Followers

3/03/2018

Christmas Card Club - Robins

Hello, and it's time again for a Christmas Card Club Sunday - Challenge 5. Our Mrs. A chose the theme "Robins". Yay, you know I love the birds! Decision time: Do an English Robin or an American Robin? They look quite different, you know. Decided to go with an English Robin; remembered I had been gifted with some lovely toppers a while back by Sylvie (a CCC team mate) so hunted up the topper. Also remembered I'd gotten some Sue Wilson stamps recently and thought there was a robin motif (yep, there was, found that too. Stars are aligning here :-).

Found out it's a bit difficult to get the coloring on an English robin just properly done, printed out an image from the net so I could see the coloration better... My first effort had too much orange all over the head... Here's the 2nd image I did (and may still use the 1st one on something else - he just won't be an English Robin!)

 
 
 
 
 
When I bought some SWilson stamps, I thought I'd made certain I had the compatible dies. Well, this one ended up being fussy cut...Had dimensional tape behind the image.
 
Kraft background stamped with Colorbox (pigment) greens using an Impression Obsession Cover A Card Pine Branches stamp. VOS red & gold dp (sort of like mulberry paper in texture but it is not mulberry...just very fragile & I've had it forever I think).
 
MBox sentiment floated over the motif, added a gold textured twine bow.
 
 
 
Kraft cardstock used in Card #1 was die cut with an aperture for the topper.  Gina Marie die dry embossed the edge design and then spritzed with a gold mica spray.
 
Used Vellum and Altenew Platinum and WOW embossing ink over the vellum. Tore this & tucked some glue into places where it might 'hide' - using the PBlack embellishment. (this was 2 white snippet layers, colored with copics) Added another small sprig of holly in the corner, on the vellum and in one place on the topper -  to sort of tie things together. The photo shows this holly very brightly colored, but actually it's a darker look than what the picture is showing here!
 
Please do take time to visit my team members, whose blog links are listed in the right side bar.
 
And have a lovely Sunday. If you are anywhere that the weather is being awful, I hope you can stay warm & safe until this frigid cold is gone for Spring! Blessings and Hugs and come back when you can.
 



38 comments:

  1. wow Mary your 2 xmas cards are so pretty,well done my friend on your beautiful finish xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. beautiful Robins, they're so pretty and a great memory from you child hood in Wales :)
    Two wonderful cards Mary.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Mary. Well your Robin cards are so beautiful, I wish it was Christmas. Mind you the scenes outside last week would have been lovely at Christmas time. Just the terrible disruption it caused here in Scotland as we don't get snow like that very often. Thankfully it is nearly all gone now. Hope you are both well. Hugs Rita xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Mary, Lovely cards. Must amdit I like I fat little Robins:)

    I find the text in red hard to read. Might just be me.

    Hope you have a nice day. Sue

    ReplyDelete
  5. Two lovely Christmas cards, Mary. There is something rather special about robins and both yours are beautiful. I know what you mean about colouring robins, I always have to have a picture of one in front of me to check the red breast is in the right place. xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Two beautiful cards Mary ....isn’t it strange ..we have so much stash we can usually find something that we have bought and forgotten....your colouring is lovely on the robin...bright and vibrant...the cheeky little ones in my garden have been needing feeding as we have had so much snow ....they come and sit on the back window ledge to let me know they are hungry.....
    Enjoy the rest of the weekend xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such pretty cards Mary...Sorry to be late in commenting but just realised about the sticky post on the top and should have scrolled down to see your fabulous cards x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Mary, both lovely cards. I'm afraid I cheated colouring my Robins, just went brown & red! Great job with yours. Hugs, Shaz X

    ReplyDelete
  9. Super cards Mary and great layouts . Zoe x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pretty cards!!
    Have a great day!
    Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  11. These are both so sweet. I love the coloring of the British Robin he is so so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  12. These cards make me very happy indeed, I love robin's and we actually have a family that live in the garden all year round. I feel very blessed as I was once told that when you see a robin in your garden someone from heaven has called to say hello. I like to think it's my Dad keeping a watch over us xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the birds on your cards, they're both so pretty! Love how you stamped the pines on kraft too - what a wonderful background that turned out to be, and the wreath "frame" is just stunning! Love the wonky stitching on the 2nd card and gold-embossed vellum panel too! Both are well done and congrats on adding 2 cards to your Christmas stash so early in the year!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Two gorgeous Christmas cards, Mary! Love the image with the robin on the first! Beautiful colors and image! Love how you used the topper on the second card with the holly and vellum sentiment! Two more for the Christmas card stash!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Two wonderful robin cards Mary and love the kraft card backgrounds and some great techniques which you did beautifully and I love the designs. You have taught me something today as when colouring robins I haven't taken the red up into the face so much, but on looking at images on line you have got it spot on so I will definitely make my next robin more like yours. x

    ReplyDelete
  16. They're both so lovely!!!! Robins and beautiful little birds but we don't see too many in our area for some reason. I love looking at them on your cards though!
    Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  17. Both cards are stunning, Mary!! I love the designs and the pretty birds!! The details are fabulous on both!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

    ReplyDelete
  18. These are two pretty robin cards. The first is such a great stamped image and I love the framed look around it. The background paper looks really good here.

    The second card is great! Loving the vellum greeting and the wee bits of holly tucked here and there. Those give you a good chance to anchor the vellum under the holly!

    ReplyDelete
  19. You made two lovely Robin's cards, Mary! I have never thought that English Robin and American Robin would be different! Perhaps in Italy there are the same Robins than in England... (I think!) Anyway, your are so sweet and gorgeous! Love the matching stamp and die from S.W. and the stamped greens on the back in your first card! The second one looks great with that cute topper, (in these days the weather here is similar... LOL) and the sprigs of holly. Well done!
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  20. Such beautiful cards and embellishing, you are going to be set for Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Two lovely cards with those super robins. The vellum sentiment looks great. Hope you are both well Mary. Hugs Christine x

    ReplyDelete
  22. Two gorgeous Christmas cards Mary, I especially like the first one with the beautiful frame.
    Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
    x

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello Mary, well I think your coloured Robin is just gorgeous, beautifully designed too, I love the embossed lines on your second card and such a sweet image. Two beautiful cards, Kate x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh they look marvelous, Mary! So festive and traditional in style, but very different in design. 2 cards for the Christmas box, and they’re gorgeous too.
    Ps. Love how the Kraft paper shimmers

    ReplyDelete
  25. Two very pretty robins Mary. I didn't realise that your robins looked different until I started reading the comments today. Always thought a robin was a robin come what may. Lol. Hugs Mrs A.

    ReplyDelete
  26. These are beautiful cards Mary - I love the first one - the design is perfect! The second one is supercute - I love Robins! Big hugs Rachel....p.s. I got to the show xxx

    ReplyDelete
  27. Gorgeous Christmas cards Mary.
    Pam x

    ReplyDelete
  28. Two super cards Mary, love your gorgeous robins. Love the shaped dies on card one too. Carol x

    ReplyDelete
  29. Everyone seems to have enjoyed this theme this time creating lots of gorgeous cards and yours are no exception. Such lovely images and designs and two more cards for your Christmas stash.
    Lorraine

    ReplyDelete
  30. Beautiful robin cards Mary. Great job with colouring the robin on your first card. Looks fantastic. I'm challenged when colouring birds. I know it's not easy and you have done an amazing job. Gorgeous cards with lots of layers. Your second card is so pretty with the lovely winter scene. The vellum sentiment banner is perfect to let the scene behind show through. xx

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love robins too as it always means Spring is here. Your cards are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Both cards are gorgeous, Mary with so much detail. I had to study them for quite a while. Love all the fun elements you add. And KUDOS to you for all that fussy cutting on the first card, my nemesis which I try and avoid at all costs. How great you are starting on Christmas cards already too!

    ReplyDelete
  33. We have a resident Robin in the garden and you have coloured the first one as he is, a fabulous card, love the frame and the pines. Your second one is Super too, love the die and the vellum sentiment, so pretty.
    Faith
    x

    ReplyDelete
  34. Your cards are lovely, Mary. I especially love the vellum. Your coloring is always great.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Both beautiful cards and didn't realise the English and American Robins were different-we have had a few round here just lately,or is it the same one?-love the frame and stamped pine branch background-our snow has completely gone after two days of rain---but----some sun and quite mild today
    carol x

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Mary
    Fabulous Robin cards... glad you found use for your POTV Toppers... stunning cards
    Hugs a Sylvie xx

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love robins too Mary. We have a lot around at the moment starting to pair up for the breeding season. I love the flash of red as they fly from branch to branch in the bare trees. Your cards are lovely and I agree they are hard to colour, you may have got away with the orange red because they are never as bright red as in Christmas Cards!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wow, your first card is just stunning Momma Mary! I am totally in love with it. Your robin turned out beautiful and I love the frame he is sitting on. The papers you used are fabulous, heck I love everything about this card! The second one is beautiful too. I love both card designs. Amazing both of them! Hugs, Brenda

    ReplyDelete