Serendipity SSCB#37 – Thankful!

Autumn Birdhouse cu04973

Weekly-Favorite
Best of 2014!

Welcome to the November Challenge for Serendipity Stamps! This month the challenge is appropriately…Things you are Thankful or Grateful! You can get all the details over on the Serendipity Challenge Blog.  The DT has the added challenge telling a story about why we chose the images/dies we used.. And as always, we have a  have a gift certificate up for grabs to a random player. The sale this week is 20% off both the Thanksgiving and the Autumn Categories …  good through Nov 11th.
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Autumn Birdhouse 04972

The story behind my card is bittersweet and hard to tell without tearing up. This wasn’t the original card I set out to make, but this image was really calling my name. And though the little bird on the birdhouse looks suspiciously like a chickadee, I colored him to look like an American goldfinch because…well let me back up. Two years ago this Friday, we lost our long time companion…a red mask conure (parrot) named Odie who had been part of our family for almost 27 years. He loved to watch the birds at the feeder and the goldfinch (birds see in color, unlike dogs or cats who see only black & white) was his favorite. We’ve had dogs and were always sad when they passed but this little bird was something special. He was an import from South America (back when they could still do that) and we rescued him when he was about a year old. He had been dumped on a friend on mine who didn’t know what do with him. My husband and I had been reading about parrots and really wanted to adopt one, so we took him. The reason we named him Odie was because we also had a cocker spaniel at the time and Odie could see him  through his window and the first thing he did was imitate the dog barking. He later had a pretty good vocabulary and contrary to public opinion, birds are super intelligent (even more than dogs or cats). They have reasoning ability and other than man, they are one of the only species able to construct and use tools to help themselves.  It’s really something to have a “pet” who can not only talk to you, but also lives with you longer than most children! So that’s my reason for using these images as I’m ever so thankful for the almost 27 years we had with such a special little bird!

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After stamping the birdhouse and coloring it with Copics, I die cut using a little bit of my out of the box technique on the left side. I left the die in place and sponged on a little antique linen ink. I added a few more die cut layers using paper from one of my fave paper collections. I also added some stamped, colored & fussy cut maple leaves and two die cut acorns on top along with the greeting. The finished card is 4.25 x 5.50 and these are the Copics I used.
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Here’s a little look at the inside  & if you’d like to see a picture of Odie, look down toward the bottom of my sidebar. That’s Odie on his favorite coffee cup. 🙂
Autumn Birdhouse inside 04978

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please be sure to visit and comment on all the DT blogs so you’ll be entered to win!
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Special Guest Designer: Lisa Minckler

Supplies:

Stamps: Serendipity Stamps –Bird House Autumn 1179H, Miss You 624B, Maple Leaf Cling set 806QCL, Happy Thanksgiving 1127D
Paper:X-Press It white, dp (Basic Grey – Indian Summer)
Ink:  Memento tuxedo black, Distress Ink antique linen
Accessories: Spellbinders A2 matting basics B, labels 28, decorative labels 28, Copic markers, Serendipity Oak Leaf Scroll die 035ED, Oak Leaf outline & Acorn dies 034ED

6 Responses to Serendipity SSCB#37 – Thankful!

  1. Julie your story about Odie is beautiful and so sad. That is a very long time to have a pet and very hard to lose, I am sorry. I loved learning about Odie and your stamp choice is perfect. Our very dear friends have an African Gray and I know how much they love him , quite a special pet.
    You card is beautiful with all the fall colors.

  2. Julie your card is beautiful and so is your story of Odie. I love his photo – such a handsome fellow! I see a man at our local park walking the path with a small parrot on each shoulder!

  3. Awwww Julie! I loved reading your story about Odie. I have a special dog that I still think of every single day. Odie sounds amazing – your card is a beautiful tribute to him. You two had a special bond – I can tell you miss him dearly! He’s beautiful too – gorgeous colors!

  4. Your card is so beautiful. I love how you coloured it. It just pops right out at me.

    Nice story about Odie. I know someone who had a parrot with a huge vocabulary and unfortunately had bad language attached to it, so I know what you mean when you say birds are really smart. I’m so sorry for your loss. 27 years is a long time to have a companion.

  5. Hello Julie. It’s been such a pleasure to guest DT with all you talented ladies here, but I feel it’s extra special as I’m getting to know you all on such a special level. Your story touched my heart as I grew up with tons of pets and most some how just adopted us. Odie sounds like a fabulous feathered buddy and what a beautiful tribute to your little friend who touched your heart for years and will continue to do so. That picture of him on the cup is ADORABLE!!! Your card is just beautiful!!
    hugs,
    Lisa x

  6. Lovely story about your bird and equally beautiful card Julie. The die cut leaves look perfect with the images leaves!