Jul 21 2008
Birds on a Wire – Tutorial
The idea of birds sitting on a wire has been rattling around in my head for some time. This morning it finally made it to paper.
Here is the tutorial. 
Supplies:
| Stamps: Stampin’ Up Spring Solitude & Lovely as a Tree |
| Paper: Stampin’ Up Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss & Whisper White |
| Ink: Stampin’ Up Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive and Basic Black |
| Accessories: Ruler, Fine point black marker, Old Olive marker, White Gel Pen, Stampin’ Up Piercing Tools, Sponge & Brayer |
Brayered Baja Breeze ink at the top 2/3rds of a 3.5″ x 8″ piece of Whisper White card stock.
Brayered Kiwi Kiss ink on the bottom 1/4th of the card stock.
Made a line across the card stock with a fine point black marker and a ruler.
Stamped birds with Basic Black ink. I also extended their legs with a fine point black marker so they would reach the black line.
Inked only the trees, with Basic Black ink, on the tree stamp to omit the ground part of the stamp. Stamp it twice.
Used a white Gel pen to make the eye and wing of the birds more prominent.
Sponged Old Olive ink on the trees.
Made dots with a white gel pen on the left side of the trees to create highlights and show light direction.
Sponged a shadow under the trees with Old Olive ink that is slanting toward the right side.
Made dots on the right side of the trees with an Old Olive marker.
Assembled card front and pierced a line at the bottom of the card stock.
Added two silver brads and here is the completed card measuring 9″ x 4″.
On a personal note, I had a great time over the weekend playing, playing and playing some more with my beautiful Grand Daughter. Here she is pictured with my Husband, Russ being silly.
Hope your day is filled with snack time and smiles!
Until my next post. . . . . . . .
Hugs,
Michelle
47 responses so far
Beautiful card, Michelle!
And cute picture.
Marie-Josee from Quebec
Hi Michelle,
Your Grand Daughter is beautiful and your card great as usual. I love all the details you explain so clearly.
Eveline.
Oh my goodness you are blessed! Beautiful Grand Daughter and a handsome Hubby. And then we can’t forget your God given talent that you share with us so graciously. Love this card and I’m off to try to adapt these techniques to my own creation!
Hey Michelle, What a cute card. I really think I am going to have to get lovely as a tree. I really love all the cards you have made with it.
Thats a top photo of your hubby and granddaughter.
Deanne
xx
OH MY, she is a sweetheart Michelle, those pretty blue eyes. Gandpa sure looks pretty happy too. Great pic.
Love the card.
Happy Monday to you all
Tonni
I love, love, love this card. And what a beautiful picture of your family.
Wonderful card Michelle.
Anke from Germany
Sweet girl and happy grandfather!
Your card looks good!
Greetings from Austria…
Gabi
Your beautiful granddaughter and her papa sharing lunch is adorable.
Love the card. The birds on the wire is so realalistic. It is funny to see something taken for granted on a card.
Beautiful card, beautiful family!!!
Michelle, you are truly blessed. A beautiful family, and talent that never runs out. Your cups overflows. This is a wonderful card. tfs, and glad you had a great weekend. I get to have my daughter and G-kids next week, I’m so excited!!!!!!!!!
Evelynn
The card is terrific. My daughter, a budding photographer, enjoys taking photos of birds on a wire. If I may, I will totally CASE this card. Your grand-daughter (and hubby) look as though they are having a great visit.
Marg
Gorgeous card Michelle! I love the birds on a wire idea. I’m so glad you were able to spend some time with that adorable grand daughter. Your husband is very handsome too! Have a wonderful day.
What a great idea for a card! Something you can see almost everyday and you turn it into a card. Fantastic. I love the shadows of the trees. It really makes the whole composition pop. Wonderful picture of your hubby and granddaughter. Looks like fun. TFS.
Trish
Your granddaughter (and husband) are cute! No wonder you create such fun beautiful stuff. You’re surrounded by cuteness.
ok, now this is getting weird, I was looking at telephone lines this weekend thinking I should do something with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think “Zindorf” all the time now. You are my #1 inspiration. Happy day from MN
Awesome! Absolutely excellent card. Thank you so much for this tutorial. The picture of your family, though, is the best!
I LOVE this card!!! And you’re not biased, she IS beautiful! What a good looking family!
Love your tutorials! You are slowly helping me learn to love my gel pen for more than just dots.
I read on someone else’s blog that they were going to attend your upcoming class and I am kiwi kiss green with jealousy! You are very talented and it is wonderful that you share your talent with others through your blog and tutorials. Thank you!
As always, this is just beautiful! I’m going to CASE this card at some point this week. Thanks for sharing it with us!
You’ve done it again! M y jaw dropped when I opened your email! I am going to have to put a pillow on the floor! What a beautiful card! Thanks for showing!
Diane
This is so creative! I love it and will definitely be casing this card. Thanks so much for the tutorial.
Your little gd is precious and I know you are enjoying her.
Pinky
Glad you got time with your Granddaughter. Looks like you husband is enjoying it too. Love your art work for the day. Birds are my favorite. We spend hours watching them and wondering what they are really talking about up there on the wires. I just got a Martin House and waiting for them to come back this fall. We have tons of Cardinals and Bluejays and Mocking birds and the crows like to chase them off from the feeders, We also have a nice hawk in the neighborhood and hear the owls at night hooting. Hope you enjoy your week… Thanks for your undying inspiration and the well of creativity you share with us.
Debi Pippin
A wonderful card and tutorial Michelle, your granddaughter is so adorable!
Each one is better than the one before. Thanks for sharing with us. I am so glad you got to spend time with your granddaughter. Enjoy! My only one lives in Oregon and I live in Indiana. I know that special thrill of spending time together. Glad you found time to share. She is a doll.
You have a beautiful granddaughter. You’re husband isn’t bad looking either. Thank you for tutorial. As always it’s awesome.
Marliese
Holy Smokes! Is that Hailie?
Yep Lisa, that is Hailie.
Fantastic card! Great tutorial. Love the new colors.
What a great card. Thanks for showing you made it. COOL!
So glad you enjoyed your time with your granddaughter. Love your card, reminds me of long drives in the country
what a beautiful card and a beautiful pic of yoru granddaughter – she has gorgeous eyes!
Another awesome card and tutorial!! Love your work so much – please don’t ever stop sharing! And your granddaughter is adorable!!
Like the picture of your granddaughter and husband. Hope you had a fun weekend with her, they grow up so fast. Like always i like the card you did today, birds on the wire. Great color! Thanks for sharing!
whoohoo, I have both these stamp sets. I think I could case this, yea, I think I can I think I can! hehehe Fun picture
love it! What a great idea!
I love this card – I’m for sure going to make one like it – yours is great!
I read tons of blogs and yours is the first I’ve ever subscribed to! What an incredible gift you give us for taking the time and effort to create the tutorials for your cards. Not only is your work fabulous I enjoy your comments and humor. If only I had a thimbleful of your talent… with the help of your tutorials I’m going to TRY to recreate the Zindorf style.
One problem – I only have 2 pinkish SU inks. Lots of other brands, including Adirondacks, but not the SU blues in particular that you use. Do you have any suggestions for substitutes? After buying Copics and Nesties I can’t afford to go out and buy SU inks! (Not to mention I already have a hundred or more others.) I truly would appreciate your help with substitute suggestions.
Thank you SO much for the tutorials, and for sharing your beautiful cards.
A grateful new fan,
melissa
love this.. Im gonna have to try one out myself!
WOW She’s really grown!
I know our kids grew fast, but I think our grandkids are growing even faster! Thanks for sharing that great pic of her and Russ (He hasn’t grown any though…LOL)
Love your tutorial too! Wonderful as always!
I just love this layout, the trees and shadows are so realistic. I’ll be back to see some more of your wonderful tutorials. thanks so much for sharing your talent.
Jan
Hi Michelle!
I hope you do not mind that I have tagged you.
Your blog is such a wonderful inspiration, I want to show it to everyone.
Please take a look here:
http://craftchaos.blogspot.com
Thanks,
Hetty
Hi Michelle~
Your skill with a brayer is amazing. Any chance you could back up your tutorials for a minute and cover basics of using a brayer? I haven’t even mastered brayering without leaving lines. I need some elementary level instruction. Or maybe you could point me to some place on the Web that teaches the basics?
Many thanks,
~jeanie.
Loved this tute! I was able to work on this one the other day but I’m just now getting to post it.
Here’s mine
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/994984?cat=500&ppuser=10233
Hi Michelle, I have posted a card, which is more like a CASE of this one. It would be an honor if you take a look and let me know what you think of it. You can see it here.
http://homemadegreetings.blogspot.com/2008/07/jumping-on-brayer-wagon.html
Wow you are so inspiring. I’m sooo glad i found your blog as I have a whole new other excitement for what i can do with the stamps that i thought I had ‘used-to-death’. I am a relatively new stamper and Stampin’ Up! demo over here in New Zealand and it is great to be able to see the work of people on the other side of the globe! Yay the internet!
Jenn