A Little Bird Told Me… Life Is Good

 A Little Bird Told Me… Life Is Good

Good day, fellow crafters. It's Tamara once again, with a new post where I will be showcasing my latest card created using  Blank Page Muse products!

There’s something undeniably cheerful about the goldfinch. With its bright yellow plumage and lively song, this little bird is often seen as a symbol of joy and positivity. Whether flitting through summer gardens or perched quietly on a branch, the goldfinch brings a sense of calm and contentment to those who pause long enough to notice. That’s why it felt like the perfect choice for this handmade card, paired with a simple but powerful message: Life is good.

To create this project, you will need the following:

• Goldfinch stamp from Blank Page Muse
• Water-based ink pens (For this project, I used Tombow markers)
• Watercolor paper (I prefer Canson)
• Ink-blending brush
• Blue, Water Reactive ink (I used Distress Oxide)
• Paint Brushes
• Pattern paper (Your taste and preferences should dictate selection)
• White A2 Card base
• Liquid glue
• Low-tack Tape
• Paper Trimmer
• Die cutting machine
• Stamping platform (I use a Misiti)
• Black ink
• Sentiment of choice

Process

• Using the watercolor paper and a paper trimmer, cut the paper to approximately 4.25" x 5.5".
• Place the cardstock into your stamping platform and secure it into place.
• Align the Goldfinch stamp into its final position
• Secure the stamp to the stamping platform using some low-tack tape.
• Close the lid and press firmly to ensure the stamp adheres to the lid.
• Double-check that it is secure because the technique to create the card requires a lot of repeat stamping.

• Choose a section of the stamp that feels comfortable to work with and use the Tombow marker to color only that portion of the stamp.
• Work with light, even strokes, making sure to only get the pigment on the raised section of the stamp.
• Make sure that there is good coverage.
• Stamp the image onto the cardstock.
• Use even pressure, making sure that the applied pressure is downward only to prevent potential stamp movement
• Clean any residual ink from the stamp with a paper towel.

• Using a damp, fine-tip brush, and a light touch, pull the pigment from the edges of the stamped image towards the center of the image.
• Be sure to keep inside the lines of the image as you work.
• Take adequate time with this step to prevent smearing or bleeding.
• Allow to dry completely.
• Repeat the steps for other areas of the stamp. 
• Save the fine detail or outlines for the final stamping.

• Using a die of your choice, position the die over the focal image and use a die-cutting machine to cut out the frame. 
• Using the Distress Oxide or similar, ink-blend a light covering along the edges of the focal image.
• Using a damp, fine-tip brush and a light touch, pull the blue pigment toward the center to fill in the space around the focal image.
• Allow to dry

Assembly

• Trim the pattern paper to 4.25" x 5.5" with a paper trimmer. 
• Center and then secure the focal image to the pattern paper with liquid glue.
• Using the stamp platform, or a steady hand, stamp the sentiment as shown in the project photo.
• Using liquid glue, adhere the final panel to the A2 card base.

The stamps I used can be found by following the links in the materials list, or you can find them with a quick search on www.blankpagemuse.com. Visit our social media sites for more stamping fun!

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