The Greetery - Robins and Wrens Tips for You

Hi everyone! I hope your July 4th celebration if you're in the USA was fun and happy. 

If you're like me, after all the hubbub of family visits and cookouts with friends died down, you got to refresh yourself in your craft space. I had a great time experimenting with the Robins and Wrens set from The Greetery over the weekend. I am head over heels in love with Betsy's innovative designs!

I kept my card simple and the lines clean for a summer birthday using the larger wren from the set. I love how pert and cute this little birdie looks on the branch.

Here are a few tips for stamping this and other multi-layered images:

• Order of stamping - the first image includes all of the bird and the underbelly, the second layer adds detail. I found it really helped to stamp the second image, THEN the first image. That way they are easier to line up, since the darker image shows up and the first stamp image should be lightest.  
• I found I could stamp the second image and then use the same color for the first image, by stamping it off once to make it lighter the way the underbelly would be.
• Remember, you don't need four different colors of ink to stamp the bird. Experiment with generational stamping, or sponging the ink onto the image for a softer look.
• As with all layering stamps - take time to set up your best lighting even if you use a stamp positioner. 
• No worries if you don't line things up perfectly. These stamps are easy and so forgiving! 
• I stamped all the parts of my bird, EXCEPT the beak and legs, then die cut the image. Stamping the beak and legs after the image was die cut assured that I placed them at the correct angle. 
• Have fun adding details! I used a white gel pen on the wings area and Nuvo drops for the eyes and flower centers.

I guess those tips were more than a few, glad you read to the end! I hope that you've enjoyed my post today and found the tips helpful. I enjoy sharing the things I learn and create with you! Hope your Monday goes wonderfully well.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Robin & Wren stamp set and dies, Blooming Branch stamp set, Sentiment Suite: Birthday and Basics Dies

Paper: Neenah Solar White, WPlus9 - Fog card stock

INK: the blues on the bird are from Altenew

Accessories: twine, Nuvo gloss dots, Plus 9 - Clear Cut    Stackers Hexagon Dies, white embossing powder

A "Twofer" means two good things at once!

Hello my crafty friends. 
I remember telling you I had been so craftily busy and I had cards just lined up waiting to be posted for you this week. 
I didn't lie. Those cards are still waiting in the wings.
It happens every January. There are SIX family birthdays this month, plus we made an almost 800 mile round trip over a weekend, and....
you get the picture. 

But today is special, know why?  Because it's my day to play in Darnell's new Twofer Challenge! You can find out all about it on her wonderful blog HERE. Darnell is just the friendliest, funniest and one of the most fabulous stampers out there.  I just can't wait to show you the two cards I made for this theme: feathers. 

Mine are on birds. 

 Here is my "twofer" sample photo, using the same images two ways and for two different occasions. 

I made the card with the chickadee for my husband's birthday, using watercolors to create a wintry looking background. Pulling out my Tansai Gambi watercolors, I brushed on shades of blues and violet, plus a wee bit of green.

PTI's Winter Woods is the set I used for both cards.The berries from the set were stamped in black as accents, well, just because I needed a triangle for balance. 

For the second card, I wanted a springy look and clean bright colors. The chickadee turned into a Baltimore Oriole, or my version of it. 

As this post is getting long, I will post the supplies under my signature for you all. 

Thanks so much for visiting! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Winter Woods stamp set and dies

Paper: Ranger Distress Watercolor paper, PTI Harvest Gold

Accessories: MFT Die-Namics Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges, Poppystamps Dianna Border Die, twine