Thank you so much for all your enthusiasm this month! We are thrilled that so many of you are excited about what you have seen so far! But the fun is just beginning!
Today we are focusing on two new sets from Heather Nichols! She always does an amazing job with everything she does, and these sets are definitely no exception!
The first is a whimsical little set that will leave you with a smile on your face! Little Bitty Bird includes adorable little birds that can be paired with a variety of foliage and accessories to build the most adorable little scenes! And as always, we are crazy about Heather's choices for sentiments! To bring even more versatility to this (and the possibility of little felt birdies!) a small die has been created. It will coordinate with all four sizes of bird images in the set.
The details.
- Little Bitty Bird will be available for sale on December 15th.
- It will retail for $15.
- Little Bitty Bird contains a total of 23 stamps (4 birds indifferent sizes, 1 tree, 1 branch, 1 flower, 1 heart, 1 border, 2 sentiments and 12 sentiment building words)
- A coordinating die will be available for purchase separately for $5. It includes shapes to coordinate with all four sizes of bird images in the set (bodies only, no legs): 1" x 3/4" (Large), 7/8" x 5/8" (Medium), 3/4" x 1/2" (Small), 5/8" x 3/8"
Heather has also created an amazing installment for the Fillable Frames series this month. This bookplate-style shape is so fantastic and versatile. The unique shape looks fabulous when flanked by buttons or rhinestones. It works with a variety of styles and is truly one of my new favorites!
The details.
- Fillable Frames #11 will be available for sale on December 15th.
- It will retail for $5.
- Fillable Frames #11 contains a total of 8 stamps (1 frame and 7 sentiments)
- A coordinating die will be available for purchase separately for $5. It measures 2-3/4" x 1-1/2".
- The sentiments in this set are interchangeable with all of the rest of the Fillable Frames series.
I also have a special new die introduction to make today! If you are anything like me, you have long admired all of Betsy Veldman's amazing dimensional flower creations! Betsy is now giving you the ability to create flowers like hers in the comfort of your own studio with one roll of your die cutting machine!
This month we are introducing the first two designs of a series. Later on in this post you will find a tutorial on how to use these incredible dies! I am sharing a project today with just one of the styles you can create with them, but be on the look out the rest of the week to see what else I do as well as the rest of the team!
The details.
- Both Bloom Builder #1 and Bloom Builders #2 Die Collections will be available for purchase on December 15th.
- Bloom Builders #1 Collection contains a total of three dies for $24. The dies measure as follows: 7" x 2.25" (Large), 5.75" x 2" (Medium) and 4.55" x 1.5" (Small).
- Bloom Builders #1 Collection makes flowers in the following diameters: 4" (Large), 3.5" (Medium) and 3" (Small). Please not that final diameters can vary slightly depending on how tightly you pull the petals together.
- Bloom Builders #2 Collection contains a total of three dies for $24. The dies measure as follows: 7.25" x 2" (Large), 5.75" x 1.75" (Medium) and 4.75" x 1.25" (Small).
- Bloom Builders #2 Collection makes flowers in the following diameters: 3.5" (Large), 3" (Medium) and 2.5" (Small). Please not that final diameters can vary slightly depending on how tightly you pull the petals together.
$24 for a set of these dies may seem like a luxury item, but as I was thinking about it, previously when I have purchased large-scaled, pre-made dimensional flowers, I have paid anywhere from $2-$5 EACH for them! With these dies you can use felt, certain fabrics, cardstock and that huge stash of patterned paper to make as many as you like to your heart's content for pennies each. I'm thinking not only for paper-crafting decor, but hair accessories, brooches, home decor and so much more! I know anyone would save at LEAST the cost of the dies over a year of use!
Now, onto the projects!
This first little card is one of my favorites for today and it uses both Little Bitty Bird and Fillable Frames #11.
I stamped the tree image from the set along the bottom of a block of white cardstock using Ripe Avocado ink then colored the leaves in with a Ripe Avocado Copic (YG93). They were then outlined with a T1 Copic. I diecut the birds, stamped them with their coordinating images and colored them with Spring Rain Copics. One of the great things about having dies to coordinate with all of the bird bodies is easy placement in the trees without masking. As you can see here, I stamped the bird outlines directly onto the trees with black ink.
After running the white cardstock through my Big Shot with the Woodgrain Impression plate, I adhered the diecut birds over the outline images, being careful to line up the legs. SO easy and such great results!
I diecut the Fillable Frames #11 shape from Spring Moss cardstock and stamped it with the coordinating frame using Ripe Avocado ink. the sentiment is stamped in black (also from Fillable Frames #11).
I added it to my project with foam dimensionals and embellished it with a few Blueberry Sky buttons tied with Enchanted Evening Baker's Twine.
I love this color scheme and think it makes such a fun card that would brighten anyone's day!
Now for a more earthy take on these adorable little birds!
As I mentioned in the intro of this post, this die was designed to make it easy to create little felt birdies. Here, I have diecut the birds from Harvest Gold felt and stamped the coordinating images with Dark Chocolate ink.
I diecut the Notebook Page from Rustic Cream cardstock and then stamped the branch from Little Bitty Bird with Dark Chocolate ink. I colored the leaves in with Ripe Avocado Copics and did a little outlining with a T1.
Like I did in the first project, I added the bird outlines to the branch in preparation for adhering the felt bird bodies in place.
*sigh* Aren't they just the cutest thing ever! And I love this little sentiment from the set. So sweet!
Notice the background? It was created with the new Sheet Music Impression Plate, which I will be telling you more about later in the week! I also wrapped some Rustic Jute Button Twine around the card front, finishing it with a little bow.
So simple but the little felt details really pack a punch, don't you think?
Now for more on those Bloom Builders dies that I know you are SO excited about by now! I put together a little set using these fun dies! Let me show you how these work!
This card features a single layer flower using the smallest die from the Bloom Builder #2 die collection.
The shape was diecut from pink Happy Spots paper. Notice how all the petals are together and cut with just one pass through your die-cutting machine!
There are several different ways you can use these dies, but I am going to show you a basic method today. I pinched each tabbed end in half, allowing the actual petal to be curved ever so slightly as well.
I then ran a piece of floss through the holes. Note that you should start down through the first hole, up through the second hole, and so on and so forth. One of the great things about these dies is that the holes are sized big enough that NO needle is required. Just thread the string though the holes by hand.
Begin pulling the ends of the floss together so that all the petals begin pointing downward.
Finally, tighten the floss and tie it in a knot.
Spread out the petals, and voila, you have a perfect, dimensional flower, all done in just a few minutes flat! The center of these blooms just beg for a beautiful button or embellishment. If you choose to add a button, bring the ends of your floss up to through the center front of the flower and use them to tie your button in place! It couldn't be easier!
I added a little muslin fabric that had been gathered into a medallion and trimmed with pinking shears. You could add a layer of felt, a second patterned paper or anything else your heart desires! Or make it simple and leave the flower as is! The beautiful thing is, the choice is yours!
I paired this beautiful flower with the frame from Fillable Frames #11 and a sentiment from the upcoming Mat Stack 2 Collection set. I love the softness of this project and can think of several recipients that would appreciate it!
The little coordinating wrap uses the same colors and materials as the card, but this time it features a layered flower using the Bloom Builders #2 die collection.
I made the medium and small Bloom Builders #2 dies, following the same directions I described above for the single flower.
Here is a shot of what the backs look like once the gathering is completed.
Everyone will have a different favorite method, but I found that the two flower sizes nest perfectly, sliding the smallest flower right into the center of the medium flower. I like to glue them together with a hot glue gun, but any type of fast drying, strong adhesive would work.
Whenever you assemble any of these flowers, you can always fold the tabs on the back aside to flatten them, like I show in this photo.
The finished layered flower is just stunning! I can hardly wait to make more in a variety of colors!
The tag is created with Fillable Frames #11 turned vertically.
I love this about many of the Fillable Frames sets and the versatility it brings to your stamp collection.
I thought I would add a little note about my "ribbon". I ripped a 1/2 yard of muslin into strips just like this one. It's inexpensive and gives you such a unique look to your projects.
I can't say enough how much I love the Bloom Builder's dies as well as this fantastic Fillable Frames addition!
I have one last, very simple card to share with you today.
I diecut & stamped Fillable Frames #11 as the start to my project. I then added two of the birds facing each other as well as the small flower. The birds were colored with Pure Poppy Copics and the flower was touched up with Orange Zest.
I used our Black Striped Ribbon underneath the framed focal point to help emphasize the image. I love the look of rhinestones at the sides of the Fillable Frames #11 die. It helps make the bookplate style look more official with "nails" and everything!
I hope you enjoyed all of today's creative offerings! These sets are so amazingly fun to use and versatile too! What are your initial thoughts of these sets? Is there a particular project or image from the sets that appeals to you? We would love to hear from you! Leave a comment today for a chance to win a fantastic prize package!
- Little Bitty Bird stamp set
- Little Bitty Bird die
- Fillable Frames #11 stamp set
- Fillable Frames #11 die
- Bloom Builders #1 die collection
- Bloom Builders #2 die collection
You have until 7am EST, Sunday, December 12th to leave a a comment and have a chance to win. Only one comment per person please. One randomly selected winner will be announced on our December 2010 Release Winners page no later than noon EST. Thank you for stopping by today and good luck!
Heather Nichols is featuring some additional projects using both of these new sets!
Melissa Bickford is showcasing Make a Wish & Additions again today!
Dawn McVey has projects using her new sets Love Birds & Background Basics: Sheet Music as well as the latest Color Couture.
Melissa Phillips has a project using the new Love Lives Here set that we collaborated on!
TRUE FRIEND CARD
- STAMPS: Little Bitty Bird, Fillable Frames #11 (available December 15th)
- INK: Ripe Avocado, Black Noir
- PAPER: Spring Moss, Stamper's Select White, Spring Rain
- OTHER: Little Bitty Bird die, Fillable Frames #11 die, Spring Moss, Spring Rain & T1 Copic Markers, Spring Rain Buttons, Enchanted Evening Baker's Twine, Woodgrain Impression Plate, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"
LIVE SIMPLY, LOVE MUCH CARD
- STAMPS: Little Bitty Bird, Fillable Frames #11 (available December 15th)
- INK: Dark Chocolate, True Black, Fresh Snow, Tea Dye Duo
- PAPER: Kraft, Rustic Cream, Ripe Avocado
- OTHER: Little Bitty Bird die, Notebook Page die, Sheet Music Impression Plate, Rustic Jute Button Twine, Harvest Gold felt, Ripe Avocado & T1 Copic markers.
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"
BLOOM BUILDER CARD & WRAP
- STAMPS: Fillable Frames #11, Mat Stack 2 Collection (available December 15th), Polka Dot Basics II
- INK: Fresh Snow, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate
- PAPER: Kraft, Stamper's Select White, Happy Spots paper pad (pink)
- OTHER: Fillable Frames #11 die, Bloom Builders #2 die collection (small & medium), Favor It Box 3 die, Cream & White Vintage Buttons, muslin, pink floss (DMC), pinking shears (Fiskars), hot glue gun
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5" (card), 4.5" x 3" (wrap)
HAPPY ENDING CARD
- STAMPS: Little Bitty Bird, Fillable Frames #11 (available December 15th)
- INK: Fresh Snow, Black Noir
- PAPER: Kraft, Stamper's Select White
- OTHER: Fillable Frames #11 die, Black & White Stripes ribbon, black rhinestones (KaiserCraft), Pure Poppy & Orange Zest Copic markers, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)
- FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"
