A Christmas card? In January?

I know, I know, Christmas was simply AGES ago... but I wanted to post this gorgeous card I received from CC, my cousin, who just so happens to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in Canada. I want to have a go at making a version of this for a birthday as I love it so much.

CC says to tell you that it wasn't her own design... but this one has become so popular with stampers that neither of us now knows who created the original. So thank you to the anonymous genius who came up with this one!

To create the panel, you have to mask off a frame; probably the best way is with sticky notes. Then you can sponge the central panel with ink, or apply chalks. This one looks like ink to me. 'Stamp off' the trees - on scrap paper first and onto the card second (and third if you want an even paler tree). 

Remove the sticky notes and then stamp your main image. CC says she inked the stamp with green then removed the ink from the trunk with what she calls a Q-tip (she means a cotton bud). Then she inked the trunk with a dark brown marker. There's glitter on the tree - she's known for her love of glitter!

Oh, one more thing; the ribbon goes all the way round both the front and back of the card. The front and back are stuck together at the left and the front of the card is scored just to the right of the ribbon. I don't if there's a particular reason she's done it this way (perhaps she'll tell us!) but it looks very cool. 

Edited to add:  CC has posted an explanation but you might miss it buried down in the comments section:  I love this card too and I'm not just saying that-LOL! The fold started as an error when I was scoring the card in half. I always like to say "There are no mistakes in stamping", so I just scored it again in the right spot and glued that 1/4" bit down. I knew the ribbon was going to go there anyway so that's how it all happened. Does that make sense? CC

Stamps: Lovely as a Tree (p45), Seasonal Wishes (p62)

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Sponge Daubers (p81), Marker - Chocolate Chip (p70), 1.4" grosgrain ribbon - Always Artichoke (p86), Stampin' Glitter - Dazzling Diamonds (p82).

(All page numbers refer to the UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue 2007-2008.)