too! A perfect CAS card, my friend!

Anonymous said...

Oh,I like this Loll,I Love how you made the wreath-very clever idea and it looks fabulous against that background :)
Nessa xxx

Cathy said...

Another beauty Loll, love all the texture and your wreath is fabulous. TFS how you did it, Cathy x

Deepti said...

Wow this is soooooooooo beautiful :)

scrappymo! said...

What a stunning card. Love the woodgrqin and the jute knot textures! Your wreath is so beautifully shaped!

Karren said...

Love the 3D nature of your card - so clever! And all that white space is so appealing! Beautiful card, Loll.

Unknown said...

My gosh girl...this is amazing! LOVE your CAS style!

None None said...

This is gorgeous, Loll! I love the CAS elegance of your card and the wreath really pops off the woodgrain panel. Who would have thought that bird punch would be so versatile? (And I don't own it... *sigh*)

Karen Davis said...

Loll your card is gorgeous. The wreath is so perfect, and I love the way you have knotted the twine.

wienerhoneymooners said...

Lovely gorgeous card!!!!!

Lesley said...

Wow, Loll! This is one stunning card, love how you created the wreath and used the woodgrain to showcase it.

Handmade Creations by Stephanie said...

WOW simply beautiful!!!!!!

Julia Aston said...

What a wonderful wreath you made Loll! It gives such depth to the card - the green looks great against the embossed woodgrain! A lovely holiday card!

Bev J. said...

I really do like this card-love the wreath on the woodgrain background. Will use it as inspiration when I start doing my few Christmas cards. Thanks.

anja curvers said...

Wow, wow this is unbelievable, love your wreath clever idea.

Mau xx said...

This is beautiful Loll, Love the embossing and what a super wreath.
hugs Mau xx

Unknown said...

Simple and beautiful! Love all the texture

Sue said...

I love this! xx

JD/ Jill said...

The card is sonicely done! I surprised to read that you used the bird punch to make the leaves. Now all I have to do is find my bird punch. I think it flew away in my craft room somewhere...smile...

Notes by Nina said...

Beautiful card Loll, I love the texture and the pretty wreath.

Karen Aicken said...

Wow - this is WONDERFUL!!
Cheers, Karen

LeAnne said...

This is lovely, Loll...and now I am in trouble, I just looked up Amy R stamps....uh oh! I see an order in my future! Thanks for sharing the way you made the wreath too...it's fabulous the way it looks 3D!

Marie Bingaman said...

Ummmm, yeah, It's no wonder Lesley asked you to be on the DT for Merry Monday! Perfect!! :)

Susan Joyce said...

Lovely CAS design Loll, I adore the wreath and like how you put it together.

Birgit said...

Great card for this challenge. Sweet and clean.

My Creative Side said...

what a perfect clean card, i love it!!

Anonymous said...

Oh how I love the texture-y dimensional wreath, Loll, it's positively touchable ... actually, so's the embossed wood grain and the knotted twine ... just gorgeous! Anita :)

JoAnn said...

Fabulous card. Love how you did the wreath. Love the dimension and texture on your card.

Unknown said...

Loll, just love the clean lines and simplicity of this card, wonderful idea, sorry if I have commented on some of these cards before, I just always love to come here and look at your cards, even if I have already done so before!!! Nice way to start my day.
hugs
Donna

Vickie ODell said...

I saw your card on Merry Monday. I love what you did with your leaves on the wreath to give them dimension. I'm so glad you shared the details.

Margaret Moody said...

Your wreath is fabulous, Loll! I love it! It's so striking against the woodgrain background! Beautiful CAS card!