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 ~

25 Days of Christmas Tags with Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hello Friends!

I'm excited to be joining Tracey McNelly and the design team from Hello Bluebird Stamps today as we bring the 25 Days of Christmas Tags to a close.

I'm featuring stamps sets from the 2019 and 2018 Winter Release.   I love wee images, they're a fabulous value and a wonderful way to stretch your stamp sets. 

If you're new to the Hello Bluebird Stamps products here are some things to know:   Illustrations  are scaled to work with all the sets.   And, you'll find left and right images as-well- as little hearts, stars, dots, and the beloved bluebird in many of the sets.   Storybook characters and stand alone dies are endearing and make scene building a "dream come true!"

All my cards and tags today are colored with Copic markers.  Hello Bluebird Stamp products will be listed at the end of the post.

Patterned paper in bright primary colors and ink blended edges, and our beloved bluebird to herald Christmas morn.

Mrs. Claus sips her hot chocolate as elves are checking the list not once, but twice, and fox lights the way through the white and drifted snow!

And here come the little helpers to make that special delivery!

Christmas is coming and bear and fox are lighting the way - Peace on Earth are words they say!

From scene building, clean and simple, layered, traditional, elegant, or die cut designs; the strength of Hello Bluebird illustrations and die cuts provide paper crafters the opportunity to share their style in a captivating and creative way.   Ink blending, Copic coloring, colored pencil, and watercolor - all mediums work well and give a different look to these fun, whimsical, and always on trend stamp sets.

So Deck the Halls, Jingle all the Way, and Bring on the Merry, Santa's on his way!

Soft and elegant.  Holly and Pine dies create a lovely feminine presentation.

Couple this tag with coordinating card and a package wrapped in silver for elegant gift giving.

Thank you to all the Hello Bluebird friends, old and new -- we appreciate YOU!   I hope you've enjoyed my sweet offerings during this event.   And a huge thank you to Tracey McNelly for all you've done this month during the fabulous 25 Days of Christmas Tags event.
Warm Wishes, and may peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

Sincerely,
Susie ~

Hello Bluebird Stamps used:

• Frosty Friends Stamp
• North Pole Littles Stamp
• Merry Greeters Stamp
• Christmas is Coming Stamp
• Quiet Christmas
• Merry Mice Stamp
• Frosty Flakes Die
• Holly and Pine Die
• Snowy Sky Scene Die

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 | 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!