Hello Bluebird | Bluebird on my Shoulder

Hello dear friends,

Welcome to a cold and windy visit on my front porch!  A friend said the weather in Charleston is like picking power ball numbers - 56, 31, 27, 65, 19, 70!   Maybe I should purchase a ticket (she laughs).   How about you, how's your weather?   Our poor little cyclamen plants had to be brought in from the screened porch to weather out the next few days of cold.   But no matter the weather, rain or shine, I've got a bluebird on my shoulder!   And that my dear friends is the title of my newest card.

I'm sharing a mid-January card using several Hello Bluebird Stamp sets and transitioning these older sets to create new scene for Valentine's Day.  So let's get our beverage and start talking crafty talk shall we?

How did I create this card:

• Cut a 4.25 x 5.5 card base (top fold) from Neenah Solar White Classic Crest card stock 110 lb
• Cut a panel 3.75 x 5.25 from Neenah Solar White Classic Crest card stock 80 lb 
• Ink blend the 3.75 x 5.25 panel with Ranger Distress Oxide Spun Sugar and Wilted Violet and spritz with water.  Stamp your sentiment and set aside to dry.   I used Brutus Monroe Detail Ink (Raven) as my ink choice.
• Stamp your images and color with your choice of medium, then die-cut with the available coordinating dies.  I used the following stamp sets:
• Rainy Day
• North Star
• Springtime
• Rainbow Script
• I colored my images with Copics so I chose to use Memento (Tuxedo Black) as my stamping ink.
• With my panel now dry, I arranged my colored images.  I used the stamped sentiment to ground my larger elements.  The little girl is popped up with 3M tape as are the clouds and sunshine  The puppy and duck are adhered with Nuvo by Tonic Deluxe Adhesive 
• Instead of raindrops I've added rays of sunshine hearts in yellow "sunshine" by PaperSource
• Little details are subtle:
• The bluebird on the shoulder 
• Tiny heart on the puppy's collar
• Valentine heart in the little girl's hand.

Don't forget those little details for in my humble opinion they take a design to the next level.   A simple card such as this now keeps the viewers eye longer and brings a sigh of delight (I hope) *laughing*   Background colors also play a big part too.  I tried several different colors and mediums before settling on the purple/pink combo (remember your color wheel).

It's my hope to have a dialogue with crafters here on my front porch; so thank you as always for visiting and leaving such lovely comments.  I hope you've enjoyed this sunny little valentine.

The sun will be out tomorrow, but in the meantime let's create something that makes that little bluebird on our shoulder sing!  Until next time.

Very sincerely,

Susie ~

Hello Bluebird | Good Tidings of Great Joy

"And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you great tidings of great joy,

Which shall be to all people."

Luke 2:10 KJV

Hello friends,

November is a list makers extravaganza!   There are shopping lists for Thanksgiving dinner, decorations, gift giving ideas for Christmas, and all the things in between.  November found me in my craft room creating Christmas cards, and participating in Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event.   And of course, preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner which is an event unto itself!

With company gone and the house quiet once more, I took a cup of tea up to my craft room and spent some time creating a card to share good tidings of great news!   A Savior is born - to all people!   Lord of Lord, and Kings of Kings.  Even the lowly animals of the forest know His name.

I love the pure innocence on the faces of our little friends as they hear the Savior's name whispered on the winds of joy through the winter night.   Can you imagine their excitement as they traveled to the edge of the forest to see the star that would light the way to the manger where the young babe laid?

The beautiful scripture from Luke 2:10 found in the Hello Bluebird set, Away in a Manger, set the stage for my creation.  I wanted to let the animals from the Hello Bluebird stamp sets, North Star,  Away in a Manger, Moose and Friends, and Snow Play tell the visual story on this card and opted not to use the traditional manger scene.

I used the newly release Winter Woods Overlay die and cut it from cold press watercolor paper.  I saved the negatives and put them aside.   I watercolored the trees with Schmincke Horadam pan watercolors using a wet-on-dry technique.  This means I used wet paint on dry paper.  The technique effect will leave "edges" which, when dry, achieves an interesting look especially when painting trees.

I adhered the overlay to my card base and then placed the negatives back in place.  I placed the animals in their order and then laid the sentiment down -- once I had the sentiment where I wanted it, I picked up the animals and put them aside.  Then I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Instant Dry Pigment Ink, Onyx Black.

Watercoloring over this ink once it's dry is like a resist - I wouldn't use anything else.  But... be patient and let it dry thoroughly.  If you are in a hurry, use your heat gun.  Once the sentiment was dry I began watercoloring the night sky, which is the negatives from the Winter Woods Overlay.   Then with everything dry, I placed the animals using Nuvo Tonic Deluxe adhesive onto the card.  I did use some 3M adhesive tape on the fox and cardinal for a little dimension.

I should have splattered before I stamped the sentiment and placed the animals, but not to worry -- I carefully covered them with scratch paper and splattered away using, Finetec: Coliro: Mica Watercolor paint in gold, white gouache, and some brown Schmincke watercolor paint.   A few little negative stars from the Snowy Sky Scene die in white finished the card.   Simply stated and created, this quiet card shouts with joy --  A Savior is Born! 

As we enter this first week of Advent, I hope you'll find time to read the passage in Luke, and give thanks for the good tidings brought to all peoples that quiet night in Bethlehem.

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Hello Bluebird | Winter Release Preview Day 1

Hello friends, Welcome to my front porch!   The last time we talked we both agreed the holiday card crafting season is upon us.   The excitement begins today as Hello Bluebird Stamps begins their previews for the new 2019 winter release!  And believe me it's as sweet as Christmas pie!

What a wonderful way to start a release - a party with Christmas cookies and hot cocoa with marshmallows - yum!  My first card features the new release stamp set, Cocoa Party, paired with a new word die, Warm Wishes.   The stamp set features five (5) of our favorite friends in their best Christmas sweaters, a Merry Christmas banner, three (3) small stamps, and five (5) sweet sentiments!  That's a set chock-a-block full of Christmas goodies!

Slimline card designs are fun to create and provide the extra room for scene building.   I started by cutting a piece of hot chocolate card stock to 7 x 8.5 and scored at 3.5 inches for my card base.  Then I cut a second piece of rectangular card stock about a quarter inch smaller all around.  This became the base for my design.  I lightly inked the second panel with some Gathered Twigs Distress ink (darker to lighter) and centered the word die, Warm Wishes, in the middle of the panel and placed a sentiment, You Warm My Heart, from the Cocoa Party stamp set at an angle.   I colored all the characters with Copic markers and popped several up with 3M adhesive tape, the rest were glued with Tonic Deluxe Adhesive Nuvo glue (love that stuff!).   The bonus to all Hello Bluebird stamp sets are the smaller stamps -- there are so many ways to use these sweet additions.   I used one of the little birds that appears to be carrying a candy cane to put into his hot chocolate.   A simple design that heralds a party!

The new release goes live on Monday, October 28th at 7:00pm MST   Until then, I hope you'll join the party along with the Hello Bluebird design team as we preview our 2019 winter product line.  

Thank you so much for your visit today, I'll see you back on the front porch soon!

Hello Bluebird| Preview Day 4 | Fly a Kite

RELEASE DAY!

Fly a Kite

Hello Bluebird friends!  Welcome to my front porch, and day 4 of the the new April release previews which will culminate tonight April 16th at 7:00pm MST when the release goes live on the Hello Bluebird Stamps website.

Release day is here!    I am amazed I am almost through my first release as a "Bluebird" I'm still pinching myself.   But, I have several more cards to share with you this month - so let's talk.  I've been using Copics as my "medium" for all of the cards this month, including this one.  But, style is an entirely different animal, err, character (she smiles).   Today's card is a CAS design with an inked blended background.  It is a simple, but effective way to feature the principle element by framing it with other images or playing off a sentiment(s) and leaving a balanced white space.

For my card today I am using the new release set, Fly a Kite.  I loved coloring these adorable illustrations turned stamps.  Early in my stamping journey I wanted to give voice to the card designs I was creating.  Building scenes and story lines is a prefect way to accomplish that goal.

Life is Better with Friends is one of the sentiments included in the Fly a Kite set.  And it is the foundation for my CAS design.  Look at the interaction between the little bee and the fox - friendship is implied between the two by the sweet smile on the face of the fox.  The rest of the group help by surrounding the CAS design in the photo staging.  The card begins to tell a simple story on and off the card.

In the months ahead you'll see me use different mediums and styles and hopefully you'll be inspired to join the fun -- We can do this together! 

The new April 2019 Release will be available for purchase tonight at 7:00pm MST  Don't miss out, this release is going to go fast.

Hello Bluebird Stamps + Your Imagination = Inspiration

 Because Life is Better with Friends!

As always, thank you for joining me today.  And I'll see you soon.

  

Hello Bluebird | Preview Day 3 | Unicorn Tales

Unicorn Tales, Sparkle Script, 

After the Rain Scene Die

Hello Bluebird friends!  Welcome to my front porch, and day 3 of the the new April release previews which will culminate on the evening of April 16th at 7:00pm MST when the release goes live on the Hello Bluebird Stamps website.

Let's start this Monday off right with a cup of coffee while we talk and take a look at todays sweet offering.

Unicorns, Sparkle Script and After the Rain Scene Die - Wow!  This card is all about feminine sparkle and playtime fun with a magical unicorn rocking horse!  Glittering stars slide down rainbows made of polka dot pattern paper.   Tiny golden stars adorn a pastel bokeh background.  Add a rose gold embossed sentiment and you have a card fit for a princess!

I decided to use the "Sparkle and Shine' sentiment and embossed it in rose gold embossing powder.   This card almost has a faux shaker card feel doesn't it?  I cut a 4.25 x 5.5 panel from Neenah Solar White card stock 80lb and used my ink blending sponge (very lightly) to create a bokeh effect.  I gently buffed the circles with a soft tissue and placed the tiny stars randomly.  Believe it or not, I was able to lay a piece of acetate over the top without glueing those tiny stars down.  The static electricity held them in place perfectly.  I cut the polka dot pattern paper using the After the Rain Scene die and inlaid the pieces - a perfect fit!  The only thing left was to place my little unicorn rocking horse at the end of the rainbow with adhesive mounting tape.   What sweeter way to give a new look to a unicorn than to add a rocker underneath!   Easy peasy - just cut down a small circle die and angel it a bit on the ends.   My unicorn is colored with Copic markers and die cut using the coordinating dies available for the Unicorn Tales set.   A little stardust glitter down the mane finishes the card.   What type of card would you create with this new release set?  Birthday, Welcome Baby, Party favors, or maybe an invitation for a girlie day at the Spa!

Hello Bluebird Stamps + Your Imagination = Magical!

I'll be back tomorrow for Preview Day 4.    I hope you've enjoyed our time together as we took a look at the new April release stamp set, Unicorn Tales, Sparkle Script, and After the Rain Die from Hello Bluebird Stamps.   Be sure to check out all of the Design Team cards on Instagram, and don't forget the release culminates on April 16th at 7:00pm when all products will be available on the  Hello Bluebird Stamps website.  As always it's a pleasure to have you visit today.

Hello Bluebird | Preview Day 2 | Maverick & Sunrise Scene Die

Maverick and Sunrise Scene Die

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!” 
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Hello Bluebird friends!  Welcome to my front porch, and the second day of previews for the new April release which will culminate on the evening of April 16th at 7:00pm MST when the release goes live on the Hello Bluebird Stamps website.

Come and sit with me on the porch and let me show you what I've created for you!  

It was a stellar week for our young grandson who learned how to tie his shoes (she smiles).   Milestones come in all sizes don't they?  We are determined in our quest to succeed!  We try, and try again, and finally... we take off - flying higher than we ever dreamed!   And before we know it our new skill is second nature.   My card today is all about flying high and encouraging others in their own dreams.   The accomplishment of a new skill or goal sends us soaring high!

Today the Hello Bluebird Design Team is featuring the Maverick Stamp set and Sunrise Scene Die.   I decided to customize the paint job on this little PT19 (Pilot Trainer).  These are the colors and design both the Navy and Army used on their trainer aircraft during WWII.  All imagines were die-cut with coordinating dies.  I used the Sunrise Scene die for the sunshine and rays and the pretty yellow border around this A2 sized card.   It also cuts the clouds too!  I cut twice, once with yellow  card stock and once with Neenah Solar White 80lb and inked the white with a little grey blue ink and just tipped a little yellow ink on the upper clouds.   The images were all colored with Copic marker.   The plane and little bluebirds were popped up with adhesive mounting tape.   If you look close you'll see I've used a little clear gloss on the windshield and pilot's glasses.   Now for the best surprise of all.  There are several little animal pals in this set that are illustrated so they fit into the aircraft.  The unique coordinating die cuts right along the arm that rests outside the airplane, and the airplane also has a cut line that allows you to slip your choice of animal pal into the plane - isn't that great?!  Both the plane and the animal pal fit together perfectly!

This card was a pure delight to create and I thought about our young grandson who is learning to soar in so many areas of life.   Oh the places he'll go!

Tomorrow the Hello Bluebird Design Team will be back featuring another new release stamp set and die.  I hope you've enjoyed our time together today as we took a look at the new April release stamp set, Maverick, and the stand alone Sunrise Scene Die from Hello Bluebird Stamps.   Be sure to check out all of the Design Team cards on Instagram, and don't forget the release culminates on April 16th at 7:00pm when all products will be available on the Hello Bluebird Stamps website.  As always it's a pleasure to have you visit today.

Hello Bluebird | Preview Day 1 |Fairy Garden

Fairy Garden and Garden Friends

The soft stars are shinning,

The moon is alight;

The folk of the forest

Are dancing tonight...

~ Katherine Davis

1892 - 1980

Hello Bluebird friends!   Welcome to my front porch, and to the first day of previews for the new April release.  I will be sharing a new card with you for the next four days which will culminate on release night, April 16th at 7:00pm MST, when the release goes live on the Hello Bluebird Stamps website.

Come sit with me a while -- let's have a glass of sweet tea and I'll show you what's new this month.

Living in the coastal low country of South Carolina adds to the magical illustration of these new release stamp sets, Fairy Garden and Garden Friends.   Each time I take my camera to the beautiful gardens of Middleton and Magnolia, or our own garden, I am transported to a land of make believe.  Where fairies gather under the moonlight to play with woodland friends, ring the bells of lavender blue, and cast their spells of twinkling dust, and dance in the light of the sliv'ry moon!

The Fairy Garden set includes seventeen images plus two sentiments.  Garden Friends includes thirteen images and three sentiments - that's what I call value added!   Coordinating dies are also available.  I have used two little images (the red violet single flower and the firefly) from the Garden Friends set to compliment my Fairy Garden scene.  The Garden Friends set is scaled to compliment the Fairy Garden set.   Imagine how many sweet scenes you can create with these sets!

I started this design by ink blending the background around a masked circle (for the moon) using Ranger Distress Inks in a blue/blue violet color palette.   When I finished I lightly slid the edge of the sponge across the moon several times to give the appearance of wispy clouds.   All the images were die-cut with coordinating dies and colored with Copic markers.  I kept a blue/blue violet and yellow palette for my little fairy's dress.   And here's a little tip:  when I color a face I always used just a little V20 Copic right under the hairline - try it next time you color and see if you don't like it too.   A wink of stella, some white gel pen, and flat clear sequins were used to finish the card.   The finished panel was mounted using fun foam onto the card base.

I hope you've enjoyed our time together as we took our first look at this adorable stamp set from Hello Bluebird Stamps.   Tomorrow we'll soar into the wild blue yonder!   Be sure to check out all of the Design Team cards on Instagram as we feature, Fairy Garden and Garden Friends.  As always it's a pleasure to have you visit today.