Winter fantasy

There are a few challenges around at the moment focusing on 'winter' (not surprising really as we are still in the grip of that season - although, thankfully, no more of the white stuff here, except a little frost in the mornings). So this card is for the following 'winter' related challenges:

Creative stamp friends 16: winter
Cutie stampers 89: a winter scene
Winter wonderland: let's go dotty
Stamp with fun 93: snow
Creative belli 108: snow
The paper variety: snowflakes

As part of my Christmas present John gave me a 'voucher' saying that I could spend £50 - so I decided to by some Caran d'ache pastels - Noecolor I and II. I experimented yesterday with a couple of the Neocolor II, which are watersoluble. I roughly coloured sky and grass on to a piece of chipboard and then used a baby wipe to blend - I think it worked quite well. And I'll be a bit more adventurous next time I use them!

As I've used a new technique (and new stash - the pastels), I'm linking for:

Quirky crafts 1: new beginnings - new pastels and new technique
Created by hand: in with the new
Rainbow lady 134: it's all new to me
Paper issues: new
Pollycraft 75: new things
Creative inspirations 50: use something new
Creative cottage 30: something new - new stash
Moving along with the times 80: ring out the old, ring in the new (the old stash is the foiled paper)
My partner in crime 17: something new
Stampin' B 92: use an old favourite and something brand spankin' new - the old favourite is the PB fantasy stamp and the new is the pastels
Crafty purple frog: new goodies
Our daily bread 43: something new, something old (as above)
Sweet stampin': try something different

I used liquid pearls white opal for the snow on the tree (which is a PB fantasy stamp) and dotted it across the grass which I then smudged with my finger to get a glistening snow coverage. The background paper with silver foiled swirls was part of a Christmas kit from QVC last year and the base card is stardream, which has a bit of a glittery look.

It was difficult to get a photo of the card because of the foiled swirly background reflecting, but you can get some idea - the actual card is a bit in between the two photos.

This is also for:

Ooh-la-la 71: bling it on
By the cute and girly for January: bling it on
The lollipop ladies 11: hey Jube - add some glitter or bling
Secret crafter Saturday 116: tons of texture
Incy wincy 76: go dotty
Papertake: anything goes
Creative card world new card challenge: anything goes
Fab n funky 54: anything goes
Craft your days away 11: anything goes
Let's ink it up 8: anything goes