It's a "Snow" Man's World

Hello everyone !

I'm back with another card for this week's challenge at Impression Obsession.    I'm a lucky lady as I won the $25 Gift Certificate to shop online at IO in the last challenge.   I was so excited I placed an order the same day !  

The challenge theme this week is "It's a Man's World" which means to me - create a 'manly' card.    Am I cheating a little with 'It's a "Snow" Man's World' ?  I have IO's beautiful Sail Ship Collage stamp waiting for me at Crop Circles which will be great for masculine cards.  Since I haven't picked it up yet & I don't have 'manly' IO stamps, I thought I would get started making Christmas cards.  I hope this qualifies:  It's a snow 'man', I could give this to a man & I didn't add a 'girlie' bow :)

Impression Obsession Stamps:  CC030 Cover a Card Pine, G7640 Snowman with Ornament (by Gail Green), A3589 Winter Wishes

Spellbinder Die:  S4-143

The background was created by using a sheet from Basic Grey's Jovial collection.  I stamped over the pattern with CAC Pine stamp using Memories Bonsai Green Pigment Ink.  I used clear Embossing powder to give it texture.

I embossed the snowman with Black and used TomBow markers to colour.  I cut him out, adhered to the background and then popped up a 2nd hat to add more dimension.  I also added chunky glitter which looks like snow/ice, it's great.   I used Evergreen Bough Distress Ink around the Sentiment.

As I'm typing this I see a hummingbird outside my craft room window !   It's strange to be talking about a Christmas card and Winter Wishes while it's hot & humid and Humming birds are flying around the garden.

Speaking of gardens, I received comments about our garden size and how much work it must be on my last post (July 30th) with garden photos.    We are crazy people and have about 6,000 - 7,000 square feet of gardens on an Acre property.     The photos in my last post show a small area of our gardens.

Yes it's a bit of 'work' out there, but I use a lot of ground covers, mulch, perennials & shrubs. My husband is great at keeping the edges neat and weeding.    So I don't spend the time you would think I need to. Gardening and Landscape design have been a passion for 25 years & I never considered it 'work' until I hit my mid-fifties.    Some days it feels like work and other times it's relaxing & peaceful.  The Spring & Fall are busier, but we also spend time just sitting & enjoying the view :)     Ok enough 'garden talk', I hope I haven't put you to sleep !

Thanks for visiting and have a great day !
Shirley