Christmas Dies

Have you seen all the new Memory Box Christmas dies and stamps now available at Joan's Gardens?  Here is the direct link.  The new Memory Box "Merry Christmas Tidings" die works great for either the front of your Christmas cards or would also be beautiful on the inside.  Today I have featured it on the front of my card.  I used a piece of older Webster's Pages "Waiting for Santa & Sweet Season" design paper for the background on this 5.5" x 6" card.  When I create layers on my cards, I don't necessarily measure -- I just eyeball it and create smaller layers.  Usually they are in 1/8" or 1/4" increments.

The Memory Box "Merry Christmas Tidings" was die cut using an aqua pearl card stock.  It was attached to the top portion of the card using a new adhesive you can get from Joan's Gardens called "E6000 Adhesive Spray".  After spraying the back of the die cut in a box (to contain the spray), I use a brayer to press the die cut down firmly on the card front.  The poinsettia was created using the Poppy Stamps "Blooming Poinsettia".  It was also die cut using the same card stock.   To finish the card I added turquoise Kaiser Craft pearls.

Be sure to go over to Joan's Gardens to see all the new stamps and dies so you can get an early start on all your holiday cards.

All the products I use can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

Memory Box "Merry Christmas Tidings" (98643)
Poppy Stamps "Blooming Poinsettia" (861)
Webster's Pages Design Paper
E6000  Adhesive Spray
Brayer
Kaiser Craft Pearls

983370     

Susan's Garden Rounded Birdhouse

I can't believe it was so easy to create this darling little birdhouse.  Before I tell you about it I want to thank all of you who sent me get well wishes.  I didn't expect to hear from so many of you and  all your get well wishes have me feeling better today.  I still don't feel like doing much, but I had this cute little bird house about 95% completed when I got too sick to complete it.  Today I put the finishing touches on it and thought I would get it posted. 

I used the Susan's Garden Rounded 3-D Birdhouse die by Sizzix shown above.  I decided to create a birdhouse that had stucco on it.  I used Liquitex Modeling Paste on the outside after I had the body of the house put together.  Once the  Modeling Paste was dry, I sponged on a variety of Distress Inks until I achieved the color I wanted, then sprayed it with "Cappuccino" Perfect Pearls to blend all the colors together.  I was very pleased with the outcome.  I used a toothpick, that I colored black, to press in the small hole in the front for the perch.  

For the roof, I attached the three pieces together  leaving flat, then used Black Distress Crackle Paint to coat the top side.  I put it on pretty thick because I did want a lot of "crackle" in the paint.  Once it was completely dry, I attached the two sides to form the roof.  There ended up being lots of crack lines where the paint cracked all the way through to the base, but I loved the look because it gave it a more weathered look than just the "Crackle" from the paint.

I created a lot of different flowers using the Susan's Garden flower dies and attached dogwoods to the roof along with some packaged moss.  Along the bottom I have a sprig of "Forsythia", "Mini Lily",  a few "Violets" and "Quince".  My friend Pat gave me the tiny little birds and they are just perfect on this cute little birdhouse.

Here are a couple of other pictures I took.  The first has no flowers around the base and the next one has a few less than the picture on top,

I loved working on this birdhouse.  There are so many different ways you could decorate it.  

Products used:

Sizzix, Susan's Gardens Rounded 3-D Birdhouse (658424)

Susan's Gardens "Dogwood" (658405)

Susan's Gardens "Forsythia" (658406)

Susan's Gardens "Mini Lily" (658408)

Susan's Gardens "Pansy/Violet" (658419)

Susan's Gardens "Quince" (658410)

Susan's Gardens Flower Tool Kit by Sizzix (658437)

Crafter's Pick (Ultimate Glue)

Liquitex Modeling Paste

Distress Inks

"Cappuccino" Perfect Pearls 

961229