My friend Julia Stainton and I have decided to start challenging each other with a themed project now and then which we'll reveal to each other, and you, on our blogs. The idea is similar to my monthly Western Showdown challenges with Lindsey (Jacksonbelle), only Julia and I have decided to challenge each other with all kinds of various themes.
Julia and I may challenge each other to a layout, a specific product, something seasonal, or like with this challenge we chose a color challenge using Sage, Rust and a Neutral color palette. I chose the colors for this challenge. I wanted to use Rust as one of the primary colors because I have this really pretty rust colored ribbon and couldn't remember using it on a project. Now I have!
Be sure to check out Julia's Sage and Rust challenge project on her blog Belle Papier. It's gorgeous!!
Rust and Sage are really hot colors with the western themed papers and products, so it was a natural choice for me to do a western themed project for this challenge. I chose papers by Cosmo Cricket that have a base color of Rust and Sage. I chose Chocolate Chip brown as my neutral color, using brown for my matting layers, the second flourish die cut, ink, and thread.
I stamped the cowboy from the Wanted Stampin' Up set onto the rust colored floral Cosmo Cricket patterned paper. I matted the layer, sponged, distressed and stitched around the edges. I added a Stampin Up Jumbo Eyelet to the top corner, and tied on my rust colored ribbon.
The flourish die cut is from a die I bought recently for my Big Shot die cut machine. The die is by Sizzix. I cut two dies for this project - one from rust cardstock and the other from chocolate cardstock. The rust colored die is stamped with the new Cornish Heritage Farms background stamp called Woodgrain. It's a wonderful background stamp and will come in so handy!
I used thick foam adhesive to mount the die cuts and stamped image onto the base of the card. I like the really thick foam adhesive for projects like this -- the extra height really adds a lot to the finished project.
I also used a fine spritzing of "Coffee Shop" Glimmer Mist on this card, which added a nice rich coppery brown shimmer. I wanted it to have some shimmer and shine, but glitter or Stickles wouldn't have worked well (too glitzy-girly). Glimmer Mist turned out to be perfect! My trick to the darker colored Glimmer Mist sprays is to use the spray outside. I've found that a light spray is my favorite way to apply the color, so I mist the air and then pull my card through the mist-filled air. You do have to be careful not to get Glimmer SPITS on your projects. Sometimes, the spray bottle will "spit" large amounts of the product onto your project...this isn't a look I like. But I noticed that if I spray a couple of times into the air, it tends to clear out any large clogs, and the mist turns into a fine spray. This is a good thing.
Julia, thank you for a great challenge! Can't wait for the next one! 
Yeeeehaaaaaaaaaawww! This is rodeo wow-worthy, Anna! I love the added die cuts!
Posted by: Tex | October 23, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Very cool and awesome!
Posted by: lacyquilter | October 22, 2007 at 09:33 PM
YEAH FOR GLIMMER SPRAYS!! My friend Dana gave me a slew of them for my b-day, guess I need to get those out now too! LOL Love your card! Cowboys ROCK!! What is that saying? Save a horse, ride a cowboy? YEAH Baby, YEAH!! LOL
Posted by: karrie baker | October 22, 2007 at 08:19 PM
Wonderful I especially love the uneven stitch w straight stitch overlapping & zig zag intermittently. You definitely have it down for the Cowboy/western look.
Posted by: sherri | October 22, 2007 at 07:07 PM
WOWZERS!!! This is absolutely gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Michele | October 22, 2007 at 06:05 PM
WOWEE! This is superb!! I love every detail!! Off to check out Julia's! :)
Posted by: Shel9999 | October 22, 2007 at 04:40 PM
Fabulous card! I love those rich colors!
Posted by: Michelle R | October 22, 2007 at 02:11 PM
I certainly love your western themed projects and cards! Great challenge!
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | October 22, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Awesome, just awesome! And thanks for the glimmer mist tip, I thought I was going to have to throw mine away! I ALWAYS get the spits on there!!! NOT pretty :( I'll try your technique...hopefully it will work for me! :)
Posted by: diane mcvey | October 22, 2007 at 11:16 AM
sheesh! I can't even put it into words. Beautiful!
Posted by: well said cards | October 22, 2007 at 10:37 AM
OOOh now that's a card after my own heart! :) You know I just love this!
Posted by: Lindsey (jacksonbelle) | October 22, 2007 at 09:56 AM
Love this flourish die-cut, all the stitching and these colors, Anna -- wonderful card!
Posted by: Sharon Harnist | October 22, 2007 at 09:06 AM
I love this Cosmo Cricket paper, and love your card!!! I agree about the Glimmer "spits" lol I love that stuff when it doesn't spit on my card!
Posted by: Shannan Teubner | October 22, 2007 at 08:54 AM
almost for got...here is a link to my blog: http://paperhugs.typepad.com/
Posted by: Kim H | October 22, 2007 at 08:48 AM
what an amazing project...you always make my jaw drop!
Anne...hope you don't mind...I am tagging you, please see my blog for details :) I look forward to getting to know you more
Posted by: Kim H | October 22, 2007 at 08:47 AM
Awesome western card, Anna! Linz is gonna freak when she sees this, LOL!!
Posted by: trudee | October 22, 2007 at 08:19 AM
Oh wow Anna! THis is stunning! Love everything about it! That rust ribbon is gorgeous...I was thinking I needed some! Love that fabulous stitching too! Thanks for the challenge Anna!
Posted by: Julia Stainton | October 22, 2007 at 07:53 AM