Mr. Twigster is one "cool" dude. In spite of the fact that I personally feel he needs a little more fat in his diet, he seems to enjoy his colorful surroundings on today's card. Where can you find Mr. Twigster? Match.com? Nope. He won't be available until the release of Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini catalog (over 30 pages š on October 1, along with many of the other products used for his Winter Wonderland. Can you say "Big Tease?"
Mr. T was inked in Chocolate Chip and stamped on Very Vanilla card stock. BRIGHT IDEA: I thought he needed a little sparkle. Rather than heat embossing, I traced his little body (again, can someone give this guy a Big Mac, please) with a Sparkle Gel Pen for instant dazzle. The Christmas lights (another stamp in the set) were added using a Stamp-a-ma-jig.
His scarf is colored with Kiwi Kiss ink and a Blender Pen. I used a Ruby Red Marker to color his nose and the string of holiday bulbs. He's propped up with Stampin' Dimensionals and layered on Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red.
I credit the layout to this week's Splitcoast Sketch Challenge SC193 (all Splitcoast challenges are listed on my right side bar). My Very Vanilla Textured card base is 4.25 x 5.5 and scored at the top. TIP: Scoring at the top of the card (vs. the side) allows you an easy way to wrap ribbon around the entire front. A layer of the new Ski Slope Designer Paper (Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini) perks things up.
The vertical panel is a layer of Chocolate Chip Textured card stock on top of Very Vanilla. I used Stampin' Up!'s new Scallop Edge Punch (click for Scallop Edge Tutorial) to create the delicious border. I jumped ship from Ski Slope DP and used 3 strips of Bella Rose Designer Series Paper to create the sassy background.
I wrapped this luscious striped ribbon (Holiday Mini Ribbon Originals Alpine–Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss) around the top. TIP: If you are ribbon challenged like me, please feel perfectly comfortable "cheating" by consulting this video that taught me how to tie wide ribbon. The key is pulling the left side while holding the right steady. Problem solved!
The bottom right of Mr. Twigster highlights one of the Holiday Mini's Little Felt Flurries (69 felt snowflakes in 3 sizes, 23 designs, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze). I layered a Riding Hood Red medium flurry on a Textured Chocolate Chip Scallop Circle. One of the big and beautiful brads from the Hodgepodge Hardware Styled Silver Kit seemed like just the right touch. Stampin' Dimensionals below add some extra dimension.
The "Winter Wonderland" sentiment is from Word Flurries Rub-Ons(available in Stampin' Up!'s Fall/Winter Idea Book and catalog . . . click on the butterfly on my right side bar to download). So easy to apply. When I first heard Stampin' Up! was going to offer rub-ons I though "ew!" I now say "ahh." They are wonderful and work on other surfaces (glass, for example), too. I love them for adding a quick sentiment to textured card stock.
Need a Stampin' Up! Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog or want to be on my mailing list for the Holiday Mini? Click here for details.
Hugs and Pretties . . . . M
Stamp Set: Mr. Twigster
Paper: Ski Slope Designer Series, Bella Rose Designer Series, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip Textured, Very Vanilla Textured and Smooth
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red Marker, Kiwi Kiss
Cool Tools: Blender Pen, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
The Perfect Touch: Ribbon Originals Alpine, Hodgepodge Hardware Styled Silver Brad, Little Felt Flurries, Word Flurries Rub-On's, Sparkle Gen Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals
Beautiful and I would have NEVER guessed you to be ribbon challenged with this perfect bow.
Love it!!! I’m a bit confused what you mean by scoring and making it easier to wrap ribbon around the entire card front. I will re-read the post tomorrow when I’m not so tired and will probably “get” it then but for now, I’m puzzled. š
BTW, Picasa has a new beta version out which allows you to create your own watermark. HTH!
Another awesome card Mary. Loved the color combinations and the ribbon and DP. WOW.
Mary – this x-mas card is adorable!!! Love all the new items you’ve added to this beauty!!!
Beautiful card Mary!!!
God bless
Giovana
Precious, Mary!
barb
I love each element: the big ribbon on the top, the papers, the colors and this stamp….FABULOUS!!
Hug
You’ve definately turned me around on this guy. I thought he was horrible, now I see he’s just cute in his own twiggy way!
Wow, oh, wow! Boy, do I ever want my preorder to get here now! š
I love how you’ve layered the felt snowflake on the scalloped circle with the Hodgepodge brad.
Another incredible card! Thanks for sharing š
Cindy
Ah I think I just found the Christmas card for this year! Rock on Mary!!
Laura
Love it! Especially the ribbon.
Great Card Mary, love that ribbon and the DSP is very fitting, love it!
Adorable card! I love the paper, ribbon and snowflake. I haven’t warmed up to Twigster yet. Maybe because here in Florida we still have 90 degrees and won’t ever get snow????
Have a great weekend! Hugs and smiles
Hee hee hee…match.com????? I bet if we opened the phone lines we would hear stories about true life dates with Mr. Twigster!! I’m going to be giggling about that all day…that and something else…I’ll have to tell you later.
GORGEOUS DP and Ribbbon all combined with such wonderful snowflake details. I really like you take on this weeks SCS sketch!
Hi Colleen: I have to confess I dated a few “sticks in the mud” in my time! Hugs, Mary
What a FANTASIC card… I love the colours.
This is darling. Wasn’t this such a fun layout challenge. You rocked it for sure!
Thanks for trying to make us all feel better, but I do not believe for a minute that you are ribbon or wheel ‘challenged’!!
You’re card is beautiful and I can’t wait to get Mr. Twigster…which I ordered last night on my very first demo order!
Oh my word! This is amazing! I am definitely getting him! š I have a question for you though. How do you take such great pictures?? What is your secret? Can you share? Haha!
Hi Stephanie: At some point, I hope to do a post devoted to taking pictures. I’m certainly not an expert photographer (and use a relatively inexpensive camera, Samsung S730). However, here are a few basic tips:
1. I use a photo light tent (cost $99 or less, including photo lamps). It’s a white 20″ canvas cube that eliminates the reflection of wall colors (etc.) and gives a consistent background. You can even change background colors but I prefer white. The photo lamps (tabletop) give off the right color of light (more white than yellow).
2. Place cards at a bit of an angle . . . it just seems more artistic. The light reflection is usually prettier.
3. Picasa is a free photo software (download from Google) that works like photo shop (not as fancy but very user friendly). You can sharpen (a touch) and even brighten shadows and backgrounds. I tried Photo Shop and felt it was too complicated . . . Picasa has been my standard.
4. I use a “Text” setting on my camera (Samsung S730) for capturing fine details (like text).
5. I use Paint (also a free downloadable photo software) to add my watermark as an image layer. I still prefer Picasa for readying the image but Picasa doesn’t have a watermark option.
Hope this helps! Mary
TOO CUTE! Love all the new goodies pulled together!
Oh, I love that snowflake layered over the scallop circle. You’re doing it to me again, darn you! š
You did it again! You amaze me with your ideas. So many embellishments and the perfect card is born. I love it and I think a skinny snowman is probably a healthier snowman. LOL
what’s another snowman to love! My favorite Christmas things, snowmen, lights and trees!
Can’t wait for this guy to hit the street for sale! lol
Ah, he is so cute and the paper behind him is so pretty! I love the ribbon, snowflake and all your layers on here. Great Christmas card Mary!!!