Today all Monday type feelings and incidents have been waived. It is an extremely special non-Monday-esque day, because today we are wishing our friends at Sweet 'n Sassy a happy birthday with a blog hop!
I am so glad I've gotten to know the sweet and sassy girl behind Sweet 'n Sassy - Korin - because I just adore her and we both speak FLUENT LOLcat!
In honor of her birthday blog hop, I decided to rock your world with some crazy facts today!
I found this article called 5 Nature Facts Kids' Authors Should Tattoo on their Forearms. It's fantastic. She talks about the most common mistakes people make when representing nature in children's books.
Since I stumbled across this article while searching for the proper coloring for a bluebird, I found this one the most fascinating - bluebirds are not all blue. She points out that the only head to toe blue bird on our continent is the indigo bunting.
One day, in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, I startled an indigo bunting when I was walking back to my dorm.
I truly thought I was having some sort of out of body experience because I have never, before or since, seen anything so beautiful in nature. To call that color blue doesn't even do it justice. It is an electric, other worldly blue, and until I got back to the library to look it up (yes, little chickens, we used to have to go to the library to look things up) I thought maybe it was an exotic escaped parrot or perhaps a sign from heaven. I'd love to see one again.
Indigo bunting photo courtesy BillMarchel.com
Anyway, the next most beautiful bird in the world, is, in fact, the bluebird, whom God was nice enough to color in my absolute favorite complementary color combo!
Here is the illustration from the article above:
And here is my stamped version of him! I loved this little bluebird so much, the only other color I used on the image was grey.
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Praise the Lord Ink: Memento Paper: Stampin' Up! DSP, Whisper White Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, SU Rhinestones, ShinHan Touch Twin Markers: B66, B143 YR24, CG0, CG1, CG3, 0
Isn't he gorgeous? I was actually proud of his little hiney when I was done!! If you listen carefully, you can hear him tweeting happy birthday to the Sweet 'n Sassy peeps!!
So do YOU want to say happy birthday to them? Because if you stop by everyone on the hop, some SERIOUS prizes await four of you! You have until 11:59 PM on November 9th to hop so you better head to the next person on the list - my sweet friend Harriet! If you want to start at the beginning, start at Korin's blog and take the whole tour!
Here is the full list of hoppers!
In the meantime, please remember that the bluebird of happiness is chock full of orange!! Next thing you know, I'll reveal that the moon is not, in fact, made of cheese! Stay tuned!
Loveyameanitbye.
Oh, Lydia - you make me laugh - Mondayesque, it's my new fav word!!
ReplyDeleteAnd indigo buntings could just turn me into a bird watcher! LOOOOOVE your pretty bluebird and how you kept him STAR of the show, gorgeous!!!
Lovely bluebird and really just pops!!
ReplyDeleteLove the way you did the bluebird, he is awesome colored that way, but I must agree that the Indigo Bunting is a show stopper. I had one blow in after a horrible storm, a few years back. He stayed around for 3 days and I was glues to my window!
ReplyDeleteI love the bluebird. He is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful coloring on your bluebird and great background on it as well!!
ReplyDeleteYour card is absolutely beautiful! I love that fabulous electric blue bird!!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great card! Love that electric blue bird, you've coloured him perfectly!
ReplyDeleteStunning photo and brilliant coloring on the card!
ReplyDeletethanks Lydia for the bit of trivia-I have never seen an indigo bunting-it's beautiful as is your card
ReplyDeleteblujays are the common ones here in Pittsburgh
nice card and stunning photo !
ReplyDeleteYour card is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJessie G.
goodjessie at hotmail.com
Gorgeous birdie and card!
ReplyDeleteHugs and smiles
I love birds and your card is pretty.
ReplyDeleteLoved the information about the bluebird. You have definitely done him justice with your colouring. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeletethanks for the information on the bluebird.
ReplyDeleteyou had me at the special non Mondayesque.............your beautiful electric blue bird (yes it's blue) is gorgeous!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, That is an awesome picture. I never knew about the bluebird. Your bluebird coloring is magnificent. I love it , What an awesome job you have done. thank you so much for sharing it with us. What a blessing.
ReplyDeleteHugs Cathy K
What a beautiful card, love the blue bird and thanks for sharing it and the pictures of the other blue bird.
ReplyDeleteSweet little bird on your card and that indigo bunting is quite indignant looking (but adorable!) *smile*
ReplyDeleteWV: meshing
The indigo bunting looks like he's thinking, "Don't anybody be meshing with me!"
Gorgeous card Lydia. That bluebird is so pretty! The coloring is awesome! Love the paper and the blings. :o)
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful coloring! Your card is lovely!
Wishing you a happy day!
Hugs,
Barbara Diane
Very pretty card and great coloring of your blue bird.
ReplyDeleteStunning! You did an amazing job coloring.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous design Lydia...love this image...it's one of the first Sweet 'n Sassy digi images I purchased! The subtle gray with the pop of bluebird color is so striking!
ReplyDeleteShing! I love your bird...he is too cute for words.
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous card! I love how you coloured your bird so beautifully and made him pop from the card:)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous coloring on your bird.
ReplyDeleteLoveyameanitbye!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!
Love that bird... and your creative wit, talent!
em
God is amazing!! The card is stunning, I love how with God's beautiful gift and your God given gift is the product of an amazing bluebird card. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletemy goodness! this is so striking and beautiful!
ReplyDeletehugs and kisses from germany,
silvi xoxo
"little chickens" BWAHAHAHA! I miss the days of going to libraries and fondling the pages of books. I was very proud that I knew where to find what reference books. Ah, the good ole days, eh?
ReplyDeleteThis bird is A-MA-ZING! It's like a blue-topped robin! Nicely done!
That blue just pops off the page! What a great card!
ReplyDeleteYour bluebird is just stunning--your coloring is just amazing!
ReplyDeleteChris L.
Isn't Rochester the coolest place - after all, we have that completely blue bird! AND garbage plates!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat card -great coloring!
Lydia, your card is a stunner, and I really loved reading your post about seeing the indigo bunting. Your blue bird is colored so beautifully and complimented by the perfect papers and embellishments! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteYour card is stunning! I enjoyed your bird facts! I did know that the blue bird isn't completely blue. We have quite a few in our neighborhood. I never get tired of looking at them. We don't get many in our yard, I guess they like the more open fields and we have too many trees. I think you did a lovely job coloring in the blue bird!
ReplyDeleteLydia - AWESOME!! You used my favorite color!! Beautiful card~
ReplyDelete...its a colorful card without being too colorful.. great job..
ReplyDeletemitz_zee@yahoodotcom
Great coloring!
ReplyDeletelove that you colored the bird, but left the branch uncolored! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting and fun blog!~ I learned a little and loved your coloring on the bluebird for SNS's birthday celebration!~
ReplyDeleteI cant tell if my comment went through or not!~ What an interesting blog. Your coloring of the SNS bluebird is awesome.. even that dash of orange..
ReplyDeleteWow, your bluebird is absolutely gorgeous (.... and I remember back to the days pre-Google too!)
ReplyDeleteWell your bluebird is definitely colored to perfection!8-)
ReplyDeleteJust Gorgeous! And thanks so much or the great info! Very cool. 8-)
Hugs
Shannon
Love the card! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great card, I love the bold color elements among the grey. Gorgeous! And what do you mean about the moon not being made of cheese? Pshaw! :) Cheers
ReplyDeleteWow! The colors on that bird are breathtaking! Love your card, too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card, Lydia! I LOVE that bird image and you've colored him perfectly!
ReplyDeleteSuch a BEAUTIFUL little bluebird! Korin illustrates our little feathered friends so beautifully doesn't she? And you certainly know how to color them in magnificently!
ReplyDeleteYou are a great storyteller. I love the picture of the Indigo bird. Your card is really beautiful, especially the gray background with bright blue. GREAT JOB!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird photo and bird card.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Peggy Allen
Lydia, this is so beautiful!! Love, love, love how you colored!!
ReplyDeleteLydia, You crack me up! I love to blog hop and smile at the same time :) Love your blue bird, looks just like the one who lives next door to me in the summertime, he comes and sits in the telephone wire and chats with me while I drink my morning tea. That aside, your card is just beautiful and depicts the lovely male just as he is. Thanks for sharing - cards and smiles!
ReplyDeleteWhat PERFECT color on the bird!!! Very pretty!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card and beautiful coloring! I have never heard of or seen (probably too cold here) an indigo bunting. It's truly a unique and gorgeous little bird!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!! I saw one of them 1 time and it was truly amazing! Your card is beautifully done! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful card...it's making me feel like Spring again!
ReplyDeleteYou are to funny! And I adore your true bluebird! TFS!
ReplyDeleteKris in Alaska
funamom at yahoo dot com
The Indigo Bunting is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for sharing that bit of information with us.
ReplyDeleteYour bluebird card is stunning!!!
Love your post. You made my morning. So much humor and lessons to be learned. Your blue (orange) bird is beautiful. You sure did make him pop. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteLydia, this creation is beautiful. Like the clean and simple look to this, the bluebird just pops off the card!
ReplyDeleteThe bluebird is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I was amazed at the Blue Bunting in the picture you had posted. What a beautiful Bird, I have never had the priveledge of seeing such a bird. You did a great jog on the Blue Bird God's creations are so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card! Your blog cracks me up! I love your sense of humor and I also enjoy the informative parts as well!
ReplyDeleteOMG Lydia not only do I get to look at your lovely creations, I get to learn stuff too!!! Never heard of the Indigo Bunting and it is gorgeous!!! Your coloring of the SNSS bluebird is outstanding! Your card is gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteOh, and BTW, we have a ton of Blue Jays here - they are beautiful but screechy little boogers!!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you used the colors with the black and white.
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS coloring of the bluebird! And love the flowers! The whole card is stunning! The bluebird really makes things pop!!
ReplyDeleteWow, I really learned something today ... and it wasn't just about crafting. Thanks for the "blue" bird info.
ReplyDeleteBTW ... You did a marvelous job coloring your bird. I think the idea of going with gray for the rest of the card was perfect. It makes it POP!
WOW!!! Your sweet little blue bird is STUNNING and I love all the gray and how he just pops off the page with one of my fav complimentary colors, which just so happens to be accented all over our home! :)
ReplyDeleteGirlie, you ROCKED this card! It is beeee-yond beautiful!!
ReplyDeletewonderful,wonderful,wonderful..........thank you
ReplyDeleteGreat job-I love birds!
ReplyDeleteLove your bluebird!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty bird! Love the different colors - DELIGHTFUL! sO PRETTY!
ReplyDeleteLove the blue bird card! I have this stamp and will work on recreating your wonderful idea. Thanks
ReplyDeleteWow, such a beautiful card & bird!! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThat indigo bunting is WOW!! But if you think your bluebird isn't all blue, check out the European goldfinch. It's about as gold as your bluebird is pink, or red, or white :D.
ReplyDeleteAlmost any bird card rocks my boat, and your fabulous blue with those cool greys is no exception.