Introducing our New Design Team Member : Gretchen Barron

Hello Everyone,

I apologize for the delay in posting today. My Father passed away this past Friday and my mind is elsewhere. I just posted to the blog I created to honor him and I realized I hadn't posted here. SO glad I didn't forget fully :))))

Gretchen Barron is one of our newest members of the Design Team. She is a very talented and creative stamper. Take a look at this cute, cute project.

The little bird is cut using the Big Shot and the Birds and Blooms Sizzlets die. He was cut from Creamy Caramel cardstock and shaded with Riding Hood Red Ink on all sides of the bird and wings. The heart was stamped and then punched twice and then the heart applied to the bird so you can view it from both front and back. The nest was made by cutting the largest circle from the Coluzzle template. Smash it, wad it, roll it and crumple it and then spray it with water and smash, wad, roll and crumple again. Form it loosly over the bottom of a small jar and let it try (it took about an hour for mine to dry completely and then I hit it with a couple shoots from the heat tool just to be sure). Cut very narrow slices of cardstock (about 1/16 - 1/8") and run them through the paper crimper. Form them together in a loose ball. Fill the bottom of the nest with Crystal Effects (probably about 1 teaspoon full) and then push the nesting strips into the nest. Wad up another small scrap of Chocolate Chip cardstock into a ball and fasten the bird to that using a Pop Up Glue Dot. Put another Glue Dot on the bottom and press down into the Crystal Effects.

The box and lid are very simple construction. For the box base, cut a 7 1/4" square of Close to Cocoa cardstock. Score at 1 5/8" " on all sides. Cut on the fold on two parallel sides. Apply Sticky Strip to the cut flaps. Fold up and stick together. The lid is a 6 1/8" square of Riding Hood Red Cardstock, scored on all sides at 1" and assembled in the same way as the base.

Decorate as you like. I cut a 1" strip of DSP (14 inches total), punched with the Scallop Edge Punch and adhered on all sides of the box lid with Sticky Strip. I also applied Riding Hood Red 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon with Sticky Strip, leaving long ends on the center front so that you can tie a bow. Trim ends as desired. I applied squares of Chocolate Chip and Pink Pirouette to the top and fastened the assembled nest/bird using Pop Up Glue Dots.

The six Valentine Cards inside the box were all made with a 3 x 6" Whisper White card base (folded to make a 3" card). I used the Love You Much Stamp set, Heart to Heart Punch and Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip cardstock. Other punches used include the Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch and 1 1/4" Circle Punch. I colored in the images with Markers or Blenders Pens/ink. Additional embellishments include Riding Hood Red 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon and Stampin' Dimensionals. Mini Envelopes are included in the set.

Thank you Gretchen. I have been a fan of your blog for a long time now. So happy you joined our Design Team. We look forward to seeing your future creations.

Happy Stampin'

Max