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

Otter Friends - Hello Bluebird

Hello Friends,

Thanks for stopping by the blog today to read about my latest card for Hello Bluebird Stamps using the stamp set Otter Friends from the most recent release.



My card started with a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I was going for a very dreamy pastel look so I was very careful to ink blend my watery backdrop very delicately.  I've used Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Cracked Pistachio, fading them away to nothing.  I ink blended using Clarity Stencil Brushes.  I then splashed water onto my project and blotted it up to give the speckled look.  I then die cut the panel to provide the faux stitched edge.



On more Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped out my otter images using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted them using my Kuretake Zigs in Mid Gray No.096 and for the blushing cheeks Light Pink No.026.  The bulrushes were painted with Mid Green No.046 and Beige No.072.  Once die cut I decided upon my arrangement of the scene.  Satisfied with the layout I used the two 'wave' dies included in the companion die set to make openings to 'dip' each of my otters into and I applied the otters with a little dimensional foam tape in the head area of each.  I added some little fish.



I applied the card panel to the sturdy cardstock base and then stamped and applied the sentiment.  Lastly I reached for some Nuvo Jewel Drops in Sea Breeze and dotted in some dimensional droplets and set it aside to dry for a couple of hours.  Project complete!

I appreciate you stopping by, hope you enjoyed the card.  Until the next time, happy crafting!

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

Bee Happy - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hello!  I am excited to share two new cards today featuring new release stamp sets by Hello Bluebird.  This post features Bee Happy!



This card features an A2 panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock that I softly ink blended using Distress Inks in Spun Sugar and Cracked Pistachio.  I splashed on a little water and quickly blotted it up with a kitchen towel to distress the background.  I die cut the panel to provide the simple faux stitched edge.



On more Bristol Smooth I hand stamped my images using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black.  I watercolour painted the images using Kuretake Zigs and highlighted some points with a Uniball Signo White gel pen.  I die cut the images and applied them into the scene using foam tape to build dimension.



I stamped the sentiment onto a strip of cardstock that I ink blended in Spun Sugar to match the colour of the background and attached that with foam tape also.  I decided the grass/ground needed more definition so I used simple dots to build definition.  To achieve this I used a combination of a Distress Ink pen in Mowed Lawn and my Uniball Signo White gel pen.  I stamped the trails of the bees and added a few Nuvo drops for a finishing embellishment.

I just love this stamp set and hope that you do too.

On to the next card!

Nicky x

Fishin' Hole by Hello Bluebird

Hello everybody, I'm back today with a brand new card using Fishin' Hole by Hello Bluebird Stamps.  This and some other stamp sets are set for release July 15th and I will have several more cards to share with you this month.



An A2 card panel was ink blended with Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass for the sky and Salty Ocean for the pond.  The panel was distressed with water splashes and then blotted dry with a kitchen towel.  I used one of the bullrush stamps from the stamp set and did some casual first and and second generation stamping using Shabby Shutters  to form an edge for the pond at the back of the scene.  I watercolour painted the pokers using a Kuretake Zig in Beige.  Using Distress Ink pens I dotted in a more defined water's edge top and bottom of the panel and then attached a white frame I already had in my stash with dimensional foam tape.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my images using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black.  I watercolour painted everything using Kuretake Zigs and highlighted some points with a Uniball Signo White Gel Pen.  The images were fussy cut and applied with more foam tape.  The sentiment was stamped on a strip of cardstock and also applied with foam tape.



I had some fun finishing this peaceful scene.  I applied several 'bubbles' above the fish in the form of the blue jewels from Pretty Pink Posh that you see in my photography.  I then used the Stickles glitter in Crystal that you also see in the photo to glitter up the dragonfly's wings and then I dotted tiny spots of the product through the bullrushes and water and tiny touches of it on the frame which gives the whole scene the prettiest twinkle when the card is handled.  Once dried the panel was attached to a 110lb Neenah cardstock base.

Thank you for stopping by to read about this card, hope to see you back here again soon!

Nicky x

Dandelion Wishes - Two New Cards

Hello!  My blog is a busy place today with new cards ready for both Avery Elle and Mama Elephant.   This post is for Dandelion Wishes by Mama Elephant, you might remember my 3D pop up box card from a couple of weeks ago which also used Dandelion Wishes.  No box cards today but two classically pretty cards that are relatively easy to make.



This first card features a hand stamped gingham background which is from Hello Bluebird Stamps.  I then aged the edge by ink blending with Antique Linen Distress Ink and die cut the panel with the wonky stitched edge by Mama Elephant.  I already had this white square frame die pre-cut from a previous project and I applied it popped up on foam tape.  On Bristol Smooth cardstock I hand stamped all of my images with Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black and watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs.  Colours used are Gray 090, Oatmeal 064, Pale Pink 028, Yellow Green 053, and Lemon Yellow 051.  They were die cut and then I just built the scene that you see here by means of layering and building depth using different amounts of Scotch foam tape.  The sentiment was stamped on a little strip of cardstock and also applied with foam tape.  The final touch was the addition of a few pearly white sequin accents.



For my second card I chose the same basic idea but gave it a slightly different look - less antiqued if you will!



I stamped a panel with a cozy plaid background stamp by Hello Bluebird using Simon Says Stamp Premium Dye Ink in Lake Shores.  I used another white frame die cut I had to hand and applied it with foam tape.  I stamped the sentiment and added it below.  When I stamped and watercolour painted my images for the last card I made enough extra images to complete this second one and so all of these components were painted with the exact same colours as listed above.  Once again I set about to arrange a dimensional scene with foam tape that was pleasing to my eye and finished this card off with some pretty sparkling clear flower sequins from Pretty Pink Posh for a little twinkle.



When you have stamp sets with lots of little images I find this basic layout a really good 'go to' design.

I hope you're inspired ... go forth and craft!

Nicky x

Deer Friend Shaker Card

Hello everybody, I'm both here and on the Hello Bluebird blog today with this Shaker Card using Deer Friend.



This card started with a panel of cardstock that was softly ink blended with green, pink and blue Distress Inks.  Next I constructed the shaker unit by taking an A2 panel of white cardstock and die cutting it using the Gallery Frame Die #1 from Hello Bluebird.  I lined this die cut with acetate and then applied a double layer of Scotch Foam Tape so there was plenty of space for the shaker contents to move around.   I powdered the edges of the foam tape to keep the seed beads and sequins moving around.  I put on my mixologist's hat when I made the mix that worked with the background.  With the the mix in the upturned window I sealed the back of the unit with the ink blended panel and applied it all to the card base which is a sturdy 110lb Neenah solar white.



I stamped the sentiment on the top of the frame and then grabbed some more Bristol Smooth cardstock and stamped out my images using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black.   I watercolour painted everything using Kuretake Zigs and a waterbrush pen then die cut each image.



Each image was adhered to the shaker window either with tape runner tape and some other areas with little pieces of foam tape to add a little further dimension.



If you haven't tackled a shaker card before I encourage you to push yourself to do so, they are not difficult and they really take your card making to the next level and are sure to please the happy recipient!

Until the next time then ........

Nicky x

Hippos On Holiday - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hello Friends!

Initially I wasn't going to blog about this card, especially as I was in such a creative flow this week (it's been very productive) but I got some enquiries on Instagram about it so I thought I'd share here a little more detail including products and colours used.



I think the impact of this card is in the colour combination, the rest is just scene building and layering.  So I took a panel of A2 Bristol Smooth cardstock (I favour Strathmore).  I ink blended it with Distress Oxide Ink in Spiced Marmalade and splashed it with water and blotted it dry a few seconds later.   I die cut the panel with the stitched edge and applied it to the card base.  With another panel of Bristol Smooth I die cut it to match the stitched edge and then die cut 3 'waves' from Avery Elle.  I casually ink blended these from dark to light using Distress Oxide in Peacock Feathers and splashed them up with some paint splashes using  Peacock Feathers mixed with a little water.  Once dry I dotted in some Uniball Signo White gel pen.



I adhered my 3 wave die cuts to the card panel making sure to keep the tops of the waves glue free in order to tuck my hippos in later.  I took yet more Bristol Smooth cardstock and stamped up my images using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black.  I watercolour painted them using my Kuretake Zigs.  The hippos and the gray points on the seagulls are done using Blue Gray 092.  Blushing cheeks and the pink on the beach balls courtesy of Light Pink 026.  The remaining 3 colours used are Yellow 050, Orange 070 and Light Blue 036.



I die cut all the characters etc and decided upon my layout and adhered everything with Scotch Foam Tape for dimension.  I selected my sentiment, stamped it with Archival Ink on to a little piece of scrap cardstock and once dry I took a blending tool with a little of the Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide Ink on it and coloured it up so that it blended into the 'sky'.  The sentiment strip was applied with foam tape.

To add sequins or not to add sequins THAT is the question?!  I decided not to but instead I grabbed a bottle of Stickles in 'Crystal' which reflects blues and greens and I did tiny dots of it throughout the water and into the whiter part of the 'sky'.  Doesn't photograph but it does give a sweet twinkle when the card is handled and it catches the light.

Another card complete!

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

Nicky x

Pig Day - Hello Bluebird

Hello friends!

Today I have another card to share with you using Pig Day by Hello Bluebird Stamps.  It is possible this is my favourite stamp set of all time, but I'm not fully ready to commit to that statement just yet!



I took two A2 panels of Bristol Smooth cardstock and blended one with pink Distress Oxide and added some water and paint splashes, this was then die cut with the faux stitched edge and set to one side.  The other A2 panel was die once with the same faux stitched edge then further cut 3 times to provide the grassy edge from the 'Grassy Knoll' die set from Hello Bluebird.  This left one additional negative die cut which I flipped upside down and all 4 were ink blended in Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide Ink.


I layered up the grassy edges and adhered them but I made sure not to add adhesive near the top of each edge because I knew I'd be tucking my piglets behind tufts of grass.  I used a Uniball Signo White gel pen to add daisy dots into the grass.



I took yet more Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my Pig Time images with Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black.  I watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs in Pale Pink 028 and Light Pink 026 (for their blushing cheeks and ears) and highlighted their cheeks using the Uniball Signo again.  The little birds were painted with Beige 072 and given a few white speckles.  The animals were all die cut and applied with Scotch foam tape and a pompom was added to the one piglet's party hat.  The sentiments were stamped onto black cardstock with Versamark Ink and heat embossed in Super Fine White Embossing Powder and applied with foam tape.  I then decided to add a couple of puffy white clouds from Rainbow Sky Die from Hello Bluebird just to balance out the scene.   I adhered the decorative panel to an A2 110lb white cardstock base and voila!  Card done!



I think it is safe to say this is FAR from the last Pig Time card I'll be creating and sharing!  Happy crafting everybody, please feel free to leave questions and comments, I'd love to hear from you.

Nicky x

Garden Frame by Mama Elephant

Hello!

Introducing Garden Frame by Mama Elephant which forms part of the delightful goodies from their June release.  I have been happily Guest Designing for Mama Elephant last month and this.  Garden Frame is ever so pretty and whilst I haven't done a shaker card here, it does have an internal die so the frame can be entirely cut out or just the inside to make a shaker card.




For my card here, I've ink blended a dreamy background using 3 shades of Distress Inks.  I then die cut it give the faux stitched edge and layered that over a panel of toning pink cardstock which was in turn applied to the card base.
  


Next I stamped the image from Garden Frame with Versamark Ink and heat embossed it in Ultra Fine Silver Embossing Powder by Simon Says Stamp.   This was then applied to the blended panel with dimensional foam tape.

I wanted to keep this card super delicate and accented it with a few jewels by Pretty Pink Posh, including one in the centre of each of the two largest flowers.  This stamp set comes with some very useful sentiments and you can make very quick cards using it.



Final touch was to add random dots of silver gel pen into the ink blended background just to break it up a little and add very subtle twinkle (I can never resist).  Thank you for stopping by to read today, more coming soon!

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

Book Buddy - Bear & Dog - Mama Elephant

Hi everybody, thanks for coming by the blog today to look at Book Buddy - Bear & Dog by Mama Elephant which forms part of the new release available for purchase June 15th.  This post also features the new Bookmark It die and sentiments from Good Reads.



There are so many options for the Book Buddy which can be used alone as the cutest little page marker but here I made it in its simplest form and had it hang over the actual bookmark made with the Bookmark It die.  You could also make many of them and hang them over string for a bunting type affect to decorate a little girl's room - so cute!



I cut my Book Buddies from Bristol Smooth and I blushed their cheeks using Kuretake Zigs and highlighted with a Uniball Signo White Gel Pen.  Facial features were die cut from black cardstock and adhered.  I double die cut the bow layering one on top of the other, adhering directly in the centre and then in between underneath on each side I used a tiny piece of Kool Tak Clear Foam so that it was discretely dimensional.  I think the bow would also work as a bow tie!



The pretty embossed edge on the card is from Fine Trimmings which was part of a former release.  The Bookmark It die comes with several smaller dies which help you create very creative bookmarks which I hope to share with you in a future blogpost.

The sentiment is from the new sentiment set 'Good Reads' and it was stamped on more pink cardstock that I embossed with the same decorative edge and applied with foam tape.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today, I hope you feel like getting creative!

Nicky x

Book Worms by Mama Elephant

Hey All!  I am Guest Designing for Mama Elephant for a while and have some June new release goodies to share with you all.  Have you come by to see 'Book Worms'?  If you have then I reckon you are in for a treat!



I created a white card base from Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock.  I ink blended a hint of pale pink using Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  Near the bottom I ink blended with a hint of Antique Linen.  Next I found a scrap of white cardstock in my vast collection of scraps (don't even ask) and I scored it to give the look of wainscoting and I glued a strip of cardstock across the top and bottom then applied the whole thing to the card base.




On Strathmore Bristol Smooth watercolour cardstock I stamped all of the many images, I die cut them and watercolour painted them using my Kuretake Zigs.  I tested out a few scene arrangements before settling on the one you see and all the adorable characters were adhered using varying amounts of Scotch Foam Tape to build depth.

Finally I stamped the sentiment from the new 'Good Reads' which is also part of the new release and finished by adding a few crystal clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh.



Look at that little doggy on top of the pile of books, it looks like it is wearing a bad toupee ..... I could just die, so cute!  Love the potential of these stamps sets in combination with each other because it sets you up perfectly to give the card with the gift of a book!

Thank you for swinging by the blog today.

Nicky x

Creativity Is Contagious

Hi!  Here's a look at a part of the new release from Mama Elephant who I am Guest Designing for right now.  I'm sure like me, many of you have friends and acquaintances in the card making world or friends who crochet up a storm etc.  Well here's the stamp for them, or at least here's the stamp you'll want so that you can create and encourage them, otherwise known as 'enabling'.


I wanted the sentiment to shine on this card and kept the design simple but pretty.  I die cut a stitched panel from soft pink cardstock.  I used my Embossing Buddy to prep the panel then stamped the sentiment using my Misti with Versamark Ink.  I stamped it 2 or 3 times to get a strong impression.  I then heat embossed it with Ultra Fine White Embossing Powder.



The panel was then adhered to the card base which is white but it has a layer of white craft foam sandwiched in between which lifts the panel up and makes it feel beautifully substantial when handled and truth be told, it handles the rigours of the mail system so much better when you do this (better than putting dimensional foam tape back there!

The next step was to hand stamp the beautiful bunnies and their Dandelions from the new Dandelion Wishes stamp and die set onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth using Archival Ink which is waterproof, then watercolour painting them using my Kuretake Zigs.  I die cut them and applied them with foam tape.



The final touch was to add dots of Uniball Signo White pen over the dandelion heads, to make them look fluffy and altogether softer, sort of perfectly imperfect if you will and then a few pearl sequins add that final but necessary accent.



Thanks for coming along to read how this card was made, I'd love to hear from you if you'd like to leave me a comment!

Nicky x

Dandelion Wishes

Hello everybody, I've got a pretty special 3D pop up card for you today - I went to town on this one!  Mama Elephant have me onboard Guest Designing for a while and this month they are including a 3D Pop-Up Card die with their June release which makes pop up cards that bit quicker to make - they've done the calculating for you!



My card is constructed of Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock which I nearly always use for my regular card bases!  I die cut everything twice to provide me with anything I could want.  I just followed my heart as I created, there was no big plan.  The panels for the flaps were ink blended using Distress Ink in Cracked Pistachio.  I also ink blended in similar fashion the inside of what would be the box.  This makes the card look more finished because remember the recipient will peer inside too!



The upper back panel of course was ink blended in Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.  The die includes the picket fence (yay!), a cloud and a speech bubble as well as choices for different hills (grassy or otherwise), so this die is a great investment because you can use it year round or just use parts of it for scene building on any card you create.  I chose grassy hills and ink blended them also.



On my favourite Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped out all the images I wanted for this card using waterproof Archival Ink.  I die cut them and watercolour painted them using my Kuretake Zigs.  I then set about applying them into the scene carefully checking heights and viewing it from different angles to make sure it was interesting from every vantage point and nothing was obscuring anything else.  For height, the cloud and the mouse floating on a puff of wind hanging onto a little dandelion, I used a tiny strip of acetate to get them where they are.  It is essential that you check your heights as you go and keep folding the pop up box card flat to determine before you glue, whether it will still fit in your A2 envelope!



I highlighted a few areas with my Uniball Signo White pen including applying dots to the dandelion heads to break them up a little, making them look fluffy and soft .... as they should be.  The sentiment was stamped and applied with a little strip of Scotch foam tape ...... and there you have it!  Like I said at the beginning, I went to town on this one and it was worth it I reckon!



Until the next time .....

Nicky x