Pion Design - Christmas Chandelier

Hello Everyone!

Today I have another Christmas card designed using the new Pion Design collection "The Night Before Christmas".  I just love how you can do any style with these papers, from shabby to vintage to elegant!

The Night Before Christmas - Snowflake Magic PD7807

The Night Before Christmas - All That Glitters is Snow PD7809

The Night Before Christmas - Christmas Branches PD7804

The Night Before Christmas - Just a Peek PD7801

The Night Before Christmas - Borders PD7810

The Night Before Christmas - Tags PD7812

I used two different ornament dies on this card, but I have no idea what brand they are. For some reason, I forgot to label them, so if anyone know, shout them out please! The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, everything else is from my stash.

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So we got our snow dumping as predicted. Oh boy, I was jumping for joy and ended up spending about 5 hours outside in the wind and snow. I was frozen stiff by the time I got home, but it was totally worth it!!

For my landscape photo today, a little trick of the eye. What looks like a field of snow covered flowers, is actually the top of a line of untrimmed hedges.

For my birds today, I have this lovely female Sparrow...

a female Cardinal playing in the snow...

a lovely Seagull...

and one of many Chickadees I fed that day!

I've become completely addicted to the gorgeous male Cardinal and how he shines in the snow, so I will be including a shot of one of these beauties every post from now on!!

My squirrel friends were not quite as impressed with the snow as I was.

"Hey, you up there. I see you're very busy, but can you toss me a peanut please. I'm freezing my paws off down here!

"I suppose you think this is funny!!"

"No way I'm coming down there lady! In case you haven't noticed, the ground is covered in snow!!"

I didn't get any new macro shots because it was just too windy, and for a successful macro shot, you need no movement whatsoever. I still have some back ups, so I will share those for this week. Some ice crystals on a leaf.

That's it for today. Thank you for stopping in and for all the amazing comments. If you have any questions or interesting tidbits about today's wildlife, please let me know.

Starry Night with Video

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. It was quiet here, just the way I like it! It's time for another Christmas card video, this time using some products from Michael's Craft Store and Recollections. Hope you enjoy.

Card Series 125 - Starry Night

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So I finally get to show you a few shots from my couple of hours out in the snow. We are due for a big dumping of snow Sunday night, so I hope that, as you are reading this post, I am outside with the squirrels, frolicking in a full size snow bank!

My landscape shot is a little of the snowfall as the sun is rising...

For my birds today, I have this male Cardinal taking a walk in the snow...

and the female watching carefully from the tree...

I am loving my new bird feeding spot. I really need to video it some day because sometimes I have two or three birds fluttering around waiting to land on my hand and grab a treat, they are even landing on my shoulders and arms waiting for their turn at the buffet!! It's incredible!

This is a sweet Red Breasted Nuthatch.

and a Black Capped Chickadee.

With all of the construction building the Community Centre this summer, I avoided the lake because of the noise, but they are all done now. I will be going back more often, I really missed the ducks, geese and seagulls.

Some of my wintery squirrel friends were very hungry! Don't you just love their wintery coats? So fluffy and colourful, and those chubby butts really make me giggle!

I love the way the snowy world reflects in their eyes, making them look even more beautiful!!

Last but not least, my macro shot is some snow crystals on a, still very green, piece of foliage.

***

A couple of years ago when I started making fancy cards, I scoured the internet for some cute poems that were related to giving a handmade card and not a store bought one. I really didn't have any luck so I decided to start writing my own. 

From now on, every year I will share one of my Christmas poems with you and you can feel free to use it on your own handmade cards for your friends and family. I only ask that you don't publish the poem anywhere on line, and if someones asks, you let them know who I am. Fair enough? I hope you get some use of this (sorry it's a little late, next year I will post it earlier)...

This card was crafted just for you

with tender loving care.

The paper was cut, the glue was placed

and glitter went everywhere.

Every flower and every leaf

was placed with rhyme and reason,

in hopes it brings a smile to you

this Merry Christmas season.

I address the envelope, add a stamp

and send it off to you.

And with it I send my wishes 

for a Happy New Year too!

***

That's it for today. Thank you for stopping in and for all the amazing comments. If you have any questions or interesting tidbits about today's wildlife, please let me know.

Anything But Cute - Secret Santa

Hello Everyone!

This has been a wonderful year at Anything But Cute, and I am so thankful for the amazing and talented team mates and friends that I have there. For Christmas this year we decided to do a Secret Santa and I was lucky enough to draw the name of my good friend Lisa of A Mermaids Crafts.

Here is the card that I sent to her

Sending out a special thank you to two of my other talented teamies. Anne of Redanne for the lovely Prima mould I used to make the clock, and Sara Emily of sarascloset for the delicate snowflake die cuts! Thank you so much ladies for my sweet gifts!

The Night Before Christmas - Dear Santa PD7802

The Night Before Christmas - Christmas in the Air PD7808

The Night Before Christmas - Tags PD7812

For Lisa's gift I made her a tree ornament. The base is wood which I painted with three different colours of gold paint. I added a bit of texture using some sand and decorated with lots of bling from my stash. 

Sending out a big Merry Christmas to all of my teamies and a special thank you to Anne, who pulled my name for Secret Santa. You should see the amazing card and gift that she sent me. You really must stop in and check it out (there's a squirrel involved)!! Here is a sneak peek...

Anne - Redanne

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This is a pretty photo heavy post already, so just a couple of photos today. These shots are from a lovely spot I have found out by the lake. I am so excited to be making new friends there.

"The kindness one does for an animal may not change the world...

but, it will change the world for that one animal."

author unknown

That's it for today. Thank you for stopping in and for all the amazing comments. Don't forget to feed a squirrel or a bird this weekend, it's a tough time of year for them outside, while we are cozy and warm.