A Sneak Peek at Sheltering Tree for MM139

This is my last post as a temporary Design Team Member for Merry Monday Christmas Challenge.  I’ve really enjoyed sharing projects with this team and getting to know them over the past three months.  I’m sad to see my time come to an end.  What a wonderful group of talented designers!

This week’s challenge is to create a winter-themed Christmas card.  While I’m still working with some favorites from the Holiday Catalog, I’m excited to start using items from the Occasions Catalog (to be open for customer orders January 6).  Sheltering Tree, a new photopolymer stamp set, paired well with Festival of Trees and Endless Wishes to give me exactly what I wanted to create this beautiful winter image.  Woo hoo!  Here’s my card:

Sheltering Tree, Festival of Trees, Endless Wishes, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, MM139And here’s the challenge banner for Karren’s theme that inspired my creation:

MM139Tips, Tricks and Reminders

  • All About the Sheltering Tree.  Some stamps are designed to be used all year-long.  The Sheltering Tree, available January 6, is one of those sets.  Stamp the base of this gorgeous tree and then fill it with leaves of any color (for Spring or Fall).  A swing.  A bike.  Snowflakes.  A great base for the tree.  Great sentiments.  All of these combine to make an awesome set.  Check it out.https://stampwithbrian.com/2014/09/13/new-video-simple-storage-on-simple-saturday/
  • Santa & Co Designer Series Paper.  We’ve started to wind down the Christmas card making season, and I wanted to get one more use of my Santa & Co Designer Series Paper.  I’ve really enjoyed working with this paper and will miss it when it’s gone.  I used the very busy piece of Real Red paper for the thin borders on this project – cropping the paper to reduce the busy-ness of it.  This DSP makeover complements the rest of the card well – adding dimension without incorporating manic whimsy.  If you want a refresher on the patterned paper I used, click here to see a project I made with this paper.
  • Card Base.  I usually create my projects on cardstock bases, using the darkest color for the base.  The darker base tends to ground and frame the image better in most cases.  Because I didn’t frame this image above and below (the Whisper White panel just extends off the page), I decided to play around with a light, base to really soften the card’s edges.  I’m happy with how it turned out.

Stamp Sets:  Sheltering Tree, Festival of Trees, Endless Wishes  Papers:  Soft Sky, Whisper White, Santa & Co. Designer Series Paper  Inks:  Early Espresso, Real Red, Soft Sky  Accessories:  Stampin’ Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

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This week.  There’s a lot of fun stuff going on here this coming week, so please come back.  I’ve been playing with my new supplies from the soon-to-be-released catalog, and I can’t wait to share these projects with you.

What is Sale-a-Bration?  If you are new to Stampin’ Up!, then you are in for quite a surprise in January when Sale-a-Bration kicks off.  Sale-a-Bration is Stampin’ Up!’s annual sales event during which customers can earn free, exclusive products for every $50 you spend on Stampin’ Up! products.  There’s gorgeous Designer Series Paper, accessories and incredible stamp sets.  It all starts January 6 – I can’t wait!

31 Comments

  1. I LOVE this, Brian! Great layout, great colors, and I love the sweet little bird in the tree.

  2. Awwww that so pretty and so winter
    I love it Brian !!!! That birdie is so cute
    Tfs
    Hugs and love
    Frenchie

  3. OMG, LOVE everything about this beauty!

  4. What a lovely card, Brian. Simple and elegant and the light background with the red border really makes this card stand out. One of my favorites!

  5. I like how the touch of red adds some warmth to winter!

  6. This card really proves the rule of 3’s works. Blue card base, ground and snow/leaves along with the red bird, dsp and sentiment on a white background makes a delightful design that is pleasing to the eye. Your cards are classic and classy! Thanks for sharing your talent.

  7. Great card ! I love the beauty and simplicity of your winter scene with that adorable Cardinal adding color along with the swipe of blue for snow at the bottom !
    I just love this stamp set . It reminds me of A Tree For All Seasons (one of my faves )

  8. Clean, simple and I love how you used that red paper! Looks like bamboo( the red kind, lol) Such a nice card!

  9. Stunning card, Brian. Can’t wait to get my hands on this set!!! Love your color choices, the popped up bird and the sentiment- love it!!!

  10. O.K. Brian – you have already sold me on this set and I haven’t even seen the catalog yet! LOL. I love Cardinals so this card really grabbed my attention. What a fantastic card to wind down on the Christmas card time. Great job.

  11. Love it!!

  12. Gorgeous card! Beautiful tree and cute birdie!

  13. That brush stroke at the base is perfection, love it!

  14. Beautiful card Brian, I love the layout and the sweet little bird. It has been fabulous having you design with us :).

  15. Beautiful CAS card, Brian – love the scene you’ve created! It’s been great having you on the team for the last few months and seeing your wonderful projects. Have a great Christmas!

  16. This is so pretty, your wonderful creations will be missed at Merry Monday! Have a Merry Christmas!

  17. Such a lovely card, Brian! TFS:)

  18. oh.my.word. this is my favorite card–just my style! i’d buy this in a store if it was available. fantastic!

  19. Just love your layouts, Brian!!

  20. Gorgeous! This was the first stamp set from my pre-order goodies that got inked. i don’t think I have ever inked a set so soon after receiving it! I may have to add some Sheltering Tree Christmas cards to my list of “must-makes”. Thanks for the additional inspiration, Brian 🙂

  21. Love the card!!! I hope your little birdie flies home soon I know he doesn’t like to be lost either haha. Hugs!! Have a GREAT BIRTHDAY!!!

  22. This is a great tree and a wonderful winter scene, Brian! Love the pop of the cardinal in the tree! It’s been great having you on our team! Don’t be a stranger!

  23. Brian, this card is absolutely ADORABLE…you’ve totally just sold that stamp set for me…I will be contacting my demo 🙂 It’s been such a pleasure having you with us at Merry Monday – we will miss you! Have a very Merry Christmas and all the best to you and yours in 2015!

  24. Deanne @ Three Trees

    Gorgeous!! Love the blue and red together!!

    Deanne 🙂

  25. This is perfect, Brian! Love it!!!
    It has been a pleasure having you with us at Merry Monday – gonna miss you! Have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

  26. Wow, Brian, what a fabulous card! Love, love, love the colors and images!! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

  27. Awesome design, Brian! I love the colors and that fabulous tree! Merry Christmas!

  28. What a great wintery Christmas card! It is so clean and crisp!

  29. Pingback: A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Sheltering Tree? | Amy's Inklings

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