I've got a new card for you today using Field Mice the adorable stamp set that formed part of the June release from Hello Bluebird stamps.
My slimline cards measure 8 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches to fit a standard size 9 envelope.
I masked a panel of white cardstock with washi tape and softly ink blended Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Cracked Pistachio using my Clarity Stencil Brushes. I stamped the sentiment and then carefully removed the mask, adhered the panel to a white cardstock base and set it to one side.
Using Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped the images from Field Mice using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil and watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs in Green Gray, Beige, Light Gray, Pale Pink, Light Pink, Yellow, Wine Red, May Green, Warm Gray (2) and Cobalt Blue. Points were highlighted with a white gel pen and they were die cut, backed with foam tape and applied to the scene.
The finishing touch was the application of water droplet style embellishments, keeping the card looking fresh, summery and fun but with that lovely pop of read delicious red from the strawberries.
Thank you for coming by to read, see you next time!
Nicky x
Hello! Day 4 of the Hello Bluebird June release Previews and also RELEASE DAY!!! (7pm MST) I'm introducing you to Beach Babes where we get to enjoy more of the adorable piggies we've come to love from Hello Bluebird over the months.
This is a slimline card with finished dimensions of 8 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches to fit a standard Size 9 envelope. I masked off the edges of my panel with washi tape and ink blended using Distress Oxides in Peacock Feathers, Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber and Tea Dye. A few splashes of water were spritzed on then blotted up just to soften the appearance and then the mask was carefully removed.
Along the white line where the water meets the sand I dabbed on Stickles in 'Crystal' with my fingertip, you can just about make it out in Photo 4 of this blogpost but in person it gives a gorgeous strip of glitter through the scene.
I used the wave die from Otter Friends to cut the wave openings in the water and I used a white gel pen to highlight the edge of each opening.
Next, I tackled the die cutting of the new Oliver Alpha Dies. From 110lb white cardstock I die cut each letter 4 times over and glued them in stacks and then after determining the centre point of the length of my card I centred the word 'punny' word BACON and adhered.
I stamped the two smaller sentiments which are from Hippos On Holiday, backing the white strip with dimensional foam tape and adhering.
On Strathmore Bristol Smooth and with my favourite Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil. I stamped all the piglets from Beach Babes. I watercolour painted the images using the following colour palette - Kuretake Zigs in Flesh Colour, Pale Pink, Blush, Light Pink, Carmine Red, Cobalt Blue and Beige. I also used a Tombow ABT in 020. All images were die cut and backed with foam tape and adhered. A few points were highlighted again using the white gel pen.
The finishing touch was to simply adhere some 'raindrop' style embellishments upside down turning them into splashes instead! I also used used a pale gold gel pen and dotted in some glimmer in both the sand and sea.
I thank you for coming by to read about this card. I hope you are excited as we are for the release this evening. Happy shopping!
Nicky x
Hello! This is day 3 of Previews for Hello Bluebird's gorgeous June release and today the Design Team are introducing Storybook Friends which I have paired with the new Gallery Frame #4 Die. All new products available to buy June 26th at 7pm MST.
To make this card I first of all stamped the included background image using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil. I casually watercolour painted the background and once dry, I stamped the sentiment and applied the panel to a white card base.
On Strathmore Bristol Smooth I stamped my images again with the Potting Soil ink. I watercolour painted them using the following colour palette - Tombow ABT in 020 and Kuretake Zigs in Mid Gray, Pale Rose, Green Shadow, Blue Gray, Cool Gray (1), Scarlet Red, Light Blue, Light Green, Light Blue, Oatmeal and Beige. Points were highlighted with a white gel pen and then images were die cut using the coordinating dies.
To finish the card I die cut the new Gallery Frame #4 die from white cardstock. I backed it with foam tape and attached the floral sprays to the sticky foam behind the frame and then adhered it to the background. I tucked a little extra piece of foam under each floral spray to lift them up just a bit for added dimension.
Finally, I backed all the die cut images with yet more of the foam tape and adhered them to the scene. I felt no other embellishment was necessary for this card, I liked the simple sweetness like a page out of a children's favourite picture book.
One more day of previews tomorrow (also release day) so do come by again and see what is in store.
Happy crafting!
Nicky x
It's Day 2 of Previews for the Hello Bluebird Stamps big summer release which will be available for purchase at 7pm MST on June 26th. Today I'm introducing you to the sweet 'Seaside Girls' stamp set and they are set against a new background scene die called 'Ocean Scene'.
To make this card I first started out by die cutting the Ocean Scene die from white cardstock. The scene falls apart like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and you have a whole lot of choices with how to work with them. I chose to ink blend my sky and water with Distress Oxide in Tumbled Glass. I ink blended the sand portion and a little of the sky with Fossilized Amber and Tea Dye Distress Oxides. Equally (and rather cleverly) you can flip the sky portion so that the clouds aren't along the horizon and the two water ripples that I ink blended in blue could also be sand and if you think about it there are even combinations beyond what I've just said. Basically, this is a great die to have and it comes with a nice skinny frame around it. I backed that frame with foam tape and applied it to a card base and then glued the other pieces in place but not before stamping the sentiment. I set this to one side.
On Strathmore Bristol Smooth I stamped my Seaside Girls images using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil. I watercolour painted everything using the follow palette. Tombow ABT's in 991, 451 and 912. Kuretake Zigs in Beige, Mid Gray, Oatmeal, Blush, Bright Yellow, Light Pink, Flesh Colour, Pale Pink, Gray and Deep Blue. Points were highlighted with a white gel pen and the images were die cut, backed with foam tape and applied to the scene.
Just the finishing touches now! I stamped the flying gulls, I dotted in some sand texture and I applied a few 3mm sparkling clear sequins for some twinkle.
Thanks so much for swinging by to read about these new products, I'll be back tomorrow with another new preview for you.
Nicky x
The day is finally here ... Preview Day 1 of the much anticipated Hello Bluebird Stamps big summer release. Today I'm sharing a card using 'Strawberry Jam', possibly the most deliciously named stamp set of all time lol. At the end of this blogpost are giveaway details, so keep reading and scrolling!
To make this card I first of all ink blended a background panel with Distress Oxide Ink in Spun Sugar and applied it to the 110lb white cardstock base (I like to build them sturdy)!!!! I set this to one side.
I grabbed a panel of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock. I centred the 'Strawberry Jam Part B' die and ran it through my die cutting machine. I recessed the Part B die back into the space it had cut and used it as a guide to position my strawberry vines correctly. I then popped it in my Misti, picked up the stamps on the cover and removed the die. I inked up the stamps using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil and stamped them around the cut opening. The sentiment was stamped at the bottom.
I stamped the other images with the same ink on more Bristol Smooth, they were die cut and painted with the following watercolour palette - Tombow ABT 020, Kuretake Zigs in Wine Red, Yellow, Light Gray, Pale Pink, Beige, Dark Gray, Peacock Blue, Light Pink, Gray Brown, Haze Blue and May Green.
I chose to paint the bird as a Blue Tit but I know the design team have all chosen different ways to colour it, showing its flexibility ... do check out their posts for inspiration.
Points were highlighted with a white gel pen. The strawberry vine border was backed with foam tape and applied to the card base and the characters were similarly applied in the opening to create the picnic scene.
I felt the card needed little in the way of embellishment and so I limited what I did to the application of just a few of the little sparkling floral sequins you see both on and scattered around the card.
I hope you enjoyed my card and are excited for this release, I'll be back tomorrow with a new card featuring a new stamp set. The release goes live at 7pm MST June 26th!
If you navigate now to the Hello Bluebird blog and comment on the post today you stand to win a $50 gift certificate to the Hello Bluebird shop. You can also comment to win tomorrow and Tuesday and then 3 winners (one from each day) will be announced on the 26th prior to the release going live.
Nicky x
