25 Days of Christmas Tags - Hello Bluebird

Hi, I'm excited to be participating this year in the big 25 Days of Christmas Tags event hosted by Tracey McNeely.  All month long designers from a plethora of stamp companies who are sponsoring this fun event, hope to inspire you with handmade gift tags for the Christmas season.  Today I am proudly representing Hello Bluebird Stamps with this trio of cute tags.



I took some tag dies that I pre-owned and die cut 3 tags and the top trim piece to go with each.  I used Bristol Smooth cardstock since the ink goes on like butter!  I then splashed on some white acrylic paint watered down with a dot of water to loosen the mixture.



I used the Hill and Dale die from an additional 3 die cuts of the tag so that I got the matching inverted V pointed bottom but had a curvy snow-line at the top, setting the scene for my characters.



I adhered the 'snow' die cuts to the main tags and the trim piece at the top with glue.



On more Bristol Smooth I stamped out my characters from North Pole Littles using Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee.  I watercolour painted them with my Kuretake Zigs and die cut the images.   I decided on a design for each tag with the lightest background having the lightest painted images progressing to the bolder coloured tag.  I wanted a related set that wasn't totally matchy matchy!  The images were adhered with foam tape.



Time to finish out the tags.  I stamped the sentiments from North Pole Littles with a toning ink colour using my Misti.  I then stamped a second time with Versamark Ink and then heat embossed the sentiments using Clear Embossing Powder.   The sentiments were also applied with foam tape.

I used white Nuvo Drops to add in some dimensional snow and then used toning baker's twine to finish each tag.

Little labours of love - but the right people will appreciate them on their special gift!

Thanks for stopping by!

Nicky x

Yeti Or Not - Hello Bluebird

Hi, thanks for clicking through to my blog today to read more about my latest card for Hello Bluebird Stamps.  This card uses 'Yeti Or Not' from the most recent release.



First of all I created an A2 panel from Bristol Smooth cardstock by die cutting it with a simple edging die for the faux stitched edge affect which just makes it look 'finished'.  I ink blended it using Distress Oxide Ink in Broken China and then splashed it with water and blotted it up for a snowy affect.  I then die cut the mountains from white cardstock using Hello Bluebird's new Glacier Peaks die.  The glacier peak pieces were ink blended with a little more of the Broken China Distress Oxide Ink and adhered.  I die cut the mountains to match the stitched edge of the background panel.



Using Hello Bluebird's 'Christmas Words' die I die cut 'falala' about 4 or 5 times and adhered each to the next to form a stack and then glued it in place.  I stamped the rest of the sentiment in Ranger Archival Ink in 'Coffee' and adhered that strip with foam tape.



On more Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my images with Ranger Archival Ink in 'Coffee' and watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs.  I added Wink of Stella to several areas for a pretty twinkle when the card is moved (tis the season for twinkle after all)!!  I die cut the images using the coordinating dies for Yeti Or Not and used more foam tape to adhere them.



I decided my friendly Yeti was feeling so festive he had decorated the mountain tops with Christmas lights which delighted the little reindeer friends ... I like my cards to tell a little story wherever possible.

Hope you like the card and you feel inspired.  Happy crafting!

Nicky x

North Pole Littles - Hello Bluebird

Hey everyone, I have a new card for Hello Bluebird Stamps to share with you today featuring the super cute North Pole Littles stamps and dies.  They are set in a scene created by using the 'essential' (in my humble opinion) Spooky Scene die!



First things first .... I softly ink blended an A2 panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock using Distress Oxide Ink in Spun Sugar.  I dotted in some falling snow by hand, using a Uniball Signo White Gel Pen and adhered the panel to my card base and set it to one side.



Next, I took the Spooky Scene die and die cut a white cardstock A2 size panel.  I ink blended the trees using Distress Ink in Pumice Stone.   Now, when you die cut the Spooky Scene you get some negative cuts that you'd perhaps ordinarily throw away or use as scrap.   The centre negative cut is really quite large and I decided to grab a hill die from Hill and Dale and cut a second hill which of course will perfectly match the line of the ground from the Spooky Scene cut.  I then took a Versamark Ink Pad and inked up certain areas of the trees and ground and then sprinkled on some Wow! White Puff Twinkle Embossing Glitter and heat embossed .... this stuff is wonderful, can't say enough good about it! I then adhered all the parts of my Spooky Scene back together on the reverse to hold them in place then applied foam tape and added it to the card base.



Now to add some fun colour!  I stamped my North Pole Littles using Ranger Archival Ink in 'Coffee'.  I watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs in Light Beige 074, Flesh Colour 071 and Pale Pink 028 to shade their faces with Light Pink 026 for their cheeks and some of the parcels and ornaments.  The deeper red is Carmine Red 022.  Points of creamy yellow are done with a Tombow Dual Brush marker 020.  Hair is done with either Tombow in shade 912 and the other in 969.  The green colour used is an Arteza Real Brush Pen in Mint Green A177.



Cheeks and other points were highlighted with the Uniball Signo gel pen and then die cut and added to the scene with more foam tape.  The sentiment was stamped on a strip of cardstock and similarly applied.  Pretty adorable right?

Thanks for stopping by to read, I hope to see you next time and if you don't want to miss anything do sign up for emails from this blog.

Nicky x

Moose and Friends - Hello Bluebird

Hello, this is my second post of the day using the exciting new release stamps from Hello Bluebird.  Introducing Moose and Friends!



This card features a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock that was ink blended ever so subtly with Distress Inks in Spun Sugar and Tumbled Glass.  The panel was then die cut to provide the faux stitched edge.  More Bristol Smooth was die cut twice with the Grassy Knoll grass edge dies from Hello Bluebird and these were softly ink blended with Cracked Pistachio and layered into the scene with foam tape.



On yet more Bristol Smooth (I do love this stuff!!!) I hand stamped all the images from Moose and Friends using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I selected a number of toning Kuretake Zig watercolour pens and watercolour painted everything and then fussy cut and applied them into the scene layered up on varying amounts of foam tape to build dimension.  Points were highlighted with a Signo Uniball White gel pen.



The Hooray balloon group was created the same way the animals were.  I then flipped it over and attached single strands of solid cream baker's twine and made sure that the twine lined up with the bottom of each tied balloon.  I cinched them together and adhered them behind the cake to anchor it.  The final touch was the addition of several tiny wooden butterfly embellishments.  The panel was adhered to an A2 110lb Neenah solar white cardstock base.

I hope you enjoyed my card - I just LOVED making this one and can't wait to work with this stamp set again, these characters are just so beautifully illustrated.

Thanks for stopping by!

Nicky x

Book Worms

Hello! This card is one of two that I've created using the new Book Worms stamp set by Mama Elephant who I am guest designing for both this and last month.



Here I've ink blended an A2 panel using Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar.  I then distressed it by splattering on some Tattered Angels 'paint' and instead of leaving them like splashes I decided to smudge each splash delicately with my finger which makes them look like flakes of gold leaf .... just not gold of course, more of a sparkling pearl.  Just something different for a change!



I die cut a white cardstock frame and adhered it with Scotch foam tape and then separately on Strathmore Bristol Smooth I stamped out my images with waterproof Archival Ink, I watercolour painted everything with my Kuretake Zigs and die cut everything out.  I decided on an arrangement and used more foam tape to adhere them into position.



This June release from Mama Elephant includes a 3D pop up box card die and included in the set are things like a cloud and this speech bubble.   I cut off the little tail that denotes that it is speech and used two little 'dots' that denote thinking.  The bunny appears to be looking over the top of his book toward his reading buddy the piglet who is absorbed into his book and given the sentiment I chose, he just loves piglet's company .... do you tell stories with your cards?  I just love that little puppy with his 'bad toupee' - cracks me up!



Because it is one of my cards it is practically law by now that I must add a finishing twinkle which I did here by using a few crystal clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh.

Thanks for swinging by the blog, I hope you'll return for my next card!

Nicky x

Just Sayin' - Hello Bluebird

Hello!  Today I'm back with another card using all products by Hello Bluebird Stamps.  Specifically the card uses Just Sayin' which was one of the stamp sets from the lovely May release.



This sweet trio of furry friends each hold a sign and together with all the wonderful mix and match words included in the set you can spell out all number of messages for your project.



My card started with a panel of A2 cardstock which I stamped using the Cozy Plaid Background Stamp ......instant background!!!  I trimmed the panel by 1/8th of an inch.  Over this I layered a grassy panel that was die cut using the Grassy Knoll Die which I ink blended with Cracked Pistachio Distress Ink and used one of the little tuft of grass stamps from Deer Friend to create a little grassy interest.



On Strathmore Bristol Smooth watercolour cardstock I stamped the three little characters and their balloons using Ranger Archival Ink in black.  I delicately watercolour painted everything using my Kuretake Zigs and highlighted some points with a Uniball Signo White gel pen.  I chose my words from the selection and stamped them.  Everything was applied to the scene using Scotch Foam tape with a single layer behind everything except for the little bear who is front and centre who is on a double layer ..... because I adore him and his sweet sincere face!



I adhered the now finished panel to an A2 white cardstock base with a layer of white craft foam in between to lift it up and cards survive the mail with this layer of 'squish'.  The final touch was the application of a scattering of crystal clear sequins.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today, it has been my pleasure to share this card making tutorial with you.  Happy crafting and see you next time!

Nicky x

Rainy Day - Hello Bluebird

Hello!

I've probably said it before and I'll probably say it again but I'm just so deeply in love with the illustrations by Hello Bluebird Stamps.  I am sharing a card with you today made with Rainy Day one of my favourite stamp sets from their May release.




The card also uses many dies from Grassy Knoll.  This die set is so useful for all your scene building what with the choices of clouds and grassy edges.



First job was to die cut my cloud form and grassy edges using Bristol Smooth cardstock and I ink blended them using Distress Inks starting out with some intensity and then blending it out to a faded or ombré finish.  I took another A2 panel of Bristol Smooth and again ink blended it then stamped on the rain with white pigment ink and adhered it to my 110lb white cardstock base.



I stamped my sentiment from Rainbow Script and then layered the cloud and grassy edges into the scene using dimensional foam tape.  Next, I turned my attention to the adorable characters.  Taking more Bristol Smooth I stamped my images with Archival Ink in black then watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs.  I highlighted a few points with a Uniball Signo white gel pen then die cut and adhered them with more foam tape.



I didn't feel the card required any further embellishment other than to put a little jewel for the tag on the puppy's collar.  Project complete!

Thank you for stopping by and reading here for a couple of minutes, I appreciate it!

Until the next time then .....

Nicky x

Farmyard Little Bits - Hello Bluebird

Hi all!  I do love to make background cards especially when there are smaller images and they are as ADORABLE as these Farmyard Little Bits from Hello Bluebird Stamps and you just want to paint or colour them over and over again.



I created a panel from Strathmore Bristol Smooth watercolour cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre and then stamped a selection of images around the sentiment, trying to go for a happy balance of pigs, cows and barns etc so that there was an even dispersement of colours.  I used Ranger Archival Ink in black for all my images and then watercolour painted everything using Kuretake Zigs.



I highlighted some points with my Uniball Signo White gel pen and once dry I die cut the panel to provide the subtle wonky stitched decorative edge.  The panel was applied to the Kraft cardstock base with a layer of white craft foam sandwiched in between which makes the card feel very substantial and they do better in the mail this way too!



The final touch was to apply these little wooden stars which somehow just seemed so fitting with the country scene.

Since the card base is kraft cardstock, I like to make a writing insert for the inside and I use 80lb Neenah cardstock because strength and quality is so important to me in the construction of my cards.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you next time!

Nicky x

Puddle Play - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hello!

I am totally in love with the sweet elephant characters from the new stamp set called Puddle Play by Hello Bluebird Stamps.  This stamp set forms part of the May 17th release and a word of warning .... you're probably going to want it all!



My card started with an A2 panel of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock which I ink blended with Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar.  Once blended I pressed a little of the Tumbled Glass onto an acrylic block, spritzed a little water into it to pick up some colour and then used a fine paint brush to make the blue splatters.  Once dry, I die cut the panel and with a layer of craft foam sandwiched in between, it was applied to the 110lb Neenah cardstock base.



I die cut the square frame and then using more of the watercolour cardstock I stamped up my images with Ranger Archival Ink in black, watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs and then fussy cut them out.  (There will be coordinating dies for you to purchase).  The frame and characters were applied to the card layered up on dimensional foam tape in varying amounts to build depth.



To finish up, I stamped the sentiment and applied it under the scene, I highlighted a few areas with a Uniball Signo White gel pen and then I added cascading crystal 'raindrops' for a little twinkle.

This card makes me happy!

Thanks so much for stopping by and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Nicky x