Free Bird

This lovely stamp from Tim Holtz reminds me of the Maya Angelou poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"...go figure!

I am enjoying creating cards in this altered style which is new to me. It takes me quite a while to put a card together. One thing that I love about paper art is that I become so focused that I forget everything else.

I used the SU! new color coach when picking these colors. Although I am not crazy about the color coach itself (I liked the previous wheeled one better), I do like the color combinations that the SU coach suggests. In the past I doubted the suggested colors, but have found that these color coaches really know color combos. The nice thing about the SU color coach is that it has the exact shades of my cardstock and inks. My favorite 'color coach' is EK Success pictured below. The reason I like it so much is that it gives you five options for each color. You get schemes for two (1), three (2) and four (2) colors both complementary and split complementary. In addition, there are small openings, where you can place your paper to see which color it best matches. And of course you can see the monochromatic options. I'm not a studied artist and color theory alludes me, so I rely on color coaches. But just like most people, I know when colors work well together and when it just isn't right. So my go to coach is the one below and you can pick it up for about $5.

If you haven't already, check out the sketch challenge at Splitcoaststampers. It is #300 and to celebrate, numerous companies have donated prizes.

Have a great day friends!

Supplies:
Stamps: Birdsong (Stampers Anonymous), Composer's Dream (Stampabilities) Baroque Motifs, Artistic Etchings (SU)
Paper: Crumb Cake (aka Craft), Marine Mist, Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze (for flowers) (SU), White (Gina K Pure Luxury)
Ink: Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Marine Mist (SU)
Accessories: Flower punch (MS-3 in 1 Hydrangea), brads- vintage ( SU retired), clear embossing powder (SU), spritzer tool (SU), pearls (SU)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings- Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.