Stamp of the Month Blog Hop -- Sunshine Birdies

Welcome to the March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Wendy Coffman, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure. 

The month's featured stamp set is S1603 Sunshine Birdies (pictured below).  This set is only available until March 31st and is only $5 with a $50 Close to My Heart purchase.

For today's project, I pulled color inspiration from the Penelope collection as the Sunshine Birdies set simply screams Spring and Penelope is such a great collection for Spring.  To challenge myself on this card, I decided not to use any B&T patterned paper.  I used either solid cardstock, stamps, or embellishments to build my design.

First up, I wanted to use several of the stamps from Sunshine Birdies -- so I chose to random-stamp my own B&T paper.

To achieve the perfect "random" stamping pattern, you will want to...
1. Start with your largest image first and work to your smallest image.
2. Stamp in groups of 3 -- in non-perfect triangles.
3. Stamp off the page. If this scares you, stamp a large piece of cardstock and then trim to the size you need.
4. Don't overstamp your space.  Not every little white space needs to be stamped.  Learn to leave a little room.

Next, to add layers to the design, I chose to use the Limeade Washi Pack.  Tip -- if you don't want anything to show through your washi or you want to be able to punch it the way I did below with the scallop border, mount it onto strips of solid cardstock first.  Play with various colors of cardstock to change up the look of the washi.

The last technique of sorts that I used was cutting apart my sentiment stamp.  See that "you are my sunshine" sentiment?  Now look back at the stamp set image above.  The words are positioned differently.  One way to achieve this look is by masking -- covering part of the stamp or cardstock when stamping.  After trying that several times without being able to get the positioning I wanted, I took the more "extreme" approach -- I cut up my stamp.  Being extra super careful, I used my microtip scissors to cut between the words and separate the stamp into individual words.  If done properly (precise single cuts), you can always piece the stamp back together like a puzzle and use it in its original form/layout.

And of course, an adorable card would not be complete without a coordinating envelope...

Supplies used:

*Art Philosophy Cricut collection
*Sunshine Birdies SOTM stamp set
*12" x 12" Pear cardstock
*12" x 12" Thistle cardstock
*12" x 12" White Daisy cardstock
*White Daisy card bases
*Honey Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Pear Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Pixie Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Thistle Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Limeade washi pack
*Silver shimmer trim
*Bitty sparkles
*Scallops border punch

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at jd designs and for hopping with us on the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month March Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Lisa Plummer. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, design with {heart}!