Followers

1/14/2014

Birches on Blue

Good afternoon, and welcome! I'm still 3 followers away from Goal, so Candy is in countdown mode & I'm trying to watch closely for the 200th follower to show up in the followers' list.

I'm working on some cards that are in various stages of completion. Tomorrow my day will start with a mammogram & bone  density test..early. As I've told you - I don't DO early! And you know how much fun it is to get a mammogram...oh yeah!

So here's the card for today:

- Image is a Hampton Art wood block stamp, using Memento Paris Dusk on white paper (snippet). Cardinals colored with copics. Partial second stamping to get the cardinals, colored again, punched with a small circle punch and popped up for emphasis. I saw this done on another card, but don't remember where it was, so I'll have to give credit to "unknown".  Used DI Chipped Sapphire on the outer edges to create light more towards the center & the birds.

- Matted with Red, then Navy blue papers, which were free-hand cut to fit the image shape.

- Sizzix Flourish EF embossing on card base.

Sentiment from a Flourishes Wreaths of All Seasons clear set, using Paris Dusk, punched with an oval punch on white snippet.

- American Crafts glitter ribbon.

That's it! This was an easy one to make, other than trying to get the ink distributed evenly on the stamp for a good sharp image. I finally really rubbed the pad over the stamp very hard rather than just 'pat-pat', and then used the Bonnie's Best stamp press I have. This resulted in a much better image.

A couple of snippets used here, so that's my ticket to jump over to the Pixie's Crafty Snippets Playground, Week 107. I'm sure you probably have a lot of scraps & bits  (aka snippets!) so why not whip up a card & join in. There's been tales of fireworks, poor Parsnip getting a fish bowl on his little head, and gosh, sounds exciting. Check it out! There's a nifty prize available too.

Thanks for joining me today. I hope whatever you are working on today is going great & that you have a pleasant afternoon in store. Come again when you have time, and as always - thanks for joining me. Hugs.


35 comments:

  1. Brilliant card, I really like what you have done on this one.
    Remember all these horrible things are for your own good.
    Will be thinking about you as they "squeeze" the soft flesh.........LOL
    Hugs

    Patricia xx

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  2. Beautiful card Mary. I absolutely detest the mammogram, but it is very important to us women. The Dexxa scan for bone density is not that bad though. Good Luck for tomorrow. Hugs Rita xxx

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  3. Lovely card Mary l really like this one. Hope the tests go well tomorrow - it will be over in a squeeze. x Susan x

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  4. Hi Mary,

    I love the pop of the red cardinals against the blue background and the white trees. One day I will join in on the snippets. It seems that I'm still trying to get my act together - and by that I mean my supplies!

    Oh, good luck with the mammogram and the bone density test. The latter isn't so bad; you get to lay down for that one. I'm overdue for a colonocscopy and endoscopy..... yikes.

    Hugs,
    Kay

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  5. Have fun in the squeezing machine tomorrow! Uck! I'm with you on those things......but they need to be done.

    LOVE it! That blue just pops off the page on this. Very unique and love the pops of red. Great embossing on the side too!

    Lynn

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  6. I LOVE your card, and good luck on the countdown, you will be there in no time! waving hi from the sunny hills of North Carolina ♥

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  7. Mary, this is a beautiful card. I love those birch trees against the night sky. You know I love the birds.
    I'm afraid, though, I cannot celebrate winter, as your sentiment says. LOL Celebrating winter would be like me telling you to have fun with your mammogram. I'm looking for sun and 95 degrees. Then, I can be happy. :-)

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  8. Hi Mary, Your card is a beautiful winter design. The colours are fantastic, I love the red & blue together. Good luck with your tests, mamograms may be a nuisance but they save lives. Take good care, Shirleyx

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  9. Hi me again, thanks for your messages, much appreciated, have a great week, Shirleyx

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  10. Hi Mary, I am so sorry I thought I was already following you huni - well I am now. Tomorrow may be uncomfortable but worth the discomfort. I love the stamp you have used to create this - really lovely and unusual and beautifully inked. Right am off to have a look at everything else I have missed on your blog xx

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  11. I love the card Mary, with those two birds raised up like that. The colours are really punchy, and the white embossing in the background enhances the effect beautifully. I must agree, mammograms are never pleasant but luckily don't last too long. Like you I am not an early morning person either, I'm afraid I am more of a night owl. x

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  12. What a pretty winter card design Mary, love the color and cute birds.

    Hugs diane

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  13. Lovely card Mary! Especially the popped-up Cardinals. Too cute! Good luck with the mammogram and bone density. Did mine before Christmas - like to try to start the year with a clean slate!

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  14. Very pretty card. Your cardinals really stand out nicely. Enjoy the week.

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  15. Wow. Another gorgeous card! Wishing you the best for tomorrow!

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  16. These birds look right at home in this snowy winter scene! I love the white birch trees on the blue background, and the white embossing around the edges looks so pretty too! Great card! Good luck tomorrow!

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  17. Lovely bright and cheery card Mary, the spotlighting of the cardinals looks great : )

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  18. Lovely bright and cheery card Mary, the spotlighting of the cardinals looks great : )

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  19. Hi Mary,
    hope all goes well with your scan. Sending big hugs to you.
    This is such a very lovely card. The stamping is superb. Those trees look fab. Great colours used in this gem of a creation.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  20. Another great card!! love your work

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  21. Oh Momma Mary, I am loving this card!! First off I love night scenes and this night scene is just perfect! You birch trees look fabulous, so I need to find me a birch tree stamp or die as I've been seeing projects with these trees and I love them. And thirdly I love your cardinals! I also love the shape you cut the bottom in and the embossing on the white layer. Yep, this card is a real stunner! So beautiful! Hugs!

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  22. So very pretty Mary - I do love red and blue together.
    First we were told snow today - now they have moved it to tonight. I don't think we will ever get snow - so sad.
    Sandy xx

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  23. Stunning card Mary! Oh how I love red cardinals now - am reading A Redbird Christmas here (think you pointed me to it?) - a lovely book.

    Hugs, Di xx

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  24. I love it! Such a great winter scene. Those big stamps like that with just a bit of negative space--I find them so hard to ink up nicely. You really did a good job with that. And kudos to Unknown and to you for such a great card design.

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  25. Wow, this is gorgeous!! I love the beautiful blue!! The cardinals just pop!! What a beautiful scene you've created!! Good luck tomorrow!! Have a great day :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  26. Your birds really stand out. Really pretty card. I make all appointments I can at 11 or later. That's the best thing about being retired, not waking up to an alarm clock. You'll be glad you had your mammogram when you get your clean bill of health. Makes me happy to know things are good.

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  27. This is such a bright and brilliant card, Mary! Well done and great snippets use; those cardinals POP! I hope your mammo wasn't too pressing, oh hahaha, hey we gotta laugh or we would cry. It seems like every other woman I know is dealing with breast cancer any more, so the discomfort is worth it. Besides, afterward, if I know you, you took a nap!! Hugs, Darnell

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  28. Beautiful card Mary-Love that background and it makes the beautiful birds really pop :)
    Hugs,Nessa xxx

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  29. Love this pretty card Mary. xxx

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  30. As it ha been said many times, I am sure, it had to be a man who invented th method of doing mammagrams, especially if you need a biopsy later on. I had a bone density scan a few years ago after falling on wet grass and breaking my wrist (with all my considerable weight landing on it). the scan fortunately showed no problems there. Thank you for your visits overnight and all your lovely comments. The shading on this card is really beautiful, just right. xx Maggie

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  31. I'm so with you on the don't do EARLY! How I ever got up for work for 40odd years is a mystery. Can't even contemplate it now consequently all appts are made in the afternoons!! The only one I can't get around is the The Wimps blood test at the Vets when he has to be down there for 8am. I have to sic myself up for that trip I can tell you. hugs Mrs A.

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  32. Great colors and makes you feel cozy inside with the cold outside. We are enjoying the warm waters here and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets! Evelyn J

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  33. Great colors and helps to feel warm inside with the cool colors outside. We are warm here and enjoing the sunrises and sunsets. Evelyn J

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  34. GORGEOUS card, Mary! This is beautiful in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE! Love how the point on the left is lower than on the right to accentuate the trees, and the beautiful shading on your papers - the circles for those pretty cardinals (GREAT IDEA!) just an all 'round gorgeous card! hugs, de

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  35. This is beautiful. Love the cardinals int he tree and love how you made them so special.
    The colours are fab...very vivid and eyecatching!

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