Christmas Card Throw Down Challenge

Hi Crafty Friends,
One of my New Year's goals is to enter more card challenges.  I also want to continue making Christmas cards throughout the year.  So, I found a new (to me) card challenge that will definitely work for me.  Every Saturday the Christmas Card Throw Down blog offers a new challenge.
The first challenge I am entering is a sketch challenge. Here's my take on the sketch below.


I love when just the right papers guide the card design.  These papers are from Authenique. I dry embossed the light colored strip with a branches embossing folder and just added some fabulous wood chippies from My Mind's Eye.