A box full of spring

Hello, crafting friends!

A lovely crafty friend of mine was celebrating her birthday this weekend and I wanted to make her something a little bit special. This is what I came up with:

I've been admiring the MFT Outside The Box dies (wistfully, from afar!) The cards they make don't have the extra flaps of the traditional box card and I like the simplicity of that. This is a square version I made manually (just until I can convince my bank manager that the dies are essential!)

I cut and scored the box and inserts (and I've put the measurements at the bottom of the post in case you fancy having a go.) All the outside panels of the box were stamped except the tallest panel which was left blank for a message - but the INSIDE of that panel was stamped. I used a neutral ink and a variety of flowers from Clearly Besotted which were then watercoloured in pastel shades.

For the background, I washed in a sky and suggested grass with brush strokes. The grass treatment was also given to the inside of the box and to the inserts, front and back. When everything was dry, I assembled the box with strong double-sided tape, spacing out the inserts evenly.

I stamped, coloured and cut out more of the flowers and glued them to the inserts. I thought a bird might enjoy nestling in there so I added the branch and one of the birds from Stampin' Up's Birds and Branches.

Hmm, bit tricky to post, you may be thinking... but no,  it cunningly folds flat!

Here are the measurements:

For the inserts:

Cut 4 pieces of card stock 1" high x 3" wide (2.5cm x 8.5cm)

Score at 1/4" and 2 3/4" (1cm x 7.5cm)

For the box:

Cut a piece of card stock 4" high x 10 1/4" wide (10cm x 26cm) 

Score and crease at 2 1/2", 5", 7 1/2" and 10" (6.5cm, 13cm, 19.5cm and 26cm)

Turn the card stock 90 degrees and score down the length of the card stock at 2" (5cm)

Cut away the shaded areas as below.

CHALLENGES

I'm linking this card up with Just Add Ink where they theme is Just Add 3D; I'm also squeaking in at the last minute at The Flower Challenge where the theme is Pretty Pastels; We Love Chocolate Baroque has a Springtime theme so I'm joining in there;  Addicted To Stamps and More has a theme of Birthdays so I'm playing along there; and I'm also linking up with Happy Little Stampers Watercolour challenge.

AND IN OTHER NEWS

The sun continues to shine here and I've done some extra long walks with Madame La Floof. I've also indulged myself in another great pleasure - curling up with a good book in an armchair in the garden, surrounded by spring flowers and nesting birds. It's been like a little holiday :)

Sending hugs,

Birdsong

Hello, crafting friends!

Well spring has officially sprung and although it could be warmer, I'm loving seeing all the bright spring bulbs in bloom and the blossom beginning to come through. The birds are as busy as can be building their nests and it is a joy to watch them from a seat by my French doors.

This card was inspired by all that activity and is the first outing for the Quite Curvy stamp set by Stampin' Up I acquired earlier on in the year. I was attracted by the birds in the set - I can never resist a bird! - and they really are adorable aren't they?! I stamped them, coloured them with alcohol markers and fussy cut them.

The background was made using the emboss-resist technique. First I stamped the musical notes on a panel using Versamark ink, and embossed with clear embossing powder; then, using an oval mask as a guide, blue ink was sponged over the embossing, working from the centre out to a fade. I stamped a few leaves from Stampin' Up's Birds and Branches, wiped away the excess ink and positioned the birds. The panel was trimmed to size with a stitched rectangle die from Heffy Doodle and attached to a card base.

CHALLENGES

Less is More starts a new challenge today with the theme CAS Inking so I'm linking up there; I'm also joining in with CAS on Friday where the theme is Music. The irresistible colour palette is from the new-to-me Make The Cards Challenge and I will share at the NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) challenge too as I used a new stamp set.

AND IN OTHER NEWS

I took Eva out in the fields behind our house as usual today and in the third field a pair of pheasants flew out of the undergrowth as they heard our approach. Eva was tremendously excited of course - pheasants are in her blood and she only has to hear their distinctive call to be on red alert. I do hope the pheasants are not going to try to get a nest going in this area as it's a major thoroughfare for dogs and I can't see it ending well...

Sending hugs,

A wet day for the birds

Hello, crafting friends!

It has poured all day, and not just with rain either! We've had the kind of sleet that is driven by a bitterly cold wind and gets down the back of your neck. When we went out for a walk this morning, I explained to Eva that some days are just not suitable for long hikes but she remained unconvinced! 

Since we were so wet anyway, I thought I might as well use a watercolour technique! For the background, I started with a panel of watercolour paper and stencilled SU's Sahara Sand ink through the Burlap stencil by FunkyFossil. After masking off a horizontal line, I blended more ink upwards and outwards to a fade.

The bird, branch, flowers and leaves are all from the Birds and Branches set by Stampin' Up, inked up, spritzed with water and stamped onto the background. I trimmed the panel to size with a stitched rectangle die by Heffy Doodle and then it was time for some splattering!

First I wet my hands with water and clapped over the panel; then I loaded a paint brush with watery green ink and tapped it against a bone folder; then repeated that step with watery Sahara Sand ink. I think I'm getting better at splattering. By that, I mean that I'm not so scared to do it but I still have no idea where the splatters are going to go and it all ends up being a happy (or otherwise) accident! 

EDITED TO ADD AN AWARD

Thrilled that this card was challenge winner at The Day of the Month Challenge!

CHALLENGES

I'm squeaking in under the wire at The Day of The Month Challenge where this month they're celebraing National Bird Day; also, I think when you see the inspiration photo at Inspired By, it's fairly obvious how I got the idea for this card!!

AND IN OTHER NEWS

Sometimes I dream of whisking out some watercolours and dashing off a quick, beautifully rendered sketch! Unfortunately my watercolouring skills are pretty much zero! But in these lockdown dayys people are learning new skills all the time aren't they, so perhaps I should sign up for a watercolour course. Anyone know of any?

Sending hugs,

A little bird told me...

Hello, crafting friends!

I do love a bird and find it hard to resist bird stamps (well, vultures not so much, but small garden birds yes!) The cute birds on today's birthday card are from Stampin' Up's Birds and Branches and they're getting their first outing today.

The card started with stamping the branch and leaves several times onto a card panel. I added a sponging of Tumbled Glass distress ink round the edges of the panel to draw the eye into the centre.

Next came the birds. I stamped the solid image in pale yellow, then the detailed image in blue ink. I tried stamping the wings and cutting them out separately but felt they looked a bit clunky, so I stamped the wing over my stamped bird images and much preferred the effect. 

The 'wishing you a happy' part of the sentiment is from Silver Bells by WPlus9 and the 'Birthday' from MFT's From Me To You - stamped using a stamping platform. Finally, I gave the birds details with markers before glueing them to the panel. I like they way the appear to be regarding the sentiment with surprise and delight!

CHALLENGES

I'm joining in with We Love Chocolate Baroque where the theme is Wings with an Anything Goes option. To celebrate its move to a new home, the challenge is doing Tuesday give-aways this month so do come and play along! I'm also sharing this card at the NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) Challenge and linking up with Seize The Birthday, choosing the Anything Goes option.

AND IN OTHER NEWS

I walked with my eldest son last week in beautiful wild marshland near where he lives. It was a warm evening with a glorious sunset and as we walked, two flocks of geese passed overhead in formation, filling the air with their honking cries. I was so certain that was the end of the summer and that autumn would follow swiftly but here we are enjoying another week of late summer sunshine. Thanks to Mother Nature, outdoor living is still a thing and our social lives are still revolving around walks and picnics in the fresh air - now that's something to be grateful for!

Sending hugs,