Birdy Birthday Card

It's Tuesday which is my day to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week my teammates and I are showcasing the Gel Press, paints, inks, and sprays. I've created a birthday card with the circle Gel Press from the Gel Press Petites. The set includes small circle, square, and triangle gel presses. I also used the Heavenly Circles Stencil by Polkadoodles, Melina's Sketched Birds and Branches Clear Stamp Set and Melina's ATC Backgrounds Clear Stamp Set by That's Crafty with sentiments from the More Classic and Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Sets by Heffy Doodle. Della Blue, Confetti, Mulberry, Henna, Dark Denim, and Pine Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps were used to add color.

Here it is!

 

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Gel Press Petites (Circle, Triangle, Square)

5" x 7" Gel Press

Heavenly Circles Stencil by Polkadoodles
Melina's Sketched Birds and Branches Clear Stamp Set by That's Crafty

Melina's ATC Backgrounds Clear Stamp Set by That's Crafty

More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle
Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Della Blue, Confetti, Mulberry, Henna, Dark Denim, and Pine Elements Ink by Lavinia Stamps
Blenders by Lavinia Stamps
Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts

Other Products Used:

140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Dot Fade Alterations Stencil by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous

Green, May Green, and Dark Brown Zig Clean Color Watercolor Markers

Swallowtail Tags Die Set by Spellbinders

Acrylic Block

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Repositionable Label Paper by Avery

Stamping Platform

A Note:

I wanted to use the Gel Press Petites to create a background. I decided to go with the circle Gel Press Petite for my first try at this technique. Elements Ink  inks were used because they are vibrant dye inks which are translucent. I chose to use a stencil to add a pattern to each of the circles to add more visual interest.

Instructions:

1. Place the Petite Circle Gel Press onto an acrylic block. 
2. Use the 2" Speedball Brayer to apply Mulberry Elements Ink to the Petite Circle Gel Press.
3. Place the Heavenly Circles Stencil onto the Gel Press and brayer another layer of Mulberry Elements Ink over the stencil. 
4. Remove the stencil.
5. Stamp the Gel Press into the center of a 6.75" x 4.75" panel of Mixed Media paper. 
6. Add second and third generation stampings on opposite corners so that there will be three Mulberry circles on a diagonal.
7. Clean the Gel Press and the Heavenly Circles Stencil .
8. Repeat Steps 2 through  6 with Confetti Elements Ink.
9. Clean  Gel Press and the Heavenly Circles Stencil .
10. Repeat Steps 2 through 6 with Della Blue Elements Ink overlapping circles where necessary. 
11. Set the panel aside.
12. Use magnets to secure another panel of Mixed Media paper to a stamping platform.
13. Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts to stamp one of the birds from Melina's Sketched Birds and Branches Clear Stamp Set and onto Repositionable Label Paper. 
14. Fussy-cut the label paper version and place it atop its counterpart.
15. Position one of the branches from Melina's Sketched Birds Clear Stamp Set facedown so that the bird would appear to be perching on it.
16. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
17. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp onto the image panel and onto Repositionable Label Paper. 
18. Fussy-cut the label paper version and place it over its counterpart.
19. Sponge Della Blue Elements Ink over the masked images onto the panel. 
20. Position the circles background from Melina's ATC Backgrounds Clear Stamp Set facedown over the bird and branch.
21. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
22. Ink the stamp with  Della Blue Elements Ink and stamp over the masked images. Repeat inking and stamping if necessary.
23. Lift the masks and remove the image panel from the stamping platform.
24. Heat set the image panel
25. Squish the lids of the  Della Blue, Confetti, Mulberry, Henna, Dark Denim, and Pine Elements Ink pads to get some ink on the inside of each lid.
26. Mist water onto the ink puddles resulting from Step 25 and use a brush to watercolor the bird, branch, and leaves.*
27. Use Zig Clean Color Watercolor markers to add shading to the branch and leaves.
28. Heat set the image panel.
29. Use the 2" Speedball Brayer to apply Della Blue Elements Ink to the 5" x 7" Gel Press.
30. Pull the print  using another piece of Mixed Media paper and heat set.
31. Cut this piece in half.
32. Sponge Della Blue Elements Ink over the Dot Fade stencil, then trim it to mat the image panel.
33. Use magnets to secure the other half of the print pulled in Step 30 to the base of a stamping platform.
34. Position the the "happy birthday" and "celebrate" sentiment stamps from the  Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set and "it's your big day" sentiment stamp from the More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set facedown onto the blue panel.
35. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
36. Ink the stamp swith  Della Blue Elements Ink and stamp. Repeat inking and stamping if necessary.
37. Use the Swallowtail Tags dies to cut the sentiments.
38. Cut a piece of white cardstock was cut to 7" x 10", score  at 5", and fold to form an A7 card. 
39. Place a piece of scrap paper into the folded card.
40. Sponge Della Blue Elements Ink around the periphery of the card.*
41. Adhere the circles background panel to the card.
42. Adhere the sentiment die-cuts.
43. Adhere the image panel to finish the card.

Tips:

• When watercoloring with dye ink, use a relatively dry brush with diluted ink. I usually dip my brush into the diluted ink puddle, lightly press it into a paper towel, then paint. You can always deepen the color by adding a bit more ink.
• Remember to wipe the inside of the lid to avoid getting excess water onto the ink pad.
• Sponging ink around the periphery of a white card or panel saves your expensive colored cardstock AND ensures that the card or panel matches perfectly!