Branch Out – New Year Winter Wonderland

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night.  Tonight's card uses the soon to be retired  SU Branch Out set.  Me… I will never get rid of my Branch Out set… I just love it.

Well, poor Lou is having difficulties getting home.  There is a major storm going on in Milan – where they are expecting up to 8 inches of snow.  Unlike many areas in the US that are accustomed to large snowstorms… Milan isn't prepared for it.  He left the office and was advised not to take a taxi as the traffic was so backed up that it would take far too long.  So, he took the train.  That was at 5.30p.m Milan time.  He called me and he's still on his way to the airport and that was at 12.00a.m. Milan time!  The train broke down and they couldn't get another one to them.  He is still only half way to the airport hotel.  By the time he gets there it's going to be time to leave for the airport!  If they cancel his flight tomorrow morning and ship him out the next day… guess what….. we are expecting a 12-18 inch snowfall in Rochester on Wednesday!  Ooooopppps….  The "joys" of traveling at this time of year.

Talking about snowfalls – that's the topic of tonight's card.  I really wanted to do a New Year card and the view from my window on Saturday evening inspired me to create this card.  There was a light snowfall just before I went down to my stamping space and we have a tree very close to our house that looks just like the one in Branch Out.  Before I went downstairs I checked out some of the challenges and the Palspaperarts challenge this week and the theme was Winter Wonderland.  How appropriate for my card 🙂

Card recipe:

• Night of Navy and Whisper White card stock.  I used White for the card base and the Night of Navy as the layer piece.
• Two clear rhinestones.  I cut the legs off the rhinestones at the back with my paper crafting scissors.  This means that I don't have to worry about getting the holes in just the right position 🙂 I adhered them with two mini glue dots – just to make sure they stuck!
• I embossed the Branch Out tree with white embossing powder.  I then took the snowflake stamp from the Branch Out set and randomly stamped all over the card – leaving the top, where I was going to put my ribbon, free from snowflakes.  I stamped the snowflakes with Versamark and then used Iridesence Ice embossing powder.  This gives a much softer look than using white.  It also gives great interest in the light.  However, it was pretty tough to photograph as the tent lights tend to pick up the red in the iridesence ice, and yet under normal light it picks up the cooler colors!
• I attached some white grosgrain ribbon and a little bow made from the organza ribbon.
• I stamped Happy New Year from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set and then backed it on a piece of Night of Navy punched out with the Modern Label Punch
• All that was left was to assemble the card.  Easy, quick and I just love it!

Don't forget – blog candy is on offer….. All comments placed by end of December 31 2009 will be entered into the draw. So, keep the comments coming! 

An update to Lou's travel… as I was finishing up the paragraph above, Lou phoned to tell me he had finally reached the airport and that his flight has been canceled in the morning!  He's in the queue waiting to see what's next!  I know many people traveling in the last few days have had similar issues, so I hope all of you who are traveling have gotten to where you need to go.  Travel safely and I'll have another update tomorrow for those of you who are still around.

Peace

Jaydee