Monday, January 16, 2012

Less is More 50

The challenge at Less is More is to make a one layer card with the theme of birds.  While visiting family in Portland over New Years, I stopped in at Craft Warehouse, one of my favorite craft stores.  They often seem to have the items I can't find at the other chain craft stores.  All of the Christmas stamps were on clearance, and I picked up two winter scenery stamps by Northwoods Stamps.  I love that I got them on after Christmas clearance, yet they work for non-Christmas cards as well!

I had to have this beautiful stamp called 'eagle pair.'  We're lucky to live on a narrow peninsula in Puget Sound.  Living so close to the water, eagles are abundant here and an eagle nest is visible from the lower part of our yard.  We love watching them soar over us and seeing young ones in their first flights.

Coloring is not my strong suit, but I gave it a go with Prismacolor pencils, adding just a bit of color to the stream, sky, trees, and of course the eagle pair.  I'm not thrilled with my sky, but it will do.  I added a touch of sparkle to the snow with a Sakura clear sparkle pen.  It doesn't show at all in the picture, so I took a close-up to try to capture it.  I love that bit of sparkle. :)


It is a cold and frosty morning here in the Pacific Northwest.  There is a light dusting of snow on the ground and more snow is predicted in the coming days.  We often go a whole winter without seeing any snow at all, so of course the kids are excited!  When I took the dog out this morning, our eagle pair was screeching in the trees above me.  Such beautiful birds.  Here is a photo I took of them last spring, when they were sitting high up in one of the trees in our yard.


Thanks for visiting today.

Supplies:
Paper: PTI white
Stamps: Northwoods eagle pair, PTI sentiment
Ink: Making Memories
Other: Prismacolor pencils, Sakura sparkle pen

22 comments:

Judy1223 said...

Ann, this card is fabulous! I think your coloring is superb, and the glitter adds just the right sparkle, just as you see on a snowy day. Those eagles are so majestic, aren't they? How lucky for you to see them...no eagles where I live in NJ!

Jenny said...

Oh My goodness I so want to visit you know, what magnificent birds to have in your neighbourhood...sort of knocks a sparrowhawk into a tin hat doesn't it!!!
Beautiful card Ann, the touch of colour is just right and perfectly done too :)
Jenny x

Julie said...

What a lovely stamp and your colouring looks lovely to me! The glitter is just right! It makes a stunning card!
We live by the sea and often see the sea eagles soaring above us and resting in our trees while they eat the fish they catch. I agree they are magnificent birds.

Bastelengel said...

what a scene. wow. great coloring.

Mandi said...

Sensational Ann
Love your card, what a stuning scene

Many thanks
mandi
"Less is More"

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

WOW a fabulous card and fabulous photos, now that's what I call living amongst nature, just wonderful

Chrissie said...

This is gorgeous Ann... what a superb stamp and you have coloured it superbly.
Wonderful photo too!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"

Rosemary said...

wow... what a gorgeous card, ann!!! love the added glitter on the snow... and the photo of the eagle pair is amazing. lately we have had a hawk frequenting our yard...

Darnell said...

Simply amazing! That stamp was certainly meant for you wasn't it? How lucky and blessed you are to have these birds AND nests AND babies where you can see them in person - WOW. Your card does them justice!

Vicky Hayes said...

Ann - what a wonderful card! I think your use of colour is absolutely brilliant and I love the touch of sparkle too. How lucky you are to have such a birds eye (!) view of these magnificent birds. Thanks for sharing the photo.

lostinpaper said...

Totally awesome! I can't believe this is OLC, you have created such depth, I LoVe it!

Sarn said...

WOW . . . beautiful card. Fab pictures xxx

Andrea Estensen said...

Stunning- simply stunning.

Maribel said...

Precious, I love it¡¡¡¡

Viv said...

OMG - how gorgeous is this? Stunning card - and am not happy cos we don't seem to have anywhere that stocks Northwood Stamps here in the UK - cos I have GOT to have these stamps!! Off for a trawl to find somewhere to get them......

Pretty Paper Junkie said...

Love your card! The sky is perfect. Northwoods has fantastic stamps. I also liked reading the story you have for the card.
Great post. Great card!

Viv said...

Beautiful card and wow how lucky you are to live near the eagles, great photo too :O) Viv xx

Heather T said...

What a gorgeous stamp, and you have done the perfect amount of colouring to make your card absolutely beautiful.

Pauline said...

Gorgeous, love the sparkle too.

Deborah Frings said...

Ann - this is stunning! I love the subtle colouring and touch of sparkle.

The eagles look magnificent - you're so lucky to have such amazing birds close by!

Kathyk said...

Stunning card and a FABULOUS photo too

Kathyk

Suzilou said...

This card is stunning, I love the image and the colouring is brilliant and love that touch of sparkle.

How amazing to be living so close to these beautiful birds, you are very lucky :)