Hello, Friends!

Happy Heartfelt Creations Wednesday!  It’s mid-winter…and so dreary…I think we could all use a little cheer.  So I have a sweet little Birds and Blooms Banner and Bookmark to share with you today to remind you that spring will surely come!  Take a look:

While shopping at Michael’s this summer, I found these little wooden pennants in the clearance section for just about 6 cents apiece.  So I had to buy a bunch of them.  I was cleaning out my studio last week, and found them and immediately went to work on this cute little Birds and Blooms Banner.

The wooden pennants measure about 3″ across on the top, and the holes were all pre-drilled.  I sanded them, inked them and then added some of the pretty papers from Birds and Blooms .  Doesn’t it feel like springtime?

I loved stamping,  die cutting and water coloring my fluffy little birdies! I don’t know why, but these cheeky little creatures make my heart happy!

The flowers are so easy to make, too!  I die cut these and then coated them with Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint.   This gives the flowers a great vintage shine and adds texture to them as well.

You can see the shine a little better in this close up.  I also dry embossed my background paper to add more texture, then rubbed it lightly with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

This green burlap center stitch ribbon  adds great texture and is the perfect partner for my moss green micro gingham bows.  It gives the banner a sweet, country feel, and looks so festive when it’s hanging.

Just look at those fluffly little birdies gossiping away!  I love that they are all nestled in among the leaves and branches.

I actually saw a pair of bluebirds last week on one of our warmer days…so you see, spring cannot be too terribly far away!

My letter tiles were scavenged from a yard sale, and then inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink to help them stand out.

Here’s one last look at the whole banner.  I’m going to hate to pack this one up and send it off to Heartfelt Creations…it’s been a cheery focal point here in my studio for the past week!

I also put together a quick bookmark with a few leftover bits and bobs from my crafting.

I apologize for the greyish cast of these photos.  We have had so much rain…if I waited for a sunny day to come around, I’d never take another picture!  LOL  This is great for a quick little gift…and super easy to make.  You’ll find complete supply lists and detailed tutorials for both the bookmark and the Birds and Blooms Banner below.

I hope I brought you some cheer today!  If you use your imagination…you can hear these fluffy little birdies singing, and smell the sweet cherry blossoms…I promise!

Thanks for stopping by,

Cheerio,

kathy

Tutorials

Birds and Blooms Banner

Heartfelt Creations Products and Products Carried by HC

HCDP1 250 Birds and Blooms Paper Collection
HCPC 3644 Birds and Blooms Cling Stamp Set
HCPC 3645 Leafy Branch Cling Stamp Set
HCPC 3646 Fluffy Birdies Cling Stamp Set
HCD756 Birds and Blooms Die
HCD 757 Leafy Branch Die
130524 Distress Crackle Paint
159223 Paper Blossoms Molding Mat
459222 Paper Blossoms Tool Kit

Other Products: Spellbinders Enchanted M-Bossabilities Folder; Ranger Archival Ink, Coffee; Adirondack Ink, Shell Pink; SU Old Olive Ink; Clear Embossing Powder; White Cardstock; Distress Markers (Rusty Hinge, Tea Dye, Wild Honey, Broken China, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn); wooden pennants (Michael’s); Letter Tiles; Moss Green Micro Gingham, Green Burlap Center Stitch Ribbon; 6 buttons; hot glue gun; strong white glue; sandpaper; Adirondack Snow Cap White Paint; Detail Water Brush; Mustard Seed Distress Stickles;

Directions:
Sand the edges of the wooden pennants and then paint with Snow-Cap White Paint. After the paint has dried, sponge the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Trace around the pennants onto the paper from the collection. Cut the paper slightly smaller than the pennant, distress the edges, ink with Vintage Photo DI and then run through the embossing folder. Lightly sponge the embossed areas with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink. Glue onto the wooden pennants. Run the burlap ribbon through the holes in the top of each pennant. Tie the green gingham in a double bow on each end. Tie a square knot in 8″ lengths of the gingham between each pennant. Use a glue gun to top with a double bow and a button.

Use Shell Pink Ink to stamp several sets of the blossoms. Die cut and then color with Picked Raspberry Distress Markers and a detail water brush. Dry and shape using the molding mat and tools. Stamp the leafy branch, fluffy birdies and leaflets with Old Olive and die cut. Shape and color with Distress Markers. Snip the leafy branch into 3 pieces and glue to the tops of the pennants along with the leaflets. Use foam dots to secure the birds, doubling in some places to create dimension. Glue the blossoms into place with strong white glue. Ink the edges of the letter tiles with Vintage Photo and secure to the pennants with strong white glue, as shown. Paint the leaves, blossoms and birds with Distress Crackle Paint.

This is Where I fell Asleep
Birds and Blooms Bookmark

Heartfelt Creations Products and product carried by HC
HCDP1 250 Birds and Blooms Paper Collection
HCPC 3644 Birds and Blooms Cling Stamp Set
HCPC 3645 Leafy Branch Cling Stamp Set
HCD 757 Leafy Branch Die
459222 Paper Blossoms Tool Kit
159223 Paper Blossoms Molding Mat

Other Products: SU Lost Lagoon, Blushing Bride, Whisper White Cardstock; Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint Distress Ink; Antique Linen Distress Paint; clear embossing powder, metal key, ribbon, string, sewing machine, Flower Soft Extra Fine Citrus, Pink Stickles, white glue, calligraphy marker.

Directions:
Cut a 2 1/2″ x 6″ panel from a 6″ card front. Mat with a 2 1/2″ x 6 1/4″ piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock. Stitch around the edges. Stamp HCPC 3644 Birds and Blooms onto Blushing Bride Cardstock using Worn Lipstick DI. Heat emboss with clear powder. Die cut with HCD 757 Leafy Branches Die and shape. Place a dot of white glue in the center of each flower, and fill with Flower Soft. Brush each petal lightly with Pink Stickles. Set aside to dry. Stamp the leaves from HCPC 3645 onto Whisper White Cardstock using Peeled Paint DI. Die cut with HCD 757 Leafy Branch Die. Paint the key with Antique Linen Distress Paint. String with white string. Glue dried flowers and leaves in place. Punch a hole at the top of the bookmark. String with micro light blue gingham and Light Blue Delicate Stitched Satin ribbon. Tie a bow. Write the sentiment on the bookmark with a calligraphy marker.