Posted in beginner stamper, Birds

Coloring a Bird Quartet

I just love the Free As A Bird stamp set by Stampin’ Up!. In addition to the single bird colored for the previous card, there is a quartet of endearing birds! More opportunity to practice coloring with the Stampin’ Blends Alcohol Markers!

I again used the Scalloped Note cards and Envelopes by Stampin’ Up! but this time chose the pink. Using the Scalloped Note Cards and Envelopes really makes card making quick and easy. Here’s how I made this card.

Measurements: In addition to the pink Scalloped Note card and envelope, you will need: 4 1/2 x 3 inch Whisper White cardstock and 5 x 1/2 inch strip of the Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper (DSP).

I used Memento ink, Clear blocks B and E, and the following Stampin’ Blend Alcohol Markers: Light Petal Pink, Light Daffodil Delight, Light and Dark Crumb Cake, Light Soft Suede, and Light and Dark Old Olive.

First, use the Memento Ink to stamp the bird quartet. Side note and tip: Whenever you are using an alcohol marker, you must use Memento Ink or Stazon Ink and not a water-based ink like the majority of the Stampin’ Up! inks. The reason for this is that the water-based ink will smear when exposed to the ink from the alcohol marker, making the edges of the image blurry and the color leaking out of the lines.

I colored the bellies of the birds with the Light Petal Pink. I then added a bit of the Light Soft Suede to the shadows.

I blended the Light Petal Pink with the Light Soft Suede by using the Light Crumb Cake. I followed up with another layer of the Light Petal Pink.

Using the Dark Crumb cake I added a little more shadow, then went back to the Light Crumb Cake to make sure everything blended well. Tip: When adding shadow, use a very small amount of the darker color, then blend it out with a shade or two lighter until you get the effect you like.

I used the Light Petal Pink for the flowers. The leaves were done in Light and Dark Old Olive. I colored the leaves with the Light Old Olive first, then added a small amount of the Dark Old Olive where the shadows were. I used the Light Old Olive again to blend the color. I used the Light Crumb Cake for the branch.

Here is the completely colored bird quartet. Aren’t they charming?

Next I fussy cut the bird quartet. To fussy cut means to cut around the image using scissors, as compared to using a punch or a Framelit to cut around the image. I usually leave a thin white border, although others cut right up to the black line around the image.

Apply Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the bird quartet.

Before adhering the bird quartet, place it where you want it so you know where to stamp the sentiment. Move the bird quartet out of the way when you stamp the sentiment so that it doesn’t interfere with putting the stamp all the way down on the paper.

Now adhere the bird quartet. I added a 1/2 inch border of DSP to the bottom of the inside of the note card so that it would enhance the scalloped edge and make the card a little more fancy.

That was the quickest and easiest card I have done yet! Fun!

Stampin’ Up! Supplies used include: Stamp Set: Free As A Bird #149468; Ink: Memento #132708; Stampin’ Blends: Light Petal Pink #146866, Light and Dark Crumb Cake Combo #144601 , Light Daffodil Delight #144586, Light Soft Suede #146874 and Light and Dark Old Olive Combo #144597; Paper: Scalloped Note cards and Envelopes #149610; Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper #149592; Clear Blocks: B #117147 and E #118484; Stampin’ Dimensionals #104430, Multipurpose Liquid Glue #110755.

Posted in beginner stamper, Birds, Blender Pen, Gratitude/ Thanks

Coloring Made Simple

Well, Hello!! The last month has been a whirlwind and I do apologize for being absent. As many of you know, one of my sons graduated and we went to Alaska for a great vacation! Now that I am back, it is time to get back to blogging but I must admit, it has been hard to settle down!

I thought I would try to settle down with some coloring, a great way to relax and calm yourself. Today I will show you a step by step way to color with the Stampin’ Blends, or any other alcohol marker you have, to be able to enjoy Stampin’ Up!’s Free As A Bird stamp set and make wonderful images to decorate your cards!

Here is my beautiful and fairly simple card made with the Free as a Bird stamp set by Stampin’ Up!.

One of the coolest items in the 2019-20 Stampin’ Up! Catalog is the Scalloped Note Cards and Envelopes #149610. This really makes card making quick and easy! I started with the blue note card and envelope.

Measurements: In addition to the blue Scalloped Card Base and envelope, you will need : 5 x 2 inches of the In Color 2019-2020 Designer Series Paper(DSP) in Pretty Peacock (the script design); 4 3/4 x 1 inch Pretty Peacock cardstock; 4 x 3 inch Whisper White cardstock; and 4 1/2 inches of the 5/8 inch Whisper White Flax Ribbon.

More supplies needed are: Memento ink, 2 1/4 inch circle punch, Clear blocks C and D, Stampin’ Blends (Light in Petal Pink, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Seaside Spray, Pretty Peacock and Old Olive); Glue Dots, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Dimensionals and Paper Snips.

And of course you will need the Free As A Bird stamp set! Isn’t this just adorable? I really love the mixed font for the sentiments and the bird images are so endearing!

The first thing I decided to do was to decorate the envelope. I used the Memento ink with the two flower stamps and made a very simple design on the envelope as shown.

I then stamped the single bird in Memento ink onto the 4 x 3 inch Whisper White cardstock toward the bottom half. Leave room to be able to punch out a circle. Tip: Color first before punching or cutting. I started coloring with the Light Petal Pink to color the bird’s breast. Tip: With alcohol markers use a very light touch to avoid having the ink bleed out of the lines.

Tip: Use small brush strokes to help blend two colors. I added the Light Crumb Cake around the Petal Pink. Then I used the Petal Pink again to blend the edges a little. This takes a bit of practice as well as a little patience.

One way to practice is to stamp a line of about 10 birds onto a piece of cardstock and just color.You will learn your own tricks as you practice!

Again using a light touch with brush strokes, I added Light Seaside Spray to the birds wing, tail and head. You may need to go back and forth between the colors to get everything blended. A word to the wise: Less is more!

I used the Light Pretty Peacock to enhance the tips of the tail and wing feathers, and the “shadows”. Next I use the Daffodil Delight for the beak and feet. Isn’t he such a lovely bluebird?!

Lastly I used the Light Old Olive for the grass. Use the 2 1/4 inch circle punch to punch out the bird. Set aside.

Using the “thank you” sentiment and the Memento Ink, I stamped the sentiment under the strip of Scripty Pretty Peacock In Color DSP. Adhere the strip of DSP to the card front with Multipurpose Liquid Glue or Snail.

Adhere the strip of Pretty Peacock with Multipurpose Liquid Glue or Snail. Cut the ends of the Flax Ribbon at an angle and use Glue Dots to adhere over the strip of the Pretty Peacock.

Use Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the colored blue bird to the front of the card.

And there you have a fairly quick and easy thank you card with some coloring using the Stampin’ Blends Alcohol Markers. If you use the prepared Scalloped Note cards and envelopes, you could make a dozen quickly and give them away as a gift! Or just have a bunch of Thank You Notes on hand for when the occasion arises!

It is so good to be back and making cards again!

Stampin’ Up Supplies used include: Stamp Set: Free as a Bird #149468; Punch: 2 1/4 inch circle #143720; Ink: Memento #132708; Stampin’ Blends: Light Petal Pink #146866, Light Crumb Cake #144582, Light Daffodil Delight #144586, Light Seaside Spray #149567, Light Pretty Peacock #149538 and Light Old Olive #144574; Paper: Scalloped Note cards and Envelopes #149610, Pretty Peacock #150880 and Whisper White #100730 Cardstock, and Pretty Peacock 2019-20 In Color 6 x 6 inch Designer Series Paper #149617; 5/8 inch Whisper White Flax Ribbon #148764; Clear Blocks C #118486 and D #118485; Glue Dots 103683, Dimensionals #104430, Multipurpose Liquid Glue #110755, Paper Snips #103579 and Snail Adhesive #104332.