Bluebird of Happiness

Hello!!

It's still frosty cold outside, which makes me completely happy.  It'll start warming up here in the North Texas area by the end of the week, but I'm enjoying every minute of nights in the 30's for now.  The consistently cold weather won't begin until some time in December.  Some years it's hot here for Thanksgiving, some years it's rainy and cold.  I'm hoping for rainy and cold.  :)

Today's card looks summery, but look closely at his little branch and the berries - what you can see (that's not covered by my bow) has snow on it.  

This stamp is Snow Bird from Stampendous and he was ever so fun to color, probably because he's just plain CUTE, all fluffed up like that.  Had to color him blue - he just LOOKED like he should be blue.  The paper is all SU - Bashful Blue for the base and bottom layer (which I embossed with, once again, the Snow Burst ef), then Whisper White and Real Red.   I colored the little guy with Copics.

I punched the flower out of white CS using SB Poinsettia die and colored it with two colors of Creative Inspirations inks - Garnet and Rustic Red, two alternating coats of each.  I used a glitter pen for the subtle veins.  The pine branches are from a MS punch using green from my stash.  A pearl, which I colored with a yellow Copic, finishes the center of the flower.

I dyed my own seam binding using TH Distress Stain in Broken China.  I absolutely LOVE dying my own seam binding - it's the only way to get custom colors, plus it's FUN.  The little greeting is from the SU Tiny Tags stamp set punched with the Jewelry Tag punch, with a plain red one behind it.  I like the bit of color a second tag gives.  They're tied to the bow with some blue baker's twine.

This stick pin is my latest passion.  I can't begin to tell you how much fun I have making these and am waiting on another order of supplies so I can start making even longer ones - big, seriously glammy stick (or hat) pins.  Since I sort of tend to like the over-the-top look anyway, these will be right up my alley when embellishing my cards.

If you look closely (and/or enlarge the picture), you can see the little snowflake punched edge on the center panel which I've painted with a couple more colors of CI paints.  And there's also a small, white picket fence behind the center panel as well.  This card follows this week's MOJO Monday sketch.

So that is today's little Bluebird of Happiness.  Somedays a girl's just gotta have a dose of cute.  Have a lovely day, and I hope you find the time to craft, even if only for a bit.

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

ALOTA Rubber Stamps #94 - Blue and White
TSG181 - Let It Snow
Tuesday Throwdown #124 - Thankful for You
Delightful Challenges - Let It Delightfully Snow!
Charisma Cardz Challenge #44 - Feeling Blue
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #32 - Nursery Rhymes ("The Bluebird's Garden")
Fussy and Fancy Challenge #75 - Pearls and Flowers 
MFP Simple Salutations #18 - Winter Bird
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #133 - Add a Fence
Pile It On #46 - Let's Be Thankful