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Saturday 7 December 2019

A Redbird Christmas card

Hello crafting friends!

Guess what? YAY! I am so happy to be Guest Designer at Addicted to CAS for the latest challenge - and the last one of the year!


The cue word  is TREE - perfect for making Christmas cards. Or, if you've finished those for the year, how about a tree-ish card you could use to send new year wishes or to say thank you for Christmas gifts?


The card I've made is for my lovely friend Sarn, who recommended her favourite Christmas book to me a month or two ago. It's called A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg and this is my illustration of one of the scenes. It's the most wonderful, uplifting Christmas story, quick to read, and I urge you to read it this season!


To make the card, I masked off the bottom of a panel with a torn piece of paper and sponged pale pink and blue inks above it. The trees, from Stampin' Up's White Christmas (retired) were stamped over that in pale grey ink. The stamp set contains cardinals, the redbirds of the story, which I stamped lots of in the trees, and snow flakes, which I used to fill the sky above the trees. I coloured the birds and added definition to the trees with markers, then added snowy details with a white gel pen.

I love the two-part sentiment in this stamp set...


... and used both parts on the front of my card. It is perfect for this Redbird Christmas card :)


CHALLENGES
I hope you'll give this fun challenge a go - we've all got some tree stamps in our stash, dying to be inked up!



I shall also link this card up with the Uniko challenge, which is Christmas with optional twist of Tree.



AND IN OTHER NEWS
We have a little robin living in our tiny garden! I am so thrilled I can't tell you. Nothing could make me feel more Christmassy than to see that little chap sitting on a post with his head on one side.

How are you feeling in the run up to Christmas? Excited? Stressed? I'm really busy until next week when I have a flurry of Christmas preparations planned - decorating, gift-buying, card-sending and so on. I'm not thinking about it until then!

Hugs,

30 comments:

  1. Aww . . . that's a FANTASTIC homage to A Redbird Christmas. I'm glad you enjoyed the heartwarming tale.

    I see you have your own UK version of a redbird in your garden now! Ho ho ho!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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    1. I really did enjoy it and read it almost in one sitting! Thank you my friend :) To be fair there are lots of other birds in my garden too - I don't use any chemical sprays or fertilisers and it's like a little conservation area! xxx

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  2. Such a lovely tribute to your book, Vicky! I love all the texture you created with your snowy background and that you stamped the trees in pale gray...so pretty!
    Congrats again on your well-deserved win and thank you so much for being our GD for this challenge! It's been great fun working with you :)

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    1. DO read it Barb, it's the loveliest, most uplifting Christmas book! Thank you for being such a lovely hostess at ATCAS. I've loved working with you too :)

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  3. Marisela Delgado said: Your family is so witty. I still laugh at your son's "lame nerd" walk for Eva. ha-ha That was so funny. Thanksgiving was nice. Ate too much, which is part of the custom. ha-ha I don't know if they show "Friends" in the UK, but there was a Thanksgiving episode when Joey changes into stretchy sweat pants. He says,"What was I thinking wearing jeans? They have no give." ha-ha Yeah, over-indulging is part of Thanksgiving. Then, you hate yourself later. We ate Thanksgiving at a nearby church that was inviting the neighborhood residents. It was nice and so were they. I gave up on family get-togethers, Vicky. I am tired of "family" not behaving civilly. (Yelling, being rude,picking fights,etc) So, we stopped going to "family" dinners. I have enough with you-know-who. So, we ate there and it was delicious and quiet. I went home and took a nap. ha-ha Do they sell pecan pie in the UK? Oh, Vicky, you need to try pecan pie. Yummm If I win the lottery, I will travel to the UK and make it for you. ha-ha Congrats on the guest designer for CAS. As if there was any doubt about how awesome you are. Feliz Navidad, Vicky! much love to you, my friend, Mari

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    1. So pleased you had a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving Mari :) I think a little feasting never did anyone any harm - it's only constant feasting that is a problem! I have tried pecan pie in a restaurant and it is delicious, although VERY sweet. It reminds me a little of the Greek sweet Baklava which is made with filo pastry, butter, nuts and local honey - it's gooey and sweet and buttery... YUM! Thank you for your kind words and wishing you a happy and peaceful Christmas too. x

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  4. What a lovely card! I would have thought it was beautiful, even if I hadn't read this book as well! It was a delightful story...her novels always have happy endings, I love them! And I am wishing I had gotten this set...I might have to start looking around for it!

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    1. Oh I'm so pleased you've read it too LeAnne! It IS delightful and I'll be hunting out more of her novels too. I'm really glad I managed to save White Christmas - I've used it a lot this year.

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  5. This is so pretty Vicky - those little birds add beautiful pops of colour to your bare trees and snowy scene. Congratulations on your GD spot - you are the queen of CAS! I was so inspired and I managed to sneak a spare crafty hour yesterday that I made a card for this challenge too, although not I fear as beautiful as yours. I haven’t red that book, a red bird Christmas- but a quick, uplifting story is just what I need right now so will hunt it out.

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    1. Bless you Joanne, you are so lovely! I shall pop over in a bit and visit your blog - always a treat to see what you've been up to :) A Redbird Christmas has a real 'It's a Wonderful Life' feel to it, perfect for this time of year :)

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  6. This is so pretty Vicky and the cardinals look lovely perched in the trees, and some falling snow to add the beautiful Christmas feel and congratulations on your GD spot for this challenge. x

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    1. Thanks Pat, it was an honour to be asked! When I finished the book, I remembered the stamp set had cardinals in it and couldn't resist an 'illustration'! x

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  7. Congratulations on your well deserved Guest Designer spot, Vicky! Love this forest of trees and the flock of cardinals!

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    1. Thanks Bonnie - I was delighted to be asked to GD alongside this talented DT!

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  8. Congrats on the deserved GD spot! The card is beautiful xoxo

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  9. Whoaaa whatva perfect balance of colors on your card Vicki with the beautiful Redbird cardinals on the perched trees. I definitely have to give a read your friend's book, when the illustration is so alluring. And yes I can relate with your daughter's remarks that usually happens when my dad sees me opening my stash to make a card.. Hahaha so I know the smirk on the faces.. 😊 😊 Huge compliments on the well deserved spot of GD.. Hope you're doing well and fit and fine.. 😊 Have a great day ahead.. Xx

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    1. Thank you, you too! x

      PS Yes, DO read it - it's just lovely :)

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  10. Vicky, wonderful to have you as your GD this week. I love the fabulous, soft background and the pops of red reminds me so much of our cardinals in winter. Your blended background really is gorgeous.
    Jaydee

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  11. VIcky !!!!! Hellooooo. I haven't blogged for years and I noticed that you hadn't either and then as luck would have it I popped into ATCAS and there you were. I'm so glad to hear you are well and you are winning challenges. Your card really is so beautiful. I really missed your work when I was blogging and your wonderful family stories. I hope they are all well and enjoying life.
    Marie

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    1. SO good to see you back in Blogland Marie. I'm really enjoying crafting and blogging for fun now, just whenever I get the time - very therapeutic! Everyone's well thank you and all grown up and living happy lives :)

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  12. Absolutely gorgeous card! A beautiful balance between the soft background and the red birds. Thanks so much for sharing and for playing along at Uniko.

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    1. Thanks Izzy and for all your amazing inspiration!

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  13. I read that book many years ago and loved it so much I sent one to a friend as a gift. Maybe it's time to read it again. I love how it inspired you to make this wonderful card, Vicky. There's nothing more eye catching than a cardinal in a snowy tree, unless it's a flock of them. ;) Thanks for guesting with us.

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    1. I think it's one of those books that makes you feel the spirit of Christmas. I've loved guesting with you Bobby - thanks for having me :)

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  14. I love that book too! Time to get it down from the bookshelf here! Just popped by to see what's going on at Chateau Hayes - loved Eva in the river! And your card id so perfect for the book as well!

    Merry Christmas!

    Hugs

    Di xx

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    1. She loves a swim does Eva! Enjoy the book :)
      xx

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  15. A wonderful card to convey a scene from the book! So pretty...and I need to check out the book! Thrilled to see you in the Uniko gallery!
    ~carol

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    1. Thanks Carol - the book is such an uplifting read and I highly recommend it. I'm a bit of a fan of Uniko stamps too!

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I'd love to know what you think. Do leave me a comment - it always makes my day! Vicky x


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