Northern Lights Technique for Cards
Stampin' Up! 2016 Holiday Catalogue

Best Birds Card Ideas

As soon as I saw the Best Birds Bundle in the new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue, I knew I would be adding it to my collection - and luckily I earned some free product in the last Stampin' Up! year, so I was able to get it straight away!

With our Christmas in July coming up, I decided to have a bit of a play with it - after all, do you remember all those zillions of snow filled Christmas cards with little Robin Redbreasts on the front?

First I decided to create layers on my card with the Lots of Layers Framelits and my first layer was to be sponging some of the gorgeous Irresistably Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper. I wanted to make 12 cards, so my object was to cut 12 pieces out of one sheet of 12" x 12" paper to reduce wastage.

Now, as you know, you can't fit a full sheet of 12" x 12" through the standard Big Shot machine to cut out the framelits, so here is what I did!

Best Birds Bundle (1)

That's right!

I traced around the framelits to get 12 onto the sheet, then I carefully cut between each row so I would have three strips that would fit in the Big Shot.

Best Birds Bundle (2)

I then sponged each one with Pear Pizzazz ink, dark at one end and lighter at the other, then stamped my birds and boughs on more Whisper White card using the Momento Black ink pad. This is not my favourite ink pad for watercolouring, but it is my favourite for using with the Photopolymer stamps - especially when I am stamping them 12 times each!

Best Birds Bundle (4)

Best Birds Bundle (5)

Each of these shapes has a co-ordinating framelit, so I just stamped then on the thick Whisper White card to make them a little sturdier - also because I planned on watercolouring them all too.

Now, given the length and thinness of the branch stamp, you might be wondering, how did I get it to stick on my block in exactly the right position so that it would line up with the Framelit?

I saw a little trick on Face Book a week or so back, and thought it was brilliant! You place the framelit cutting side down on the table first, then you press the photopolymer stamp into the back of it so you can easily get it lined up perfectly, then you press your "H" block onto the stamp. Lift up, peel off the framelit, ink up, stamp, then cut out with the Big Shot.

Best Birds Bundle (3)

Next was colouring - and those of you who visit me regularly know that I use the aqua painters, and pour re-inker into the lid of my stamp pads and use them like a paint pallet. For these I used : Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive.

Best Birds Bundle (6)

I wasn't all that excited by how the Real Red came out when it was dry, it was a little pale and insipid compared to what I pictured, so I added a pop of colour another way.

In fact, I did a super quick 1 minute video on YouTube to show you what I did! Watch it here.

Next a cut 12 more Lots of Labels pieces in the next size up, from Soft Suede card, stamped some of the cross hatch texture from the stamp set onto more Whisper White then assembled all the pieces.

I also added 2 greeting stamps - the "Merry" is from Snow Place stamp set and the "Christmas" is from Time of Year Hostess set.

What do you think?

2016-07-21 16.25.40 (499x307)

Best Birds Bundle (7)

Best Birds Bundle (8)

You can see these cards in real life and a whole stack more at our Christmas in July event, next Saturday the 30th July at Wonga Park. We'd love to see you. Buy tickets on line here.

Comments

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Joan VanCourt

Gorgeous cards.

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