rustic & woodsy holidays...

Hello my friends!  Happy day after Thanksgiving!  Today, as we kick off the holidays, I've got a fun post for you sharing a few tips & tricks for Papertrey Ink.  It's always so fun to select a theme each year for holiday cards, and this year and I am completely smitten and drawn to a rustic, woodsy, cozy, homespun style.  

Kraft cardstock is a perfect place to start when it comes to this style, so on my Kraft cardstock base, I've used the beautiful Holiday Greens Borders stamp set and coordinating dies. I've stamped in Olive Twist, Autumn Rose, Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse, and my top border was heat embossed in white embossing powder.

I added candy canes die cut from Kraft cardstock and stamped in Pure Poppy ink, from the Candy Cane Christmas stamp set.  I added a bit of Rustic Jute Button Twine to tie my candy canes together, adding a rusty jingle bell as an embellishment.  I then tucked in pine springs die cut using the Shaped Sayings:  Christmas die, die cutting them from green glittered cardstock and sheet music.  So things like the jute, the sheet music, and the rustic jingle bell, all add to the rustic feel I was hoping for.  My sentiment is from the Love Lives Here:  Holiday stamp set.  Across the bottom I used a strip of Chicken Scratch Gingham and added a bit of faux stitching from the Sew Simple Borders stamp set...adding to the cozy, homespun feel as well :).

On my next card, I used the rustic element of cardboard....I love the texture it adds and it's easy to find, making it so inexpensive.  I just save a shipping box now and again, tearing pieces of it whenever I'm in need of some.  Before die cutting my snowflakes from the cardboard, I peeled off a bit of the top and bottom layers of this material, leaving the inner, corrugated center exposed in a few places.  I then used the Fab Flakes die collection and ran the dies through with my cardboard.  I then added a bit of ivory acrylic paint over my die cut snowflakes, just to add a softened Kraft color.  After layering them together, I added a die cut and stamped Fab Flake and sequin to the center.

Once again I used the Shapes Sayings:  Christmas die to die cut my pine sprigs and holly, tucking the pieces under layers of the snowflakes.

I used the Script Swirls:  Christmas stamp set on my card base, stamping the image first with versamark watermark ink, and then heat embossing with gold powder.  I added flourishes and snowflakes here and there, using the same stamp set, stamping in Classic Kraft and Fine Linen ink.  Lastly, I added a sentiment, stamped on a die cut Double Ended Banner using Stormy Sea and the Bells & Boughs stamp set.

On my final card, I used burlap to die cut my rustic and textural poinsettia....burlap is a wonderfully natural element that adds lots of character and depth and definitely brings in the earthy, woodsy feel.  I used the Christmas Poinsettia die collection, and after layering the pieces together, added a bit of trim to the center and another rusty jingle bell...love these:).

The Background Basics:  Woodgrain stamp set is a great set to use to achieve the woodsy look.  I've used it here on the base of my card, stamping in Fine Linen.  I added a heat embossed Sprig Wreath image to the left side of my card, embossing with white powder and then adding a bit of color using my Zig watercolor markers.  

Lastly, to finish off the woodsy feel, I added images from the Holiday Greens stamp set, creating a little cluster of elements on my wreath.  My sentiment is from the Winter Hills stamp set and is tucked under layers of the die cut poinsettia.  To complete my card and add a wintery feel, I added a few mica flakes sprinkled here and there, adhering them using spray adhesive.

I can't wait to continue on with this theme and create more cards for the holidays.  There are so many stamp sets from Papertrey Ink that lend themselves beautifully to this style and theme.  So.....dig through your stash, collect your rustic elements, grab your paint and your die cuts, and enjoy creating, heartfelt, cozy, creative, rustic cards for the holidays this year!

Thanks for visiting.

Melissa

Comments

[Kathy H]

Your Christmas cards are always breathtaking!

[Linda Jamme]

Your cards here are really eye catchers! They are absolutely stunning. If I ever made a card that pretty I wouldn't be able to part with it. I am so impressed.

[Annette Gordon]

WOW! I just found this card on pinterest. I can't get over the last card. Absolutely stunning!