Little Bird Blue

Hello and thanks so much for stopping by.

My last project was made several weeks back so I am feeling relieved that I've produced a card today as I feared the ability might have disappeared! I've made this card to fit a few different challenges running at the mo. At Frilly & Funkie the challenge theme is Birds and Nests, both Simon Says Stamp & Show and Cheery Lynn Designs are running Kraft themed weeks and at Sugar Creek Hollow the lovely ladies there want us to incorporate mixed media. Serendipitously the new Mum that the card is going to was born in the month of March so this fits the Live & Love Crafts Birthstone theme with aquamarine.



The papers used are by Maja Design (It's Christmas Time and Vintage Summer Basics Collections). I painted the base layer with some Paper Artsy paints ('Snowflake' and 'Ice Blue') to give the impression of clouds. The 'Mummy' bird is die cut (Sizzix Bigz) from corrugated cardboard and some of the twigs are punched from Kraft paper - thereby meeting the 'Kraft' requirements. The longer branches are cut using a Memory Box die.

The nest is handcut from a cardboard nectarine holder which was perfectly curved for the nest shape. I've decorated it with muslin and burlap but then ended up covering most of that with feathers and diecut leaves (Marianne Design) and punched twigs (Martha Stewart). In order for the nest to 'sit into' the card I die cut a 'frame' shape that had just the right curve (Sizzix Majestic Labels die). Then double 3D mounted those two lower 'frame' layers so that they popped out sufficiently to hold the nest. The outer edges of the two lower panels are cut with Cheery Lynn's 'City Girl edger' - this is perfect to thread narrow ribbon through for extra decoration.

I distressed and hightlighted most edges with either Distress Ink ('Broken China') or Chalk Ink by Ingvild Bolme ('Dark Rust'). The latter is brilliantly shaped for edging. Also ripped into some of the base layer and tucked some lace underneath for pretty distressing.

Added the newly hatched chick (Memory Box) and placed some gems that Mummy was feeding having given her a nice feathery wing. Liberally applied frantage and colour fragments. (Wasn't it lucky that Stampendous make colour fragments in just the right shade of duck egg blue so that they match a broken eggshell!).

Added a frill underneath the nest and a bow and 3D sentiment to the top left. Completed with eyes for the birdies and gems at the corners.

Thank-you for visiting today - it is lovely to have your company!

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Sugar Creek Hollow - Mixed Media
Frilly and Funkie - Birds and Nests
Cheery Lynn Designs - Keep It Krafty
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Kraft
Live & Love Crafts - Birthstones (Aquamarine)