With a very long list of things I want to accomplish today I decided to get up early. I love getting up while it’s still dark, and try to time my first coffee break so I can watch the sun rise. Today I was in for another treat as we had a dusting of snow too. There’s something very peaceful about fresh snow on the ground, especially when there’s not so much it will have to be shovelled. It also inspired this quick robin project made for a good friend.

PEACEFUL MOMENTS

I began by cutting a 2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Thick Basic White Card. Then I punched a slot at one end using the Very Best Trio Punch.

Next I chose my sentiment from the Peaceful Moments Stamp Set from the Stampin’ Up! 2022/2023 Annual Catalogue. Peaceful Moments has been around for a few years and I suspect it will be retired at the end of the catalogue period. With the slot to the right, I used Early Espresso ink to stamp “Life is better with a friend like you” along the bottom edge.

My cute robin comes from the Happy Hedgehogs Stamp Set and was also stamped with Early Espresso ink. Then I simply coloured him in using Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. For his red breast I used light Real Red. Then I added a little dark Crumb Cake on the tail and edge of the wing, before going over the whole bird with light Crumb Cake.

To keep things simple I used dark Real Red Stampin’ Blends at the bottom part of the flower petals. Then I finished them with light Real Red. Finally I used light Crumb Cake for the leaf, flower centre and to scribble on a little “ground”.

TIMBER TEXTURE

While I loved the simplicity of the project so far I decided it needed a little texture, so I placed the card strip inside the Timber 3D Embossing Folder. Then I placed the embossing folder directly onto the platform of of my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. With the 3D Embossing Plate #4 on top I cranked the folder through the machine and then back again.

Finally I picked out some new-to-me ribbon, the Old Olive and Sahara Sand Twill Ribbon Pack. This is also in the current Annual Catalogue and I completely overlooked it! The chevron detail of the weave is gorgeous and the soft threads makes for very pretty bows. Today though I simply cut a 6″ piece of the Sahara Sand ribbon and threaded it through the slot. Then, with a little Tear & Tape Adhesive holding the ribbon together where it crossed, my project was complete.

I love creating bookmarks. They’re generally quick to make and a great place to try out ideas. They’re also a nice little handmade gift that slips easily into a card before mailing, or to accompany a book.

PRODUCT LIST

TWILL RIBBON PACK – This pack contains 5 yards each of the two ribbons. The Old Olive ribbon is 1/4″ wide with a single chevron pattern, while the Sahara Sand ribbon is 3/8″ and has a double chevron.