Artistic Outpost Blog Hop

Time for our monthly blog hop with Artistic Outpost and this month it's a DESIGNERS CHOICE which I love as I can use one of my favourite stamp plates once again, the SNOWY WOODS plate.

I have created a 5" x 7" card and added a Gelli Print background. To create the background I followed the following steps:

1. Brayer Burnt Umber acrylic paint over the Gelli Printing Plate, place wooden snowflakes onto the brayered surface; place a piece of scrap paper over and just rub over lightly and then remove the scrap paper, this will just ensure good contact with the surface, then simply remove the wooden snowflakes.
2. Brayer over the surface with a lighter colour paint, in this case I used Traditional Tan. I cut a piece of white card to fit my card front and then placed this piece onto the Gelli Printing Plate and rubbed over the back of the card to ensure good contact and then removed the card to reveal the printed background.
3. Add some random background stamping to the background using Black Archival Ink.

From this picture you can see the subtle background stamping, adding just a touch of further interest. I also love the mix of the dark and light colours giving my card a real rustic feel.

I stamped the focal image onto white card and then tore a piece of scrap paper and added sponged areas to the backdrop.

The wooden stars used to decorate the background have also been used as the embellishments again added further dimension and interest and adding to the rustic feel. I have added Christmastime Remnant Rubs to the card, adding 25 to the snowflake and 'Christmas' and 'Believe' to the stamped image.

Natural twine and a Christmas Word Band complete my rustic Christmas card.

My fellow Design Team members have made some fabulous pieces to inspire you, please pop along and visit their blogs and be inspired along the way.

• Lisa Somerville
• Suzanne Czosek
• Tracy Evans
• Linda Coughlin
• Alison Bomber
• Terry Horrall
• Kate Yetter

Artistic Outpost also has a fabulous REFERRAL THEME taking place for November and the theme is ANYTHING GOES using your AO images. There is also a fabulous prize on offer, upload your designs HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Tracy x x