Several weeks ago a banner started running across the screen on Splitcoaststampers advertising a Canadian stamp line called Elzybells and distributed in the US by Amuse Stamps. The line is filled with whimsical girls and holiday images that are absolutely darling. A low buzz started on the site and soon there seemed to be a roar of excitement. Jami, one of our DD Alumni, issued a challenge to all Dirty Dozen team members both past and present to use the Elzybells stamp-A Winter Song. There were just a few challenge rules that we were to follow.

Stamp: Elzybells-A Winter Song, Stamps from any other company.

Required: Use the color Pretty in Pink in your card or project somehow, somewhere.

Restricted: NO patterned paper

Click here to see the full "Dirty Dozen" challenge card gallery.

The image is actually of one little lone fence post, a birdy singing a song and a little girl. I sat and looked at the image for quite a while and finally decided there needed to be more posts added and some rails as a divider between a muddy little pathway and a frozen lake. I wanted the far side of the lake to be lined with evergreens that were filled with snow.

I stamped the image with black Stazon and sketched in the additional posts and rails with my artist pen.  I brushed a large dry brush directly across a gray ink pad and then brushed in the lake area.  A dry brush seems to add just the perfect touch of color and is a little more delicate than using a dauber.  I created the tree line across the scene with wasabi ink and filled in with a small dry brush going directly over the ink pad and then the trees to create texture and depth. The fence and images were painted w9th watercolor brushes and re inkers. I brushed on caramel ink along the path area so that I could create a muddy frozen over pathway along the lake. I sponged on bashful blue for the sky. I used a small brush and white craft ink to add snow to the trees, fence posts and rails and ground area and heat embossed white white craft ink. I used a Gelly Roll Stardust pen to cover the frozen lake, and muddy path to create the look of shimmery ice. I also added the stardust pen to all the little snowflakes on the pink frame. Too bad it doesn’t show in the photo. I created the framed layers with my Nestabilities. This was a fun project to create.  I always love taking one small image and creating a complete scene by just adding a few little drawn lines and adding color with brushes.

Stamps: Elzybells-A Winter Song, Lovely as a Tree, A Happy Winter, Canvas

Paper: Wasabi, Pretty In Pink, Watercolor

Ink: Stazon, Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, White Craft, Caramel, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Gelly Roll Stardust Pen, Artist Pen, Watercolor Brushes, Daubers, Sponges