…is not quite frightful, but that’s not stopping me from thinking about fuzzy hats and warm cups of cocoa! This card makes me want to curl up in front of the fireplace after a day in the snow.

This rustic design was inspired by this month’s Mood Board Challenge from Doodles Paper Playground. The October release is out now and has me starting to feel that Christmas vibe. I also had just gotten the “S’more Coffee” Inspo box from Brutus Monroe and it included the deliciously adorable stamp set by the same name. The two were a perfect blend.

My friend Donna gave me the clever idea to stamp the hat on plaid paper. So I used paper from “A Lumberjack Christmas” (and also just learned that ‘lumberjack’ is one word) from Echo Park. Then I paper pieced it on white and used a white pen to fill in the fur on the pocket. The coloring was done with Copics.

To get a rustic feel on the diecut, I used the “Simple Holly Vine Frame” from Poppy with kraft core cardstock from Coordinations. I pieced and layered brown and green, then sanded them to look distressed. I used the same technique and paper on the background, after embossing it with a wood textured embossing folder from Stampin’ Up. The black and red cardstock is from Brutus Monroe. This was my first time using his paper and I am in love. With the paper, that is. And maybe a few other items. (Did someone say Squeaky Clean?)

However, let’s talk about the real star of this rustic motif. Take a closer look at the Rustic Rudolph Sparkle Blends. This color palette inspired the whole theme of this card. I would not usually mix brown and black, but I think it worked perfect in this instance. And, there’s nothing more satisfying than stepping out of your comfort zone and loving the outcome, am I right? It made the 4 hours I spent on this card totally worth it. zzzzZZZZZzzzzz

I did have to construct a deep box in order for the “berries” to be able to move freely, but I think that added to the charm. It almost feels like a window box with a little wintery scene. What do you think? I would love to hear from you and see some of your rustic wintery creations. Don’t forget to play along with the Rustic Holiday Mood Board Challenge this month in the Sparkle Blends Fan Club. You could win a prize and then you will definitely be able to say to your friends, “Make stuff. Be happy.”