Showing posts with label Theme - Bird / Birdhouses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theme - Bird / Birdhouses. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The Stamps of Life - "Tree's 2 Build"




Good afternoon stampers!  Hope your day is going well.  I wanted to share another project today.  I love this set by The Stamps of Life "Tree's 2 Build" and it was easy to whip up a quick card for a couple more challenges today.  Hope you get a chance to be creative today as well!!

hugs,
Melisa


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Project Details

Stamps : The Stamps of Life “Tree’s 2 Build”
Ink : Stampin’ Up “Regal Rose“, Versa Magic “Tea Leaves”
Patterned Paper : My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline 6 x 6 paper pad
Border Punch : Fiskars
Ribbon : Offray

Stamp tree truck in black ink on card front.  Stamp leaves in green ink, doodle around edges of each leaf, trim and adhere around tree.  Paper piece small birds.  Create bodies from patterned larger wings stamped in rose ink.  Create small wings from patterned leaves stamped in green ink.  Cut patterned paper strip and tear along 1 edge.  Add punched border along bottom edge.  Adhere to card front and embellish with ribbon.  Stamp sentiment.

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Challenges
Stampalot (monthly) - punches (border punch)
Order of the Opus Gluei (sun) - use leaves on your project
The Crafty Pad (sun) - Use an animal
CASology (tues) - wild (the birds are wild)
Crafty Creations (wed) - Get Well

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Artistic Outpost - "Bird's of a Feather"



Good Morning!  Today I'm sharing a couple of monochromatic cards designed using "Bird's of a Feather" by Artistic Outpost.

I'm linking it to their "referral program".  Each month Artistic Outpost fans can link up a project using their stamps for a chance to win a prize.  You have to use their stamps and it's anything goes every month.

Hope your week has been great!  I'm so thankful it's friday!!  We will be celebrating our son's 25th birthday this weekend.  That just seems crazy!
Melisa


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Project Details

Stamps : Artist Outpost "Birds of a Feather"
Patterned Paper : Stampers Sampler
black gems : Pretty Little Ribbon Shop
Lace : May Arts and Hobby Lobby

Adhere front of card (3 1/2" x 5 1/4") to back of black cardstock. Trim around edges of card with deckled scissors.  Trim pattern paper panel same size as card front and adhere.  Trim patterned paper
3 1/2" x 3 1/2" and adhere to card front.  Stamp image and sentiment.  Embellish with lace and gems.

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Challenges

Creative Card Crew (tues) - birds
Papertake Weekly (tues) - creatures great and small


Friday, August 31, 2012

Impression Obsession - "Feathered Nest"



And here is my second card for the day.  Designed using my Impression Obsession "Home Sweet Nest" stamps and the tissue paper doily in the background was designed with the "French Pastry" die from Cheery Lynn Designs.

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Project Details

Home Sweet Nest and A Little Birdie
Patterned Paper : My Mind's Eye 6 x 6 paper pad
Ink : Tusineko Pearlescent Brown
Cheery Lynn Designs French Pastry Doily Die
Tissue Paper
Spray Ink : Glimmer Mist  "Creme de Chocolat"
Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Trim striped pattern paper 4" x 5 1/2" and polka dot patterned paper 4" x 4 3/4" then adhere to card front.  Cut doily with die and tissue paper.  Spray paper doily with ink.  Stamp images and trim.  Adhere word strip, then doily to card front.  Adhere "nest" definition to pink cardstock, trim around edges, and adhere to card front.  Adhere nest, sentiment, and birds.

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Challenges

Pile it On (sun) - I spy something "pink"
Cherry Lynn Designs (mon) - Anything goes
Whoopsie Daisy (mon) - 2 patterned papers
Paper and Such (tues) - Wings and Things
The Paper Shelter (wed) - layers on layers
In the Pink (thur) - pink and things with wings


Friday, August 24, 2012

Artistic Outpost - "Bird's of a Feather"


Another quick shabby card.  I used Artistic Outpost for this one.  I realized I had a couple of their stamp sets, but not used them yet.  Shame on me!   This one is quick and easy to create because I  stamped in solid color, trimmed, and layered all the elements. The doily was cut from white tissue paper and sprayed with ink.  

Have a blessed day!

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Project Details

Stamps : Artistic Outpost  "Birds of a Feather"
Patterned Paper : My Mind's Eye 6 x 6 paper pad
Ink : Tusineko Pearlescent Brown
Ribbon : Offray
Cheery Lynn Designs French Pastry Doily
Tissue paper
Spray Ink : RIT Petal Pink
Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Trim patterned paper 5" x 5".  Cut doily with die and tissue paper.  Spray doily with ink and after dry, adhere to patterned paper panel.  Wrap with pik ribbon and tie a bow.  Adhere to pink cardstock, and trim around edges with deckled scissors.  STamp images, trim and adhere to card front.

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Challenges

Artistic Outpost - anything goes using their images
Fashionables Stamping Challenge (sun) - summer icecream colors (vanilla and strawberry)
That Craft Place (sun) - vintage (vintage images)
The Crafty Pad (sun) - use a die (doily die)
Cheery Lynn Dies (mon) - doily
Tuseday Throwdown (tue) - square card
Creative Card Crew (tue) - music paper
Little Miss Muffet (thur) - pink

Monday, August 13, 2012

Sweet 'n Sassy Cards


Yellow has never been one of my favorite colors, but as soon as I seen this paper pad at Hobby Lobby last week I had to have it.  It's by Authentique.   "Everyday Miracles" is a wonderful encouragment stamp set.  And you know I love those butterflies!


This card was featured as a top 3 at Sentimental Sundays!!


Have you seen the August new releases over at Sweet n' Sassy??  I'm in LOVE with the Autumn Collage!!


So I grabbed a couple of my Sweet n' Sassy stamp sets and these are the results!  These are pretty clean and simple.  The coloring took the most time.

I love the "Praising the Lord" set because of the wonderful sentiments in it.  This week I am praising the Lord for a new job opportunity and for my sweet husband who I love so much!  How is God blessing you in your life??

You can view all of my Sweet n' Sassy projects HERE.


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Project Details 

Card #1

Stamps : Sweet 'n Sassy - "Everyday Miracles"
Patterned Paper : Authentique 6 x 6 paper pad (Hobby Lobby)
Copic Markers
Deckled Scissors - Fiskars  Border     Punch :EK Success
Spellbinders Labels Fourteen Nesitblities
Trim : Hobby Lobby

Trim patterned paper 3 3/8" x 5 1/2".  Punch scalloped border and adhere along bottom edge of panel.  Adhere yellow cardstock to top edge and then trim with deckled scissors.  Adhere panel to card front.  Adhere trim.  Cut white cardstock with Spellbinders Nestibilities and stamp sentiment.  Stamp butterfly antenna's on label and butterfly on white cardstock.  Color butterfly, trim and adhere to label.  Adhere label to card front.


Card #2

Stamps : Sweet n' Sassy "Praise the Lord"
Patterned Paper : Authentique 6 x 6" paper pad (Hobby Lobby)
Copic Markers
Spellbinders Labels Two Nestibilities

Trim patterned paper 4 1/4" x 4 1/2" and adhere to card front.  Stamp image and sentiment on white cardstock color, and adhere to card front.  Adhere trim.

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Challenges

Card #1
Craft Your Passion - bugs (butterfly)
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Clean and Simple with a sentiment

Card #2
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Home (a bird's home is in a tree)
Charisma Cards - flowers and an animal
Skipping Stone - sketch
Word Art Wednesday - scripture challenge
"Rejoice in the Lord O ye righteous, for praise is comely for the upright" Ps 33:1

Thursday, April 19, 2012

GinaK Designs - Springtime Silhouettes

  
Today I'm sharing another Springtime Silhouettes card.  I am also using a fun flourish die from Cheery Lynn Designs.  I love that there are sooooo many companies making dies now.  So many choices and many of them to fit specific images as well.  Do you have any favories???  
Happy die cutting!!
Melisa

You can view all of my GinaK Designs projects HERE.

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Project Details
Stamps : GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"
Ink : Tsukineko Brillance Pearlescent Chocolate
Die : Cheery Lynn Designs "Mega Fanciful Flourish"


Trim polka dot patterned paper ink edges and adhere to card front . Trim aqua patterned paper  and ink edges. Adhere cream cardstock on the back along top edge and trim with deckled scissors Adhere to card front. Adhere trim along bottom edge. Cut flourish and adhere to card front. Stamp image on cream cardstock and trim. Embellish with brown tuelle. Stamp sentiment on cream cardstock and cut with oval die 

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Artist Trading Card / Mark's Finest Papers

Artist Trading Card 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

I finally got my Feb / Mar issue of Stamper's Sampler in the mail and as soon as I seen the cover I new what my next Mark's Finest Papers project would be.  "Don't fence me in!" was a perfect sentiment for the "Chicken Scratch" stamp set.  This set was still in the store until recently, but now I don't see it.  Maybe because they just had a new release with the cutest chickens HERE.  And you can get the chicken wire in this set HERE
Thanks for stopping by!!
Melisa


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Project Details
I googled rosters to try and get an idea of how to color this little guy ... hey I'm a city girl, I've never seen a rooster in real life.  I used R27, Y11, E15, E09, and E33.
Trim watercolor paper 2 1/4" x 2 1/2".  Stamp chicken wire image with VersaMark and heat emboss with black embossing powder.  Color edges with yellow watercolor crayon (Lyra).  Carefully pull color to center so that it is lighter toward the center.  Ink edges with black ink and doodle around edges.  Adhere black lace (Hobby Lobby) across top and bottom of panel.  Adhere to pattern paper covered ATC (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").  Ink edges of ATC and doodle around edges.  Stamp rooster, color with markers (Copic), and trim.  Adhere.  Type words on computer, trim, ink edges, doodle around edges and adhere.  Embellish with plastic black sequin flowers (Queen and Co.  - really old from my stash).  Tye yellow thread into a know and pull through hole in center of flower before adhering.


You can view all of my ATC's HERE




Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Artist Trading Card / Faith Art

Artist Trading Card 2.5" x 3.5"

Good morning Paper Crafters!  Today I am sharing an Artist Trading Card (2.5" x 3.5") designed for the "Word Art Wednesday" challenge HERE.  Word Art Wednesday is a weekly challenge where Cass provides a free "word / phrase" art for your use in a project.   I used Impression Obsession clear stamp set "Home Sweet Nest".  Have you seen Impressions Obsession's new online store??  so much better than their old one! 

I created the background a while back ( I have a pile of them ready to go for ATC's).  But I think I used a spray ink and then lightly pounced on brown ink using a stencil brush.  Then distressed the edges with brown ink as well.  I stamped the nest directly on the background and then layered Copic colors (E23, E25, E59, and then E49).  I colored the eggs with watered down blue acrylic paint.  I stamped the bird on watercolor paper and colored with NeoColor Watercolor Crayons (brown #59 and blue #180).  I printed the word art and used chalk around the words, then inked the edges with brown ink.  I adhered both the word art and ATC to blue cardstock and trimed around the edges with deckled scissors.

Have a great day!
Melisa

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Challenges

Word Art Wednesday - word art
Splitcoast Stampers - color challenge
Stampin' for the Weekend - anything goes

If you would like to play along with challenges, you can check out my list of links by clicking on the "Challenges" button along the top of my blog.

You can view all of my ATC's HERE
You can view more of my Faith Art HERE.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

MIXED MEDIA / ART JOURNAL PROJECT



When I started the "Art of Wild Endangerment" class, I told myself I was going to just stick to sketching in a sketch book right now, because I seriously have sooooooo many other things I need to be doing.   But ....... the more I watched Junelle add her art to her altered book  .... I had to take the time to get my own started.  So I selected an old book, tore / cut out pages about every 4 page and started adding gesso.  I used gesso to adhere 4 page together at a time so my pages would be sturdy.  After I removed pages and adhere some together, I started adding gesso to all the pages and outside of the book.  Then I added my first sketch / art journal project!  I haven't journaled yet, but left space so I could add that later.  I'm addicted!  I have to work the next 2 days, so I really do need to get some house work done, teehee.  But I just want to work on my journal!  This is what my daughter would refer to as a "first world problem".

So I decided to take the time to share my step by step process, just in case someone is interested in giving it a try.  Below you can find my VERY long, and very boring explanation!  Other wise that's it for the day!  thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a joyful day creating!
hugs, Melisa

See all my MIXED MEDIA TUTORIALS HERE
See all my MIXED MEDIA / COLLAGE PROJECTS HERE
See all my ART JOURNAL PROJECTS HERE


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Project Details 

I started out creating a blue background using water color paint and a "mop" paint brush.  I would put a little on and then use a paper towel to dab some off til I got the look I wanted.  I didn't wand a solid background on this one.  Not sure you can tell on the photo, but some of the white gesso is showing through. 


I had a old flourish stamp that had the cool deco leaves on it, so I used that as my inspiration and started by sketching (with a mechanical 07 pencil) flourish's.  Then I sketched the "deco leaves".  At this point you could just paint them in, but I decided I wanted to paper piece these.  Sooooo ...  I used tracing paper to trace each one, then positioned the traced deco leaf over the patterned paper.  After I was happy with where it was positioned over the patterned paper, I slid some carbon paper under the tracing paper and lightly penciled over the design, transferring onto the patterned paper.  Now you just trim and adhere.  I had to decide how I wanted to adhere the paper.  I could use Mod Podge, but that gets a little messy and usually ends smearing from underneath whatever I gluing down, leaving a shiney area.  Or I could use my Aleene's Tachy Glue.  When I took Christy Tomlison's "She Art" class, she Mod Podged everything.  I think because she liked how she could continue to smear her Neocolors or other mediums over it.  She also applied the Pitt pens over the Mod Podge as well and then was able to smear it to add shadow / distressing.  So I decided to go with Mod Podge.  But at this point, I didn't cover the whole page, just used it to adhere my paper pieces.   The smaller leaves were much easier.  I did't bother sketching them, because that's such and easy shape to cut.  So I cut a bunch of them from differnet patterned papers, positioned them on the page, and adhere.  Next I used a green water color pencil add added paint over all my sketched stems / vines.  I didn't put the color directly on the page.  I wet my brush, wipe the end of the brush over the end of the pencil to pick up the paint and then apply it to the page.


Next I trimmed patterned paper to create the bird house and a few of the banner flags (green).  I didn't have the right color patterned paper for the other colors, so I applied watercolor paint to some watercolor paper and cut them.  I used a font stencil for the letters on the banner.  Punch little holes in the corners (Fiskar's 1/16" ?? I think) and ran jute through them.  Adhered those pieces on with Mod Podge as well.




I sketched my birds on watercolor paper, add watercolor paints, and trimmed.  Adhered with Mod Podge.  This was my first time sketching birds.  I used a couple of my stamps (the ones on the project I posted monday) to inspire me.



Junelle likes to add little splatters of color to her art.  She makes it look so easy.  Hers look way better than mine.  Basically I just soak a brush wtih watercolor paint and then lightly tap it over the project. 

Next I tried to do some doodling.  I had some new pens from Prismacolor and started with those.  Basically I was trying to outline / sketch the lines in now with a black pen / marker.  But it wasn't working out over the Mod Podged area's or watercolored area's (stems / vines).  I think I ruined my pens trying it, because they stopped writing  : (  and I haven't been able to get them going again.  I also tried my Micron Pens, same problem.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe I just needed to let it sit a little longer.  I thought the watercolored area's were dry.  I used the Prismacolor 03 pen and my sharpie on Monday's project over the watercolored background and they worked fine ???  I was very frustrated, because the heart of Christy and Junelle's art is their sketching / doodling with the pen.  The project just isn't finished without it.  So at this point I decided to Mod Podge the whole thing and try a pen Christy recommends.  Here's the problem with her pen ... you can only by it at her shop (seriously ... the company discontinued them and she had them specialed ordered) and they have a wider tip, which I'm not crazy about.  I prefer an 03.  But this pen will write on anything.  After I dried the Mod Podge, I decided to give one more pen a try,  a fine tip sharpie.  I had issue with that one as well : ( .  So I finally went with Christy's pen.  You can find it HERE

Next I used acrylic paint and punchanella to add the circles you see here and there.  I started wtih the brighter colors and then went over them with white paint to tone it down.

The set from the photo above is HERE.
Scarlett Lime actually has some Punchanella in a "texture" kit HERE.  Christy showed us how to use these pieces in her She Art class to add interest to our backgrounds. 

All that's left to do is add some journaling.

If you are new to mixed media and are interested in online classes.  Check out THIS post for a list of online classes (some of them FREE) I am aware of.


Monday, March 19, 2012

MIXED MEDIA / ART JOURNAL



I'm so excited!  Last week I started a new online class through Scarlett Lime called "The Art of Wild Endangerment".  I'm loving it so far.  It's actually an art journal class taught primarily by Junelle Jacobsen.  Christy post video's on wednesdays with her version of whatever Junelle teaches us and adds lots of tips and inspiration from her point of view as well.   I'm not so much into journaling so I almost passed it up.  But I'm glad I didn't.  Junelle is so much fun and I love her whimsical/fun sketching and doodling.  Junelle sketches things that surround her (like the sheep that she adores on their farm) or that are meaningful to her in some way, into a sketch book as she is inspired.  And then she uses thoses sketches to create mixed media art in an altered book. 

I was so inspired last week that I picked up a mixed media journal and decided to give it a try.  So while my daughter was shopping and trying on clothes, I was searching around the clothing stores for inspiration to sketch.  It was a lot of fun!  Probably because I am not much of a shopper, teehee.  So I found several idea's that inspired me.  We went in one clothing store and they had a huge bird cage (flat) hanging on the wall with photo's clipped onto it.  So above is my first page.  It's no Van Gogh mind you, but the process was sooooo much fun.  And Junelle is right.  There is inspiration all around us!  I don't have an altered book to put my art in yet and honestly, I may just stick with this little mixed media journal for a while.  Just sketching it and adding some watercolor was a joyful process for me.   Plus I'm in the middle of learning to oil paint, and I have 3 mixed media canvas started already to match my spring bird houses.  I'm stuck though.  I haven't decided on the journaling on them yet.  There will definitely be butterfly's though!  I took step by step photo's of the background process though and will share whenever they are finished. 
Aren't those little clothes pins cute!  The are from my Pink Persimmon "Baby Clothesline".  I stamped the 2 little birds as well.  My mixed media journal is Strathmore's "Visual Journal".  I picked mine up at Michaels.  So if you have ever been interested in giving mixed media a try, then you might enjoy this class or one of the other Scarlett Lime Classes HERE.

Another great source for mixed media video's is Donna Downey.  She post free weekly video's on her blog as well as some classes you can take. 
Cloth, Paper, Scissors offers a few free video's HERE.  They have video classes available for purchase as well HERE.
Shabby Cottage Studio has online classes HERE.  

If you know where to find more mixed media / collage e-courses, I'd love to know.

Hope you are enjoying your monday!
Melisa

See all my MIXED MEDIA / COLLAGE PROJECTS HERE
See all my ART JOURNAL PROJECTS HERE

Thursday, March 15, 2012

GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"


I have received several fun GinaK sets the last few months and just didn't have time to play with them. So that is my goal this month.  The cards I'm sharing today are designed using a set called "Springtime Silhouettes".  It's a fun set that includes images and sentiments for lots of occasions.  I love that the stamps are solid.  So you can whip up cards really quick.


Thanks for stopping by!!
Melisa

You can view all of my GinaK Designs projects HERE.

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Project Details

Card #1
Stamps : GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"
Ink : Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate
Die : Cheery Lynn Designs "Mega Fanciful Flourish"
Scissors : Fiskars Deckled

Adhere card to a larger piece of brown cardstock and trim around edgs with deckled scissors.  Trim patterned paper, ink edges, and adhere.  Cut 2 brown vines.  Cut 1 apart and use to add an extra swirl and leaves to the first one.  Stamp images with brown ink on cream cardstock, trim, and adhere.  Stamp sentiment.


Card #2
Stamps : GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"
Ink : Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate and Pixie Dust
Stencil : Crafter's Workshop
Border Punch : Fiskars
Stick Pin : Making Memories
Embossing Folder Cuttlebug

Trim brown cardstock and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock, emboss, ink edges, and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock, emboss, ink edges, and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock 3 1/4" x 4".  Apply pink ink over polka dot stencil, then ink edges with brown ink.  Tie a knot and wrap ends of brown ribbon around edges of panel.  Mat on pink cardstock.  Cut brown strip at least 3 1/2" wide and punch scalloped border on 1 end.  Adhere other panel and then trim 3 edges with deckled scissors.  Stamp sentiment with brown ink.  Stamp image with brown ink on cream cardstock, trim, and adhere.  Embellish with stick pin. 



Friday, January 27, 2012

Altered Bird House - Valentine


Today I am sharing my Altered Valentine Bird Houses.  I created them to match my printer's tray / shadow box I shared with you earlier in the week.  I have tutorial photos from when I created my Altered Christmas Bird Houses.  I didn't finish them til right before Christmas, so I decided to wait and share them this fall.  But the technique is the same, so the tutorial photo's work for these as well.

**** Breaking News ****

The Je t' Adore collection from Making Memories is still available!!  I just assumed since it was a year old, that it would be hard to find now.  If you are interested, check out the entire line over on the Making Memories Website HERE.  This line is perfect for creating shabby chic Valentine projects!  Hmmmm  .... maybe I need more!   And I found the year old vintage images are still available as well!  HERE.  WOWzers ...  looks like this line has some cute products as well.  I'm linking you to page 2.  To see the rest of the colletion, go to page 3.  HERE

Ok that's enough shopping!


I LOVE all the vintage images I used.  They are all by K&Company.  The black words / phrase are rub-ons from my stash I've been hoarding for years ( Marah Johnson's Swatch Book Impress-ons "Bliss Designs" and Cloud Nine).  I'm wondering if Hobby Lobby still sells the Impress-on rub-ons.  I'll hve to check next time I"m there.  It's so good to be using some of my stash up.  I've been in craft heaven this week follow through on valentine idea's I've had for a long time.  The flowers the cherub was holding were purple, I fixed it with my R29 Copic.


That cute little Bingo card is by Jenni Bowlin.  The flowers covering part of the left lower corner of the bingo card are rub-ons by Making Memories "Je t' Adore".  So are the burgandy labels, "Kisses" and "Romance", the love banner, and the patterned paper.  Isn't that die across the top of the house gorgeous!  It's from the Spellbinder's Fancy Tags 2 set.  The roses are from Wild Orchids.


To get that shabby distressed look I inked all the edges of the paper and images, added lace, pearls and a heart shaped paper doily (house #1). I grunged up the doily on house #1 and lace on house #3 with by Golden Fresco Cream Glaze. I wet the lace (Hobby Lobby), added some glaze, and scrutched the lace.  I discovered that applying the distress ink over by patterned paper with a fan paint brush grunged it up softly.  It looks more natural without big strokes of ink. 

Well I guess the only thing these bird house are missing are birds.  Maybe I'll go back and add a few bird images.  What do you think???
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Altering a Bird House Tutorial
All of bird house were purchased at Michaels except house #2.  The house I'm shot the tutorial for is the most basic of my 4 Christmas bird houses (no second stories or skewed sides).  You want to see them don't you, teehee.  I'm not sure exactly when I'll post them.  I would love it if you subscribe to my blog to get email updates, then you will never miss a single post.  No worries, if you get tired of me, you can always unsubscribe.  Check the side bar and enter your email address.  It's that easy!

Step 1 :   Paint your house in the area's that will be exposed after adding your patterned paper. 
Step 2 :   Measure the front of the house.  Cut your patterned paper a little larger, 1/2" or so.
After trying this several times, I figured out that it was easier to cut the perch first and then the sides vs. cuting the patterned paper the exact width horizontally as the house and then cutting the hole for the perch.  If your off a little it may be frustrating if it doesn't line up along the sides.


Step 3 :  Position your paper over the front of the bird house making sure you have extra extending of all sides.  If you have striped paper, this may be a little more challenging, unless your ok with crooked stripes.

Step 4 :  Use your fingers to feel / located the end of the perch.  Use a pencil to lightly draw guidelines. 


Step 5 :   Now this is where I made it a little complicated and simplified it with the next house.  The first time, I used my exacto knife to cut cross lines and then pushed the paper over the perch.  Next I cut it with an exacto knife.  The second time, I just drew a pencil line all the way around the edge of the perch, used my cuticle scissors and cut.  I figured it it was a little off, no one would notice.  So you do which ever works for you and gets you the neatest hole.



Step 6 :   With the patterned paper positioned on the front of the house / over the perch ... make a pencil mark where you want to cut straight across the bottom so that it will be flush with that bottom ledge. And then trim with your paper cutter.



Step 7 :   Put the panel back on the front the house, over the perch and lined up with the bottom ledge.  Turn it side ways and put a pencil line across the back of the paper to indicate where to cut the sides of the house.  Then cut.  Repeat on opposite side.



Now both our your sides and bottom of the house should be flush with the sides and bottom ledge.  The patterned paper along the top should still be a little longer.  You can barely see it ... but mine is just long enough to line up with the tip of the roof line.


Step 8 :  Cut a small slit at the "V" of the roof top.  Just enough that you will be able to fold the paper along the roof line as shown below.


Step 9 :   Fold the paper along the roof line and use your nail to get a sharp crease.



Step 10 :   Use an exacto knife and trim.  Repeat on other side.






Step 11 :   Use your fingers and feel for the edge of the bird house door.  Starting in the middle cut push the exacto knife in and pull toward the edge.  After the first 3 times you will probably be better able to tell where the edge are and will push the exacto knife in along the edge and push toward the center. 





Step 12 :   Use your finger to fold the paper in and create a sharp crease around the edges of the door.  This will be your guideline for cutting.


Step 13 :   Trim around the crease.  Now if you are a perfectionist, trim just a hair inside the crease and then after you have it adhered to the front of the house, you can use a file from the Basic Grey Percision file set to sand it down and get it flush with the door perfectly.  I've had my file set for years.  Check it out HERE.  I have used it along for altering chipboard letters and shapes.  I adhere the shape to the back of the patterned paper, cut as closely as I can with an exacto knife and the file down the edges so that the paper is perfectly flush.  Each file has a different shape and for example ... if you are altering the letter "e", it's going to be hard to cut the paper flush with the edges of the chipboard using scissors or an exacto knife.  With one of the files you can. 



Step 14 :   Ink the edges and adhere the paper to the front of your birdhouse using mod podge or "regular gel medium" (found in the artist section of stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby and made by Golden and Liquitex).  What's the difference??  Mod Podge is wetter and cheaper ... Matte Gel Medium in thicker and more expensive.  It can take some practice using Mod Podge with a project like this because your trying to cover a large area and it dries quick.  I know what your thinking ...  just pile it on.  But if your paper gets too wet, it can warp and get air bubbles underneath it.  The thinner the paper ...  the more likely it is to warp.  So I used a think layer of Mod Podge but worked quickly to get my paper on and rubbed down.


That's the basic technique.  Of course it's a little more complicated if you have 2 stories or double perches.  The sides and roof are easy because your just cutting rectangles. 
I will be posting my Spring bird houses again in a couple of months.
I'm already thinking maybe I'll do a video tutorial later with my Patriotic bird houses.  My next video tutorial is going to be a Valentine Banner.  I need to keep it simple til I get the camera and editing program down.  Editing made me a little frustrated with the first video.
Hope you found the tutorial helpful and inspirational.  As always, if you decide to give this a try, I'd love it if you linked your readers to my tutorial and let me know so I can check yours out!
Have a wonderful weekend!!
hugs, Melisa

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE.
View all my Altered Bird Houses HERE.


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Challenges

Vintage Cafe - hearts
Corrosive - "I heart You"
Sentimental Sundays - die cuts - bird house #2
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

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Link Parties

Nifty Thrifty Sunday @ Nifty Thrifty Things
Sundae Scoop @ A Time To Create
Sister Sunday Link Party at Sister of the Wild West
The Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming
Make Monday Marvelous @ C.R.A.F.T.
Made by You Mondays @ Skip to my Lou
Inspire Me Monday @ Singing Three Little Birds
Uncommonly Yours @ Uncommon Designs Online
Whatever You Want Wednesday @ Free Pretty Things
WOW Me Wednesday @ Gingersnaps Crafts
A Crafty Soiree @ Katie's Nesting Spot
Watcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane Boutique
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Strut Your Stuff Saturday @ Six Sister' Stuff
Check Me Out Saturday @ A Vision to Remember

Friday, December 30, 2011

Pink Persimmon's "Singing Birds" Cards


Today I'm sharing a card created using Pink Persimmons "Singing Birds".  I thought the little "puffy" bird house worked perfectly with the image.  You could actually cut and create your own little bird house as well.

Have a great day!
Melisa

Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.

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Project Details
Pink Persimmon "Singing Birds"
Patterned Paper : My Mind's Eye
bird house : "Puffies" by KI Memories
Spellbinders "Labels Eight" and the Grand Calibur
Markers : Copic
Border Punch : Fiskars
Ribbon : Offray

You can view more of my projects that I have used Spellbinders Dies on HERE.
You can view more of my Pink Persimmon project HERE.
You can view more of my projects using Bird images HERE.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Shabby Chic Winter card


Hello Papercrafters!  I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas.  We had a wonderful Christmas.  Tried some new recipes.  Any time we cook ...  there are always mistakes and lots of laughs.  My tree's are still up.  I haven't recovered enough to tackle the chore of taking down all the decorations yet.  I"m trying to get back into a routine of crafting and blogging.  I actually have lots of projects I made before the holiday, but just have to write the post.  Today I"m sharing a card designed using "Peaceful Nuthatch" by Mark's Finest Papers.  The challenge this week over at Speedy TV is winter or blue.  We hope you will join us.  You can check out all the Speedy TV challenges on the MAIN PAGE.  Then go to the FOSTV Challenges button and select the challenge from the drop down menu.


Thanks for stopping by!
hugs, Melisa

You can view more of my projects that I have used Spellbinders Dies on HERE.
You can view more of my Mark's Finest Papers projects HERE.
You can view more of my projects using Bird images HERE.
You can view all of my Shabby Chic projects HERE.
You can view more of my Winter projects HERE.
You can view more of my projects that list the Copic colors listed HERE.

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Project Details

Patterned Paper : Webster's Pages Your Life. Beautiful. from 2009
Copic Markers : Pinecones (E43, E29), Pine Needles (E81, YG95), Bird (C1, C3, E31, E33)
Chalk : Pebbles Inc.
Snowflake Punches : Martha Stewert
Distress Ink :  Vintage Photo
Glaze : Fresco Cream Golden
Deckled Scissors : Fiskars
Die : Spellbinders "Standard Circles" with the Grand Calibur

I do want to share that I made my white paper doily cream using the Fresco Cream Glaze by Golden.  You might be able to get the same effect by watering down some cream acrylic paint.  Then I grunged it up with the Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I dapped it on here and there and used my finger to smear it around.


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