Tuesday 18 June 2013

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)

40 comments:

  1. A fabulous card Nicola, love the layers, colours and textures, beautiful.
    PS I can get to my blog from your blog roll!!!
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  2. What a gorgeous piece of mixed media art! I love the corrugated card bird Nicola! x

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  3. An absolutely gorgeous creation Nicola. So beautifully textured and grungy.
    Hugs, Fliss xx
    PS: Sorry for lack of visiting - a very busy bee here lol

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  4. A truly beautiful creation Nicola, love the Kraft bird, the nest you created is fabulous, love the colours, the design - well everything really. A stunning card. Hugs, Anne x

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  5. Wow, how gorgeous is this - love it
    Rosie x

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  6. Hi Nicola....I love the layers and what a fab idea to make the nest from the nectarine box. The nest is fantastic and I love this make. Thank you for your best wishes, which are so appreciated. Hubby doing well and we are very positive. Hope you are keeping well too.

    Annie x x

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  7. Hmmm... well, I think we can safely say your ability hasn't disappeared!! What a stunner of a card. My favourite colours, and such glorious texture and layering - fabulous work, Nicola.
    Alison x

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  8. Fabulous make Nicola. I love the cute little bird. Hugs Rita xxx

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  9. Oh my creative word! It's a new favorite for sure! I love love love mama and baby krafty birds! What a beautiful scene, and all the layered papers are just wonderful! The blue scheme is awesome too...really makes you search things out! Most awesome work! Thank you so much for getting krafty with us this week here at Simon Says Stamp & Show!

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  10. Wow there are so many layers on this card, the more I look the more I see. Lovely. Thank you for joining us this week at Cheery Lynn's challenge. Best of luck!!!

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  11. Gorgeous card Nicola, Love the blues & wonderful layers & textures... Love the little corrugated bird! Hugs May x x x

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  12. This is a really beautiful make, lovethe layers and torn edges! Hugs trace x

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  13. Where to start Nicola because I love all of it, the distressing, the colours the birdie and the whole layout.

    B x

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  14. You are so clever at adapting things Nicola - I really love the birds nest and all those fabulous details on your card. Its a real keepsake. Love, Margie xx

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  15. Wowsers Nicola! Love the layers of gorgeousness which really draw the eye in towards mummy and baby bird. Love also the fact that you've 'stuffed' the nest with so many textured elements - you wanna see what Mrs Blackbird rams into her nests in our gardens! She even goes for our herbs! Cheeky indeed. Thanks so much for entering this superb card to the Frilly and Funkie challenge. Oh yes, never fear - real crafting talent like yours won't disappear that quickly. Hugs, Jenny x

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  16. Whoops Nicola, this new card is an absolute delight for the eyes... How do you succeed each time to do such fabulous but quite different cards or artworks ?.. this is amazing, and so gorgeous !!!! Love every detail on this new one. Hugs, Coco.

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  17. What a wonderful card for the new mother. And how appropriate that you've used a mother bird and a little baby bird safely tucked into that gorgeous vintage nest! This card is so full of wonderful layers and details. I love the colors, the patterns, the sweet little branches, the tulle and feathers and fibers and little blue die cut wings. My goodness! It's ALL just amazing! Love it and thanks so much for sharing your card with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

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  18. This is just so gorgeous, I love everything about it.
    Moira xx

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  19. Gorgeous card, for a new mum. Love the beautiful layers and details. Thank you for joining us at SCH this time.
    Yvonne

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  20. This is such a stunning card! Love all the layers and different patterns! Very beautiful! Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. Hugs, Sandra

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  21. amazing card,,,,,and your layering is stunning my friend.Thanks for your comment at mayshappydaze about my "Vintage Flowers & butterflies Cs" .Please visit my blog /Store and feel free to ask me your favorite product from all my stuff for free, email me to nicecrane@yahoo.com

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  22. so stunning nicol.fabulous distressing and colours and I love the sweet birds and pretty details :D

    xx coops xx

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  23. Stunning! love the colors and the bird!

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  24. WOW, Nicola! This is simply exquisite! Every shabby detail is just wonderfully magnificent. A true work of art, my friend!
    xxx Asha
    Sunny Summer Crafts

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  25. Fabulous card Nicola, love all the layers and details. The nest looks fantastic, great idea.
    Avril xx

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  26. So beautiful! Love the mix of birds, especially the rich brown corrugated one.

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  27. What a fabulous design Nicola and I love your nest with the little bird inside, it's so clever. Wonderful layers and colours too! Have a great weekend. Chris x

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  28. Fabulous card Nicola, love all the textures and the addition of the feathers is gorgeous !
    Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Sue C x

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  29. Wonderful card Nicola. I love the blue hues, it's a lovely change from the usual red and greens. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs Rita xxx

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  30. I LOOOOOVE your card Nicola! All the beautiful layers, gorgeous papers with a touch of distressing and the winged feathery theme throughout. Amazing card my friend! have a lovely weekend! big hugs xxx

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  31. What a wonderful card for a new Mom. Love all the different elements and the great textures. Thanks for joining us at Sugar Creek Hollow.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  32. I love your original theme for a new addition to the family Nichola. In my favourite colour combo too. Gorgeous.

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  33. Well Nicola , It certainly has disappeared , Truly amazing card.
    Love the little nest and the use of the bling so creative!
    Hugs Lynn

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  34. What a great, textured piece! Very cool. Thanks so much for joining us at the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge and good luck!
    hugs,
    Gini

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  35. Stunning card Nicola, love the layers and all the different textures! And, - in my favourite colour combo of the moment, - just stunning!

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  36. Hi Nicola
    An absolute delights. All those gorgeous, shabbily distressed layers are fabulous.
    I can relate to your words as I have returned to creating after a long absence and was unsure if it would take me time to settle in with my supplies, as I have been faced with that situation before.
    I can see that you had nothing to fear - gorgeous creation.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  37. Nicola, somehow I doubt that your crafting ability could disappear! This card is a perfect example of why! Your ability to layer upon layer with such beautiful results is second to none. I love this. Thanks for sharing with us at Frilly and Funkie!

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  38. Your ability hasn't gone anywhere Nicola, this is a work of art! You have such amazing skills at layering, and all the little details you've included are fabulous. I love how the mum is feeding her little one in the nest, this is just so perfect for a new mother.

    Hope you're having a good weekend.

    Maria xxxxx

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  39. Another stunning creation! So glad I came over to do some catching up after my holiday - you've really made some marvelous creations. I like the distressed look of this card, along with the mixture of textures! Beautiful!

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  40. Gorgeous card Nicola! Love the little birds and distressed papers!

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Thank-you! Your visit and comment is very much appreciated. Nicola x