Partridge in a Pear Tree

I wouldn't mind being a Partridge right now. There was a time when I was "uncontainable" at Christmas and annoyingly chipper (according to my sweet talking husband),  but this year... I'm just flapping about like a headless chook trying to get everything done and accomplishing very very very little. So far I've mailed a dozen cards and...well, that's it! The tree: not here; the pressies: not bought; the cookies: not baked (santa will be miffed) and the list goes on.   If you're one of those super-organised, in-control people...oh how I envy you. I was you last year.

Did I mention that I have fallen behind on visiting and commenting too? I cannot apologise enough to all who have actually made the effort and time to visit me. I hang my head in shame.

When (If?) we put our tree up tomorrow, I might just climb up and hide in it, together with the Partridge. Call me when Christmas is over, will ya! In the meantime, I'll leave you with this card, which had me humming a certain Christmas carol all day long. (It's maddening when a ditty makes your head its new home...and refuses to leave!)

This is a large card: 6" x 4.5". Had to be in order to accomodate the stamped image. No patterned  papers on this one, just black, green and tan (read crumb cake) CS.

Here's a close up of the tree from Chocolate Baroque's "Family Christmas" stamp set. This set is chock full of the most beautiful images and the details are stunning. I stamped the Pear Tree with Memento Bamboo Leaves and went over the bark and stem with Memento Tuxedo Black marker. Then I coloured in the Pears, Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves and the Partridge with Spectrum Noir markers. And a touch of Stickles here and there...because it's Christmas.

To finish, I tied some red raffia into a bow and did some stitching to mimic a frame border. Why?Because TMS #175 made me do it.  

On the inside, I stamped a sentiment from Chocolate Baroque's "Warm Christmas Greetings" set in Memento Tuxedo Black. 

Inspiration for this card came from Tuesday Morning Sketches #175; Dillybean Challenge "Traditional Christmas Colours"; Freshly Brewed Designs #125 "Christmas"; Colour Throwdown #221; Charizma Cards #48 "Christmas" ; PaperPretties Wednesday Challenge #235 "Christmas Inspired" and Fairytale Challenge #53 "O Tannenbaum".

And, as always, you'll find me playing in a fun little sand-box called MIM #119. Don't forget to check it out!

It's Friday, no reason to remain frazzled (or so I tell myself). Enjoy your weekend, my friends! Thanks for taking a mo to visit me and we'll catch up in a couple of days....if not sooner. In the meantime, I am committed to doing some visiting later today....so don't forget me just yet! :-) Toodle-loo!

Beijinhos!


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