Author Archives: Sheila

Duck, Duck…

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Ducks in the yard, sheiladelgado.com

 

No goose yet, but you never know. These two have sunned in the backyard for three days now. “Daisy” also inspects the bushes and corners for possible nest sites while “Donald” follows diligently behind. They visited us last year as well.

Today they spent several hours in the pool. They don’t even mind when the pool vacuum is on. They would leave for a bit, and then return for another dip. Very calm, cool and collected. Quite the dandy duo.

I have spent the last couple of days “in class”. CreativeLive has offered their Photoshop Week 2016. FREE online classes. If I had been on the ball I would have mentioned it earlier, this is the last day.

CreativeLive often offers a free preview on a variety of subjects. I highly recommend it! Click on the “On Air” tab to see what is playing. I have learned so many tips and shortcuts this week. They have channels on photography, art, business, crafts, blogging. I love learning!

Happy Weekend to you!

 

 

 

 

Flower Frenzy

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Flowers-first

 

I volunteered to make mini flower bookmarks for Rachel’s bridal shower. Each guest is going to receive a small gift bag filled with goodies. We had paper scraps from making the invitations, couldn’t let them go to waste! The card stock has a nice linen texture on one side. I thought that would make a nice backing.

Step 1: cut watercolor paper 1 in. x 2.5 in.
Step 2: cut backing paper 1.25 in. x 2.75 in.
Step 3: paint flowers (I used acrylics)
Step 4: paint top area
Step 5: glue front to back place under a stack of books to dry.

flower mini bookmarks, sheiladelgado.com
Step 6: cover entire front area, (including the backing paper edges) with One Step Crackle paint. You want to have a fairly thick layer of that. Let dry.
Step 7: Choose a contrasting paint color from your artwork. I chose the dark color from my background area. Brush the color over the entire front area, (Do one at a time.) Quickly wipe off color with a paper towel. If you find some paint left that you don’t want, use a damp paper towel to clean it up. The paint settles highlights the cracks.

All-cracked-up

Step 8: I take an old pink nail file (fine grit) and clean up the edges of the bookmarks.
Step 9: cut magnetic tape (roll) to size. The tape has a sticky side, but you will need to glue it to the paper. Peel off the protective paper, and put a strip of all-purpose Tacky glue down the middle of the magnet. Place magnets under a stack of books to dry.

magnet strip on back

I made 45 , about a dozen extras just to be safe.

Finished magnet bookmark, sheiladelgado.com

 

 

 

A Bird In The Hand

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Is worth two in the bush.

Bushtits, Wildomar Ca

 

These little visitors keep peeking in our windows. They perch on the edge of the window, and take a good look before jumping back in the bush. There are usually four or five in the bush together. I don’t know much about birds, but I think these are Bushtits. Maybe that is too easy an answer. Found this description, on The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and it fits:

Bushtits are sprightly, social songbirds that twitter as they fly weakly between shrubs and thickets in western North America. Almost always found in lively flocks, they move constantly, often hanging upside down to pick at insects or spiders on the undersides of leaves. Flocks of Bushtits mix with similar small songbirds like warblers, chickadees, and kinglets while foraging.

Of course I know they are only checking themselves out in the glass. They are about 3 or 4 inches long. I learned that the females have light eyes, and the males are dark eyed. You can see in the bottom photos that we had a pair.

 

One bird, then two,
then three, now four.
Chirp, chirp, chirping,
just outside my door. 
I wonder where they came from.
I wonder where they will go. 
Just keep on wondering, I must,
For only the winged can know.
SMD