Birds and Blooms Mini Album Tutorial

Hello, Friends!  Welcome to the release day for the amazing Birds and Blooms Collection from Heartfelt Creations!  I’ve prepared a Birds and Blooms Mini Album Tutorial with lots of photos, as well as a video tour.   Go grab a hot cuppa, get comfy and we’ll get started!

Does Old Man Winter have you firmly in his grip? Chase the winter blues away with a breath of springtime! Heartfelt Creations is pleased to present the “Birds and Blooms” collection: a delicate spring garden that’s lovely as a song! Shades of cherry blossom pink, robin’s egg blue, and soft leafy green fill sunny garden scenes featuring bluebirds, blooming branches, picket fences, bird baths, bird houses, butterflies and frilly hydrangeas. Dozens of stunning card fronts, pre-designed layouts, borders, sentiments and artwork are the perfect remedy for mid-winter doldrums. Six hand-drawn stamp sets feature blossom laden branches, nesting birds, garden scenes and an elegant collage. Two sets of dies coordinate with papers and stamps allowing you to add realistic blossoms, branches and birds to your artwork. Take a well-deserved break from the bleak landscape of winter and escape to a colorful springtime garden where birds chirp, flowers bloom, soft breezes lift your spirit and inspire your creativity!

This 6″ square mini album contains lots of pockets and photo mats.  I’ll share a page by page tutorial so you can make your own.  There is a complete supply list at the end of this post.  Here’s a video tour of the album that you might enjoy watching.

 

To create mini album base: Cut from chipboard as follows:
Four 6″ squares
One 3 1/2 x 6″ square
One 4″ x 6″ square
One 4 5/8″ x 6″ square
Paint all the edges and sides with Picket Fence Distress Paint

From Lost Lagoon Cardstock:
Cut SEVEN 6″ squares
Cut TWO 3 1/2″ x 6″ rectangles
Cut TWO 4″ x 6″ Rectangles
Cut TWO 4 5/8″ x 6″ Rectangles
Cut TWO 5″ x 6″ Rectangles
Die cut 10 tags using HCD 745 Luggage and Tags Die
Ink all cut edges with Vintage Photo Ink

From Birds and Blooms Designer Paper Collection:
Cut EIGHT 5 3/4″ squares (use prepared card fronts and 6″ x 6″ panels)
Cut TWO 3″ x 5 3/4″ rectangles
Cut TWO 3 1/2″ x 5 3/4″ rectangles
Cut TWO 4″ x 5 3/4″ rectangles
Cut TWO 4 3/4″ x 5 3/4″ rectangles
Cut FOUR 4″ x 5″ card fronts and mat with Lost Lagoon or Strawberry Slush cardstock
Die cut all the TAGS and TICKETS from the paper collection using HCD 745 Luggage and tags

To decorate the cover:
Trace the lettering with Versamark Embossing Pen and heat emboss with Clear Embossing Powder. Stamp HCPC 3646 Fluffy Birdies directly onto cover artwork. Heat emboss with Clear Embossing Powder and watercolor with Distress Markers and Detail Water Brush. Use Pearlized cardstock to die cut the Largest Opulent oval into a frame and use foam dots to frame the bird image. Stamp the branch from HCPC 3644 onto Whisper White Cardstock using Jet Black Archival Ink. Heat Emboss with clear powder and die cut with HCD 757 Leafy Branch Die. Color with Distress Markers and Detail water brush. Stamp two sets of blossoms from HCPC 3644 onto Whisper White Cardstock and heat emboss. Die cut and color with Worn Lipstick Distress Marker and detail Water Brush. Shape and fill the centers with Citrus Superfine Flower Soft. Brush the petals lightly with Spun Sugar Distress Stickles. Glue the leafy branch on top of the oval frame and top with prepared flowers. Shape natural jute ribbon into a circular shape and glue together to form a nest. Fill with Spanish moss. Paint the metal embellishments with Picket Fence Distress Paint and add to the nest. Surround the nest with feathers. Create a triple loop bow from White Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon. Top with a double bow made from Light Blue Micro Gingham Ribbon. Glue onto the cover, as shown. Bind all the pages together with “O” Rings and tie on ribbons.

Detail of the bird nest.  I used Natural Jute Ribbon and wound it around itself to form the nest.  I put a blob of hot glue on my non-stick craft sheet and stuck the jute ribbon nest into it.  I used scissors to snip away the more “unruly” strings, then glued in Spanish Moss and my embellies. the feathers were tucked in around the side using more hot glue.

Detail of the stamped and water colored image.  I was really pleased with how well the Heartfelt Designer paper took the ink and how well it held up to coloring. 

Pages 1&2:
Cut the top 6″ from the Fluffy Birdies Designer paper and trim into TWO 5 3/4″ squares. Distress the edges and ink with Vintage Photo DI. Stitch onto the 6″ Lost Lagoon mats using “messy” stitching. Cut out the sentiment and ink the edges. Cut fishtail banners into the right hand side. Glue onto page 1. Die cut and emboss a Raindrops on Roses base from Whisper White Cardstock. Cut in half to form a pocket. Glue just the cut edge to the base of the page so that you can fill it with matted artwork from the paper collection.
Page 3
Cut the birds on the fence from the paper collection to 5 3/4″ square. Follow steps for pages 1&2 for inking, distressing and stitching. Add the other half of the Raindrops on Roses die cut at the top center of the page, gluing just the top edge so that a photo can be inserted. Add tickets as shown.

Page 4:
Use the 3 1/2″ x 6″ chipboard base, matching Lost Lagoon Mat and 3″ x 5 3/4″ designer paper rectangle. Stamp the designer paper with HCPC 3647 Hydrangea Bird Bath. Heat emboss with clear powder and color with Distress Markers and Detail Water Brush. Stitch the right hand side with a zig zag stitch, then sew the top, bottom and left hand edges to the Lost Lagoon mat. This forms the first pocket. Add two tags with large brads, leaving them blank for photos. Stamp one tag with a portion of HCPC 3649 Birds and Blooms Collage using White Frost Pigment ink. Heat emboss with Superfine White Embossing Powder. Add ribbons to the top. Tuck behind the blank tags.
Page 5:
Use the 3 1/2″ x 6″ chipboard base, matching Lost Lagoon Mat and 3″ x 5 3/4″ designer paper rectangle. Stamp the designer paper with HCPC 3648 Home Sweet Home. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder and color. Sew to the Lost Lagoon Mat as before, leaving the LEFT side of the paper open for tags. Stamp HCPC 3647 Hydrangea Border onto 2 Lost Lagoon tags. Top with Ribbons and insert into pocket.
Page 6:
Use the 4″ x 6″ chipboard base and matching Lost Lagoon Mat. Use the 3 1/2″ x 5 3/4″ designer paper rectangle. Top with a 2 1/2″ x 5 3/4″ section of the bird house design from the paper collection. To stitch together, sew both right hand sides open with a zig zag stitch. Then layer the birdhouse paper over the base paper and stitch the top, bottom and left hand sides. This forms a double pocket. Top 2 designer tags from the paper collection with blue brads and tuck into the front pocket. Trim the cherry blossoms artwork to 3 1/8″ x 4 1/4″ and mat with Strawberry Slush cardstock. Tuck into the back pocket.

 

Pages 7 & 8

 

Page 7:
Use the same chipboard, mat and designer paper size as on page 6. Stich as before, only leave the RIGHT hand side open to form a double pocket. Use the oval Spellbinder Nestabilities die to cut the oval butterflies/hydrangea artwork from a card front. Mat with Lost Lagoon and add to pocket front. Stamp a tag with HCPC 3649 Birds and Blooms Collage and heat emboss with Superfine White Embossing Powder. Top with large white brad and tuck into front pocket. Tuck a blank tag into the rear pocket.
Page 8:
Use the 4 1/2″ x 5 3/4″ chipboard base. Mat with pink designer paper from the collection. Cut a 3 1/2″ x 2″ strip of pink designer paper to use as a pocket. Stitch a zig zag across the top edge, then lay over the birdhouse paper and stitch around the sides, forming a pocket. Glue onto a Lost Lagoon Mat, then glue the top, bottom and left hand side onto another Lost Lagoon Mat. Glue this to the chipboard base, leaving the right hand side open, forming a double pocket. Cut two card fronts from the collection and mat with Lost Lagoon. Tuck one into each pocket. Die Cut HCD 747 Arianna Lace Flower from Strawberry Slush Cardstock. Cut in half and use to decorate the pocket. Top with Fussy cut blooms.
Page 9:
Use a 4 3/4″ x 5 3/4″ Lost Lagoon Cardstock mat as your base. Stitch a 4″ x 2″ strip of pink designer paper with a zig zag across the top, then add to the bottom of a 4″ x 5 3/4″ piece of designer paper, stitching around the sides. This forms a pocket where you can tuck in 3 tags.
Page 10 & 11:

Use the 5″ x 6″ kraft bag as the base for these two pages. Cover the back side with a matching piece of Lost Lagoon Cardstock. Use a small border strip along the right hand side to decorate. Stamp a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ piece of designer paper with HCPC 3649 Using Vintage Photo Ink. Cut a 1 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ piece of aqua designer paper. Stitch a zig zag along the right hand edge, then sew onto the edges of the stamped designer paper. Glue onto the Lost Lagoon base. Mat two card fronts with Strawberry Slush Cardstock and tuck into the pocket. Decorate the pocket with fussy cut blossoms.

On page 11:  cut a 4 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock. Stitch a slightly smaller piece of designer paper to the cardstock and glue onto the front of the bag. Decorate with the small tab and fussy cut flowers. Fill the bag with card fronts to be used for mounting photos. Hold in place with a small metal clip.

Page 12:
Mat the butterfly/hydrangea paper onto Lost Lagoon Cardstock and stitch around the edges. Use to mount photos.
Pages 13 & 14:
Cut the designer paper to 5 3/4″ square and mat onto Lost Lagoon Cardstock. Stitch the edges and blue onto the chipboard base. Decorate the corners of page 13 with fussy cut flowers.
Back Cover:
Stitch around the edges of a 6″ square of designer paper. Glue onto cover back.
Here’s the complete list of supplies you’ll need to complete this mini album:

Heartfelt Creations Products and Products Created by HC:

HCPC 3644 Birds and Blooms Stamp Set
HCPC 3646 Fluffy Birdies Stamp Set
HCPC 3647 Hydrangea Bird Bath Stamp Set
HCPC 3648 Home Sweet Home Stamp Set
HCPC 3649 Birds and Blooms Collage Stamp Set
HCD 756 Birds and Blooms Die
HCD 757 Leafy Branch Die
HCD 747 Arianna Lace Die
HCD 745 Luggage and Tags Die
HCD 743 Raindrops on Roses Die

Other Product:

PAPER:Medium Weight Chipboard, kraft paper bag, SU Lost Lagoon, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White cardstock; White Pearlized Cardstock (Core’dinations)

DIES:Spellbinder Opulent Ovals Die, Spellbinders Ovals Nestabilities Die;

COLORING TOOLS: Distress Markers: Stormy Sky, Worn Lipstick, Gathered Twigs, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Wild Honey, Spun Sugar; Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Jet Black Archival Ink, Color Box Frost White Pigment Ink,

CRAFTING TOOLS: Die cutting Machine, Hole Punch, Sewing Machine,

EMBOSSING TOOLS: Clear Embossing Powder, Versamark Embossing Pen, Superfine White Embossing Powder; 

PAINT, ETC: Picket Fence Distress Paint; Citrus Superfine Flower Soft; Spun Sugar Distress Stickles;

EMBELLISHMENTS:Large Metal Brads (blue/white); Spanish Moss, feathers, Prima Metal embellishments, 7 Gypsies “O” rings,

RIBBONS:  Micro Light Blue Gingham, Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon  (Blue Topaz  /White) Natural Jute String,

I know this was a looooong post, but I hope you will be inspired by this Birds and Blooms Mini Album Tutorial and will make one of your own.  It’s one of my absolute favorite collections from Heartfelt Creations.  Be sure to stop by the HC blog for more inspiration from the rest of the design team.  You can also find links to their pages by clicking on the Design Team Tab at the top of this page.  Thanks for stopping by!

I’m linking this project up at Word Art Wednesday for their “Anything Goes” challenge.

Cheerio,

kathy