Cookin' Up Creations

Join us as we flock together to complete this month's "Birds of a Feather" themed challenges. While this old proverb is true of all of us who share the same love for putting our memories on scrapbook pages or creating beautiful cards, the focus is not on us, but on the various birds that surround us with their beautiful colors, their varied songs, and their nest building skills. They may hang around our yards splashing in a bird bath and enjoying a free meal or they may make their home in a zoo. Perhaps they were a once-in-a-lifetime sighting or a pet you enjoy every day. Big or small, they may frighten us or delight us. We use their names to describe others...you wise old owl, she's as colorful as a peacock, he's just a little songbird. They have starred in movies and inspired songs and poetry. And these amazing creatures have even risen to the heights of being honored as state and national symbols. So, get ready!! The birds are coming!

Remember - A new Blue Plate Special challenge is posted each Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and participants have until the 3rd of the following month to complete and post their creations.

Prize will be a $20 Gift Certificate to their favorite online store (random drawing).....


For today’s challenge I selected this fierce and true Texan! The mockingbird.


Mockingbirds draw their name from their song mimicry. A mockingbird can mimic other birdsongs. These talented creatures can also compose music. The typical mockingbird knows more than 200 melodies, some from other birds, others that are original compositions. They do not only repeat the songs of other birds. They also understand human music, including piano, other animals, such as dogs, and urban noises, such as gates and sirens. The birds will hear these items and try them out, typically repeating the sound two or three times quickly to create an original melody.
Inspired by the mockingbird, the challenge is to create unique pattern papers for your layout using different items. For example I stamped on one of the paper strips to create my own pattern, and I also used several project life cards as patterned paper. The strip on the top of the pages are cut from a 4x6 card. The layer under the smaller photo is also a PLC. Since this simple bird is gray with white tipped feathers outlining its wings, we will add a white border or mat to one or all of the pictures in our layout.
Have fun!
Here is my example.

I’m just noticing that I’m missing an element on my layout. It probably fell when I was taking the picture.

Lolis wrote: ↑Fri Oct 28, 2022 10:07 pm I’m just noticing that I’m missing an element on my layout. It probably fell when I was taking the picture.

Hmmmmmmmmmm what was it. I'd love to see a new photo to see if I can find it
Lolis: LOVE your page and your challenge!

Such an interesting challenge. So fun! and great example

Wonderful birthday 2-pager. We also have mocking birds that are fun to listen to.

Fun fact: I live on Mockingbird Dr.

Lolis wrote: ↑Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:03 am Fun fact: I live on Mockingbird Dr.

Here's mine! I used branding strips as patterned paper strips. Project life cards as photo mattes and also matted the photos with white.

Photos of sweet grandson Marcus on an outing with his girlfriend and her family, October 2022.
Let the Fun Begin

Deanna13 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 30, 2022 1:32 pm Here's mine! I used branding strips as patterned paper strips. Project life cards as photo mattes and also matted the photos with white.

Photos of sweet grandson Marcus on an outing with his girlfriend and her family, October 2022.
Let the Fun Begin

Nicely done! IThat’s how scrapbookers create our own “music.”

The arrow, tag, and upper border were cut from pages in a magazine. The background paper was made using a sprig of wildflowers which I dried in the pages of that magazine. I scanned it and printed it on cardstock. I hope this fits the challenge.