Bird Crazy Humor - Don't Ask Me!

 

Annie’s Ink-Lings

Hello there,

We all like a bit of humor in our lives.  Even more so now, with our physical distancing resulting in loneliness, sometimes depression, or just feeling sad and not knowing what to do with ourselves.  The idea came to me that perhaps I should add a new category to my card making - humor.  Yes, that's right, humor.  Maybe I could give those around me something to smile about, cause a chuckle or two, maybe even a laugh.  This is my first card in this new category.

For the individual words, I looked for stamps in my stash that had the words and style that I wanted to us.  Then stamped them on white card stock and cut them to size.  This is a great way to make a perfect phrase.

I love how the bird's eyes appear to be looking up at someone with the expression that says, "Don't ask me . . ." and then his follow up on the inside.

Did this cause a smile on your face?

The "twiggy" little branches actually are the off cuts from a wreath die.  These little bits and pieces are often just what you need for a project.  I always save them.

 

Take a look at the pebbles.  Here's a tip on how to make your pebbles exactly match a color in your card.  I just used a circle hand punch to punch 3 little circles from the yellow card stock, glued them into place, then covered them with a pebble.  So easy and so coordinated!  

Here's my product list:

Tim Holtz Bird Talk stamps & dies

Honey Bee Stitched Diamonds Dies

Off cuts from Cottage Cutz Build-a-Grpevine-Wreath

For the body:  Copic Markers B41 and B32

For the beak, legs & feet:  Copic Mark Y17

For the eyes:  Ranger Black Enamel Accents

Pebbles

For the inside sentiment:  computer generated

For the phrase:  individually stamped words from a variety of 

    sentiments stamps

It was so good to have you stop in today.  Come back soon to see my next humorous card.

Blessings,

Annie

Woodland and Quail Birthday Card

Annie’s Ink-Lings

Just got this birthday card finished for my husband, whose birthday is October 12.  We both love watching the Quail in our yard, so I'm sure he's going to love it.  The Stampin' Up Rooted in Nature Stamp Set and Stampin' Up Woodlands Textured Embossing Folder were just perfect to create the design I had in my head.  Can hardly wait to try my next design idea.

All the images were stamped on white card stock.  The Quail, the cross-section tree trunk, and two of the leaves were stamped with the Tuscan Earth, then slightly over stamped with Amaretto Truffle, using my Misti.  Fuzzy cut the images after stamping.  I used 3-D tape to mount the cross-section tree truck.  I typed and printed the sentiment with my computer.

Supplies

Stampin' Up Rooted in Nature Stamp Set

Stampin' Up Woodlands Textured Embossing Folder

PSX Quail #2358

Fresco Ink Pads:  Tuscan Earth, Olive Green, and Amaretto Truffle

Measurements

White Card Base 9 x 6 inches

Brown Panel 6 1/8 x 4 1/4

Embossed Panel 6 x 4 inches

Blessings to you on this beautiful fall day.

Annie

Happy Bird-Day Bird Feeder Shaker Card

Annie’s Ink-Lings

Today I have a fun interactive shaker card.  I cased it from a video by Michelle's Craft Corner and really enjoyed putting it together.  I seldom make shaker cards, thinking that they are just too bothersome.  But since I discovered foam strips, all the bothersomeness (is that a word?) disappeared.  Plus, I was captivated by the idea of using actual bird seed.

Below are the measurements and supplies that I used, which are different from Michelle's video.

Measurements
Card Base 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches
First Panel Layer 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches
Second Panel Layer 4 x 5 1/4 inches
Back Panel for the Bird Feeder 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 inches
Window Sheet 3 x 3 inches

Supplies
Paper Trimmer                            Paper Crimper

FUSSY Cut Scissors                    Ruler

Regular Scotch Tape                  Bone Folder

Tape Runner                                Package of Birdseed for Small Birds 

Foam Tape Strips or Regular Foam Tape cut in long strips

Score Tape 1/8 inch

Score Tape 1/2 inch

Twine - about 4 inches

Ranger Enamel Accents Glacier White

Stampin' Up:   Free as a Bird Stamp Set; Happy Bird-Day Stamp; Stitched Nestled Labels Dies 

Circle Die from Spellbinders Shapeabilities ie D-Lites Medallion Two or any 1 3/8" Circle Die

Black Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Marker
Copic Sketch Markers:  N1, Y13, Y17, YG17

Stamping, Coloring, and Cutting

1.         Stamp the flower 3 times, bird, and leaf branch once each using a black Memento Ink pad.

2.         Color the bird with N1 Natural Grey and Y13 Lemon Yellow.  Add a couple of touches of

Y17 Golden Yellow.  Also, use the Y17 Golden Yellow for the beak, legs, and feet.  Color the leaves with YG17 Grass Green.

3.         Fussy cut all the colored images and set aside.  Stamp the sentiment on the circle of green card stock.

Die Cuts and Window Preparation

4.         Using the 3 inch Stitched Nested Labels Die, cut two from the green card stock.  Cut one from the top card panel (the DP card stock), placing the die about ½ inch from the top of the panel and centered.

5.         Cut one of the DP die cut in half length ways.  Run one of the halves through the paper crimper.  With the other half, trim off a 1/4 inch strip.  This is the perch at the bottom of the bird feeder.

6.         With the second green die cut, at one end cut straight across from corner to corner.  This is the bottom of  the bird feeder.

7.         On the backside of the DP panel, adhere the window sheet using 1/8 inch Score Tape.  Next, line around the cut out following the stitched line using the foam tape strips.  Make sure they are snuggled tightly together and pressed securely to the panel.

8.         Fill the window with 1 ½ teaspoons of birdseed or to your liking.  Remove any large pieces that might stick up above the edge of the window.  The birdseed must lay really flat.

9.         Remove the backing from the foam tape strips and attached the 3 ¼ square panel over the window.

10.       Add ¼ inch Score Tape around the panel covering the window.  Add foam tape to the exposed areas of the rest of the large panel.  Do not remove backing at this time.

Finishing the Front Panel of the Card

11.       Fold the piece of twine in half taping one end on the front panel at the top of the die cut opening.  Fold the ends over the top if the panel and tape down.

12.       Adhere the crimped roof piece in place with Score Tape.  Glue the bottom of the feeder in place and then glue the perch over it.  I used a black Sharpie extra fine point marker and ruler to draw the lines on them.

13.       Assemble all of the panels onto the card base.

14.       Adhere all the images and sentiment.  Put a dot of the Enamel Accents in the center of each flower.

     

Wishing you a happy time of card making!

Blessings,
Annie

I'm Crazy for the Crazy Birds!

Annie’s Ink-Lings

Hi Stampers,

I don't know why I ignored these little guys for so long.  Then all of a sudden, it seemed, I fell in love with Tim Holtz' Crazy Birds.  Whenever I look at their little faces, I just have to smile.  The images are so versatile that you can stick one of these little birds almost anywhere.  The card I'm sharing today is a "from scratch" flip card featuring one of these little fellas.  I have a flip card die, but when I came across directions for making one from scratch, I just had to give it a try.  Rather than attempting to repeat the directions here, I'm referring you to the directions on this blog.  Thank you, Allison Cope, for making the easy-to-follow directions available.

Here are the supplies I used:

Tim Holtz Alterations Bird Talk clear stamps  #561218
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8 #S5-019
    I used the second from the smallest die to cut the design paper on which to layer the bird.
    I used the third from smallest die to form the flip card.
Distress Inks to color the bird:  Spiced Marmalade, Shabby Shutters, Pine Needles
Ranger Enamel Accents, Black:  for the eyes
Echo Park Paper Co. Designer Dies:  Festive Fall #EPPDIE32 for the leaves.  I die cut two sets of
    leaves, layering one set on top of the other.  This gives the leaves a bit more dimension.
Hot Off the Press clear stamps:  Just a Little Greeting #HOTP1121 Happy Birthday

Measurements:
Card Base:  5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Striped designer paper panel:   2" x 5 1/4"
Checkered designer paper panel:  4" x 5 1/4"
White panel:  1 3/4" x 5 1/4"

Since I didn't have a word bubble small enough to fit the card, I stamped the sentiment, then drew the bubble with a black pen, and cut it out.

Now it's your turn to do some fun card making.

Blessings,
Annie

Another Fun Class

Hello stampers and paper crafters,

At my class last week, I took us back to stamping images for our cards - just taking a little break from the die cuts except for the little bird, and also used embossing powder.  It was really fun to stamp and cut out, and actually be involved with making the images for our cards.  I'm not giving up die cuts by any means, but stamping was a creative boost that I needed.  Here are the three cards that we made.

This card is actually four layered panels on the card base - starting with the top panel it is a white panel, striped paned, white panel again, and polka dot panel.  I think it would make a great masculine card.  The die cut bird was mounted over the stamped leaf branch.

For this card I downloaded a music background from Pinterest.  You can find it on my Pinterest board:  Ann Lancaster - Clip Art.  I stamped the Dahlia two times on pale salmon card stock and embossed with white embossing powder.  They were colored with Copic Chrome Orange #YR04 and shaded with a bit of Light Suntan #E13.  I cut out the center petals of the second image and mounted it over the whole dahlia piece.  The leaves were also stamped and cut out - stamped with Distress Pine Needles and sponged with Distress Evergreen Bough.  The music panel was embossed with a wood grain embossing folder and edged with Evergreen Bough.

On this card I used handmade paper for the background panel.  On the brown rectangle panel I used Scrapbook Adhesives E-Z Runner White, placing three strips of the tape and covering with glitter.  It holds the glitter wonderfully and you don't even have to press the glitter down - just sprinkle on and shake off.  To make the jewels match the olive green layered panel, I used a circle hand punch, attached the punch outs in place, and then attached the jewels over them.  This is a great way to make jewels match your color scheme.

Well, I hope you picked up a few handy tips for your card making.  Have a great time creating!

Blessings,
Annie

The Magic of Re-Inkers

Good morning to you!  Thank you for stopping by to see what's new on my blog.  Since it is a cool, windy morning, now is a good time to enter a new post. 

These cards are the product of a swap challenge making a watercolor background using re-inkers.  See directions here: http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=IE8Activity&from=&to=en&a=http%3a%2f%2fstampinbackart.blogspot.nl%2f2013%2f08%2fwater-color.html

I used Ranger Adirondack re-inkers Denim, Terra Cotta, and Espresso.  Choosing these colors was a challenge in itself, but I wanted to get away from my "comfortable" colors.  It was a good learning experience, and here's a couple of tips:  a drop or two of each color is sufficient and be sure to wear craft gloves.  LOL

It was a fun technique and I had a great time experimenting.  I hope you'll give it a try, and be sure to use some colors outside your comfort zone.

 

 



Thanks again for joining me.  May you enjoy the blessings of this beautiful spring day.
Annie

Bokeh Technique - 3 Ways

I've totally fallen in love with the Bokeh Technique.  It's popping up everywhere so I had to join the fun.  First of all, a definition.  Bokeh  BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as BOH-kə.  The term comes from the Japanese word boke, which means "blur" or "haze."

These backgrounds can be done with dye, pigment, and distress inks, and also watercolor.  I've made 3 cards doing the Bokeh background in 3 different ways.  Now let's get started!

Make a Template

Punch 4 different size circles from any kind of transparency sheet.  Approximately 1 3/4" circle, 1 1/4", 1", and ½".

Leaf  Card - Bokeh Background with Distress Inks

1.  With sponges layer and blend ink over the white panel with Distress Inks:  Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmelade, and Pine Needles.
2.   With the white ink, start with the largest circle on your template and work down in size, going from lighter to darker shade of white, using a sponge dauber to randomly pounce/rub the ink in the circle.  Lay it aside for a bit.  
2.  From the larger white panel, die cut the biggest leaf die from the package of Large Leaves #2 (Cheerylynn Designs).
3.  Attach the leaf panel over the Bokeh background, layer onto green panel, & mount on card base at the upper left.
4.  Embellish with 3 Dew Drops vertically on the lower right side of the mounted panels.
5.  Stamp sentiment at bottom right and on the inside.

Bokeh Background – Pink & White

1.  Emboss small cream panel with QuicKutz Retro Diamonds embossing folder.
2.  Start the Bokeh background applying white pigment or dye ink using the circles template.
3.  Nest, make a few circles using Memories Baby Pink dye ink and then a few more circles using Memories Blush dye ink (or whatever you have that is similar).
4.   Layer Bokeh panel onto the light pink panel, and then onto the card base.
5.  Glue on the Bluebells die cut (Spellbinders Die D-Lites Blue Bells and Lily of the Valley).
6.  Finish with a pink bow.








Birds Card - this one is a very simple style of Bokeh.

1.  Make Bokeh background using only white pigment or dye ink.
2.  Wrap twine around background panel and tie double knot.
3.  Trim branch die cut (Memory Box Grand Oak Tree)  to fit and glue on.4.  Glue 2 red birds (CheeryLynn Designs Birds of Earth and Sky) onto the branch and 1 red bird to inside of card.
5.  Stamp and punch sentiment; layer the 3 label punches and glue at twine knot.
6.  Attach panel to card base using dimensional tape.

Well that's it!  Hope you find these instructions helpful.  Let me know if you have a question.

Blessings,
Annie

Robins & Birdhouses

Hi friends!  Are you stuck inside the house this afternoon like I am.  I just couldn't brave that wind today.  Although our spring time has seen a lot of rain showers and cloudy weather, there still have been enough days of sunshine to get outside and work in my flower gardens.  There's just something special about digging in the dirt and planting flowers.  And a special treat is watching the birds and listening to their sweet music.  I have a special little corner in the garden where I can sit very quietly and watch them dance and hop around in the branches overhead and listen to them sing to each other.  And I often think of Matthew 6:26 where Jesus says, "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?"  What assurance it is to know that God will provide for my every need just as He does for the sparrows.  Wow!

My card, today, is not of sparrows but of robins.  I always get so excited when I see the first robin -- and the first ladybug, too!  I'm participating in a swap where the challenge is thinking outside the box when it comes to the shape of the card.  We're to make any shape except square or rectangle.  So as I was searching the web for some ideas, I found this adorable birdhouse card on a blog called "Create! With Dee."  Dee has a great video tutorial on her blog that you can check out here: 
http://createwithdee.typepad.com/my-blog/2011/05/video-template-for-birdhouse-card-.html

So here's my take on it, and now I only have to make about (gasp) 13 more (a few extra than what the swap calls for).  This is just an adorable little card and the paper combinations are endless.

Dee doesn't give written instructions, but she does list all the supplies and tools she used.  In case you want to make one of these sweet little things, I've listed a few measurements and tips:
1.  The birdhouse is cut on the fold of a 4 1/4" x
     11" piece of CS, folded in half.
2.  For the roof, cut two 1" x 4 1/2" pieces of CS.
     Dee ran them through a crimper but I used a
     Cuttlebug EF called Distressed Stripes.
3.  Since I don't have a 1 3/8' round punch, I used a 1 1/2" round punch and it worked just fine.

Hope you give it a try!
Annie