I recently got a new pack of paper in and wanted to try something with it. I've seen the Brocade Background Designer Series Paper used here and there, but it's mostly been alongside the Brocade Basics stamp set and the Baroque Motifs stamp set. I don't have either of those sets (though I find myself drooling at the sight of them when I look through my catalog or see a sample out there on the web) so I wanted to find another way to use these papers.
These papers remind me of Victorian wallpaper and it dawned on me that they could also double as rich holiday papers.
As I looked through the different designs of the papers, I realized that they could be used to create a Christmas tree.
I started slicing the papers to create strips. At first, I had them a little too long and a little too wide vertically. I sliced them down a little bit more and had them right where I wanted them. I saved the scrap strips because I have a plan for those now (I'm not going to tell you what, though.....you're just gonna have to wait and see *wink*).
My original plan was to sand the edges of the strips to make them a bit distressed. When I laid the strips on top of each other to create the tree shape, they made me think of those old fashioned appliqued quilts. The ones that have the frayed edges around the pieces that were appliqued. I took out my Cutter Kit and used the distressing tool along the edges and got JUST the effect I wanted. I'm not usually a country-ish type of girl when it comes to this style of decorating, but I really like the look on a card.
The strips just didn't look right all by themselves, so I poked holes through the strips with the paper piercing tool from the Crafters' Tool Kit and decorated the tree with brads from the Vintage Brads collection. I was impressed with myself at that point.
I failed again at Jen's challenge to go 2 weeks without using the direct-to-paper technique. This project wanted it so badly, so I gave in. I crumpled the River Rock cardstock up a bit and swiped the River Rock pad across the surface to pick some ink up on the crumpled parts. I also went around the edges of the Old Olive cardsbase with the River Rock pad and it was interesting to see that it just ended up looking like a slightly darker shade of Old Olive ink.....which I was okay with. It wasn't as dark as using the Old Olive pad on it. It ended up being kind of like a "chameleon color." It changed to match its environment.
I hand cut the star that went on top of the tree and swiped a little bit of River Rock ink around the edges to grunge it up a little more. I was even more impressed with myself at this point.
I got so excited with this whole tree design that I didn't leave myself a lot of room for a greeting, so I took out my Everyday Flexible Phrases set and stamped the "happy Christmas" onto Old Olive cardstock and hand cut it to fit at the top of the card. I punched a couple holes with a 1/16 hole punch and threaded some Linen Thread through the holes and wrapped the greeting around the corner of the River Rock cardstock. (wow....that 1/16 inch hole looks HUGE in this picture.....dang, that camera got CLOSE! LOVE macro mode!)
It's amazing what you can come up with when you're forced to use something that doesn't really coordinate with any of the stamps you have in your bins. Okay, I probably could have come up with something, but I like a challenge like this every now and then. Helps me to think outside the box. I like having my creativity pushed in different directions.
Hope you all have a wonderful night! Can't wait to show you my post for tomorrow!
Happy Creating!
-Stampin' Mama
Supplies:
Stamps: Everyday Flexible Phrases (SU); Cardstock: Old Olive, River Rock, More Mustard; Ink: River Rock, Basic Brown; Brocade Background Double-Sided Designer Series paper; Vintage Brads; Linen Thread; 1/16 inch hole punch; paper piercing tool; distressing tool from Cutter Kit
Gorgerous card!!!
Posted by: jodene | October 02, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Awesome card - you are soooo creative! I love this! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Posted by: Alexandra Hobson | October 02, 2007 at 10:36 PM
I love it. Scan it for me. ;)
Posted by: Jen | October 02, 2007 at 10:58 PM
I love it. Scan it for me. ;)
Posted by: Jen | October 02, 2007 at 10:59 PM
That is very cool! Love it!
Posted by: Gina K. | October 03, 2007 at 01:08 AM
Love it! The shabby look is fabulous and I love the brads!
Posted by: Renée | October 03, 2007 at 01:12 AM
Erika, This Card is a WOW!!! At first glance the edges of the paper pieces look like they are silver embossed. What an awesome way to use smaller strips of paper.. I may have to demo this card to show just how useful scraps could be, even though you set out and cut them from full sheets.
Thank you for this bit of inspiration. It's amazing! You certainly deserve a few atta-girls :)
Hugs, Lourin
Posted by: Lourin | October 03, 2007 at 05:25 AM
I love the Brocade background paper and have kept all of my scraps! Thanks for showing me how to use the all up...this is perfect! Oh, and I do so love Christmas cards!
Posted by: Becky Campbell | October 03, 2007 at 08:42 AM
Erika,
You rock! Wow! This card is so cool and so darn creative...I guess that's why you're the "Stamping Mama" (or Stamping Diva as I like to think about you).
Thanks for sharing,
Shawn K.
Posted by: Shawn K. | October 03, 2007 at 08:45 AM
WOW, I have some of this paper kickin' around and I'm gonna have to case this awesome card. TFS
Posted by: Erica T | October 03, 2007 at 09:22 AM
Very Cool! I really like that Erika! Great Job!
Posted by: Misti | October 03, 2007 at 09:33 AM
This is so cool and creative! Definitely a WOW!!
Posted by: christina fischer | October 03, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Wow. . . I LOVE this card! Never would have thought of doing that with the papers, but I love how it turned out! Gorgeous!
Posted by: Melissa (smileytexan) | October 03, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Erika, I too thought they were silver embossed and might try that sometime with night of navy as that background? I wish i had more time to stamp.
Posted by: Michele Robie | October 03, 2007 at 10:58 AM
This is super cute and I love the mix of metals in the brads! Love it!!! TFS
Posted by: Marie | October 03, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Wow! This is really unique - I love how subtle it is (i.e. the different earth tones of the brads). Love it!!
Posted by: Amy Hoogstad | October 03, 2007 at 04:21 PM
What a great design... love the different designer paper and the brads... TFS!
Posted by: Monika/buzsy | October 03, 2007 at 04:58 PM
Erika -- This is inspired and such a great Christmas use of the Brocade papers. LOVE it!!!
Posted by: Catherine Harwood | October 03, 2007 at 09:02 PM
All I can say is WOW. You're ideas and talent are always a source of inspiration to me.
Posted by: Colleen | October 04, 2007 at 10:45 PM
Simply stunning!
Posted by: Alison | October 05, 2007 at 10:03 AM
I love it just as much as the cake one! YOU ROCK!!!
Posted by: Gina Wrona | October 05, 2007 at 10:26 AM
Erika, I know I have said this to you before. I am saying it again. You are amazing. Your talent is just incredible and I am so glad that you share your talent with all of us.Both of the Chrsitmas trees you made using paper only are gorgeous. Unique in there own way. Just like you. ;)
Mary
Posted by: Mary C. Anderson | October 06, 2007 at 02:14 PM
I absolutely LOVE this!!!
Posted by: Samantha | October 06, 2007 at 09:01 PM
I absolutely LOVE this!!!
Posted by: Samantha | October 06, 2007 at 09:01 PM
Fabulous card!!! So creative! I love it!
Posted by: Mary Davidson | October 06, 2007 at 10:24 PM