Tuesday 27 May 2014

'Christmas in your country'

............that's the theme over over Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge this week. A quick rootle through my 'box of Christmas cards to upcycle' produced a few typically British images, village scenes, red post boxes and LOADS of robins. The robins were chirping calling to me so I picked one out and this is the result:
I know robins aren't exclusive to the UK, we've seen them in sunny Spain in the middle of Summer and no doubt they live in many other places too - but, for me, they're synonymous with Christmas here. 

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card blank

- red satin mirri card and a sheet of robins backing paper from a pad of My Mind's Eye 'Snowed In Winter Papers' - free ages ago (2011 is the date on the pad!) with Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine

- the main image was die cut using a Nesties oval die then layered onto white card cut using the largest die in the Spellbinder Floral Ovals set

Quite a quick card to make once I found the backing paper, and the image itself is so lovely I didn't want to detract too much from it. 

I'd also like to enter this into Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra where it's always 'anything goes'.

I tried out the new Spellbinders Tool 'n One for the first time to clean the bits out of the Floral Ovals die. Verdict? I really like it but be prepared to possibly still have to poke a couple of stubborn pieces out of the die at the end - and (despite me thinking I was being a bit extravagant) I also like the foam pad you can get to go with it. Had wondered if the back of a mouse mat would be just as good but I'm converted to both the tool and the foam mat.

Sorry if I'm tempting you to spend your pennies - you can live without it, after all it's been a long time coming anyhow! It's just a time and sanity saver really.

Di
x

14 comments:

  1. Lovely Christmas card Di love your beautiful image

    Anne

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  2. Beautiful card Di the robin is gorgeous!

    Have a lovely day

    Vic x

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  3. This is lovely Di your Robin is gorgeous and it's my favourite bird love the die cut and the papers xx

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  4. Me love big puffed-up robins on cards! Love this one with the pretty die cut and robin DP.

    Haven't heard of the tool you mentioned and I'm not even gonna look for it in order to save spending pennies!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  5. Your robin looks so pretty in that gorgeous die...and the backing paper behind it is fabulous!
    To think you can get MME papers like that for free in a magazine! Oh my! I miss England all over again!

    Great card, Di!

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  6. Gorgeous card Di and congrats on your box card in the mag!!! how great is that and so well deserved lots of huggles Sue xxx

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  7. Hello Di,

    We have Robins here too. The bird that makes me think of Christmas are the cardinals. Oh, but Christmas is too far away....

    I see you went to the Crop. I'm putting it on my Bucket list -- I would love to attend (and soon).

    Hugs to you and Len,
    Kay

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  8. This is one really life-like looking robin and it makes a fabulous card, great frame and lovely backing paper.

    Kath x

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  9. I like the image of the robin that matches the design of the paper!
    Beautiful robin!
    Ileanaxxx

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  10. This is a precious card, Di! We have robins here, too, but they are synonymous with spring. They fly south in the winter.

    Drat I wish I'd been to visit you before I placed an order at Joanne's on Monday. I saw that tool-in-one and cocked my head, then thought, nah. It's now on the wish list for the next big sale, so thanks for the review!! Hugs, Darnell

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  11. So interesting that robins are a Christmas bird in the UK as I've never seen them on a Christmas card here. This is a beautiful bird--doesn't look like our variety. That gorgeous die makes the perfect frame for it--beautiful card!

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  12. Another gorgeous card - you'd never know that lovely robin was recycled ... the frame and the paper is perfect with it. Hugs, Elizabeth xx

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  13. Thanks for entering both of my CHNC challenges with your lovely card - hope to see you again soon. x

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  14. Your robins are so pretty, Di! And you've put him in a really pretty frame!

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This is a public blog. Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog or entering a piece of artwork into a linky do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog and in so doing have published their own personal details and consented to my use of that personal information should they be selected as a winner or to accredit work.