Monday, November 14, 2016

Just keep practicing...

Hello once again...

It is so beautiful here in San Antonio right now.
The weather has cooled down, the sky is just a very beautiful blue and there are still lots of flowers all around. I am enjoying it a lot!!! But, my friends in Michigan told me this weekend that it's getting pretty cool (in the 40's) and it's time to keep those coats and scarves hung up by the door. I kind of shudder when I hear that, but thre is a beauty to being in the cold weather around the Holidays,  The cold, the wind and the leaves swirling around make it really feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think it helps to build that excitement because everything around you tells you that it's THAT TIME OF THE YEAR!!!

I find it much harder to get in the spirit of Christmas around here, when it's still warm outside and we don't even need a sweatshirt to go for our walk in the morning. But the true meaning of Christmas doesn't change... and we need to make Christmas special no matter where we are.

I'm going to stop feeling sorry for myself now and focus on makig great memories where we are and with the family we have here. We moved to San Antonio to be closer to our daughter and her family and we are very happy that we did that. It is working out wonderfully, God has blessed us all abundantly and we have had a great year. So I am gathering ideas for decorating and started making some frosty and Christmas-y cards to get me in the mood.

I am really working on my watercoloring. I am not a natural. My coloring doesn't just come together and look wonderful. But I am bound and determined to get good enough so that I am happy with it. Watercoloring is my most favorite medium. There is not much I don't love about paper crafts. I love to use a lot of the different mediums that are out there, but my overall favorite, and the main point in almost everything I do, is watercolor. I have taken many classes, but have not mastered any of it. BUT I AM NOT GIVING UP. I WILL WORK AT IT UNTIL IT GETS LOTS AND LOTS BETTER!!!

So here is this card that features a bird on a branch. I knew exactly how I wanted the card to look... and that came out ok, but the pine cones would NOT cooperate at all!!! I loooovve the little bird, but I want him to come out better next time. I added embossing paste and glitter to the pinecones... if you're not happy with a pine cone... just add glitter!!!!




The stamp is a Penny Black stamp.
And that little bird is just the cutest little bird ever!!!

Here are the challenges I am entering with this card:
http://thepencilcases.blogspot.ca/  Anything goes with a colored image
http://caswatercolour.blogspot.ca/  Text on card (not a sentiment)
http://casmixup.blogspot.com/   Stamping, masking + choice
     3 Penny Black stamps (bird and berries are separate); bird was masked to have the greenery     
      come up over his tummy; I used embossing paste and glitter to cover parts of the pine cones.
      
Please let me know you've been here and if you are also struggling to get some technique come out just right!!!

Be blessed,
Elena


9 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful bird, Elena! I love how you've placed him on the branch and he looks like he's singing his heart out! It looks to me like you are beyond struggling! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up and Cas Watercolour!

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  2. Lovely card!
    Thank you for joining us at The Pencil Case! Jane (DT) xxx

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  3. Your bird is gorgeous, the watercoloring is a success, well done :D
    Beautifully done, thanks for joining us at the CAS Mix Up Challenge! xx

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  4. Hi Elena. That bird is the cutest!! Great job watercolouring and masking to create the pine cones, berries and branches all around him. The pine cones look great with the added paste and glitter. And thanks for sharing with us at CAS Watercolour and CAS Mix Up!

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  5. Such a pretty bird and pinecone Christmas image, Elena. TFS and joining us at CAS Mix Up and CAS Watercolour. I agree...glitter on pinecones always works :-) Hugs, Nancy

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  6. Christmass spirit ? OMG is mid November ...

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  7. Great watercoloring here - and of course sparkle on the pinecones is a must!! Thanks for playing with us at CAS Watercolor Challenge!

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  8. This is such a beautiful creation thank you so much for taking the time to join in with us over at The Pencil Case.

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Thank you for taking the time to leave me your thoughts.