Birds of Winter

I thought, since January 5 is National Bird Day, it would be fun to do a layout about cardinals, since they are such regal birds and fun to watch. Along with that, it would be fun try a new technique in my scrapbooking/mixed media. I have seen videos on You tube (I really like the one that Shannon Green does on Youtube--please do check it out, I like her method, and used that as inspiration for my background.)

Along with that, it would be fun try a new technique in my scrapbooking/mixed media. I have seen videos on You tube (I really like the one that Shannon Green does on Youtube--please do check it out, I like her method, and used that as inspiration for my background.)

For CSI challenge 222, I used red gems (recollection), stamping, snowflakes (stamped and acrylic) and red glitter paper to frame the photo (though the in the picture it doesn't show up that much.) For journaling, added gems to the journal spot and wrote about how in Chicago, cardinals are notable birds of winter. (While we do see house sparrows and blackbirds, Cardinals are by far the most striking, in their bright red feathers.) I happened to see one the other day.

                                       

I made the background by crumpling tissue paper, and then gluing it down to paper, which creates ridges, and then used oil pastels and stazon ink, to highlight that. Added in some blue as well. Added some layers around the picture (which is of a female cardinal), with cardstock, mesh and vellum (which i edged with ink to give a little more dimension. I fussy cut some cardinals from G45 Time to Flourish paper.

Then embellished with gems (recollections), Tim Holtz acrylic snowflakes and finished with a few splatters of red acrylic paint to finish. This was time-consuming, but fun to create. Sighting birds, is always a treat, and scrapping them is even better!

Birthday

My latest layout for csi is called Birthday, also the first csi layout of the year:
For my sister's birthday, we took her for a delicious pasta dinner, chocolate fondue, shopping
and dancing.

For the csi challange, I used small dots (made with modeling paste and a stencil). Enamel dots--recollections-- (either side of the "Birthday" title) Leaves, and string. I used dies to create the pink and green border (sizzix), a die to create the banner for the title and a die to create the yellow flowers.
I stamped the green and pink swirls and used pink gelatos to create the pink watercolor effect.
Finally, I journaled about my sister's birthday. The leaves are color me crazy (and I did! with peerless watercolor, pink and blue).
I don't know the manufacture of the swirl stamp, only that is was one I picked up from a really nice dollar store in Lombard that was in business for a short time. It was a very cool dollar store though....one of the few I have seen with a superb collection of scraping goodies.
Had lots of fun creating this, lovely colors, and bits to create with...

The csi challenge: