Good morning!  How many of you have been checking out Tim Holtz’ 12 Tags of Christmas?  He never ceases to amaze and inspire me! I used yesterday’s alcohol ink technique on my card today.  I guess you could say this is my take of Tag #2, with a little bit of inspiration from Wendy Vecchi thrown in.

This card is also for today’s Rubbernecker Blogger Challenge, Nix the Ribbon.  This week’s challenge is hosted by Bev Gerard, and you can find all the info and deets on the Rubbernecker Blog.

I made the background using Eggplant, Stream and Gold Metallic Alcohol Inks.  I smeared them on my Ranger Craft Sheet, added some Alcohol Blending Solution and then swirled and swiped white glossy cardstock through the mixture.  I loved the results so much, and it actually reminded me of snow, ice and northern lights.  Here’s where I decided to add a Grunge Board tree, inspired by the Grunge Board flowers made by Wendy Vecchi.  I stamped the tree image three separate times on a piece of plain Grunge Board.  I cut them out, each time leaving off one layer of the tree.  Each individual piece was inked with Pine Needles Distress Ink and then Gold Stickles were added to the exposed areas for each layer.  It’s hard to see in this picture, but the ends of each layer are curled up to add some fun dimension.

Instead of using Grunge Board for my sentiment, I die cut a piece of light weight chipboard with the Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trios, applied my ink and then embossed the sentiment.  Since we were to use no ribbon in today’s challenge, I went digging through my button collection for some old buttons, and tied them on using gold cord.

• Stamps: Rubbernecker Winter Holiday – Tree With Snow set SKU:52-0206; Stamp Oasis Graphics – Music Background SKU:543 SO and Winter Holiday – Season’s Sentiments SKU:153 SO from Rubbernecker Stamp Company
• Paper: White Glossy; SU Elegant Eggplant and Baja Breeze
• Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black; Embossing, Pine Needles, Dusty Concord, Broken China, Old Paper and Vintage Photo Distress; Stream, Eggplant and Gold Metallic Alcohol Inks
• Accessories: Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio Shapeabilities; Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet, Gold Stickles, Queen’s Gold EP, Alcohol Ink Blending Solution, Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool; Tim Holtz idea-ology Plain Grunge Board; Venture Foam Tape; Gold Cord, Old Buttons; Light Weight Chipboard

Have a great day and remember

Take the path less traveled – there’s always an adventure waiting for you!