August Birthday Bash #11 - Spellbinders Cuckoo Cottage Release Part 1

Hello!

I'm back for day 11 of my August #birthdaycardbash challenge. Today I used new products from Spellbinders for my birthday card. I also have a bonus card to share with you at the end!

This card was a lot of fun to put together. I wanted to find a way to incorporate all of the fun fall critters and scenery from the new Spellbinders Harvest Time die set into a fun scene, so I searched through my stash to find some stencils and stamps to build my scene.

First, I created the background for the card. For the ground, I used the retired My Favorite Things Grassy Edges stencil, a blending brush, and Shabby Shutters Distress Ink to add some grass layers across the bottom. I opted for three layers to add more interest and make the grass look fuller. To make the sky, I used the retired My Favorite Things Mini Cloud Edges stencil, a blending brush, and Salty Ocean Distress Ink. I added clouds until I felt like the sky was full enough. Any grass or cloud stencils would work for making a background like this. Here is a combination option from Kat Scrappiness. You get both the grass and the clouds in on set!

Next, I got to work stamping elements to use to help build my scene. I pulled out my retired My Favorite Things Hanging With My Gnomies stamp set as well as the Mama Elephant Hello Froggy set. I used acrylic blocks and Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink to do some stamping. I stamped the gnome home from the MFT set and the logs from the ME set. I set them aside to let the ink dry as I prepared the rest of the pieces.

I pulled out my colored cardstock scraps for this next part. I feel that tiny dies like these are the perfect way to use up scraps in the craft room. Using my Sizzix Big Shot and magic mat, I die cut the mushrooms, pumpkins, foxes, squirrels, and gnome pieces using the new Spellbinders Harvest Time die set. I used triangle embellishment trays to keep the pieces organized and prevent them from getting lost on my desk.

I wanted to add some dimension to my die cut pieces, so as I was coloring my gnome house and logs, I used my Prismacolor colored pencils to add some shading to them as well. Specific colors are below:

• Logs: Dark Umber, Dark Brown, and Light Umber

• Door/Window Frames: 90% French Grey, Espresso, and Dark Brown

• Stones: 70%, 50%, and 30% Cool Grey

• Roof/Grass: Dark Green, Prussian Green, and Olive Green

• House/Mushroom Stems: Light Umber, Beige Sienna, and Seashell Pink

• Mushroom Tops/Flowers: Crimson Lake, Crimson Red, and Carmine Red

• Windows/Flower Centers: Goldenrod, Yellow Ochre, and Jasmine

• Fox Bodies/Pumpkins: Terra Cotta, Pumpkin Orange, and Cadmium Orange Hue

• Pumpkin Stem: Chocolate

• Fox Face/Tail: Seashell Pink

• Squirrels: 90% French Grey, Dark Umber, Chocolate, and Hot Pink

• Gnome Beard: 20% Warm Grey

• Gnome Nose: Peach

• Gnome Hat/Shirt: Indigo Blue

I used a white Gelly Roll pen to add white spots to the stamped mushrooms.

After all of the coloring was done, I glued all of the layers of the die cut elements together using Art Glitter Glue and fussy cut around my stamped elements using my scissors. I cut right along the stamped line so that they would blend in smoothly and not have a white outline.

Finally, I began assembling my scene. I played around with the arrangement until I was happy with the placement and glued everything flat to the card. I finished off the card by stamping "Happy, Happy, Wonderful Birthday Wishes" from the MFT stamp set in the upper right corner.

That's it for that card!

Now onto the bonus card!

For this card, I used the new Halloween Tick Tock die set from the Spellbinders Cuckoo Cottage release.

First, I started by cutting four squares from white cardstock using my Tim Holtz guillotine trimmer. The squares measure 1 7/8" x 1 7/8" in size.

I then using blending brushes and Distress Inks to add color to the squares. I used Shabby Shutters, Spiced Marmalade, Black Soot, and Dusty Concord. To add some shine to them, I used the Lace watercolor paint from my Grabie watercolor set to add some splatters.

I then die cut all of the pieces for the cats, spider, bat, ghosts, and witch from the Halloween Tick Tock set from Bee Inspired watercolor paper scraps. I used the same Grabie watercolor set and a number 2 round brush to add color to the pieces. Specific colors are below:

• Black

• Macaron Peach

• Syrup

• Honey

• Royal Periwinkle

I added hair to the witch using a 05 Kingart black Inkline pen.

After everything was dry, I assembled my card.

I laid out the squares on a white A2 card base and glued them flat with Art Glitter Glue. I then stamped the sentiment in the middle using an acrylic block and Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. The sentiment is from the retired Picket Fence Studios All Tresspassers Will Be Added to the Brew stamp set.

I then glued all of my die cut elements into the squares. I thought it would be fun to have the spider hanging down next to the sentiment and spilling out of his square.

That's it! I hope you enjoyed both cards and are inspired to create. I also encourage you to check out the new Spellbinders Cuckoo Cottage release here.

I also want to invite you to join me in my #cardmakingchallenge over on my Facebook page. See the pinned post at the top of the page for details.

Happy crafting!

Kelsey

*Affiliate links are provided, when available, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting these small businesses and my crafting. I appreciate it!

**Other products used:

• Tim Holtz glass media mat

• Stamp shammy

• Score board

• Westcott electric pencil sharpener

• Storage pouches for clear stamps/dies

• Magnetic sheets for dies

• Fridge bins for stamps/dies storage