Birch Trees Background Stamp - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Today I'm sharing my final card for Hello Bluebird Stamps latest release and this one features the new Birch Trees background stamp.  I paired this background image with Frosty Mornings from Hello Bluebird, together with tree tops from Pond Builder and of course their Grassy Knoll die.

This background stamp has a lot of bold areas.  A Misti or other stamping platform is going to be a huge help to you.   To get a good impression I placed the stamp into my Misti and I attached the cardstock to the door of it (kind of the wrong way round, but it really helps).    The first inking was with Versamark Ink and subsequent inkings were with my coloured ink - the juicier the better, foam pad ink pads would be best.

I ink blended my Pond Builder tree-tops and my Grassy Knoll portion with two shades of Distress Oxide Inks and then I spattered on some texture using an old toothbrush and some watered down paint.  These green portions were backed with foam tape and applied.

The Frosty Mornings characters were stamped and Copic coloured, points were highlighted with a white gel pen and they were die cut and backed with foam tape and applied to the scene.

To finish up, I stamped the sentiment on black cardstock using Versamark Ink and heat embossed in white, this was applied with foam tape and a few sparkling clear sequins completed the scene.

The decorative panel was applied to a sturdy cardstock base and the card was complete.

Happy crafting!

Fairy Garden - Hello Bluebird Stamps

I have a very girly and very sparkly slimline card for you today that uses Fairy Garden by Hello Bluebird Stamps together with their Pond Builder Die and Grassy Knoll Die.



I die cut a slimline panel (8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches) several times over using the Pond Builder and Grassy Knoll Dies.   Depending on what each section was I ink blended that section using Distress Oxide Inks in Cracked Pistachio, Spun Sugar and Tumbled Glass and also splashed on some of the ink.  All pieces were reassembled, like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, with some portions being backed with foam tape to build dimension.



The sentiment was stamped from the Sparkle Script sentiment set and the panel was applied to a sturdy 110lb cover white cardstock base.

On Copic friendly cardstock I stamped the images from Fairy Garden, I coloured them with Copic markers and then they were die cut, backed with foam tape and applied to the scene.



It's tricky to photograph but I applied a great deal of sparkle in the form of Stickles glitter in 'Crystal' around the fairies and dotted through the pretty pool of water.  I used a white gel pen to add the ripples of water around the stones in the water and to highlight the hair on the fairies.  Finally, I used Spectrum Noir glitter pen all over the fairy's dresses.  This card is so pretty when it is handled as a result.

Happy crafting!

Nicky x

Garden Friends - Hello Bluebird Stamps

I'm back today with a new slimline card for Hello Bluebird Stamps.  This card uses the new Garden Friends stamp set and I've also used the Pond Builder Die in a slightly unusual way.



This is as I said, a slimline card.  The finished measurements are 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and you can source Size 9/Invitation envelopes for these dimensions.

I created a panel of white cardstock.  I used the pond builder die to cut all the different elements just from that one single panel.  I then used the following Distress Oxide inks to ink blend each separate piece - Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Faded Jeans and Tumbled Glass.



I used an extra thick foam tape to adhere the top overhanging tree greenery and a regular foam tape for the lower (light coloured) overhanging tree limb, attaching them to the card base.  I then used glue to adhere the sky portion directly to the card base.  The grassy bank was backed with regular foam tape and again the water portion was directly glued.  Tons of dimension and interest.



I die cut some of the stones from Pond Builder also.  I watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zig in Mid Gray and they two are backed with dimensional foam tape.

On Strathmore Bristol Smooth the elements from Garden Friends that I was using were stamped using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  They were watercolour painted using the following Zigs.  Orange, Light Pink, Oatmeal, Olive Green, Deep Red and Cobalt Blue.   Points were highlighted with a white gel pen and I put water ripples around the stones.



All images were die cut, backed with foam tape (I get through a lot of this stuff lol) and attached.

The sentiment was stamped using Versamark Ink on a strip of black cardstock and heat embossed in white. 

Finally some sparkling clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh were glued using Ranger Multi Medium Matte because it dries beautifully clear and is very strong and they make me think of sparkling water droplets.



I'll be back again very soon with a new card.  I invite you to sign up for emails and never miss a post!

Nicky x

Skating Friends - Hello Bluebird

Hi!  I'm back for day 2 of the new (and now available) Hello Bluebird Stamps November release and this is Skating Friends.



I created an A2 panel of Neenah 110lb cardstock.  I took the Pond Builder Die and die cut twice to form the shape I'd want my frozen pond to be.  I ink blended it using Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers.  I then pressed it repeatedly onto my Versamark Ink pad until thoroughly coated and heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder, so now I have an icy looking frozen pond.



I put my panel back together using Scotch Tape on the reverse and stamped the snowflakes in pale grey.  I uses Stickles Glitter to edge my frozen pond.  I used the Gallery Frame #1 Die and cut a frame which I mounted over the panel with foam tape.

On Bristol Smooth cardstock (I like Strathmore) I stamped those sweet little critters and watercolour painted them.  I fussy cut the images and adhered them with foam tape.  I stamped my sentiment and heat embossed in silver and adhered that with yet more foam tape.



The final touch was to use a Uniball Signo white gel pen and draw in some white skate lines on the 'ice' (works beautifully on this embossed surface) and I grabbed my Stickles glitter in 'Crystal' again and twinkled up some of the points on the bunnies  and dotted some onto the ice too.  Card panel was adhered to card base and another card completed!!!

I do thank you for stopping by to read, let me know if you have any questions.

Nicky x

Fishin' Hole + Pond Builder - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hi!  I'm excited to share this card today featuring primarily the all new 'Pond Builder' die from the latest release from Hello Bluebird Stamps together with 3 Mallard ducks from the new Fishin' Hole stamp set.



The Pond Builder die is so useful and a great investment if you like creating water scenes because it makes it so easy!   I have lots of ideas for it going forwards, so stay tuned!

To make this card I took an A2 panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I die cut it first with the water's edge die and the remaining top section was die cut with the wave 'bushy' die from the set.  I ink blended the 'pond' with Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers and the bushes behind the pond with Twisted Citron and Mowed Lawn.  Finally the sky was  blended in Tumbled Glass and the sentiment was stamped with Memento, Tuxedo Black.

Using more Bristol Smooth I cut two grassy edges from the Pond Builder set for the bottom of the card which were ink blended in the same two green shades previously mentioned.  I also die cut the Bulrushes and rocks from Pond Builder and for these I directly coloured them with Kuretake Zigs and then blended them out with a fine detailer waterbrush pen.  Finally I stamped the Mallard from Fishin' Hole 3 times, watercolour painted them then die cut.



Time to assemble!

I adhered the pond to my card base leaving a little unglued section along the top.  I then layered on the grass strips at the bottom.  Next I adhered the bushes behind the pond and the sky .... they all fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.  I applied glue and tucked some of the Bulrushes behind the back waterline (this is why I left an unglued margin at the top) and a couple more were inserted behind the grass in the foreground.

I glued the rocks in and around the water and with the ducks I glued the base of them but their heads are popped up on a little foam tape for dimension.  I used a Uniball Signo White gel pen to draw in by hand the ripples of water around the ducks and rocks and the final touch was the additional of a few sparkling clear sequins.

Card complete!

I encourage you to imagine the possibilities with this Pond Builder die.  Thanks for stopping by the blog today, see you next time!

Nicky x