Last year, while on maternity leave, I found myself very bored and started searching the internet for examples of Stampin' Up! cards. I found Lauren Meader's blog and from there, started to go to the links she had for all these other amazing blogs. I've been hooked ever since and have spent so much money on stamps and tools and embellishments and companies and products that I had no idea existed! Stamping/card making has gone from a hobby to a passion/obsession!! And I can't even begin to tell you how far my style has come in the last year - just amazing what you can learn and do by following challenges and CASEing and just stretching your abilities.
But anyhoo...back to the card! Last December, I fell in *love* with
this card by the very talented Christina Fischer - so much so that I had to buy the papers that she had used
and the stamp set! When I find a card that I love, love,
love, I save it to a little file of card ideas, so I have something to reference when that mojo has gone missing. Well, I must have looked at Christina's card one too many times because even the placement of the ornaments is the same! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So true! :o)

I stamped the deer image from BasicGrey Winterland set in Chocolate Chip classic ink on PTI white. (I really love PTI paper, it's heavier than SU! paper and they are starting to have a nice variety of colors that really complement the SU! color wheel IMO.) The sad thing about this was that I searched high and low for this set - by the time I wanted it, it was no where to be found! Once I finally got it, I was removing the deer too eagerly and tore one of his antlers off! Dummy! Let this be a lesson to you to slow down! :o) It's ok, you can thank me later. Ha!
The ornaments are stamped in Bravo Burgandy, Cool Caribbean and Old Olive. I used a Sakura Clear Star pen to line his antlers, his ears, a line of the face and as a tie for the ornaments. He is cut out with Nestabilities and matted on OO and BB. The DP is BasicGrey Figgy Pudding and is matted on Soft Sky. Ribbon is OO grosgrain that I won from
Cyndi Bundy - I love that ribbon! I also took a stamp set that I won from her and inked the word 'joy' with a VersaMark marker, stamped onto a square vellum tag and embossed it with Dark Brown embossing powder (retired SU!).

The inside is matted with Soft Sky, stamped with the filligree image from Winterland around the edges and then lightly sponged. Lastly, I stamped 'Holiday Greetings' from SU! Sincere Salutations in the center.
I just love finishing the inside of the card - it adds so much in my opinion. Hope you like it!
Now for some Blog Candy alerts:
Nikki is raising awareness for Breast Cancer and giving away a cute little Magnolia stamp and goodies for hitting 30,000 hits! Way to go Nikki!
Rach is giving away a wonderful Whiff of Joy stamp and lots of goodies! So much fun!
And
Ashley is giving away a whole big loot too!
Even if you're not into blog candy, check these ladies out - their creations are phenominal! Hope you all have a great day! :o) lyss