Friday, November 6, 2009

Tilda With The Most Darling Christmas Piglet at Friday Sketchers77


Happy Friday, everyone!!! I hope that you have had a magnificent week and are looking forward to a fun weekend!! I am so happy that you have decided to visit me today and I always look forward to your visits!!

Today is Friday Sketchers 77 and we are hosted by the magnificently talented Jacqueline of The Netherlands who has definitely given us a holiday sketch this week!! I hope that you will drop over and see the wonderful sample cards of the other DT members and will play along with us this week for a very nice prize! Remember to link your card using MrLinky and then be sure to link back to Friday sketchers in order to be eligible for the week's prize

For my card, I used Bazzill CS for the base, all matting is Bazzill and glittered red paper, and all DP is from last year's BoBunny Tis The Season Collection. I also used Magnolia's Tilda with Piglet from the new Christmas collection which can be pre-ordered at Magnolia-licious right now so you may want to go fast because this collection should be coming in just any day!!

As soon as I saw this image, I thought Tilda was just the cutest thing holding that darling pig but I had no idea why a PIG for Christmas???? We all know that Magnolias are made in Sweden so we have to look a little bit deeper to find the significance of the pig. As it turns out, pork makes up a strikingly large proportion of Christmas fare in Sweden and all of Scandinavia, and visitors sometimes wonder why the Swedes have to celebrate the Christmas season by eating pig meat. The historical reason is that, for a long time, salt pork was the meat ration for the Swedes all the year round. Pigs were slaughtered in the autumn, when they were fattest, the pork was preserved in brine, and would then have to last until the following autumn. One or two "Christmas pigs" were held over from the autumn butchering, however, and reprieved until Lucia. Christmas was the only time of the year when people could eat fresh meat, which in those days was the height of enjoyment. No such considerations apply nowadays, but the tradition of the marzipan pig given for a prize still remains. Families treat children to a special rice porridge and at Christmas an almond is hidden in the mix. The child who discovers it wins the marzipan pig as a surprise--a gift reminiscent of olden times when a peasant family's wealth was tied up in its precious pig. What a wonderful tradition!!!! As a matter of fact one of the national symbols of Norway is the pig!!!!

Now back to my card....all major panels were machine stitched, the snowflakes were cut with the Pink Chirper using Joys of the Season, and Tilda and Piglets were colored with Copics. On the front I also used PTI Pure Poppy dotted ribbon to match the inside of the card, several red rhinestones, and, from the bows, I dangled a couple of cute little pig charms which I bought several months ago with no idea that I would ever use them!!!


The inside of the card is more of the same with the addition of the cutest little Papilio Piglet with a red dotted bow around her neck. Notice that I also added a couple of matching tiny gold bells to the bow above the jotting spot

For those of you who have requested it, these are the Copics I used for this card as well as a tiny touch of Gold Spica for the bells.

My sincere thanks to you for coming by and I hope you will return again and again. May your weekend be a most delightful one and until we meet again, great big Maggie hugs for you!!!!

69 comments:

Sharon Caudle said...

This is one beautiful card, Jacque! I love the big snowflake and Tilda with a pig is just too cute!!! The papers you used are soooo yummy and LOVE the pigs! I can't believe you found pig charms! You are the embellishment QUEEN! LOVE the pig stamp on the inside too! It's adorable! Awesome card! hugs!

Cami said...

Oh Jacque! This Tilda with her piglet is so cute and I can hardly wait for the new stamps to come in. Look at those pig charms! You are the charm queen...or "charmin'" queen of crafting! Thanks for posting the Copic markers you use as it helps alot! Love your card inside and out. Oh, posted your blog candy on the sidebar of my blog. Great candy! Hugs, Cami

Moni said...

What can I say, just waw, awesome, stunning! Great job,and so love the image and papers!Love the colour combo! Have a fab weekend! Hugs,Moni

Suzan L said...

Jacque, This is such a darling card!! I love the DP's that you used. Tilda looks so cute with her little piglet...and those cute pig charms...they are perfect on this card. I also love the little piggy on the inside of your card...what a cutie!! Thank you for sharing another Christmas tradition with us!! I was also wondering why Magnolia had Tilda with a Piglet in their Christmas Collection!!
Hugs, Suzan

Ann said...

Oh Jacque, this is absolutely stunning, I just so love the choice of colours and the charms and embellishments are just perfect. I love your creativity and every card you make is just pefection - outstanding as ever. Ann xxx

Maris said...

what a sweet card, i love the little piggy, and the colors are lovely xx

Ila said...

Oh So Gorgeous!!..I love the large sparkly snowflake..and Tilda with piglet is Adorable!!...Thank you so much for sharing this tradition!!...Hugs, Ila

Sharon said...

A stunning creation. You are an inspiration. I really enjoy visiting your blog as it's educational as well. Makes interesting reading! Greetings Sharon

cabio's craft corner said...

Jacque, you did it again, another wonderful creation. The glittery background is gorgeous!
Hugs,
Cabio

bestevenn said...

Just a wonderful creation, I love your cards. The colours and the details.

Ida / Little said...

Another gorgeous card! And I just love the colours, so bright and cheerful :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs Ida

Nancy said...

Oh Jacque I love love love your card!!! This Tilda with piglet is just the cutest and I can't wait to get mine. Thank you for telling the story I enjoyed reading a different Christmas tradition. Your details are amazing as always you have the perfect charms! Love the little pig on the inside of your card so cute. Thanks for showing the markers you used.
Hugs,
Nancy

Unknown said...

oh Sweetie you just get better and better and just when I think that you can't come up with another favorite of mine you go surprise me again.

Jayne
xx

Chrissie said...

What a fabulous card Jacque and thank you for the information otherwise I would have been one of those who thought 'why a pig?'
I'm just so pleased that I've discovered your blog at last!

Vivi Casale said...

OMG Darling, another marvelous card!!
I love the charms you always put on your cards.. they are so nice...
And this dotted bow is so cute! pig is cute too!! unbelieble how you stamped the red snowflowers right in the middle of the whitle snowflake!! you are brilliant!
Well, I must say that I love all the cards you make!! It is always a huge pleasure to visit your blog.
xoxo
Vivi

celia said...

Wow Jacque what a story!Your card is also beautiful...also inside!!!Great job!

Lauren said...

Adorable! I love the snowflake in the background, the pig charms, the colors. This stamp is too cute - I may have to get it ;-)
Thank you for explaining the xmas pig - I didn't understand why Tilda was holding a piglet until now!

Lauren

Tracey said...

I often wondered about that littel pig too when I see this stamp so thanks for clearing up the mystery darlin! Love your card! Just fabulous!! xx

Lori aka Lo Lo said...

Too cute! The piggy charms are adorable. Another beautiful card...I luv it! Thx for explaining the significance of the pig.

xoxo,
Lori

Angelwood said...

Another awesome creation! This image is the cutest ever and I love that little pig inside your card. I wondered why there was a pig in the Christmas collection - thanks for the history lesson.

Crystal said...

Oh my word this is soooooo adorable!!! Fabulous card!

Anonymous said...

Visiting your blog is always a delight and a treat. This card is beyond AMAZING . . . IT IS YOUR CREATIVITY AT ITS BEST!! Absolutely stunning, Sweetie!!!! That is such a cute image and the Papilio pig is the perfect addition.
Love, love, love it!!! Hugs, Christina C.

Barb Hardeman said...

Thanks, Jacque for researching the tradition behind the Swedish Christmas Pig. What an endearing story. Your Tilda with Piglet of course is just marvelous - love the colors! Your large Snowflake looks gorgeous setting Tilda off and of course the charms are delightful. Your inside is beautiful, love the bells you hung from the ribbon and the extra sweet pig image you added to your writing section. He's too cute! Have a fabulous weekend...

charlene said...

Jacque...wow is all I can say what a cute card and once again I have learned something about tradition from you. I love how you have colored you little maggie and your cards are always just beautifully made. Have a great weekend
Hugs

Pen to Paper said...

Hi Jacque, your card is so cute!!! And that stamp is so adorable!! I pre-ordered it as well so I can't wait til i get mine and start making pretty cards too :)


XOXOXO
Jackie

Kristie W. said...

She is too cute! Thank you for the explanation regarding piglet, I was curious too and now I know! The inside of the card is just as beautiful as the outside!

Kerry D-C said...

So cute! Love the pig charm! When I first saw this little one with the pig, I immediately thougt: Christmas dinner! LOL! Maybe because my mom is from Ireland and they like Ham on the holidays! Now that the kids and I are sick this week...I have something else in mind when I see this stamp: It looks like Tilda caught the swine flu! LOL!

Unknown said...

wow jacque, your card is amazing and looks so fantastic and cute. the big snowflake is so fabulous.
have a nice weekend my dear.
big hugs, bea

dragon said...

Oh How sweet,
I just adore this card jacqueline...
My lap top is not well so on my hubbies... and it is taking me a while to find everyone....

Lynn xx

HazelQ said...

Aww cute card Jacque, I love this color combination :)
Hugs
Hazel

Mindy (Scrappy and Piggy) said...

great card! I ordered that stamp and can't wait to get it.

Jane said...

Wow this is stunning! So interesting about the pig tradition too, I also wondered why Tilda had a pig when I saw the stamp for the first time! Jane xx

Unknown said...

Jacque,
Thank you for the history of the pig in Sweden.
I enjoy the chattiness. Wonder why I didn't enjoy history when I was in school. Hee Hee!
Sharon L

Deb (dcorder) said...

Love the snowflake background! :D

Danni said...

Thank you for the little piggy info!! Such a sweet card, just adorable!

Grenouille Greetings said...

This is divine! I do hope that Christmas dinner will be a turkey and not Pork! The little piglet is just too cute to eat. A beautiful card inside and out! Lesley

Regina said...

Jacque! What a cute card!!! as always!!!
as always, each detail you did is absolutely amazing.
Hugs
Regina

Anonymous said...

Thank you! Your blog post will be advertised on the DigiFree Blog Printable Freebie search engine today (look for timestamp: 06 Nov [LA 04:02pm, NY 07:02pm] - 07 Nov [UK 12:02am, OZ 11:02am] ).

MarieL said...

Well Jacque, you never stop to amaze me with all your "out of this world" creations.

Here is another tradition from Europe. The pig represents luck. For New Years you see a lot of chocolate and Marzipan pigs with a paper clover in their mouth. That is a german tradition.

Aud said...

Your card is gorgeous, hun!♥ Fantastic coloring!

It was fun reading about the origin to our "pig x-mas dinner", but I do not know anything about a pig being one of our national symbols here in Norway... ;o)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Big hugs,
Aud

Anonymous said...

Wow Jacque, your card is stunning. The colours are beautiful and I love the image!

Have a nice weekend.

Hugs Jannie.

thread-bare said...

This is such a lovely card. I would never have know about the significance of the pig. Clare x

furrypig said...

I really adore pigs and I have to have that Tilda with the piglet as it is sooo cute! I wonder when they will reach the UK?? Also where did the other pig stamp and the charms come from??? I would love to track them down as I 'need' them!! Thanks so much!

Karen Arthur said...

What an adorable card!! I love that big snowflake and the colors you chose. The ribbon and charms really set it off great...that pig is so cute too. Great job!!

Rosette said...

Wow!What a scrumptious card Jacque hun :)) This is sooo cute, with that pig!! and your explanation rocks girl! It is such an amazing creation. Hugs xxx

Queenie Jeannie said...

Love the little gold pig charms!!

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

This is to cute!! I love your coloring and your layout!! Love your piggy!! It is gorgeous inside and out!

Unknown said...

What a sweet card! I really like the double bow idea, really features the beautifully colored image!

paola said...

My fellow South African blogger Sharon Keanly put me onto your blog and she was right about you it is educational. I would have thought though that the little piggy was the Gammon, which i suppose amounts to the same thing as the explanation you gave us. Well Tilda is the newest love of my stamps so even though i am Jewish i love the little image, he he, between you and i. Your blog is fab and thank you for sharing
smiles
Paola

stephanne said...

I was wondering the same thing, but will not be needing to go on a Google-a-thon thanks to this informative, adorable post. Although the fate of the pig is sort of tragic... Definitely a wonderful stamp though and your creation couldn't be any more perfect!! Have a great Sunday :)
Stephanne

Jodie from Oz said...

Jacque, Wow such a beautiful Christmas card. The papers, snowflake & embellishments stunning. Tilda with pig is adorable. I loved reading the story behind this sweet little pig. Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs Jodie from Oz

Norma said...

Jacque, this is adooooorable. Both Tilda and the pig. Love the snowflake design. Wonderful colours you've chose. And once again, the perfect charms. I swear you have your own charm factory making charms at your request. LOL.

Hugs.
Norma

Smita said...

Beautiful card. Especially love the little gold piglet charms.

Smita

Lorraine Mcneil said...

Oh my goodness, how cute is this Tilda. What a fabulous card. Extremely gorgeous, as usual. Love every single element of it.
Hugs

pcrusberg said...

I love your Tilda holding her Christmas pig. I hope that one isn't dinner though! All the elements of your card are just adorable and I love the extra info on "why a pig?" Thanks.
New Follower,
Pam

Danka Kareen said...

Very pretty card and Tilda is so cute holding his piglet...

Bonne journée !

Olga said...

The card is so cute! Love the double bows!

Diane said...

Oh my gosh...this is so sweet...love that little piggy!!

Shazza said...

such an adorable card, I love it
x

Anne said...

I often wondered about that littel pig too when I've seen this stamp so thankyou for letting us know the story behind it all.
Love your card! Just fabulous!!
Anne x

Sheila said...

What a beautiful card inside and out! The Tilda and pig are darling and the charms are perfect. Thanks for sharing the tradition behind the pig - very interesting.

Sol said...

Wow... I leared something new now... And I am Norwegian! :) In my family we eat fish or pig for christmas. and 24.12 is the day in Norway that we all are looking forward to.. :) And yes.. Also the Marzipan price for finding the almond in the rice porridge. And if you do not have the marzipan pig for price... My mother used to make another gift.. (sweets..ol...) Or just for fun.. You wont have to do the dishes afterwards if you win.. :)

Love your colouring of this card.. Great with two ribbon bows and charms.. :)

Patricia Garcia said...

Super card, thanks for letting us know about the pig, I was questioning it too!!

Hugs,
Patricia

Alice said...

So cute card! I really like your style!
Alice

Stampin Mindy said...

Adorable Magnolia Stamp! I love all of your embellishments. Beautiful coloring.

Nikki said...

Lol! What a cute little Piggy, this card really made me smile even though he might end up on a platter christmas day! ;)

You have a FAB blog Jacque xxx

love Nikki xxx

Anonymous said...

Jacque, I adore your cards and I did not have to think twice to sign up as a follower on your website. I would be honored to win the Holiday Package. Thanks, Brendabee56

Lynne Phelps said...

So the pig on Scandinavian cards is like the way we put turkeys on Thanksgiving cards!! Lovely card and an inspiring blog!

Tonje said...

What a cute card, and you are so right, the pig is important to us scandinavians. Being norwegian myself we have had an almond in the porridge every christmas as long as I have lived. The almond is without the brown "skin" and hidden in the porridge. We always make a huge joke and story about it every christmas as to who has the almond, and noone says he has it untill the entire bowl of porridge is eaten. Then someone takes out the almond which he or she has hidden somewhere in the mouth all this time. The prize as you say is a marzipan pig.
Scandinavia celebrate Christmas EVE, the porridge is eathen during the day on the 24th and we open our gifts and eat the christmasdinner on the 24th as well.
On the 25th we usually have big christmasparties, that also happens on the 26th and 27 th.
We have a tradition to go to church in the afternoon and go and lit lights on the graves of our loved ones that has passed away before we go home and start preparing the huge christmasdinner that is of course PIG! Either a steak or the ribs. (It has been in the oven for several hours while we are in the church)
We eat dinner together, eat dessert and then open the gifts, walk around the christmastree singing christmassongs and eat christmascakes.

An old tradition say that you have to have seven different sorts of cakes, an even older saying says that it has to be FIFTEEN! I beleive in the first one...lol...

Allthought scandinavia has a rich amount of their own traditions we have during the years become more and more americanized in the way that our santa looks like yours and less like our own nisse. Well, I could probably go on and on for hours about Christmas. I just love that time of the year.
Thanks for writing about our tradition by the way!