ATC adventure

This didn't turn out nearly as elegant as it was in my imagination, but I had a go at adding an ATC element for DECK the Halls (week 37) at Jingle Belles, where the instructions were "any or all of the following:

make a freestanding (2.5 x 3.5") xmas-themed Artist Trading Card

OR

add an ATC-sized element to your holiday card

OR

incorporate a playing card into your design

OR

use a recycled xmas card (or an element from

one!) on your (newly made) holiday card!"

I've made ATCs before and I usually like them, but this one seems a little bland to me, in spite of the Iridescent Ice embossing powder on the Tree Trimmings stamp.  And, looking at the photo, I think I should have the sentiment at the top and the ornament closer to the bottom of the ATC element.

I may try it again.  If you want to try something like it, you could replace the retired Deck the Halls (well at least that unexpectedly fits the theme well) designer series paper with a background stamped using the Music Notes Stampin' Around wheel.  I debossed (because I put it in upside down) Textured Very Vanilla card stock with the Textured Impressions Designer Frames embossing folder, punched out the center with the extra-large oval and mounted it on Stampin' Dimensionals above the Always Artichoke/Iridescent Ice embossed Tree Trimmings stamped on River Rock card stock.  Another extra-large oval punched from River Rock card stock is stamped with the sentiment from Bells & Boughs, also in Always Artichoke.  I sponged River Rock ink around all the edges, because somewhere recently (possibly on our Llama Blog Hop?) I read a tip that sponging all the elements with one color will tie them all together.  It does look better sponged than it did without.  I recommend doing the sponging before the elements are glued on, and you can probably guess how I thought of that helpful tidbit...