Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!  I hope each of you had a wonderful time bringing in the new year. I must admit I got a little sleepy around my normal bedtime last night but I got a second wind playing Pictionary with a group of friends at our annual New Year’s get together. Wendy and Eph Reid host the gathering each year and Wendy always out does herself with wonderful food.  What a special blessing it is to share such great times with wonderful and loving friends.

The Friday Splitcoaststampers challenge was to create a card that represented a New Year’s resolution. Of course watching my diet was the first thing that popped into my mind as it does every year and I fail at every year. I spend way too much time inside and one resolution I know is attainable for me is to spend more time out side in the sunshine,  taking in fresh air and possibly even going for a walk (gasp). I represented my resolution by creating a scenic spot that I would love be to take in nature’s beauty and to relax and rejuvenate.

I created the main layer by using a corner and border punch.  I made a mask with a square Nestabilities die and adhered it to the main layer with mono removal adhesive. I sponged in the blue sky, green tree top and ground area and then laid a straight piece of paper to mask the sky and added a darker layer of color to create the water line. I filled in the green areas with the mini fern image from my Outdoor Master.  I painted in the tree trunk with a brush and reinker and then lightly painted in tree limbs. The chair was stamped twice, painted and both cut out.  I layered portions of one chair over the second chair base to add dimension and attached to the scene with glue dots. I punched out several of three different greenery punches and stamped each little piece with the mini fern image so they would blend in to the scene yet still add dimension.  I used Glossy Accents to adhere the pieces in behind and around the chair and did the same on the opposite side of the scene leaving the little path open to visually walk through. The three roses were a little large for the garden but I loved the contrast of the peach with the soft blues and greens so I added them anyway. Finally, I dabbed little bits of Glossy Accents on the foliage and roses and a light layer over the water and sprinkled with Stampin’ Up! Dazzling Diamond glitter. It’s sad that the photo doesn’t show the sparkle well.

Here is a closer view for you to see how the punched foliage was attached around the chair.  I would love to be sitting there right now.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog.  Happy New Year!!

Stamps: Rubbernecker Kittie Kits Fun In The Sun and Outdoor Master
Paper: Soft Sky, White, Spring Moss
Ink: Shabby Shutters, Lettuce, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Aqua,
Accessories: Martha Stewart Fond, Leaf, Evergreen, Corner and Border Punches, Brushes, Sponges, Glue Dots, Dazzling Diamond Glitter, Glossy Accents, Paper Roses (Michael’s), Nestabilities Mask, Snips, Craft Knife