Monday, December 5, 2016

Chickadee in Barberry

We have so many birds in the garden right now it appears as though the whole landscape is in motion.  I love watching them, and it's nice to get up on a December morning and hear the birdsong.  I've grown very fond of my feathered friends, so naturally I had to be sure and color up one of them for Christmas.




This is Chickadee in Barberry, a digital stamp from Power Poppy.  We have barberries and lots of chickadees, but no snow at our house.  Just rain and soggy wet everything.  However, when the sun comes out it sparkles so prettily on the wet foliage.  I glittered the snow in the image and used a white gel pen to add a few falling flakes.  Gee, if I'd cut the border a little lower I could have added some twine or gold cord, but at least it's very flat for easy mailing, and I do need as many of those as possible.

I printed on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with the following Copics:




The shading around the image is a smooshy pointillist kind of thing, fading to lighter colors and wider spaced dots at the outer edges.  Just having fun.  Pictured below are the markers I used in the background:



The lower edge was cut with Spellbinders Bracket Borders One, and wood grain designer paper covers a white card base.



Thanks for dropping in today.  I hope to see you again soon!



23 comments:

aussie aNNie said...

Leslie, this is one of my favourite stamps, love your colouring and it's so beautiful.xx{aNNie}


Ros Crawford said...

It's absolutely gorgeous!! I love the colouring and especially your BG ... I've never seen a chickadee but it looks so lovely!

Lynette said...

What a great chickadee - right out of the bird books! Love the border and the snow flakes. Such a beautiful card, Leslie.

Yogi said...

that's a pretty digi. Nice coloring too. Have a great day

nancy littrell said...

Your little chicadee looks like it just shook off the snow or in our case it would be rain! Your coloring and design are so pretty. TFS Leslie. Hugs, Nancy

Kathy Krug said...

Absolutely beautiful, Leslie. I love the pointillist background in green and your image is beautifully colored. The border is the perfect complement to this pretty winter scene.

Darlene said...

This is such a precious image and of course you've colored it perfectly! I know what you mean about the landscape being in motion ... I put fresh feed out for the birds & squirrels in our picnic area the other day and OMG the woods have come alive! I always enjoy seeing what you're up to and this design is awesome for your image! Fabulous inspiration my friend ... thanks!

pam said...

Wonderful card Leslie, fabulous image and perfect colours used.
Love the gorgeous border on this amazing card..
Pam xx

Glenda said...

I'm at a loss for words! I love this piece and have to tell you that the image just screams the holidays to me! I have little chickadees at my feeder right now so this is very special. You have created a beautiful piece of art my friend.

Sherri said...

Absolutely gorgeous! You have turned this stunning image into the perfect Xmas card! I adore that beautiful edge and it looks perfect the way it is! I can almost hear the sweet little bird singing you have colored him so beautifully .

laurie said...

So pretty! I love the softly falling snowflakes!

Traci M said...

Chickadees are the sweetest birds, and you colored this one up so beautifully, Leslie! I love the pointillism background...so creative!! A beautiful card and ready to mail...I am impressed!

Evelyn S. said...

This is absolutely precious! It is so realistic of the chickadee, too. (We spent all of Thanksgiving week in Newport..in the pouring rain...so I have a lot of catching up to do.)

Conniecrafter said...

He is absolutely Gorgeous, awesome coloring, I love the way you do your shading around the image and the snowflakes are the perfect touch to it. Love the wood paper behind and the style of border you used, gives it that garden, nature feel even more!

Donna Ellis said...

Gorgeous and "tweet", Leslie - your coloring ALWAYS melts my little heart - so beautiful, soft, and yet intense - just wonderful in every way. This little chickadee is one of my faves. We enjoy them all winter in our yard as well, and it makes me happy just watching them, as they take turns in the feeders. I especially like your little "dots" along the bottom of your card - like music dancing in the air, or perhaps tiny seeds making indentations in the snow that the bird is watching. Wonderful design, my dear friend! hugs, de

Diane said...

Wow Leslie your colored chickadee is just gorgeous. We have lots of birds also, I can't keep the feeder filled.

Hugs diane

Diane said...

Wow Leslie your colored chickadee is just gorgeous. We have lots of birds also, I can't keep the feeder filled.

Hugs diane

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

Another beautiful bird card - I love them. I so enjoy the nuthatches we have but felt bad for them in the snow yesterday we woke up to. Only an inch which made things look so pretty and then fortunately melted away. The bracket border really set the card!

Linda Carson said...

I just purchased this one during her sale. Wish I could do it justice like this beauty! Wish I could do this amazing shading too! Wow that's gorgeous Leslie!

Pretty Paper Junkie said...

Awesome! You have expressed your love of nature over and over again in your beautiful cards and this one is no exception. I will have to study that background more. I really love it!

Stacy Morgan said...

Gorgeous... I knew the minute we got this you would do it up fabulous and you did. Gorgeous coloring, love the woodgrain background and the SB edge. Just awesome.

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, Leslie, I remember seeing this in my in-box (that is so full yet), and I LOVE your amazing coloring! Like Gail, I am going to study this gorgeous background that is so beautiful (love the almost mottled look and how it blends so beautifully together with your image). And I actually love the border just the way it is. Beautifully done, sweet friend! Yes, I know how much you LOVE the birds, and you are blessed to hear them sing. Wishing you a blessed and joyful Christmas, my friend! Hugs! xoxo

Linda E said...

This is so beautiful, Leslie! I especially love the snow and the way you shaded the background.