Robin on Pine Branches

Hello, Crafters.

I hope you've had a great weekend.

The robin I've featured on today's card is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, probably ever since I first saw this stamp set, which is called Best Birds! I used my Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Pen on the pine branches and the pine cones although it doesn't really show up except in the close up photographs!

To start today's card, I took a Whisper White Cardstock (CS) base, then added a layer of Garden Green CS and a top layer of Whisper White CS. I dry embossed the first top layer I had, using the Softly Falling Embossing Folder in portrait mode. As I worked my way through die cutting the pine branches and cutting the bird out by hand, I realised I need the top layer to be dry embossed in landscape mode.

I did another layer and put the first layer in my DVD box called Layers 2 so it'll be ready for a future project. I adhered the two layers and the card base together using Tombow. The pine branches are from the Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies which co-ordinate with the Christmas Pines Stamp Set. These two products are currently available as a bundle which means you can save 10% off the price.

I die cut two medium sized branches and four small branches, then painted them all with my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Pen. I used Soft Suede Ink to stamp the first two steps of the large pine cone onto Crumb Cake CS and then the third step in Crumb Cake Ink. When I die cut the pine cones, I knew I'd finish up with a border of Crumb Cake CS.

I decided to tone it down by sponging all over the image using my Soft Suede Dauber and I also sponged all around the image so that there wouldn't be any "virgin" Crumb Cake CS visible on the die cut pine cones.  
I was really pleased with the result, the colour of the pine cones really blended in brilliantly!

I stamped the bird on a piece of Crumb Cake CS using Basic Black Archival Ink. Then I used Real Red Ink and a Dauber for his chest and then Soft Suede and a Dauber for the rest of his body. I cut the bird out freehand.

I placed the pine branches, then the pine cones and finally the robin in place where I thought they'd look good. When I was happy with the arrangement, I removed the pine cones and the robin and concentrated on applying Tombow to the backs of the four smaller branches first, and then the two larger branches. I used Glue Dots on the backs of the pine cones to adhere them in place. Then I used Dimensionals on the back of the robin, but I used Tombow on the feet so they would stay adhered in position.

The sentiment is also from the Christmas Pines Stamp Set. I stamped it on a thin strip of Whisper White CS using Soft Suede Ink. I adhered it to the card front using Dimensionals. The final touch was to add two Rhinestones to the sentiment. 

A very pleasing card! I hope you like it, too. Until tomorrow, happy crafting. 

JanB.