Bluebird Baby Rescue!

 

Today as I was feeding the chickens I noticed this little guy hopping around by my garden shed.  His little baby wing was slightly injured so I picked him up (before my rooster saw him) and was thinking about what to do.  I looked out into the field and saw a bluebird dancing around my cat, Ally's, head.  I ran out there and got Ally away from the other bluebird baby as it flew away!  So I realized that today was "flying lessons" for these 2 babies!  I watched them for a little while and throughout the day - out in the field and the nearby wooded area.  They were so cute!

Baby Owl Rescue!

Someone found this baby owl in the road and brought it to me thinking I would know what to do! The only thing I knew to do was to take it to the Animal Rescue Shelter. He was so cute and I really wanted to keep him (like I do all critters), but I figured he needed some special care!

Painted Bunting at my feeder!

I haven't seen a painted bunting since I lived in south Florida!  I was so delighted to see this little guy hanging around all morning with his girl too (not pictured).  The photo quality is not that great but you can still see him pretty good!  I didn't see him again after this day.  I love painted buntings, they have every color in the rainbow!

Something to Sing About!

Another new spring release from Tiffany Doodles! This Cheery Bird Digital Stamp Set comes with 4 different birds plus the sentiment!!  (In my card I used the same bird 3 times!)

Warbler Sneak Peak!

Today's Tiffany Doodles sneak peak is the Warbler w/Cherry Blossoms! I made this shabby chic card with bright spring colors!  I even used my sewing machine to zigzag stitch around the edges!  The pretty yellow flower is by Petaloo!  This beautiful bird will be in the store on Friday!! Can't wait!  Another sneak peak tomorrow!

Guess who's Guest Designer at Copic Creations?

Me! Not only am I the Guest Designer, but Tiffany Doodles is also the official sponsor for this July 1 challenge! The theme is "Birds" and each of their Team Members has chosen one of my bird digi stamps to create some beautiful and inspirational cards! Be sure to check out their blog for some inspiration!

For my card I chose the Warbler 2 stamp and colored this beautiful little guy true to life, bright yellow all over! This is a male yellow warbler and has a few brown streaks on his belly, the females have very faint brown streaks! Yellow warblers are so cute & are often mistaken for 'wild canaries'.  They make a beautiful fast chipping call/song that sounds like "sweet-sweet-sweet summer sweet".  You could say I'm a bird lover/watcher, and I really enjoy photographing them.  You'll find lots of bird digi stamps at Tiffany Doodles with tons more on the way!  The sentiment for my card was inspired by my trip to Bath & Body works this past weekend, they are having a "hello yellow" sale!  When you walk into the store instead of saying "hello" they say "yellow".  Cute.

Here are a few details about my card.  I created a 3.75" square document in Photoshop b/c I planned to use my Nestabilities Die Cut (standard large circle set) to cut out a circle around the sentiment.  (I used the 3.75" die cut).  In photoshop, I drew a circle path and typed my sentiment along the path.  Then drew another path and typed a long line of dots around that path.  Next, I brought in my digi and pasted it in the middle and resized to fit.  You'll notice a small touch of his tail is sticking out over the edge.  Before I die cut the circle shape I cut around the very edge of the tail and lifted it over the metal die cut so that the tail wouldn't cut off.

Next, I printed an additional bird in the same size so I could place it on top of the first one to add a little dimension.  I colored this bird and cut out with my sharp scissors and smeared on some yellow stickles with my finger.  While the birdie was drying his feathers, I did a little stitching with some light red embroidery thread.  After sewing the pretty paper to the die cut circle card stock I glued that onto a yellow piece of card stock .  Next I punched 1 1/2" circles on white card stock and then glued my pretty paper on top of those for sturdiness.   Here is my material list:

• Warbler Digi Stamp - TiffanyDoodles.com
• Copics: Y08, Y15, E55
• Yellow Stickles
• Nestabilities Standard Circle Small
• Paper - My Minds Eye - Bloom & Grow
• Gina K white card stock
• Embroidery Thread, Needle, Paper Peircer
• 1 1/2" Circle Punch

Hope you like this card and my little yellow warbler! Check out Tiffany Doodles for more photo realistic birds and drawings.

Hummingbird Rescue!

I was upstairs in my studio working when a tiny hummingbird hit the window. I saw him take a nose dive into the grass several feet away, so I grabbed my camera and ran outside. Of course, I'd like to think I rescued him but I just held him while he gathered his senses. Then he took off up into the trees nearby. I think he'll be alright!

Hummingbird Rescue!

Yet another bird rescue event! This tiny Ruby Throated Hummingbird was trapped inside my garden shed. Even with the doors wide open he wouldn't go that direction. I do believe he had some kind of injury b/c he landed in an empty planter and couldn't manage to fly back out, although he tried.



So I picked up the planter and took it outside thinking he would just fly away when he saw the sky. He didn't. So, I picked him up and managed to get this pic of me holding him before he flew off into the woods. I sure hope he is doing alright!

Red Bird rescue

Another little birdie hit my window today. It happens too often. Does anyone have any suggestions for this problem? I sat with this pretty cardinal until he felt better. Unfortunately, sometimes they aren't so lucky.

Indigo Bunting rescue

Laura and I were upstairs looking out the big windows and I saw the brightest bluest bird on the feeder. At first I thought it was a mountain bluebird. It turns out I was able to get a closer look and was able to determin that it was infact an Indigo Bunting. As it left the feeder it flew right in our direction and hit the window. We both screamed and I grabbed my little camera and headed outside. I was able to snap a few pics before I sat it on a branch at the edge of the woods. We watched it for a while and then flew away! =) I hope he stays around for the summer! We later saw it back at my feeder next to a bright red cardinal and a beautiful yellow American Goldfinch!! What a sight to see those bright colors all sharing a meal at my feeder!! I used to have a Painted Bunting that hung around my old house in Florida, now that is a colorful bird!

New Bird house

While we were at the Rattlesnake roundup yesterday. David got me a few goodies! One gift was this great birdhouse! It has 8 condos! We put it on a post that was already out in the field. Soon that post will be inside the cow fence!!
You can see Cornbread in the 2nd pic. He will follow you every step!

 

 

Birdhouse river rock

I made this little paper weight for David from a smooth river rock. After he gets his office moved he going to use it on his desk! After i photographed this rock and saw it up close i realized I probably should have worn some glasses to paint this little thing. The bird's beak is crooked and some of my other lines aren't even touching! haha! On the back is a little red heart and "your girl Tiff".

Red Breasted Nuthatch

This is a 12x12. I did this lesson from a book on oil painting. I don't do oils but i figured i could apply the lesson to watercolors instead!

This is a Red Breasted Nuthatch. I also did the one for David for Valentine's Day! He was really impressed with it!!

Blue Bird

I love this little blue bird! I did this with my watercolor pencils on a small 4x5" canvas. This is the first thing I've tried on canvas. I did this one by looking at a picture. So far, with all the paintings I've sketched them out with pencil really lightly before i try to paint.
I also duplicated this painting on a greeting card for my sister, Laura. I sent it to her for Valentine's Day! She loves Bluebirds. I miss her.

Cardinal

This cardinal was a fun project! Again, a lesson from the Terry Madden DVD. It is 11x15, the biggest painting i've tried yet! David was really impressed with this one! Of course, he loves them all! =) I actually framed this one and gave it to Granny for Valentine's Day. She loves Cardinals so she was happy!