Saturday, December 15, 2018

Robin's Happy Holidays

Hi there,

It's been a while since I posted anything on my blog (almost 3 months actually) and today I'm posting my first Christmas card!  2018 was an extremely busy year for us and I had to take a leave of absence from Sparkle N Sprinkle, while I endeavored to catch up on life. I hope to be back in the stamping saddle by the beginning of the year.

I went back to Scotland to visit my Mum and Dad at the beginning of 2018 and while I was there I took photos of this gorgeous wee robin, who was singing at the top of his lungs, around the back of the train station. My Dad really liked it - so much so that it is his screen saver.  He e.mailed me a month back and hinted that it would make a good Christmas card. I've been pondering what I could do with it, and so here it is:


I also wanted to use the gorgeous Sparkle N Sprinkle Stamp Set 897, designed by a dear friend, Donna Ellis. I managed to incorporate all three stamps from the set on my card! I began by die cutting the wreath from some green cardstock.


This was then covered with Versamark and heat embossed with a bit of Moss and Pear Star embossing powders.


Next I die cut my robin photo and kept the inlaid bits intact, as I wanted to use them in the card. I then added some sparkle to the photo with the Quickie Glue pen and some Sparkling Snow Glitter and Twinkling Clouds Flocking.


I then layered a piece of Super Adhesive Sheet on to a 5 1/2" square piece of red cardstock. The wreath and photo were placed on top of the adhesive and then the various inlay pieces were added to the wreath.


Cherry Sparkle Flocking was added to the remaining sticky surface. I then stamped the sentiment and the little ivy leaf in Versamark on vellum using the Stamp Platform and heat embossed with Moss.


The green cardstock that the red piece was going to be layered on was die cut with the small wreath and three sprigs from the Sizzix Holiday Greens Mini dies.


These were also heat embossed with Moss and Pear Star. Glitter Accents Winter Cranberry was added to the holly sprig and set aside to dry.


I stuck a piece of 2 1/2" Tear-ific Tape on a piece of scrap white cardstock, removed the backing and then attached the vellum sentiment. This was die cut with the small wreath and then fitted in to the prepared wreath.


I used the pretty saying from the stamp set on the inside of the card. I stamped with Hybrid Safari Green ink, using the stamp platform, stamping twice to get a good crisp image. I then ran a piece of 1/4" Tear-ific Tape along the bottom of the inside of the card, removed the backing and added some of the Cherry Sparkle Flocking.


The card was then assembled. Red front layered to the green and then card base. The little wreath was attached with foam pads and the three sprigs were attached using little bits of 1/8" Tear-ific Tape. Below you can see the sparkle of the Sparkling Snow and Twinkling Clouds on the branches.


 .. and here you can see the sparkle from the Glitter Accents:


Here is the inside of the card.


I hope you've enjoyed my share today.  Here is a list of the products I used:

Spellbinders Wreath die
Sizzix Holiday Greens Mini die

Today I'd like to join in the following challenges:
Craft Stamper Challenge: Take It Make It - December

Hope to be back to blogging on a weekly basis in the New Year. In the meantime, I hope you all have
a wonderful Christmas, full of love and fun and I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

Shona

19 comments:

  1. What an amazing photo, your Dad was right it's perfect for a Christmas card, your beautiful design showcases it perfectly. Thank you for playing along with us at Christmas at Sweet Stampin’ this month,
    Wishing you a very happy Christmas!
    Chris
    x

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  2. Beautifully designed project. Looks fantastic. Thank you for sharing with us here today at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Annette DT Registered Owners/Admin for World Wide Open Design Team Challenge


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  3. How completely gorgeous, Shona! I love that photograph! You are so talented. I've toyed with buying that SB set, and that TH set, and now I think I shall LOL Your card is jaw-dropping beautiful! And now, if I may, I'd like to switch hats: Thank you for playing in the Christmas at Sweet Stampin’ Challenge Blog! I enjoyed seeing your beautiful artwork today! Please check back to see if you are a Top 3 Pick, and to play in our future challenges.
    Leaving Christmas Love, my sweet friend.
    de

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  4. Your Dad was so right! It does make a beautiful Christmas card. And, that is an awesome photo you got of the robin as well. I am so glad to see you posting again and I must say I did miss seeing your awesome talent. But you sure brought it out again with this beauty. And, Donna's set is perfect with it.

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  5. Shona, this card is so pretty. I love the design you used and the die cuts are all perfect and really look great with the photo of the robin.

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  6. To me a traditional Christmas card with the Beautiful robin on it, such great birds. I love everything about this Shona, it's really beautiful with the dies and stamps and effects you have achieved, a treasure card to keep for future years methinks.
    Good to see you blogging again I look forward to seeing and learning more from you.
    Faith
    x

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  7. This is so stunning, Shona!! The picture is gorgeous!! You've showcased it beautifully!! The sparkle and the details are amazing!! Thanks so much for playing along at Scrapy Land!! Have a great day!!

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  8. I love this! The photo combined with the stamps and dies looks fantastic. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

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  9. This is just gorgeous love all the details .Thank you for sharing with us over here today at the Classic Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Michelle DT Owner/Admin for http://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com.au/

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  10. Beautiful card .... what a lovely photo. Thank you for playing along with the Craft Stamper Challenge. Have a lovely Christmas xx

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  11. Gorgeous Christmas card, love your Robin and love your die cuts..

    Thank you for sharing with us over here today at the Classic Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Chrissy DT   http://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com.au/


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  12. Oh Shona that wee Robin is just gorgeous and what an amazing photo shot you clicked. Your Dad was right - it makes a perfect Christmas card. The elements you used here blend in perfectly. Such a beautiful design. Merry Christmas and have a Guid New Year.

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  13. Very pretty! Happy New Year to you! Hope you get to craft more in 2019.

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  14. I completely missed this wonderful card! So lovely! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you a happy New Year!

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  15. Oh Shona! Happy New Year to you my friend ! I look forward to another year of crafting and visiting your blog as you are such an inspiration to me ! I love coming here and seeing your step-by-step photos and the tutorials how you make each and everyone of your stunning cards This one is super! I think it’s a beautiful representation of the new year! Happy 2019!! Xo

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  16. Wow what a fantastic gorgeous card dear Shona, I love the bird and the sparkle you used!!
    Happy and healhty newyear for you and all your famuly and I hope you will have a lot of inspiration to make your beautiful Art!!

    Greetings
    Maria

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  17. Stunning card, Shona and what a fabulous robin. xx

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  18. Hello my sweet friend! I'm so glad you posted! I confess I kept checking your blog over and over thinking there would be a card - but I'm even MORE glad it's that you had the chance to go 'home' to visit your mum and dad! I love your story of the bird and how you incorporated it into your first card - what a vision! I love the snow on your blog, too! Happy back to blogging! ♥

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Thanks so much for stopping by and letting me share in part of your day. I would love to hear what you think about my latest creation!