Hello Bluebird | Merry Mice and Dickens Carol

Hello friends, I'm up on the Hello Bluebird Blog today and hope you'll meet me there as I continue to feature our new release sets.  I've created a classic card today featuring, Merry Mice, using a few different coloring mediums I think you'll love.

It's been a whirl wind week for Hello Bluebird, and our International design team continue to inspire us as they feature their sample cards.   The festive and beautiful stamp and dies sets will get your holiday juices flowing.   So, grab a cup of your favorite hot chocolate and come visit me today!

Hello Bluebird | Release Day!

It just gets cuter and cuter each day!  Do you think you've found your favorite yet?   Not sure?  Well, let me help you just a little bit *giggle*   Don't forget the release goes live tonight at 7:00pm MST

I like to include a CAS design in my card line up for a new release -- something for everyone, right?  Today I'm featuring the new stamp set, First Snow.   If you missed the first day of previews, please hop over to the Hello Bluebird blog and take a look at the sample cards featuring First Snow, and the stamp and die set.

I loved the two little bunnies who looked like they were throwing a kiss and extending their arms in a gesture of welcome wishes.  I colored both bunnies with Copic markers (I will list the colors at the bottom of the post) and cut them out using the available companion die set.

I cut out a heart from masking paper and placed it in the middle of my panel and did some ink blending with Distress Spun Sugar ink.   The ink blended heart serves as a foundation and grounds the two bunnies.  Then, being careful to use the rule of thirds, I stamped the little snowflakes in watermark ink and embossed with sliver embossing powder.   I placed the bunnies on the heart (without adhesives) so I could see where to place the sentiments.  Once I had the sentiment stamps in place I carefully lifted the bunnies off and put the panel in my stamp positioner.   I used Hero Arts Black Dye ink to stamp the sentiments. 

**PSA**  Please be careful at this point.  Dye ink dries much slower than others, and will smear in a moments notice.  Use your heat tool for a second or two, or set the piece down, get a beverage, and take a little break (she smiles).  Once everything is dry, adhere your bunnies (I popped mine up with 3M adhesive tape).  Last but not least, I placed three sweet hearts strategically around the bunnies and snowflakes. 

Copic colors used:

• C00, C0, C1 | RV0000, RV000
• RV52, RV55, RV63
• BG53, BG57

A lovely CAS design with icy white balance, slivery snowflakes, sweet pink hearts, and two little bunnies who send Snowflake kisses and Winter Wishes!   I hope you've enjoyed my card sample today and throughout this beautiful winter release.   Thank you for your visits and wonderful comments.

Hello Bluebird | Preview Day 3

Day 3 previews of Hello Bluebird Stamps new winter release!

Hi friends, and welcome to the front porch today!   It's been a whirlwind of inspiration on the Hello Bluebird Stamps Blog, Instagram, and FB Friends Group sites in anticipation of the new winter release that goes live on Monday, October 28th, 7pm MST     Everyone is in a twitter over all the sweet winter and Christmas stamp sets, and stand alone die sets!    Please make sure you visit the Hello Bluebird Blog during the previews and comment for a chance to win one of four $50 gift certificates.  You'll be able to see the stamp sets, dies, and of course, all the inspiration samples by the U.S. based design team.   And if that isn't enough, next week we'll be treated to even more inspiration by the International design team!! 

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the hallow, not a creature...  Today I'm featuring my favorite set, O Christmas Tree, and the new stand alone background die, Snowy Sky Scene.

As much as I adore all the Hello Bluebird Stamp illustrations, my favorites are all the little characters.  From their sweet smiles to their innocent gaze, they endear themselves to us by their human attributes; trimming the tree, having a cocoa party, decorating their tree house in the woods.  We can't help ourselves -- we have fallen in love with them!

This is an A2 side fold card.  I stamped out all the images in the set and colored them using Copic markers.  I used the O Christmas Tree companion die set available in this release and cut out my images.  I also die-cut the Snowy Sky Scene and ink blended the top portion that is perforated with stars and different sized  holes to project a snowy/starry night with two different Distress Inks, Tumbled Glass and Stormy Night.

I slightly inked the edges of the snowy hills with Tumbled Glass, and adhered all the pieces on my first panel.  Tip: only adhere the edges of your snowy hills (and the bottom hill) so you can tuck your characters in the desired position(s).  Now it's time to choose how you want to position your characters to project the scene you'd like to portray.  I added a little Stickles glitter along the top edge of the hills and pulled it down in a sweeping motion with a toothpick (you'd be surprised at the tools I use).  I added just a little bit of white gouache on some of the tree branches which I think provides some extra dimension and interest.  A lovely gold leaf trim around the panel finishes the card. 

I hope you've enjoyed my card today.  It was a pleasure to create it for Hello Bluebird and YOU!

I'll see you again soon for the last day of previews.  Thank you as always for your visit to my front porch!

Hello Bluebird Stamps | Winter Release Preview Day 2

Hello friends!  How did you like the Hello Bluebird Stamps new winter release preview day 1 samples?  Believe me it's a pleasure creating a card with such lovely stamps and dies.   Please don't forget to visit the Hello Bluebird blog each day during the previews days; leave a comment for a chance to win one of four $50 gift certificates.

The question for you today is this:  Have you had your family Christmas photo yet?  Oh you know the kind; the once a year photo where the entire family wears color coordinated outfits.   Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their woodland friends posed for their photo and I think it's as sweet as Christmas pie!

Today is day 2 of our Previews and I'm featuring, Family Photo -- how cute is that name for a stamp set?!  Included in this set is the image you see on my card today (it's all one stamp - no masking); an extra reindeer, small sitting penguin, little heart, candy cane, snowflake, and two nice sentiments.

I started my card by ink blending a background with distress ink Tumbled Glass for the sky, then added a snowy hill.   I stamped "the family" and colored them with Copic markers and finished with a little colored pencil for additional depth.  I used the companion die to cut my colored piece out and placed it over my background.  I also played around with some solid colored frames, before deciding on a more decorative one of patterned paper to break up the color coordinated outfits (she laughs).  

I was thinking about all the great Christmas frames available this time of year and thought Santa and Mrs. Claus would approve.  I placed the second reindeer a little off the main photo to give some depth and interest.  To finish the card I added some white Tonic Nuvo drops and Stickles Stardust in the sky.  Candy canes and sweet red hearts complete the card.

From our Family to Yours, From Heart and Hand, You're wished a very Merry Christmas!

I hope you've enjoyed my card today and will pop over to the Hello Bluebird Blog and the galleries of the design team members to see what they have for you today.

Thank you for stopping by, I always appreciate your visits.   The Hello Bluebird Release goes live on Monday, October 28th at 7:00pm MST

Hello Bluebird | Bring on the Merry!

Hello friends!

Welcome to my front porch - a place to share our love of crafting and creating cards.  With seasonal card crafting in full swing, it's time to talk turkey, err, I mean Christmas!   I am beginning my Christmas card crafting now, and will be in full swing with the new Hello Bluebird Winter Release, October 28th at 7pm MST    Previews begin on October 25th so please don't miss out on the wonderful treats in store by all the Hello Bluebird DT

I thought I'd get a little warm-up practice in today with some Hello Bluebird Christmas sets from 2018.  My card features, Frosty Littles and North Pole Littles -- oh my goodness how I love the "littles" they're so, so sweet!   It really was difficult to choose which of the little snowmen I wanted to use;   I guess I'll have to make more (she smiles).

I think I'll call this card design a CSD (Clean Scene Design) - I believe I've just invented a new design category (laughing).   It has a bit of everything distress ink blending, die-cut layering, Copic coloring, and maybe a new-to-you technique while still keeping a nice white balance.  Let's take a look.

First, let's talk about the frame and the technique I used.   I cut a panel of Neenah Solar White card stock 110 lb 3 3/4 x 5 1/4 and did the same to a piece of Sookwang, Be Creative Sheet, which is sticky on both sides.   I married both pieces together and placed a basic rectangular die in the middle and ran it through my die cutting machine.   The next step is a little tricky only because it's sticky.    Carefully place the die cut Be Creative Sheet over the die-cut framel (you may have to tuck little stray sticky pieces around the edges but that's okay.   Lay the frame on paper and pour fine glitter over it; tap off the extra, and burnish with your finger.   The fine glitter provides a lovely icy appearance.  This technique look particularly nice over a colored scene (just make sure it isn't a 3D scene).

Secondly, I cut two 3 3/4 x 5 panels of Neenah Solar White card stock 110 lb  I did some ink blending on the first panel using Distress Oxide Milled Lavender half way down.  The second panel was used to cut the snowy hills using the Hill and Dale die cuts.   Once I had them cut, I gave them a light ink blending in the little nooks and crannies with Distress Oxide Tumbled Glass.

Adhering the snowy hills together (only at the sides) I placed the entire piece on the first panel just below the sky line.   With only the sides glued together I had room to slip in my "littles".   This is a small scene so it's important to give it a big presence with perspective.   I've done that with color, tucking in some elements behind and bringing others forward and mounting them with 3M adhesive tape.   I chose a blue/green scheme for the trees, a darker blue combo for the house and the snowman's hat, and a pop of red for the door and north pole sign which I brought forward and popped up on the outside of the frame.   A little decorative holly at the bottom of the sign, and on the left side of the sentiment from the North Pole Littles stamp set, is a nice balance.

When you look at the scene now, it carries your eye from the sentiment and North Pole sign on the outside of the frame all the way back to the mountains.   A "Clean Scene Design" with nice white balance.   Bring on the Merry!

I hope you've enjoyed my card today and will give that "icy" technique a try.   And don't forget the upcoming Winter Release starting with Previews on October 25th and the Full Release on October 28th at 7pm MST

See you soon friends!
Sincerely,
Susie ~

Hello Bluebird | Memorial Banner

Hello friends!  I have a card to share with you today that I created for Memorial Day this past Monday.  We are a military family.  Service to country runs deep on both sides.  From WWII through the war in the Middle East our family members have served proudly.   While crafting this card I thought about the fields of crosses in Verdun, France that seemed to go on forever, and the graves of Arlington, Virginia where friends and colleagues lay.   I don't think there is a family in our country that doesn't have a story of service in their family.  So today I honor them.  Those who put the comforts of home and love of family aside to protect the freedoms we hold so dear.

A Memorial Banner of Red, White, and Blue

This new card uses a number of different Hello Bluebird sets.  I began by scoring the foundation panel of Neenah Solar White card stock (80lb) on the diagonal.  This is nice way to provide interest to a CAS design.   For the base of the floral spray I used the very popular, Vertical Banner die from the Banner Buddies release.  Flowers and leaves were both stamped and die cut using the following sets:  Flower Garden and Wildflower Bouquet and the Wildflower Bouquet companion die,   The large leaves were die cut using Gallery Frame #2 and the stars were die cut from Gallery Frame #1   I trimmed the foundation panel with a gold leaf pen, and both panel and the floral banner were adhered to the card base with fun foam.

I hope you've been inspired by my card and words today.   It is a small offering from heart and hand.    The stamp and die sets I've shared today can be found on the Hello Bluebird web site and are waiting for you!

On Monday I posted these words from Thomas Pain:

"These are the times that try men's souls."    Written during the darkest hours of our nations struggle for liberty.    A struggle that brought Gen. George Washington humbly to his knees in prayer.   Surely a country had never paid such a high cost for freedom as this...   Our founding fathers knew the cost.   The struggle against tyranny and oppression will always cause suffering and pain - this we know. 

But the desire for freedom is greater.

Remembering

  

Hello Bluebird | Fairy Garden & Garden Friends

In the far away land of make believe

Where fairies dance

And ladybugs swing
 Under golden light
 As bluebells chime to their delight

And the whirl-about goes round!

Hello dear bluebird friends, welcome to my front porch!

Did you have a wonderful and blessed Easter?

We are settling back into a routine after having guests for the weekend.

Last week we talked a little about mediums and styles.  This week I thought it might be nice to settle back and take a look at a card creation that incorporates both - patterned paper, copic marker AND two stamp sets that bring the magical land of make believe to life.

I cannot take a walk through the gardens of Middleton or Magnolia without seeing fairies (she smiles).  You might say, "Oh Susie, how can that be?"  Well, when you see bald cypress knees grouped together as if they were extended family, or petite blossoms growing along the waters edge, and hanging moss that looks like a long grey beard, it's difficult not to believe.  It's easy to envision the scene above.   And that's just what I did.

The beautifully illustrated stamps sets, Fairy Garden and Garden Friends from Hello Bluebird are meant to interact together, and scaled to do so.

I started this card by cutting patterned paper with the Grassy Knoll stand alone die.  I color-tipped the ends of the grass with a darker green from my Copic marker to provide contrast against the light blue patterned paper of the sky.  If you look close you'll see slight pink wisps of color that are part of the patterned paper design.  I deepened the pink a little more with my Polychromos pencil.

Then I began to build my scene with style!  The toadstool from Garden Friends was the perfect center element for a magical merry go round.  Can you imagine how much fun that would be in the land of make believe?!  I pierced the toadstool in three locations.   A little strip of woodgrain patterned paper snipped into a tiny rectangles became the swing seat for our little ladybugs to stand on.  And embroidery thread their handlebars.  I shortened the right side to give the appearance of swinging upward and the left a little lower as they whirl about.

Bluebells from Fairy Garden shimmer in golden light and play their magical tune as the butterfly from Garden Friends looks on, and the snail glides along the forest floor.  All the stamped images were colored with Copic markers.  Some were adhered flat, while others with adhesive mounting tape to give depth and dimension.  A peek through a grassy field of bluebells on a sunny day, where ladybugs play to the delight of their garden friends.

   What lies beneath black waters still and deep where gossamer wings doth fly? Sentinels of bald cypress knees keep watch by day and twilight casts last light as fairies dance and play.

I hope you've been inspired to create with imagination in mind as you step into the land of make believe with Hello Bluebird Stamps.

Hello Spring, Let's Celebrate!

Hello Bluebird

Banner Buddies

Hello friends!   I have the sweetest card to share with you today.  For the past year I have been looking at the stamp and die sets being released from Hello Bluebird.   The illustrations are absolutely adorable!   With each release I found myself getting closer to a purchase.  But I never expected to fall so hard that I would purchase almost an entire release!  Yep, that's exactly what I did.   

This week I had some time to play with several of my new sets and thought you might like to see the results.

The first thing I did was stamp all the wonderful woodland critters from the new Banner Buddies stamp set, and the Springtime stamp set.  Oh man do I love that frog!!  Both of these sets have so many cute images to create with.  What a wonderful morning of coloring using my Copic markers!   After I got all my images colored I started arranging them in little scenes.   

The warmth of yellow card stock from Papertrey Ink Lemon Tart was perfect to use for the first day of spring.  Before layering the scalloped border,  I sponged some Scattered Straw Distress Ink on the card base, fading it into the center where I stamped my sentiment from, Spring Script Stamp, and Typed Everyday Stamp   

I cut another piece of yellow card stock using the Gallery Frame #2 Die which is a stand alone die and adhered it to my card base with some mounting adhesives to pop it up and create a shadow box effect.

Tip:  Take a photo of your layout before you begin to place your images on card stock, especially when you have multiple elements.   The close up below allows you to see the dimension this card has.  It is still light weight and I believe will travel through the mail just fine, but always err on the side of two stamps rather than one just to be on the safe side.

A little shine, a few sequins, and a touch of white pen and it's finished.   These stamp sets are so cute they carry the day - all you need to do is color and bring them to life with a little imagination!

What did you do to celebrate the first day of Spring? 

Thank you as alway for your visit.   Come back.  Sit a while.  I think we're going to be friends!