Thursday 9 February 2017

Kingfisher!

Hello Everyone, I do hope all is well with you and yours and that you're not feeling the cold too much with this yet again change in the weather.

Thank you all for your visits and comments, I love reading them and appreciate the time you take to pop in. For anyone who does visit, please leave a comments as I can then pop in to your blog and see what you make.

My goodness the daylight is stretching, I've just closed the curtains at 5.30, and just a smidgen of light left, yep Spring is around the corner.

There has been loads of excitement at Chocolate Baroque as they have launched new stamps, some of you may have watched Hochanda and seen Lesley crating gorgeous pieces with them. I treated myself to the whole set, not something I do normally, but I could see such possibilities for all of them and there was the flexi buy on, so it would have been silly not to have taken advantage. Anyhow here is my first card made with the Star of the Show.... The Kingfisher;
I've incorporated stamps from two CB sets, Kingfishers Song, which includes the birdie himself and the bridge, the cottage comes from The Gift of Christmas and instead of a snowy cottage I've made it an anytime one. The birds are from Inkylicious and I felt just gave the scene a finishing touch.
I've coloured with Kuritaki Gansi Watercolours and put a little Star Dust on the water. Mounted on to Royal Blue Centura Pearl card.

I wondered if the perspective of the cottage wasn't quite right, but I've gone for it anyway, what do you thinks. Alistair thought it was very "nice"...... never has he used that word before, he went on to explain that it was rather "flat", it wasn't popping out. I'm open to constructive criticism, as I'm very new to creating scenes and I am conscious of having difficulty in making my colours more vivid.

Well it's mince and tattie tonight, done in the slow cooker as I've been over to puppy mind, I can hardly believe that Rowan had only been with us a month, 7th January she arrived, It seems like sh has been here of yonks.  

I'll say cheerio for now, have a lovely evening and see you soon,


29 comments:

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

This is stunning Kate, It's hard to believe that you're new to scenes. I think the perspective is absolutely perfect and your colouring is spot on too, I love it. I taped all of the CB shows and watched them later but I loved the stamps and the samples were superb. If this is one of your first cards, then I can't wait to see what's to come, it's fabulous. Congratulations too on being in the top three at Fashionable Stamping Challenges. Crafty hugs, Sandra x

Valerija said...

This is gorgeous! Love the scene.
Valerija xx

Lorraine said...

A gorgeous scenic card Kate.
Lorraine x

meg said...

Men just don't seem to know what to say! fantastic card Kate, the scene is beautiful absolutely right in every way.

dutchess said...

You are being too hard on yourself Kate ...it's a lovely scene and I think combining the different stamps has made a great composition...be proud!.....it's just started snowing here...what!....never mind I will just spend the time in my craft room....keep warm xxxxx

Mac Mable said...

Yes I agree the nights are drawing out..ye ha! Do so love your scene. I think it was really clever to use the cottage more for anytime and not just for winter. The kingfisher is glorious and your whole scene has been wonderfully coloured in and the pop of star dust finishes it off beautifully. I think with the tree just slightly in front of the cottage makes the perspective work and until I read you blog really did not see anything 'wrong' with it and in fact quite the contrary....it's gorgeous x Enjoy the mince and tattie's x

Marianne's Craftroom said...

Hi Kate thanks for all your visits whilst I ave been away. Lovely to see you popping over so often. This is really lovely. My only thought is that the bird seems a bit big for the cottage, is that what you mean? Maybe if the cottage was a bit further back would be more in perspective. Well done on creating a scene, if you know what I mean 😀 x

Linda Simpson said...

This is gorgeous Kate, love the kingfisher.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Flo Langley said...

Gorgeous card Kate. Fabulous perspective and composition. The king fisher is a lovely focal point. Great mixing of the stamps.
Hugs Flo x

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

Hi Kate, of course I don't mind you getting in touch. Annie is the prize winner chosen at random and you are in the Design Team's Top 3. We all loved your fabulous card. Crafty hugs, Sandra x

Flo Langley said...

Hi Kate, me again. Just sent you a message on fb.
Flo x

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

Sorry Kate, I forgot to mention that if you would like to leave a comment, then you need to click on the bit that is highlighted under the three picks that says " * person has commented etc. X

cotnob said...

A gorgeous card Kate, such a beautiful Kingfisher, you have created a fabulous scene for him.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Viv said...

Stunning scene - perfectly coloured. Love it.

Pat said...

I love the look of this scene and the colouring is so pretty and the soft colours suit it perfectly Kate. I am thinking of getting at least one of the sets when they are on sale at CB. I think there is so much you can do with them and the Kingfisher is a bird I really adore. x

pam said...

What a fabulous scene you have created on this beautiful card Kate, love the kingfisher and your wonderful colouring.
Hugs Pam x

Wendy L said...

This is gorgeous Kate.
Our nights are starting to draw out now, roll on Spring, xxx

Jenny L said...

Hi Kate,
oh what a wonderful card, and your scene is gorgeous.
Love the wonderful Kingfisher and the colouring is super too.
Love the sparkle on the water also.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

Pen Sunshinepen said...

Hi Kate, first of all thank you for popping over to my blog and sorry not to be on the ball in replying. But here I am now. What a lovely card so love that kingfisher. Yes I did watch the TV the other day and what a great show and demos.
Have a great day xx

aussie aNNie said...

Oh wow Kate, this is one stunning scene card and love that kingfisher, your colours are beautiful.xx{aNNie}

Barb said...

Hello Kate, I did see the shows on Hochanda and they really are beautiful stamps. Well done you for treating yourself. Your card is really beautiful and he certainly is a very handsome chap. Barbxx

Jennifer Johnston said...

A beautiful scene you have created Kate, so pretty. I love Kingfishers, so colourful. Have a lovely weekend.
Hugs Jennifer xx.

Karen Petitt said...

It's a beautiful card Kate and you have watercoloured the whole scene beautifully huni - why are you worrying about it I don't know! I love kingfishers too, they are such gorgeous majestic beasties and I adore them! Those new CB stamps are stunning and I think I may have to purchase some eventually lol!

I love to make a lot of scenes myself and there is only one thing I would do differently but I don't want to put you off or have you berate or beat yourself up over it, I know you do it, all us crafters do the 'oh but i made this mistake/error', it has taken me more than fifteen years to learn to say thank you for card compliments.

Next time try to leave a gap between the end of the kingfishers beak and the tree on your beautiful cottage - it would imply more depth that way - I hope I have explained it okay and I really want to see more of these from you Kate so I will forever nag you if we don't see more of them soon!

For your first go this is blooming stunning and I can't wait to see more xx

Sandy said...

Wow! You sure have put in a lot of work on this fantastic scene card. I only wish I could do as well!! Have I told you that I would love to have a cottage in Scotland!!!
Sandy xx

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Kate
I'm no expert but it looks super to me. A beautiful scene and beautiful bird.
Have a great weekend.
Ang x

MaryH said...

Kate, your watercoloring is awesome. You've got some superb shading and I understand your thoughts about the perspective. (maybe putting some dimensional tape on another fussy cut bird & laying over top of this one?) However, I don't think it looks all _that_ flat, as the bird is in the foreground and your cottage & tree in the background. I agree with all who said you were too hard on yourself. I don't find w/color shading easy at all, and you've done that very well in this most complex scene. Good job all round I'd say! TFS

Diane said...

Oh my gosh this is just fabulous Kate.

Hugs Diane

Sue said...

Kate, love the scene you have created! Scene stamping is a challenge for those of us that aren't artists! But I have learned that you can experiment and learn new tricks. Your card turned out so lovely, makes you wish you were there!

Hugs
Sue

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi Kate you've used some lovely stamps to create a beautifully coloured scene, well done. I've read through the comments and agree with Marrianne, and Karen.
Another thing which may help you... I've done a fair bit of Stampscapes which is scene building and I stamp the scene out on a scrap piece a trial scene first to make sure the perspective and depth are sorted ok in my layout and scarcth notes on it and save it for future reference.
Saves the old grey matter when it doesnt remember 😉
Hope that helps and certainly reckon this is one excellent attempt.⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for sharing your inspiration!
Shaz in Oz.x

{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}