Welcome Back To Another Simple Sunday

I love Sundays, especially when I don’t have to work. For a number of years now I’ve had a “simple Sunday” theme for my blog. Simple projects that don’t take a lot of time or need complicated techniques to achieve. Sometimes it will be a card, sometimes a gift tag, sometimes other papercraft projects. Today I have a simple bookmark project using the Garden Birdhouses Stamp Set. I thought the “welcome back” sentiment would perfect as I settle into a comfy chair to continue my latest read.

GARDEN BIRDHOUSE

I began with a 2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of thick card, this time in Very Vanilla. I often choose this colour for backgrounds as it’s softer and less stark that bright white. To turn the strip into a bookmark I used the Detailed Trio Punch. First I punched the oval hole at the top and then I rounded the corners.

From the Garden Birdhouses Stamp Set I started with the tree image and stamped it using Granny Apple Green ink. Then with Tuxedo Black ink I stamped the hanger from the branch, followed by one of the birdhouses.

With the images done my next task was to add some ‘sky’. So I stamped the birdhouse onto a Full-Adhesive Post-It® Note and cut it out using Paper Snips. This gave me a mask that I placed over the birdhouse hanging from the branch. Finally, using a Blending Brush I added a light coat of Balmy Blue ink around the edges of the bookmark and in patches over the front.

Cut a Post-It® Note to mask a stamped image while you add ink to the background with a Blending Brush. #papercraftwithme

WELCOME BACK

After removing the mask I then set to work colouring in the birdhouse with Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. For the roof and base I used Smoky Slate This was followed by Real Red on the door and window, and Soft Sea Foam for the walls. I finished off by colouring the open spaces on the leaves with the dark Soft Sea Foam marker.

Now I was ready to add the “Welcome back” sentiment, stamped at the bottom of the bookmark using Tuxedo Black ink.

Finally I cut three 6″ pieces of Very Vanilla twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack. I folded the pieces in half and pushed the loops through the hole at the top of the bookmark. Then I threaded the ends through the loops and gently pulled to secure the twine in place.

And just like that my Welcome Back bookmark was complete.

So now with my blog done I have a few chores to do before having some free time. The only question then will be whether to sit and read first or craft. What would you choose?

For another project using the Garden Birdhouses Stamp set wee my earlier blog post Birdhouses are better on paper.