P retty birthday card using Stampin' Up! products. This card can easily be used for many occasions, including Christmas by simply changing the sentiment.
Project Recipe
Cut cardstock and designer paper pieces to the following sizes using a cutting and scoring tool:
- card from Crumb Cake Cardstock at 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" and scored at 4-1/4"
- 3-1/4" x 4-1/2" of green plaid design from Toile Tidings Designer Series Paper
- 3-1/4" x 4" from Crumb Cake Cardstock
- 3/4" x 4" from Crumb Cake Cardstock
- 1-3/4" x 2-1/4" from Garden Green Cardstock
Mount the cardinal image from the Toile Christmas Set on Block E. Ink it up with the Memento Pad. Stamp it on the larger Crumb Cake rectangle.
Pick out the cardinal die from the Christmas Cardinal Dies. Put it on top of the stamped cardinal on a platform on your cutting and embossing tool. Run through the tool.
Put the cardinal cut out on some Grid Paper to protect your work surface. You need to make sure that you protect your work surface with paper as the Stampin' Blends Markers do bleed through.
Start coloring the cardinal with the Stampin' Blends Markers. The markers have a brush tip for coloring in larger areas and a fine tip for coloring in smaller areas. Use the dark colors first and then the light colors to blend the colors and color in the spaces. Work on one area at a time so the inks will be wet and will blend easier.
Use the Light and Dark Real Red Markers to color in the bird.
Use the Dark Crumb Cake Marker to color in the beak.
Use the Color Lifter Marker as needed to remove excess ink.
Adhere the colored cardinal cut out to the center of the front of the Crumb Cake card.
Pick out the rectangle framelit that cuts out a rectangle that is 3" wide and the rectangle framelit that cuts out a rectangle that is 2-3/8" wide from the Stitched Rectangles Dies. Place them on top of the designer paper rectangle on a platform on your cutting and embossing tool so the smaller rectangle is centered inside the larger one. Run through the tool.
Tip: Keep the center rectangle that you cut out for use on another project. You are using the open frame on this project.
Adhere the frame cut out of the designer paper to the front of the card in the center. It should be framing the bird except for a bit of the bird's tail which should stick out on the lower right side.
Tip: You can use the other side of the designer paper frame if you prefer a red plaid.
Unlock the Banner Triple Punch. Hold the punch upside down so you can see the punching area. Slide one short edge of the thin strip of Crumb Cake Cardstock into the punch as far as it will go. Line it up in the center of the punching area. Punch.
As you are ready to stamp using the Piece of Cake Photopolymer Set, place the cardstock on the Stampin' Pierce Mat. Using the mat will help you get a cleaner image each time you stamp.
Mount the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from the Piece of Cake Set on Block G. Ink it up with the Garden Green Ink Pad. Stamp it in the center of the punched Crumb Cake strip so the notch is on the right side and the end of the sentiment is near the bottom of the notch.
Adhere the stamped, punched sentiment strip to the card front so it is just above the bottom inside edge of the frame and covers the bottom of the bird's feet and the right, notched end just touches the right outside edge of the frame and the flat, left end overlaps the left edge of the frame.
If you prefer to have a Christmas card, then ignore the previous 4 steps. Instead, mount the "Christmas Wishes" banner image on Block H. Ink it up with the Garden Green Ink Pad. Stamp it on a 1" x 3-1/2" strip of Crumb Cake Cardstock. Use the matching banner die from the Christmas Cardinal Dies to cut out the banner. Adhere it to the card front so it overlaps the bottom of the frame and sticks over the right edge of the frame.
Pick out the grouping of 5 leaves die from the Christmas Cardinal Dies. Put the die on top of the Garden Green rectangle on a platform on your cutting and embossing tool. Run through the tool. Use the Take Your Pick Die Brush Tip and/or paper-piercing tool on the Take Your Pick to remove the pieces.
Adhere the leaves cut out to the front of the card so the leaves overlap the left end of the sentiment banner and poke towards the center of the frame.
Cut a 5" piece of Real Red 1" Ruched Ribbon.
Tie a half knot in the center of the ribbon. Trim the ends at angles.
Use a Mini Glue Dot to adhere the ribbon knot to the card front at an angle so it covers the stem of the leaves cut out.