The challenge on Splitcoaststampers today was to use some type of stitching on a card.  We had the option of pulling out the sewing machine, faux stitching, rub-ons, hand stitching or anything we could come up with that look like stitches.  Nothing cries out for a country stitching embellishment more than the snowmen from Flaky Friends.  I love this set and haven’t used it yet so far this season. I stamped the image on watercolor paper with black Brilliance, masked and stamped trees around the snowmen with wasabi.  I cut a piece of shimmery white paper to use as a window and stamped trees, leaving enough space in the center for a window.  I sponged and brushed wasabi on the trees on both layers to fill in  and painted on a little chocolate chip ink for tree trunks and pine cones. I used my coluzzle and cut out as much of the circle as I could and then finished cutting around the tree limbs by hand with my snips. I painted the snowmen and clothing with watercolor brushes and re inkers.  I sponged soft sky blue around the sky area on both the window and main layer and then used a light bit of banana around the trees for highlighting and also in one corner of the frame for a look of soft sun.  I painted white craft ink re inker along the ground area of both layers and embossed with white embossing powder.  I used my paper piercer to create holes for faux stitching along both sides of the frame and used a chocolate chip marker to create the stitches.  I attached the window layer with mounting tape. My final touches for this card was to create a small country bow out of gingham for one tree top and to add sparkle to the complete scene with a Gelly Roll stardust pen. I love this snowman grouping and feel like they have become good friends over the years.  Aren’t they a cute and happy bunch?

Stamps:  Flaky Friends, Lovely as a Tree, Canvas, Itty Bitty Background

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Wasabi, Shimmery White, Watercolor

Ink:  Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Gray, Soft Sky, Banana, Stazon, White Craft

Accessories:  Gingham, Mounting Tape, , Gelly Roll Stardust Pen, Watercolor Brushes, Paper Piercer and Template, Cloud Template, White Embossing Powder, Marker