Thursday, January 31, 2019

Pretty Bird

Hi there!  I'm back with a bird today.  In fact, I made two cards with this not-yet-used stamp, purchased in December 2016.  That's a crazy lot of time for such a pretty thing to be left sitting, isn't it?  I was surprised at how much time had passed, but I looked it up to be certain.  Sure enough, just over two years.

It's an Impression Obsession stamp simply called "Bird".  I've often said I'm intimidated by the thought of coloring realistic birds, but once I decided to do this very simply with just a blush of color and nothing complex in the background it came together very quickly and easily.  I used Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits for the coloring, and stamped retired SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds splatter around it.




I nested some Spellbinders dies for a designer paper frame and then set the bird panel right into it with nothing popped up.  The sentiment is from my bag o' sentiments which were stamped, but not used for whatever project at the time.  I have no idea what the sentiment belongs to, but it's a pretty font.  Stamped more Itty Bitty on the sentiment circle.




Since the coloring was quick and the card very simple, I took the time to make some special flowers for it.  Die cut, colored with pencils.  Got them good and wet, wadded up tightly, then carefully smoothed out, but not too smooth.  Dried them with the heat tool, then added a glue dot and Prills to the centers.  They're very stiff so they hold their shape, but not too lumpy for easy mailing.  Makes me think I need more flower dies...  NOT.  I have plenty of everything to last me a while.

Ingredients are listed below.  Have a happy day!


Stamps:  Impression Obsession Bird, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds, unknown sentiment  Paper:  Neenah Classic White, My Mind's Eye A Beautiful Life designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive  Coloring:  Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits  Accessories:  Prills, Linen thread, circle punch  Dies:  Spellbinders Scored and Pierced Rectangles, Elizabeth Craft Bunch of Flowers 4

27 comments:

Hannelie said...

Leslie this is so beautiful! Such a lovely bird image ! I also LOVE your finishing touches! Hope to see this pretty bird again now that it 'hatched' :D

Glenda said...

Your card is definitely a thing of beauty! That bird is just gorgeous and as always your coloring is to die for! And then there are those sweet little flowers. They are just lovely and a perfect compliment to the bird! Well done my friend!

Sherri said...

Wow, Leslie!! This is gorgeous! Not only your coloring, but the flowers! I never guessed they were not store bought! They are beautiful and I can't believe you made them! There is just no end to your talent! I love this card!!!

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

What a beautiful card - don't keep this gorgeous bird hidden. Love your coloring and the flowers is the perfect finishing touch! It's makes me feel Spring is on it's way!!

Verna Angerhofer said...

What a wonderful bird image and I love the soft way you colored it too. This is a gorgeous card. I am glad you finally got to using it. You really nailed this one.

Yogi said...

Beautiful. Love the simplicity. I've tried using mineral spirits with Prisma colors but don't like the results I get... I always prefer using a blending pencil. You do a lovely job with it. Have a great day

Pam Sparks said...

Well your bird coloring is perfect! Beautiful card and I love those kind of flowers! I have a couple jars of those Prills... I need to make flowers again! You are always inspiring! Thank you so much!

Kathy Krug said...

CAS and beautiful. Love the pastels on the bird an the two small flowers are perfect. The spatters and the perfect touch.

pam said...

Perfect colouring of this beautiful bird Leslie, love your pretty flowers, just right the finishing touch to this gorgeous card.
Pam x

Donna Ellis said...

Sigh... Leslie, your no-line masterpiece is pure loveliness! Loving yur bird, and the faint colors against the intensity of the darker areas. Your dogwood blossoms (?) are dainty, adding to your creation, and not detracting from the star of the show. It's a beautiful card! hugs, de

Pauline said...

Leslie, this is so beautiful! You know how much I love anything nature related, this one has my heart! Your colouring is spot on for this little guy, and love the itty bitty splatter. (I never think to use this stamp, maybe need to pull it out and that will force me to use it). The flowers you created are stunning, love the prills in the center. Great framework and I must say I love that the bird it is not perfectly centered, which lot of us tend to do! So happy to see your card today, so glad you decided to use this cute little bird. Enjoy the rest of your day!

aussie aNNie said...

Beautiful and gorgeously coloured bird Leslie, I am loving so much your posts and creativity...xx

nancy littrell said...

Your lightly colored bird with pencils is so beautiful and has a wonderful texture from the stamp, Leslie. Beautiful DSP for the background die cut framing. I love how you added your scrunched up die cut flowers and stamped itty bitty dots. I need to get that stamp out and use more often. Wonderful way to control splatters. Love and Hugs...Nancy

Christine Alexander said...

Leslie, you bird is wonderfully coloured and you chose the perfect flowers. Dogwood are my favourite :)

Loll said...

Happy you inked up this beautiful stamp Leslie. Your bird is beautiful and I love the soft colouring. Gorgeous finishing touches with your pretty frame and beautiful layered flowers. xx

Margaret said...

Wow! That is gorgeous. Love the pretty bird and your coloring. Also like the splatter in the background and the beautiful flowers. I love using flowers.

Annie H said...

Gorgeous card, love it.

Darlene said...

What a beautiful image and yes isn't it amazing how quickly time goes by!! You've colored and designed this card perfectly and I really love your dogwood flowers for dimension ... perfect!!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my goodness can I just say that this is one of those WOW cards, I so love your coloring of the bird, the splatters are perfect to add a little something to the background, I love your idea of the inlaid framing of it, gorgeous papers to highlight the bird. To top it all off those flowers are just gorgeous and I so would love to try that technique, I usually shape my flowers with a stylus on a mat but I love the look of yours. That jute bow with them is perfection, all your little extras just put it over the top, One of my total favorites!

Cindy Beach said...

Leslie, reading your blog is like a breath of fresh air to my day!
I love the way you colored the bird and your hand crafted flowers are gorgeous. I love the bit of twine you added. Beautiful in every way!
Have a great day!

crafty-stamper said...

Stunning card Leslie I love the bird image,your delicate colouring is just perfect and the flowers are gorgeous -you have inspired me to get my flower dies out and have a play
Carol x

Ros Crawford said...

Gorgeous!! Oh my that's a wonderful bird and beautifully coloured. I love those blossoms too... A stunner!

laurie said...

This is a beauty! So delicate and pretty.

I love birds, but had to take my feeder down...the squirrels were in it all the time. I kept trying to chase them away but at one time there were EIGHT of them. They were even trying to get in the house!

aussie aNNie said...

Hi Leslie, just read your comment and what are Shutterfly Books? I am also doing digital scrapbooking of grand baby, not for display or show, so just wondering.xx

ChristineCreations said...

Oh, I love this Leslie! The image is so pretty and how you paired it with the little dogwood flowers is so perfect! Such sweetness.

Doris said...

Your bird coloring is beautiful. The flowers you made are stunning!

Stacy Morgan said...

2 years and you are just now using it, wow.... Now that is some dedication sweet friend. :-) This birdie is very sweet and you colored it perfectly. Great matting and framing with the flowers. A beautiful card once again.