Sunday, March 01, 2015

Hints of Spring


Hi everyone.  Time for a new challenge at Mixed Media Card Challenge - #9 - Hints of Spring with optional element:  bird.




Officially it's still winter here, but we have had a very mild winter and the plants are totally confused by the warm weather and have started sprouting. :)  The leaves are starting to come out on the trees, and lots of little birds are returning from down south.  Even my camellia bush is confused and thinks it's spring as it is in full bloom. :)

I am celebrating this warm weather with lots of leaves on my card. :)  The background is Brushos watercolour crystals that I sprayed with a shimmer mist to add a bit of sparkle.  Then I sponged bright green over top of a leafy stencil.  I received this bird die as a gift from my friend Susan --- thanks Susan!!  I cut it from white card stock and then sponged the bottom with soft brown, and along the top with dark brown.  Then I took my blender pen and added strokes of more shades of brown so it hopefully looks a bit like feathers.

I die-cut the branch from dark brown and sponged the same ink over top to give it some interest.  Then I die-cut dark green leaves, drawing in the vein lines with my marker and sponging more of the same colour along the edges to give the leaves some visual depth.  I shaped them with my stylus and mat and then glued them onto the branch.  The bird looks happy perched among the leaves. :)

I hope you'll make a mixed media spring card and join us!  So fun!! :)







Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White (Neenah; Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press); Early Espresso and Garden Green (SU!)
Ink:  Turquoise (Brushos), Gumball Green, Early Espresso, Garden Green, Crumb Cake (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, Leafy stencil (cut with my Silhouette Cameo), sponges; Grove Branch die, Tender Leaves die, Perched Reed Bird die (all from Memory Box), blender pen (SU!)

19 comments:

Stamps and Paper said...

Just love your card Loll, your background colours and leaves are stunning and your little bird just finishes off your card beautifully

Anne

shirley-bee said...

Beautiful card, Loll! Love the 3D-ness of the leaves and how they extend beyond the background panel. Beautifully coloured bird, too!

Brenda said...

Wow, this is so beautiful Loll and very spring like! It is winter in full swing here in PA. Snowing like crazy as I type this. lol We should be heading into spring, but it looks like our March is coming in like a lion so I can only hope that it goes out like a lamb! lol I'm sick of winter and wish we were having your mild winter. Nothing and I do mean nothing is in bloom here. Keeping my fingers crossed that this is our last snow storm and that I will be seeing scenes like your card soon! Hugs, Brenda

Anita in France said...

This is so lovely, Loll ... the bird-on-a-branch is is gorgeous against those background sponged leaves ... so much dimension! Anita :)

Deepti said...

Oh so pretty!!! Love it

Julia Aston said...

I feel like I'm in the cool spring woods looking at this wonderful creation Loll! (I wish I could say we are having warmer weather - we still have 6' piles of snow - with 2-5" coming tonight into tomorrow! AACCHH!!!

nancy littrell said...

Gorgeous background for your diecut branch, leaves and sweet bird. TFS all your details too Loll.

Cathy said...

Wonderful card Loll, love the shading on the bird and leaves, gives so much dimension. Your brushos background is gorgeous, Cathy x

Carol said...

A beautiful card Loll, love the bird on the branch. Carol x

Bonnie said...

Love the beautiful background and all the texture you've achieved on the leaves and the bird! It does look like feathers! Wow!

My Paper Epiphany said...

Stunning card! I love everything - the background, the leaves and the bird - totally FAB!

Anonymous said...

love the birdy Loll. Love the card!

Bobby said...

The bird is so perfect, Loll, but those leaves...I feel like I could pick them right off the card they are so realistic.

AJ Bodine said...

Gorgeous, the bird and leaves look so realistic! Perfect spring card!

Anonymous said...

SO pretty Loll!! Love all those leaves, they look so real!

Far North said...

Such a pretty neighborhood for your lovely bird. I enjoy all the texture and dimension!!!
TFS!

MaryH said...

Definitely portrays Spring to my eyes! Loving that delightful bird perched on the leafy greens and that brusho back ground is totally awesome. The glimmer certainly does shine through. TFS & Hugs

sannalippert said...

this is such a pretty card, Loll! Love your style!

maria f. said...

Bring on the green! Well there's my answer - your bushes are already blooming? Wow. Enjoy!