Easy on the Eyes!

It was suggested by a fellow blogger (Sara!!!!!) that I join the snowman/snowflake card swap at Split Coast Stampers. I've never done that before and wasn't real sure I wanted to do yet another swap. I do love swaps but to be in one on this level is a big deal for me. SO I went to the link she sent me and read the "rules" and thought about it a bit more. I was about to delete the email and I decided I would go ahead and do it. After all it was only 6 cards, 5 for the swap and 1 for the hostess. Surely I could do that. The rules were simple, a full size card of quality card stock, at least one layer and some type pf embellishment. I have mostly Stampin' Up! card stock and you don't get much better quality than that. I can do layers. In fact I can cut them pretty straight too!!! LOL And embellishments. Well, I have a container full and then some!!! Okay, I'm good to go.

Now what layout do I use? What stamps do I use? What colors do I want. Thinking on the theme of the card I decided it's some type of blue. Then I thought maybe I should use the new Sky Blue color by Stampin' Up! I took a piece out and a piece of the Blue Bayou and liked how they looked together. I pulled out some Penny Black snowmen stamps I had and decided I was going to use them for this card.

I used white craft ink for the row of snowman on the long darker blue strip. I set them aside to dry since craft ink takes a bit longer to dry than regular ink. Then I used watercolor paper and stamped the larger stamp using black Staz-on. I prefer to use the black Staz-on ink on my cards where I am using the blender pen. The glycerin in the blender pen will cause regular black ink to smear or smudge. Staz-on does just what it says!!!

I allowed that ink to dry. I'm only assuming it needed some drying time because it's on watercolor paper which I find is more absorbent than regular card stock. While they were drying I found my silver snowflake brads and heated them up with the embossing tool and dipped them in white embossing powder and colored them white!

I used the Snowflake wheel by Stampin' Up and versa mark and rolled it on the Sky Blue card stock.

I used all 6 of the in colors to color the snowman and background in. I like how all those colors just compliment each other. After I assembled the card and took a look at it, I found it very easy on the eyes. It has a softness to it and it gives you a warm and inviting feeling. Well, that's what I feel when I look at it. Tell me what you feel when you look at it.

Thanks for taking your time to visit my blog,
Wanda