Charming Birds on a Rainy Day

The wonderful birdhouse die used in today's card was a bargain (no, really!) in the Sizzix sale.

"Charming Birds"

The background stamping uses Crafty Individuals and Hero Arts stamps with plenty of distress inks and some Perfect Pearls. After stamping and colouring, it was spattered with droplets of water to give a softer effect. In the background, you'll also see a Tim Holtz tree diecut and coloured with distress inks to match.

"Birdhouse"

The birdhouse was cut from white and dark brown cardstock. The cards were individually coloured then layered. That gold mottled effect on the brown edging is from dabbing with gold adirondack mixative. The pale birdhouse was overstamped and some more Perfect Pearls used to give the effect of shimmery leaves. It was fixed to a dark brown backing with some foam tape to create some depth, especially for the central hole.

"Charming!"

A few holes punched into the bottom of the birdhouse provide anchoring points for some appropriately themed metal charms. These were attached to jump rings and threaded onto short lengths of gold thread.

"Butterfly and bird"

The butterfly and bird (from 7Gypsies "Conservatory" stamp set) were heat-embossed in gold onto white card, coloured with distress ink, and cut out before shaping and fixing in place with Pinflair dimensional glue.

"Sentiment"

The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz stamp set stamped in black archival ink and heat-embossed in clear, before matting and layering onto Spellbinders Labels diecuts (inked to match the rest of the card).

Entered for the following challenge:
Crafty Individuals - Spring
Gingersnap Creations - Glorious Greens
DYSU Challenge - Anything Goes (Wow, I'd LOVE to win those Crafty Individuals stamps!!)
Sparkles Forum - New Crafty Goodies (Birdhouse die)