Lovely As A Tree Iridescent Winter

One of the most versatile sets that Stampin' Up! offers is the Lovely As A Tree stamp set! 

I love that it can create equally beautiful cards in both Fall and Winter themes.  It's simplicity also makes it wonderful for sympathy, thinking of you, birthday, and especially masculine cards (and you know difficult finding masculine stamps can be).

It must be a popular stamp, because it's also the oldest set in the catalog, premiering back in the 2006-2007 Idea Book & Catalog, and it's still around!  Oh, I'm gonna be SO sad when this one goes…!

One of my Stamp Club challenges this month is to create a holiday card using a non-traditional holiday set.  My Christmas card from 2009 was a great example of that using the Lovely As A Tree set…

I made my photo extra big, so you can see all the glittery goodness on the trees!  (You'll get a better even view by clicking to enlarge!)  This card may be one of my favorite that I have ever made!  Yes, EVER!  I love the colors, and the simplicity, and the solemn, peaceful feeling it evokes, and the way the Curly Label Punch mimics the Top Note Die, and of course, just the right amount of sparkle! 

Sparkly Winter Scene How-Tos

First, I cut out two Top Note die-cuts, one in Whisper White and one in Not Quite Navy, then trimmed off the outer perforation of the white piece to create a perfect layer. 

The background is created with masking techniques:

• Stamp the tree line first in Night of Navy.  
• Cut a sheet of copy paper in a wavy line to use as a snow mask.  Add some Dotto, or other repositionable adhesive, to the back to keep it in position, then gently sponge on Night of Navy ink along the edge.
• Punch a 1-1/4" Circle from a copy paper to use as a moon mask and, after adding Dotto to the back, position it slightly above the tree line.  Carefully sponge around the circle, making sure not to accidently lift the edges allowing ink to creep underneath.
• With the moon and snow masks still in place, sponge on more Night of Navy ink to the sky area, making the edges of the Top Note the darkest.
• Remove the masks, then sponge on Bashful Blue ink around the Top Note edges on the snow half.
• Rub the entire piece with the Embossing Buddy, so your sparkle will only stick where it's supposed to when you emboss.
• Ink the same tree line stamp with VersaMark, then position exactly over the top of the original stamp by using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.  Don't let this tool intimidate you—it's a wonderful thing!  Here's a tutorial for how it works.
• Sprinkle on Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and heat-set.  Dust off excess sparkle.

Other Card Details:  I added glitter to my 1-3/4" Oval sentiment layer with a 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds, then layered it over a Night of Navy Curly Label punch.  The sentiment is from the retired Best Yet set. The Night of Navy card base is stamped in the same color ink with the retired Snow Swirled Wheel.  Not Quite Navy striped paper is retired, but you could find something similar in the Regals Designer Series Paper Patterns Stacks. 

Enjoy your day!

Angie