Lovely Trees in the Old World

For Sparkle's Christmas challenge this week, we were given free reign. I love those cards you see with the naked trees in winter. Funny story to share about SU Lovely as a Tree set. I've been a SU customer for many years, and years ago, they ran a special with that set at a discounted price. I thought, ugh! A tree set?! (Wait, this gets better!) A friend was at the workshop, and she was gonna get it. So, myself and another friend, who were "more experienced stampers" picked on her selection for a good hour, telling her not to get it because she'd never use it. Coarse she stuck to her guns, and she purchased it. And what showed up in the gallery next at SCS? Tons of lovely cards with that set! Smack on the forehead with a big D'oh! Than I don't think my friend who got the set has ever inked the sucker! I tried to 'borrow' it once, but she didn't know where it had gone in her house! Isn't that just ironic?

Anyhow, I'm way cheap, so since years ago they had it on special, I have refused to buy it. I'm such a nut! And I love how the cards always turn out when people use that set. So, when I saw a stamp at Joann's recently that looked close enough to the naked trees at 40% off, I grabbed it. I've talked about Michelle's Zindorf's style before, love it, so I had to make a pretty sky. I didn't use the brayer, just sponges today. I used a sketch from Amy R's blog on that card. What I really like about this card is that I used two sheets of DP that aren't wintry at all. The blue sheet is from TAC's Caitlyn paper line, which feels like spring time to me. And the other is from DCWV Green line of recycled papers.
Than for my second card, I used an image that was sent to me for my birthday. Tammi sent me this one. I know she'd do a much better job on this cutie, but I had fun coloring her today. This style reminds me of the Old World from Europe. I used some TAC paper called Reese, and some Basic Grey paper. I had a hard time getting a clear looking photo of the image. Sorry about that.

Supplies: TAC papers, Basic Grey, DCWV, PTI Ripe Avocado cardstock, lyra water color crayons, stickles, silver bells shimmerz, punch from Michael's, ink from SU-pink pirouette, bordering blue, baja blue, cameo coral, night quite navy, close to cocoa, creamy caramel, so saffron, Palette Noir, Martha punch.