the WHITE challenge…

The Shabby Tea Room‘s newest challenge is all about white.  The super talented Lenet is asking that we create a card or project using WHITE plus one other color. Neutrals such as cream, black, kraft and brown don’t count as the ‘other’ color. Oh what fun!!!   I really couldn’t stop with one, so I made two projects and one card.  Lenet has supplied this beautiful photo for inspiration…

 

 

I was first taken by the birdcage.  My mind jumped to the idea of birdhouses since I love to watch birds flying freely…

 

 

This is the first little birdhouse made of white card stock.  It’s approximately 3″ in every dimension… You can print out the pattern for this bitty bird house by clicking on the file attached HERE .  I will list the sequence for assembly at the bottom of this post, after the material lists.

 

 

The garden urns and topiaries are stamped, fussy cut and colored with Copic markers.  The tiny banner is also stamped and gently colored.  When adhering it to the house, I created a little dimension by allowing the banner to bow in the middle. I removed some tiny birds from their Prima nests so they could reside in these little homes.  For this house, I applied some white distress stain to turn the bright turquoise of the bird to aqua. A dangling, faceted crystal from the peak of the roof adds a bit of panache!

 

 

A punch was used to make the decorative eaves and some dried grass is tucked under the little bird.  Then I got to work on the second version…

 

 

This time some ecru on white and more embellishment…

 

 

Again, I used a punch for the eaves but this time, some die cut flourishes and paper flowers for the outside walls.  There is a length of lace with pearls down the center, running along the roof line.  It’s very ‘up market’!

 

 

The decorations flow around the corners.  This bird is resting on a bed of cut and frayed burlap threads.  There’s so much to be done with a piece of lowly burlap!

My third and final project today is a card using Paper Sweeties.  Since this is a white challenge, I used the same guidelines, by thinking of Lumina pumpkins! They’re those gorgeous cream colored pumpkins, sometimes tinged with pale green…

 

 

Emma is her adorable self and clearly fashion forward!  No standard orange for her!  Just the golden glow of the moon + neutrals.

Wel…I’ve put it off during the second and third projects, but it’s obvious that a typhoon has hit my play table!  Guess I have a major excavation project before I’m on to the next project~ If you’re in the neighborhood, bring a shovel!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

*Hugs*

Rebecca

 

White Birdhouse

Card stock	white	Bazzill
Clear stamps	door to door	Papertrey Ink
Dye ink	classic kraft	”
Punches	arched lattice edge	Martha Stewart
	3/4″ circle	EK Success
Bird	bird in nest	Prima
Distress stain	picket fence	Ranger
Crystal	faceted teardrop	Swarovski
Pearls	adhesive half pearls	Stampin’Up
Dried grass		Mother Nature~

White and Tan Birdhouse

Card stock	white	Bazzill
	fine linen	Papertrey Ink
Clear stamp	tiny tags	”
Dye ink	tuxedo black	Memento
Die	mini fanciful flourishes	Cheery Lynn
Punch	eyelet lace	Martha Stewart Crafts
Bird	bird in nest	Prima
Nesting material	burlap threads	Joann’s
Flowers	white, 3/8″ roses	Wild Orchid Crafts

Card

Card stock	black	Bazzill
Patterned papers	curio	Basic Grey
	happy haunting	Graphic 45
Clear stamps	emma	Paper Sweeties
	too cute to spook	“
Dye ink	tuxedo black	Ranger
Markers	alcohol inks	Copic

 

Birdhouse Assembly~

1. Print a sample copy of the template to check the size and the darkness of the lines.

2. Select your paper for the birdhouse and decide how dark you want the printed lines.  I lightened the settings on my copier significantly so that I didn’t need to work with a separate template, just printed directly onto the paper.  If your copier can’t achieve this, then you’ll need to cut out a template.

3. After cutting out your birdhouse, score the dashed fold lines.  It’s easiest with a straight edge and  a bone folder or ball-tipped embosser.

4. Add score tape (I used 1/4″) to all the tabs.  Punch the entry hole.

5. Remove the protective coating from the three tabs surrounding the base.  One at a time, join the base and walls.

6. Remove the protective coating from the tab that closes the walls and seal.  You will need to press from the inside and outside to make this a firm join.

7. Score the center of the roof and then decorate it before joining to the house.  If you’re adding a dark panel to the back inside wall to create contrast when you peek inside, you will want to do that before joining the roof as well.

8. Remove the protective coating on all the roof tabs and fold them in gently, towards the inside.  I found it helpful to turn the house upside down at this point, while centering the house and roof.

9. Using a brush handle or bone folder, reach inside the hole and secure the adhesive to the roof with pressure.

10. Enjoy embellishing your birdhouse.