Sunday 26 February 2012

Thoughts of Spring lead to Spring Cards

My snowdrops are blooming! They always leave in good spirits from the moment  I see them start to push their way up out of the soil. It then becomes a constant daily watch to see if they have budded yet...if they are about to open...and sheer joy when they do. I love my snowdrops throughout that whole process.

I think I am energized from watching this earnest transformation and I finally have my card making mojo back.
The snowdrops are blooming and the birds are gathering to chirp so brightly early, early  in the morning. All my shrubs are budding with new bits of green; finally it's time for spring!

I need birthday cards...my stash is dwindling and I was inspired to create this spring themed birthday card. I based it on a card I saw on Pinterest , a card made by Amy at Pickled Paper Designs.

I managed to get some black chalk on the card just to the left of the bird. As I tried to erase it off, I realized that the eraser was leaving a different sheen on the card. As I chalked and inked the bird image, that different sheen stood out like a sore thumb! I added the branch as it hides the edge of the sheen problem and hopefully now, no one but me (and my blog readers) will know about my error!  Now, don't tell anyone...promise?

I stickled the eggs as they were hard to colour in the nest...the kraft card stock just would not take the colour.
I have decided  if I am going to continue trying to use copics, that I am going to have to invest in an ottlight with a built in magnifying glass. My plus 2.25 readers just do not cut it.

 There is an ever so tiny crystal for an eye on the little bird...good thing I hoard bling as I almost thought I didn't have one tiny enough...then down at the very bottom of the bling drawer, I found a card of teensy ones.
So far, I have just stamped the little bird image on the inside of the card. I will add a verse stamp once I know what I will use the card for. I am leaning towards a birthday verse. The card envelope is kraft as well and has the little bird stamp on the flap.

This is totally a card made from my stash. The corrugated cardboard is from the sleeve on my coffee drink at Starbucks earlier today, the jute is from a roll of ribbon I bought at the scrapbook store a couple of years ago. It is the first time I have used this jute ribbon...I think I am hooked on it now. The buttons, jute twine and card stock are from my stash and I have had them for at least 5 years. I even had the little "It's your day!" phrase leftover from another card project I did last summer.

The only new things are the little letters that spell "sing" and the memory box die branch. Those were from my Christmas money. Nice to use up some stash and good to try out my new purchases rather than immortalise them in a drawer in my room.  It's not like I haven't done that before!

I am submitting this card to the following challenges. It is the first time I have entered any challenges, so I hope I am doing this correctly!

1.http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/  -something beginning with B- (bird, buttons, branch, bling)
2, http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - use a die cut - (Memory Box branch die)
3. http://willowsketchiechallenge.blogspot.com/2012/02/anything-goes.html -anything goes
4.http://trulyscrumptiouschallenge.blogspot.com/ - All creatures great and small - (bird)
5. http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ - Winged Things - (bird)
6. http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ - fave colour - (kraft) fave embellishment (twine)
7. http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ - distressed (torn and inked corrugated cardboard) (inked edges on everything) (torn ivory bird tag, inked edges in blue and then whole tag inked to look dirty)

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great card! Good luck with your submissions :)

Hazel (Didos) said...

Oh this is super what a great card, Love the wee birdy, thanks for playing on Willow Sketchie this week, Hazelxox

Penny said...

This is a beautiful card, and I've got my fingers crossed for you, but this card is great and should do well! Love penny Scrap-aholic@blogspot.com

cotnob said...

This is a gorgeous card, I love the image and the distressed feel.
Thank you for joining us at Willow Sketchie this week.
Pauline
x

Suzanne said...

Great card! Good luck with your submission!

Tracy said...

Cute card, love that stamp.
I had to laugh at your magnifying glass comment. I am still holding on to my +1.25 cheaters instead of getting actual glasses, lol.

Margie Higuchi said...

Such a great card - full of wonderful texture and the sparkle in the bird's eye is a perfect place for a bling :)

Sunshine and Shadows said...

I love your card!

Glenda Atkins said...

very beautiful, love this card! You are thinking spring and we just finished shoveling ourselves out of a record Feb. snowfall, I think I want to live where you do:O)

Sassy Raggedy said...

Wow Girl, you outdid yourself. I just love this card. It is wonderful. Kinda has a Vintage Shabby Chic look also and I love the cardboard, Kraft paper the die, just everything. You entered the challenges great a very good combination. Good Luck to you and glad to see you at it again...Good Luck too...I have not won in a long time, lol...joann Sassy Raggedy

debby4000 said...

Gorgeous card love all the details.
luv
Debby

Lisa-Jane said...

Thanks for the follow! I love this card so much and you are right about the flowers and birds. When I woke up to singing the other morning I thought I was still asleep but they were at it again this morning - hurrah!

SandeeNC said...

Some things are meant to happen for a reason and I think the eraser mistake was perfect because the twig looks great there and makes the card too! I nominated you for the Liebster award so zip over to my blog and grab it! http://inthehillsofnorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2012/02/liebster-blog-awards.html waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

Anonymous said...

This is just beautiful. I just saw my first Robin of the year two weeks ago....so I think your timing to produce that card is perfect! :)

I am loving it....and I am not even a card maker but can appreciate all of that fine work!


T

Anne said...

What a beautiful card I wish I'd thought of it. Anne x

ms.schwiet said...

Everything looks so great and seamless together. That vibrant blue with the natural colors is stunning

Kim said...

Good Luck with your challenges. Love the card! Sandee sent me over to take a peek. Nice to meet you!

Redanne said...

Beautiful card. Sandee suggested a look at your blog, I have now joined you. Your work is lovely.

Tuire Flemming said...

So the Spring IS somewhere...!? I live in southern Finland, and every year this time, when we are waiting for the spring, we only will get more snow! Also today it´s snowing and we got a snow storm alert... And my snowdrops - there is at least one meter snow on them :(
But your card is fab - no sign of any error!
Have a nice day!
Tuire xx

Erika said...

I love all your layers on your card. The nest is fab.
Crafty hugs, Erika. x

Barb King said...

Nice card, I love bird stamps, I have so many and keep buying more! Good for you for using your stash, I've been going through mine and giving some away. Good luck with the challenges, I will check those out, great that you found so many to fit that card!

Sue Althouse said...

Such a lovely card! I'm so ready for spring, but it seems we'll be getting ice tonight and tomorrow - yuck!!

Danielle said...

Lovely spring card! You made great use of that Starbucks holder and the twine in the nest is awesome!

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

Good luck! What a pretty card! I'm ready for spring!

norine said...

What a fantastic card!! Love the little spots of aqua color!! Thanks for playing with us at Southern Girls challenge blog!!

Lisa said...

Amazing card the colors are beautiful.