Magnolia Stamp Lover's Dry Emboss Background Challenge

So much has happened here and is still happening.  First, I haven't posted since I got back from Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I attended several classes taught by Cindy Echtinaw of StampingScrapping.com and both a beginner/intermediate and an advanced Copic class from Suzanne Dean.  Awesome classes.  I met half of the design team I've been working with for a year so that was a great treat.  I have to admit I am no longer a fan of air travel.  The flights were fine going to Michigan and from Michigan to Chicago.  With only twenty minutes at O'Hare to connect with my flight home, we were directed to four different gates.  My suitcases were much lighter on the outbound trip.  After shopping at Cindy's, they were much heavier.  And I had to schlepp them from gate to gate to gate to gate.  After that, our plane was only 30 minutes late landing in Peoria, but I was still breathing hard when we landed.  I gave my husband a HUGE hug.  I was so happy to get home.  Kitchen remodel is winding down, pictures start Monday in between new challenges.

The weather here has been rough, but after seeing news coverage of Joplin, Missouri, we can't complain.  Cold, wet, windy, but so far no damage.  We read in the paper that one of our favorite places in Southern Illinois, Horseshoe Lake, is completely underwater.  All 12,000 acres.  I hope the weather where ever you are is pleasant.

This challenge is for a dry embossed background.  I just obtained this new Sizzix embossing folder (actually, I whined so long that Cindy sold me the only one she had).  We've all been dividing our folders like this, haven't we?  I like to combine the long slender ones with the A2 sized ones.  It's kind of a pain to get them just right.  This folder has already done that for me.  There is a lovely flourish in the middle combined with the dotted swiss that's the backbone of all the embossing folders.  On Core'dinations Black Magic paper, the blue underneath (with a little sanding), looks wonderful.  This is a paper I've 'saved'; which means I've had it for years but not used it.  My New Year's Resolution this year was to stop hoarding.  This new Tilda image is going to become one of my favs.  I have so many friends who garden, she's going to make an appearance often.

Paper:  Core'dinations Black Magic, Cryogen, Bazzill; Stamps: Magnolia Tilda w/Flower Pot, StampingScrapping.com Frou Frou Stamps; Ribbon: Stash; Stickles: Yellow, Waterfall; Spellbinder Labels 4; Sizzix Flourish, Dots & Ribbons Embossing Folder; Copics: [Background BG000][Skin E00, E11, R20][Coat/Dress B95, B91, B93][Hair E30, E21, E33][Shoes E41, E43, E42][Pot E99, E19][Flowers/Tag E40, R85, R81, Y35, Y38, YG05,][Ground W3]