My Cards and Tags: Christmas Tree ATC's

This week at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog we're being challenged to make our own backgrounds!  And we're using fabulous Carabelle Studio products.  I made a Christmas tree ATC trio.

I started with Strathmore Mixed Media paper cut into ATC size.  I stamped circles with Carabelle Studio's "Ronds" texture printing plate.  It's meant to be used with gelli printing, but I use these as stamps.  I heat-embossed the image with white embossing powder.  I then sprayed Marabu acrylic art spray and Distress Ink Sprays onto the paper, spritzed with water and added some Infusions color stain.

Next I used Carabelle's huge "Stitched Mixed Media" background stamp.  This came as one big stamp, but I cut it into sections.  I know!  It was scary to cut up a stamp, but I say if you can make your stamps more versatile and suited to YOU, then go for it!

I stamped some images onto my cards with Distress Embossing Ink, then heat-embossed them with black embossing powder.

I had a collage sheet leftover from another project I made that is filled with washi tape and color.  I cut that into circular frames and scalloped sections, which I glued onto my cards.

The colors were looking a bit too crazy and these cards lacked a focal area, so I toned them back down a bit with white and added trees and sentiments.

I also added some snow made with white paint and a Simon stencil.

The sentiments are from a couple of Flora and Fauna stamp sets and another one by Hello Bluebird.

I won't say that I'll get ahead of the holiday game this year, but at least this post is proof that I was thinking about Christmas when it was still early in November!

Here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

Strathmore Mixed Media Paper	Carabelle Studio Ronds Art Printing Texture Plate	Carabelle Studio Stitched Mixed Media Background stamp	Flora and Fauna Mini Aviary	Flora and Fauna Mini Holiday Van clear stamps
Hello Bluebird Typed Christmas clear stamps	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink	Ranger Embossing Powder SUPER FINE WHITE EPJ36678	Ranger-Embossing-Powder-BLACK-SPARKLE	Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow Stencil
Dina Wakley Ranger WHITE Media Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Marabu Raspberry Acrylic Art Spray	Marabu Petrol Acrylic Art Spray	Marabu Caribbean Acrylic Art Spray	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain in Twisted Citron
Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain MUSTARD SEED	Pink and Main Scallop Border Dies	Sizzix Big Shot	Paper Artsy RUSTY CAR Infusions Colored Stain CS17	Paper Artsy VIOLETTA Infusions Colored Stain CS22
Paper Artsy A BIT JADED Infusions Colored Stain	Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAYER	Acrylic Blocks: Couture Creations	Ranger HEAT IT CRAFT TOOL	Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink Pad
Ranger Non Stick Craft Sheet

I can't wait to see you create your own fantastic backgrounds this week!  Be sure to upload your projects to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 voucher to Simon Says Stamp!