Snowy Branch Out

Yesterday was my wonderful husbands birthday. I had been sick for several days prior and didn't have a card ready for him. Luckily, while enjoying my morning coffee I was inspired by a beautiful, snowy sunrise I admired from my kitchen window.
I didn't actually have the ambition to run outside in my jammies and take this photo, but instead I took my mug of coffee downstairs and created a card for him using the newly retired Branch Out stamp set. I knew I had a photo saved that I had taken last winter of the same glorious view, and when I searched for it for this post I found kind of a funny coincidence...I took this photo last year on the exact same day...1-9-09. The snowfall we have right now is almost exact...nature is an amazing thing. Anyways, onto my card...
I started with a piece of glossy white card stock, and stamped my trees in Basic Gray ink...the one in the foreground was stamped first, the one directly behind it next, and the one on the right last. All three trees were stamped with only inking the stamp once, and huffing on the stamp in between stamping each image.

Next I punched a 1-1/4" circle from a post it note to mask the moon, and tore a piece of scrap paper to use as a mask for my snowy ground. Then I got busy sponging on my classic inks to create the sky. I used: Not Quite Navy, Perfect Plum & Pumpkin Pie. After I got the sky how I wanted it I moved the torn paper and created some snowy drifts at bottom by lightly sponging some more Not Quite Navy. Using my White Gel pen I added snow to some of the branches of my trees.

I used the set Wonderful Favorites for my sentiment, along with Punch Party (Retired Hostess Set) for the label I created. Some paper piercing and accessories - Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Vintage Brads & Basic Gray Corduroy button finished off the card.

Have a beautiful day!