Making decisions

I have discovered a whole wealth of crafty challenges out there that I would love to participate in but unfortunately this week and the next couple of weeks are just too full and busy already. It is a shame because I have some ideas I would love to try. Hopefully it will calm down a bit, although with the all too rapid approach of Christmas I somehow doubt it!  I have decided that there are a couple of my favourites that I just have to keep going, no matter what, and Less is More is one of them. This week the theme is 'Starry, starry night' (I have been humming 'Vincent' all week!) The added challenge is that it is one layer. So here goes.



Materials used:
pine branch stamp: Dimension stamps
star and sentiment stamps: Creative Crafting magazine
nativity stamp: Clarity
bauble die: Spellbinders
memento ink: rich cocoa, northern pine
adirondack ink: pitch black, denim, archival black
versamark pad
clear embossing powder
stencil brushes

[caption id="attachment_815" align="alignright" width="300"] A closer look[/caption]

Method:
I stamped the pine branch at the top of an A5 white card blank using northern pine and rich cocoa. I then made an aperture mask of the bauble and used it to stamp the stars through with versamark and emboss with clear powder. Keeping the mask in place I then used denim and pitch black to stencil in the sky and ground. I stamped the nativity with archival black then darkened the bottom tip of the bauble with pitch black to make it look like a continuation of the stamp. I then stamped the sentiment at the bottom with black archival ink. Finally I added the hanger with a black miron pen and buffed up the stars with a tissue.

The design is a variation of one I used a couple of years ago for our Christmas card. In fact I have used both the pine branch and the little nativity a number of times now. The pine branch stamped on brown parcel wrapping paper along with the pine cone from the set makes great wrapping paper.

I am off now to see what wonderful cards have already been submitted for the Less is More challenge.

Thank you for visiting. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into Less is More One Layer Week - Starry, starry night! week 197