Today’s sneak peek project is both pretty and useful. It uses the new Free As A Bird Stamp Set, Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper and Stitched Nested Labels Dies.

SMALL COMPOSITION BOOK

I began by cutting pieces of the key design paper from the Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack to fit the front and back of a small composition notebook. Then I attached a piece to the front using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).

Next I glued the DSP to the back of the notebook, but only along the spine, top and bottom. With that done I used Paper Snips to trim up both pieces of paper following the edge of the notebook covers.

Unfortunately the only mini pens I could find had a wide rubber grip which meant I needed a new type of pen holder on my notebook. In the end I decided to fold a strip of Pool Party Card and glue it between the back cover and the DSP. So I carefully squeezed a little liquid glue between the unglued edges and slid the folded card in. It sounds a little odd to do it that way but otherwise I’d have had to trim the DSP with the pen holder in the way.

Anyway once that was done I was ready to begin work on the focal point for the front of the notebook.

PRETTY FLOWERS

My pretty flowers come from the new Free As A Bird Stamp Set. This set does have some lovely bird images, but also these apple blossom images too.

Using Tuxedo Black ink I stamped one large flower, two small flowers, two buds and one leaf sprig, all onto Whisper White Card. Then I coloured the flowers using light and dark Petal Pink Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. For the leaves I used the light and dark Old Olive Stampin’ Blends. Then I fussy-cut all the images with Paper Snips.

On another piece of Whisper White Card I stamped the ‘hello’ sentiment from the same stamp set.

All I needed now was the hexagonal layers and for this I used my retiring Big Shot and Magnetic Platform. From the new Stitched Nested Labels Dies I cut the sentiment with the #2 die (counting up from the smallest). For the larger layer I cut a piece of Pool Party Card using the #3 die from the same set.

Then using liquid glue I assembled the focal point directly onto the notebook cover. First came the Pool Party label, with a bud and leaf glued on top. The sentiment layer came next, sandwiching the bud and leaf stalk in place. This was followed by another bud, the two small flowers and finally the largest flower.

Then I slid the pen clip in the holder on the side of the notebook and it was ready for use.

STITCHED NESTED LABELS DIES

I love the new Stitched Nested Labels Dies. There’s 8 of these hexagonal dies in the set altogether and as the name suggests they nest to create a series of layers.

What I also love about these dies is that the cutting edge is between two sets of stitching. This means that when you cut the hexagon it has a stitched line, and there’s also a line of ‘stitching’ around the edge of the hole.

Also included in the set is a coordinating straight die that is 3-7/8″ long. This die doesn’t actually cut, but instead it leaves a line of tiny holes that coordinate with the holes on the hexagons.

I’ll show you more of the Free As A Bird Stamp Set and Bird Ballad DSP in future sneak peeks. In the meantime, I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for more sneak peeks and a masculine card project.

PRODUCT LIST

UPDATE 2022: Sadly the following products have retired and are no longer available from Stampin’ Up!

• Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper
• Free As A Bird Stamp Set
• Stitched Nested Labels Dies
• Due to manufacturing issues Whisper White Card has been replaced by Basic White Card.