Winter Branches

Happy Saturday, it's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge and this week it's my turn to host. For my optional theme I selected "Make Your Own Background". So many options here using inks and stencils, stamps, embossing folders... maybe there is a new technique you've been hoping to try... but there is always the "anything goes" option if my theme isn't for you. We'd love to see all your crafty makes up to 3 entries per person. 

Prizes come from Polkadoodles and Oakwood, they will be for challenges 763 and 764 and all weekly winners will be announced on the last Friday of the month. 

Here is what I came up with using one of my favorite and super easy technique - DIY Shiplap.

This card was totally inspired by the current Four Seasons challenge mood board where I am a DT member so won't be linking it up there :) But I did want to show you the mood board. 

To make the shiplap paper all I had to do is score at 3/4 inch intervals (nice deep scores) then using an ink pad I wiped it over the score lines. My favorite ink pads for this are Pumice Stone or Weathered Wood. 

I used a mix of dies on the card front. The vases are from an old Hero Arts stamp kit (I think this is sold out on their website), pine branch is from Penny Black's die set Beautified Baubles, plain branches are from the die set Blustery and snow flakes from the set Dancing Snowflakes, both also by Penny Black. The sentiment is a real oldie from Whimsy Stamps. I used some Crystal Glimmer sticky dots from Honeybee Stamps on the snowflake centers for some sparkle. Oh, and another quick DIY background made with a Lavinia stencil (feather leaf) for the bottom border of the card.

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One of the vase dies left a small indentation on the bottom of the vase which I hated and then I saw the little diamond shaped scrap pieces from the large snowflake die cut laying on my desk so I decided they'd make a nice design on the vase. Got this idea from my blogging friend and Allsorts team mate Lynn :) 

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Thanks so much for visiting today. Be sure to visit the challenge blog to see what fabulous ideas the rest of the team came up with for their DIY backgrounds. 

Hope you stay warm! We're expecting up to -25 degrees (Celsius) this weekend after lots of snow this past week. Winter really showed up over here!!!

I plan to link with these blogs:

• Creative Inspirations Challenge - AG
• Little Red Wagon - Snow
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Icy Cold
• The Crafty Addicts - AG
• Aud Sentiments Blog Challenge - Make Your Own Background
• Get Creative Challenges - Snow Much Fun
• Path of Positivity - AG Positive
• Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Snowflakes
• Ally's Angels - AG
• Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Snowflakes
• Crafts Galore Encore - AG
• Daisy Chain Challenges - No Designer Paper
• FarmQuest General Store Challenge - AG Farm or Country (I'm getting Modern Farmhouse vibes from this scene)
• Talking About Tuesdays - Linkup