Beautiful Season for Casestudy

Hi Everyone.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend.

I saw this great challenge across at casestudy.  I saw the bird and the flowers and knew that I wanted to create a Christmas card using Beautiful Season.  Here's what I came up with

I kept the layout fairly clean and simple and used a neutral base, just like the inspiration card.  I cut around the chickadee and the holly - mmmm... that was some fussy cutting!  I needed something to ground the focal image and saw a piece of cardstock that I had thrown into my Very Vanilla scraps folder.  It was perfect.  The wood embossing folder (sneak peek from the Holiday catalog!) goes perfectly with the image.  I thought it would be quite hard to print a sentiment on it - but it wasn't.

I colored the image using my copic markers and mounted it onto the base using dimensionals.  Before I did that though, I wrapped some linen thread around the embossed layer.  It was an element that I really liked in the inspiration card and knew that I wanted to carry that through.  The inspiration card also had a pearl - so I added three small pearls underneath the sentiment.

So, what do you think?  Can you see the inspiration card?

I was really pleased with the outcome.  I'm really liking this new embossing folder!  So, why not pop along to casestudy to check out the fabulous design team and submission cards?  I know you will find something to CASE :-)

On a personal note:

Have you ever disturbed something and have it look at you with total hatred.  You know that look that says...... you are SO lucky that I can't get to you?  Well, it happened to me last week!  

I was sitting in Lou's office on a conference call. Actually, I was presenting, when all of a sudden I heard this thump and saw a small bird had flown into the office window.  Before I could even register what had happened I saw, right behind the little bird, a redtailed hawk!  I involuntarily called out "oh!" very loudly and excused myself.  I went to the window and there, on the porch was a female red-shouldered blackbird.  The redtailed hawk was standing right over her and saw me at the window.  He looked at me with absolute hatred.  Really.  He stared at me.  He wasn't scared.  He was just - as we Brits would say - really pissed off!  He knew that I was going to come outside, so he gave me one more look and like Dracula in all the movies, wrapped one wing around him and quickly flew off!   It was a very dramatic arrival and an equally dramatic departure.

I went out onto the porch and saw that the the little blackbird female was still breathing, but very stunned.  I picked her up, rested her in my hand for a few minutes until I knew she was going to be OK.  I then took her to the edge of the driveway and hid her amongst the long grasses.  It was a cool place and I knew she would be safe there.  This would give her a place to recover and get herself back together.   I went back to my call and, once it was finished, about 75 minutes later, went out to check on her.   As I walked toward her spot, she noticed me, and decided it was time to leave.  She flew off to safety.

Now, generally, I don't interfere with nature, but I couldn't watch her be butchered on my porch!  I just couldn't.  I realized though, that the redtailed had actually flushed her into the window.  If she had gone a few feet to the left, she would have been able to get to the woods and probably would have avoided the redtailed and I think he knew that!  I must admit, I have never had any sentinent being look at me with quite that look before!  It was an amazing experience! 

That does remind me of when I was in the Kruger Park many years ago.  It was very early in the morning and we were some of the earliest people out.  The sun was just rising and we went down one of the side roads and noticed two lionesses walking down the middle of the road toward the car.  We stopped the car and turned off the engine.  They walked straight toward the car.  When they got to the front of the car they separated.  One went right and one went left.   She walked so close to the car that she knocked the side mirror.   I was in absolute awe - absolute awe - when she walked past the window and looked me straight in the eye.  We literally were eye to eye.  Now that... really was awesome.  An encounter I will never forget.  The difference was... the redtailed wasn't happy with me because I had disrupted his dinner!  The lioness - she was just curious, but her look was enough to let me know that I was VERY lucky to be sitting behind the glass of my side window!

As always, thank you for stopping by my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  I really do appreciate your visits - and your comments.

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.   Have a fabulous Tuesday.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Very Vanilla
• Stamps:  Beautiful Season - focal image.   Sentiment Papertrey Ink
• Inks:  Basic Black - sentiment.   Image colored with Copics
• Accessories:  Linen thread, basic pearls.
• Tools:  Big Shot.  Wood embossing folder.  Paper snips - necessary for all that fussy cutting:-)

Comments

[Linda]

You have to be the queen of fussy cutting. I just saw your next post with the single feather as well, and was amazed at the intricacy of your cutting.

I was wondering what you could have done to inspire someone (something?) to give you such a look. Never guessed it would be a bird! What an awesome time you are having with your wildlife. I loved your story, and yep, would have done the same thing.

[Terri]

Absolutely beautiful card - love the use of space, and the colour of the cardstock.

Glad you saved the bird!

[Ann Schach]

A fabulous post, Jaydee! I so loved your story! And your card is breathtakingly beautiful!

[Andrea Ewen]

Stunning! Love the textured background and the beautifully colored image. It looks fantastic against the white backdrop! Thanks for playing along with us this week at CASE Study!

[Linda Harris]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your card! :-)

One time I heard this horrible screeching near our bird feeder and ran to the window. A mama hawk was teaching her young one how to catch its own dinner. It was standing (trying to stand) on a pitiful little bird and wasn't very successful. I couldn't stand hearing the cries of the little bird, so I ran out and scared off the mama and "teenager" bird; the little bird flew off right away. I was rattled, to say the least! Can't imagine the stare YOU got!

[Nancy Baxter]

Your card is gorgeous, yet so simple -- simple elegance. I live vicariously through your stories and your new property and house! We have similar nature; I live overlooking the Ohio River with woods on two sides of our rolling hills. Nancy B

[Cherie]

Amazing card! I'm struck by the simple elegance and subtle details that are missed at first glance. My CASE file just got bigger!
Enjoyed the bird rescue, I also have a very hard time leaving nature alone in times like that and would have done the same thing, even if it was an annoying red wing blackbird!
Have a happy day One & All

[Sally A. Davis]

Love the card and love the stories. Your fussy cutting is signature for you. You do a great job. And the hawk story is amazing. Glad you saved the little bird. The hawk will find other food where you don't have to see it. I would not like that either. I think I would have been scared to be that up close and personal with a lion but I am sure it was amazing to be there and have that experience. Thanks for sharing.

[Beth Rigden]

Rachel is right-stunning is the best word for today's card! The wow factor is there for sure!!

[Brenda F]

Wow, my dear. What an event! I sometimes have a peregrine falcon perch on my bird feeder and it makes me want to cry out "It's not THAT kind of bird feeder!" Miss you tons!

[Cindy]

Beautiful card!

[Rach]

Jaydee, this is STUNNING in its simplicity and elegance. All that fussy cutting was absolutely worth it. This is gorgeous!

What a story! I think I would be hard-pressed to leave nature alone as well. I *know* the predators need to eat, and I accept that. BUT, to have it happen in front of me? On my deck? That would be tough. I don't blame you one bit and cannot imagine how chilling it would be to have that hawk give me that look. Wow.

Your story about the lionesses was incredible--what a moment! What an experience! :o)

Hugs to you!

P.S Hugs to you too, Lou! :o)