First Snow - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hello!  I have a new card today for Hello Bluebird Stamps featuring the adorable stamp set called First Snow.  Also used in this project is the Hill and Dale die for the snow hills and the sentiment is from Typed Christmas.



To make this card I created the background using Copic markers then splattered it with white acrylic paint and finally I applied large drops of Nuvo Crystal Drops in Simply White.  This was set aside to dry for several hours.  Once dry I die cut two hills using Hill and Dale.  These were applied to the background panel after using Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to edge them.  Once in place I used Stickles in 'Crystal' to make the glistening edge.



On Strathmore Bristol Smooth I stamped the critters from First Snow with Archival Ink.  I watercolour painted them, highlighted points with a white gel pen and die cut the images.  They were backed with foam tape and applied to the scene.



To finish, I stamped the sentiment from Typed Christmas on to some pale pink cardstock and applied it with foam tape and I applied a few sparkling clear sequins into the sky area for some final sparkle.

Thanks for stopping by, see you next time!

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

Skating Together - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hi!  I do hope you've enjoyed a Happy Holiday?   This card today might seem a little late but I made it in very early December and couldn't reveal it until I'd given it to my intended recipient (victim).  Still, there are ideas and inspiration to take away from this.



This was another of my slimline cards.   Finished card dimensions are 3 1/2" wide x 8 1/2" so from an A4 sheet of cardstock cut the length at 7 inches then score and fold in half (4 bar).  My panel is cut from the remainder of the A4 sheet and the dimensions are 3.2" x 8.2".  A simple online search for coordinating envelopes for this size of card will yield you many results.   Contact me if you have any issues and I'll share a link or two with you but these are #9 envelopes or Size 9, also called slimline or invitation envelopes - there's plenty of choice out there including colours and at very reasonable prices.



For this card I formed a card base using red cardstock and made a panel from the remainder of the A4 sheet.  I ink blended the panel using a combination of red ink and Distress Oxide in Black Soot, slowly building the colour to the intensity I was wanting and creating a focal point that appears to be lit from within.



I adhered this panel to the card base and then on Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my characters from Skating Together using Ranger Archival Ink in Black and watercolour painted them with Kuretake Zigs, finally they were die cut and adhered into position using foam tape.  I highlight some points on them with a Uniball Signo White Gel Pen.



With Versamark Ink the 'swoosh' marks were stamped and heat embossed in white.  I ink blended the little strip of red cardstock (which is a natural remnant from your original A4 sheet of cardstock) and stamped and heat embossed it in silver with a sentiment from Typed Christmas.  I applied the sentiment strip with foam tape.



The final touch was to add a whole lot of delicate glitter in the form of Stickles in 'Crystal'.  I applied points of it on the characters and then through the 'air' around them I dotted in plenty of it and this is absolutely dazzling as the card is moved in the light - a little bit of Christmas Magic!

When a card such as this is made from coloured cardstock I always use 80lb white paper and make a writing insert for the inside - makes the card feel even more substantial and special too!

So, there it is, my final holiday card of the season.  I LOVE making Christmas cards and can't wait until it is time to start back up again .... that'll be about August/September'ish? :D :D :D

Enjoy your New Year's Celebrations!

Nicky x

Moose and Friends - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hello!  Have you got all your Christmas cards made yet?   Maybe you are running out of inspiration in which case perhaps I can tempt you with this card made using Moose and Friends  by Hello Bluebird Stamps.



For this card I used a Clarity Stencil Brush to ink blend Distress Ink in Spun Sugar to form a focal point which I then splashed with water and blotted it up.  The panel was die cut to provide the faux stitched edge.  Next, I die cut a panel of Neenah 110lb white cardstock using the same stitched edge die and from each end I die cut a 'hill' using Hill and Dale Die.    I applied some Ranger Multi Medium Matte glue to the hills and then sprinkled on some Distress Glitter.  These two die cuts were layered over one another at the base of the card and adhered down.  The larger hill is glued directly and the smaller hill is on foam tape.



I stamped up the moose and bunny from Moose and Friends onto Bristol Smooth cardstock and watercolour painted them with my Kuretake Zigs.    The knitted hat, gifts and pinecones were stamped from Little Holiday Extras, where necessary they were watercolour painted and adhered with foam tape along with the moose and bunny.

Next, I grabbed the new Frosty Flakes Die and die cut the flakes several times so that I had a good supply of them.  I choose a few for this card, arranged and adhered them, slightly teasing up the outer edges for dimension.



The final touch was the sentiments.  These sentiments come from the Typed Christmas sentiment set which I ADORE!  They were stamped with the same Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil that I used for my characters etc.  Each sentiment was aligned on the right hand side and adhered with foam tape.

I thank you so much for stopping by the blog today, I hope you enjoyed this card and found some inspiration.  Happy Holidays!

Nicky x