Hello Bluebird Stamps - Bloom and Grow

My latest card for Hello Bluebird Stamps was a pleasure to pull together.

Items used in this project:-

- In The Meadow Background Stamp

- Oval Nesting Dies

- Gallery Frame #4 Die

- Bloom and Grow stamp set and coordinating dies

Lilac background was stamped and heat embossed in white then die cut using the Oval Nesting die.   A background was ink blended and then the lilac panel layered over it with foam tape.   The white frame was applied directly with glue.

Images from Bloom & Grow were stamped, coloured with Copic markers and then die cut using the coordinating dies.   Each element was arranged and applied with foam tape and for a finishing touch I used gel pens to draw in some tufts of grass and white dots for daisies.

I appreciate you stopping by today, see you again soon.

Halloween Dress Up - Rachelle Anne Miller Creative Studios

I have a new card for Rachelle Anne Miller Creative Studios today using the 'Halloween Dress Up' digital stamp image.    I downloaded the digital image and sent it to my home printer after reducing the image from 100% down to 90%.  I printed it twice at that size, first copy on to Copic friendly cardstock, second copy on to a sheet of masking paper. 

I trimmed the Copic cardstock printed panel down to an A2 panel and Copic coloured the image using the following colour palette:-

Skin - E04, E11, E21, E00

Cheeks - R00, R20

Costume (left) - E43, E44, R000

Costume (centre) - YR31, Y17, Y38, YR14

Costume (right) - V01, V12, V15, V04, YG95, YG93, YG91

Points were highlighted with a white gel pen.

I fussy cut the masking paper print out and layered it over the primary image and then ink blended using Distress Oxide Ink and then splattered water and coloured paints to soften up the look and add interest.   I carefully removed the mask.

To finish up the card I first applied the panel to a card base.  Next, I die cut the Gallery Frame #4 die by Hello Bluebird Stamps from white cardstock and backed that with foam tape and applied it.    I stamped the sentiment with Versamark Ink on to black cardstock and heat embossed in white.  Last but not least a few sparkling clear sequins add a little fun.

Happy crafting!

Party Parade - Hello Bluebird Stamps

 I have a very fun infinity shaker card for you today featuring Party Parade by Hello Bluebird Stamps together with the Happy Birthday Words die.

Have you made an infinity shaker card before?   They are very easy so don't be intimidated and wayyyy easier than a regular shaker card.   I ink blended an A2 panel of cardstock to create a pink and blue background and I stamped musical notes from the Party Parade stamp set into the background.   I then grabbed one of my stamp storage pockets by Avery Elle that you can find HERE on Amazon but of course can buy direct from Avery Elle.

I slid my panel into the storage pocket sideways, it is a perfect snug fit and then I had fun carefully pouring in different sequins and shaker fillers until I had the look that I wanted.  Make sure these shaker elements go only on the decorated side of your panel.  I then wrapped the excess of the pocket around the back of the panel and thoroughly taped it down with the tape runner. This was then applied to a sturdy card base.

All other elements of this card are adhered directly to the front panel using tape runner tape.   To that end I first die cut the Gallery Frame #4 die and applied it and  I stamped my Party Parade images on to Copic friendly cardstock and used Copic markers to colour them.  A white gel pen was used to highlight some areas and I die cut each image and applied them to the scene.

To finish this card off I die cut some mini gingham cardstock using the Happy Birthday Words Die and adhered the letters and word into position.   With that the card is finished and let the shaking begin!

Happy crafting!

Garden Friends & Sunshine Scene Die - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hi!  I'm back with a new card for Hello Bluebird Stamps.  Once again I'm using the delightful birds from the Garden Friends stamp set and this time I've set them against the clever Sunshine Scene Die.




To create this card I first die cut a panel of white cardstock using the Sunshine Scene Die.  I ink blended all the different portions.  The sun was done with a little squeezed lemonade and then edged with Spiced Marmalade as were the cloud edges.   The sky portions with Tumbled Glass.



I reassembled the Sunshine Scene die-cuts by adhering them to a panel of cardstock one piece at a time.  I then die cut the larger frame using the Gallery Frame #4 die.  I backed it with foam tape and applied it to the panel which in turn was applied to a sturdy 110lb cover white cardstock base.

On Copic friendly cardstock I stamped the adorable birds from Garden Friends using Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa.  I Copic coloured the images, they were die cut and added to the scene with more of the foam tape.   The floating notes were also stamped, die cut and added with tiny pieces of foam tape behind them and the sentiment stamped on a strip of cardstock and similarly applied.



To finish I just adhered a few sparkling clear sequins but otherwise kept it simple.

Happy crafting!

Nicky x

Besties and Little Painters - Hello Bluebird Stamps

It's release day at Hello Bluebird Stamps!!  You can buy the new release products at 7pm MST.  Today I'm working with the new 'Besties' stamp set.  Keep scrolling for my second card and details too.



For this card I softly ink blended a panel using Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink and applied it to a card base.  I stamped my Besties images on Copic friendly cardstock.   I ink blended the cloud and grass mound image using more distress inks, stamped the sentiment, backed it with foam tape and applied it to the background.



I coloured the cuties and flowers with Copic markers, highlighted a few points with a white gel pen then fussy cut and backed with foam tape and applied everything to the cloud image which nicely frames them.



I framed out the scene using the Gallery #4 Die backed with yet more foam tape.   A few sparkling clear sequins in two different sizes complete the card.

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My second card today features the new Little Painters stamp set.  You'll need to head on over to the Hello Bluebird today to read the details about this stamp set but it is a free Easter Giveaway if you spend a certain amount in the Hello Bluebird shop.

Whilst it is Easter themed I decided to make a card that used many elements from the stamp set in a non-Eastery way!   Since Easter is almost upon us I wanted to show that the stamp set will stretch well beyond your Easter celebrations.  My Little Painters have been portrait painting!!!



The card was made by brushing on Distress Inks for a super soft background.  I stamped the images using Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa and then colouring them with Copics markers.  The images were fussy cut.



I backed each image with foam tape and applied them to the scene.    I die cut 4 of the frames from the Photo Stack die and adhered them together to build some depth.  I tucked the portrait frame into the scene.  I used the negative cut to make a little portrait painting using the bunny from Picked From You and some of the florals from that set too.  I recessed this within the frame and adhered it.



Finally I framed the scene out with the Gallery Frame #2 die, I dotted in some ground texture and stamped the sentiment.  A few sparkling clear sequins complete the card.

Well happy crafting everybody - it has been a long wait for a Hello Bluebird release but that happy day is here and again, 7pm MST is when you can start spending.   Visit the HB blog and comment for a chance at the giveaway!

Nicky x

Fly A Kite - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hello, thanks for coming by the blog today to read about my latest card for Hello Bluebird Stamps that features the Fly A Kite stamp set and also the background image from Storybook Friends.



To create this card I first stamped the background image from Storybook Friends on to Bristol Smooth cardstock.   I watercolour painted using Kuretake Zigs and then I placed a layer of vellum over the scene to softly diffuse it and it gives a more dimensional look.   The panel was attached to a 110lb white cardstock base and set to one side.



On Bristol Smooth I stamped the images from Fly A Kite and watercolour painted using Kuretake Zigs.  Images were die cut and backed with foam tape and applied to the scene.

The frame was die cut using the Gallery Frame #4 Die, backed with foam tape and applied and the sentiment was also stamped and adhered with foam tape.



To finish the card I grabbed pink and white  gels pens and dotted in 'flowers' and I applied a few sparkling clear sequins as a final embellishment.

Thank you for stopping by to read and happy crafting!

Nicky x

Garden Friends - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Welcome back to my blog!  I have a new card for Hello Bluebird Stamps today that uses the beautiful Garden Friends stamp set.



To create this card I first made the background panel.   I ink blended some smooth cardstock with Tumbled Glass and Ice Spruce Distress Inks and splashed it all over with Tumbled Glass, Seedless Preserves and a beautiful white metallic paint from Kuretake's Starry Colors watercolour paints.  I set this panel to one side to dry and then ink blended a piece of cardstock with more Seedless Preserves  and die cut with the Grassy Knoll die.  Finally, I splashed it with a little water to distress it and blotted it up right away.   This piece was backed with foam tape and applied to the panel.



A piece of white cardstock was die cut with the Gallery Frame #4 Die.  This was also backed with foam tape and applied to the background panel.

On Copic friendly cardstock I stamped the images from Garden Friends using Memento Ink in Rich Chocolate.    Images were coloured using a large variety of Copic markers, they were die cut and applied to the scene backed with either a single or double layer of foam tape to build depth.



Finishing touches time!  The bird's rosy cheek was highlighted with a white gel pen.  The insect top right was given a little Wink of Stella on its wings and the sentiment was stamped to a little strip of cardstock and applied.  Finally and to add to the the dewy look of the card I used some water droplet style embellishments.

Hope you're inspired to create your own fantasy garden scene, it's fun to push the colours a little beyond reality!

Happy crafting!

Nicky x

Merry Mice - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Release Day is here at Hello Bluebird Stamps - you can buy everything starting this evening at 7pm MST.  My last Preview card features Merry Mice and the adorable new Treehouse Scene Die.



To make this card I die cut the Treehouse Scene Die from white cardstock.  I ink blended all the different components using Distress Oxide Inks in Worn Lipstick, Antique Linen and Festive Berries then I put them all back together again adhering them to a panel of cardstock but with the actual tree portion I popped it up on some dimensional foam tape.  I then used the Gallery Frame #4 die to cut the frame which I ink blended with Worn Lipstick again.  Using more foam tape this was applied to the background scene which in turn was adhered to a sturdy 110lb white cardstock base.

You'll be happy to learn that the door is hinged so you are able to open it and have a character popping in or out or perhaps you could stamp a sweet surprise sentiment behind there!



On Copic friendly cardstock I stamped all of the characters etc from Merry Mice (I have many elements left over and will be making more cards with those).   Everything was die cut and I tried a few different layouts before selecting what I wanted to tell my story whereupon I backed these elements with foam tape and applied them.

The story is that all the decorating of the treehouse was done for Christmas and Mr. Mouse put his ladder away but when he turned around a bulb had already blown ..... so there he is back up the ladder replacing it with good humour.  The other mouse is telling red robin all about it!



To finish up the card I stamped the sentiment from Typed Christmas - I don't know if you own this comprehensive sentiment set but I'm telling you that you need this in your life, I call upon it so regularly!   The sentiment was stamped on toning pink cardstock backed with foam tape and applied.

Finally I used my Uni-ball Signo White gel pen and starting from the top and working my way down I dotted in snow.  Once I got down to the ground I also used Stickles in 'Crystal' and dotted in some twinkle to the snow.

Card complete!  Happy shopping everybody, I'll be back very soon with more inspiration from this new release.

Nicky x

Storybook Friends - Hello Bluebird Stamps

I'm so happy you navigated to my blog today to read about this watercolour painted card I created for Hello Bluebird Stamps.  This card features 'Storybook Friends' from the newest release and in case you missed it a couple of weeks or so ago, use the search function here on the blog to find another card I made with a different look using this same stamp set.



To make this card I stamped the background image of the path, hills and trees on to Strathmore Bristol Smooth using Distress Ink in Antique Linen - perfect for no-line watercolour painting.  I watercolour painted this scene using Kuretake Zigs in Green Shadow, Light Green and Pale Dawn Gray, the sky was done using Haze Blue.

Once this was dry I stamped the sentiment using Memento Ink in Fog and set this panel to one side.



On more Bristol Smooth I stamped my images of the adorable bunny and mouse again using the Antique Linen ink.   I watercolour painted them using the following - Kuretake Zigs in Oatmeal, Beige, Mid Gray, Green Gray, Light Gray, Warm Gray (2), Yellow and Light Pink.  I also used two Tombow ABTs in 761 and 020.

Cheeks were given a white dot highlight with a white gel pen and they were die cut using the coordinating dies.



I grabbed the new Gallery Frame #4 die and die cut a panel of 110lb white cardstock.  This die creates the broad outer die cut and also has a 'window pane' type inner cut.  I chose to keep just the outside of this windowpane inner piece by snipping out the rest with my craft scissors.  I flipped the two pieces over, nestled the inner piece within the outer frame and applied dimensional foam tape to the back to hold them together.  I then came back to my background panel and applied it.



I backed my bunny and mouse with the same foam tape and stuck them down in position.

I like the simple innocence of the scene and decided to resist all temptation (which is great) to embellish this card any further, so here's one final look where you can see it pops nicely with the green envelope I paired it with.



Thank you so much for coming by for some inspiration.

Happy crafting!

Nicky x

Storybook Friends & Gallery Frame #4 Die - Hello Bluebird Stamps

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