Nov 02 2008
Cardinals Home - Tutorial #142 and a Blog Candy Winner
Good morning, good morning, good morning! I love Sundays! I always try to make Sunday a complete down day for me. A day to sit back relax a while and try to re-energize before starting another week. But before I go and turn into a complete couch potato I made this tutorial for you.
I love bird watching and have quite a few bird feeders in the yard. Sometimes I think the birds are eating better than my husband and I when I look at our shopping bill, but that’s another story. 
Male Cardinals are all over our area here in Ohio and a welcome splash of color at our feeders. This Cardinal stamp by Close to My heart is turning out to be one of my favorite. I’ve pair the cardinal up with some great images by Innovative Stamp Designs also. Check out that wood grain and flourish. Terrific together! Here is a link to Innovative Stamp Creations web store: http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html
One announcement before I get into the tutorial. We have a blog candy winner!!!!! 
Drum roll please. .. . . . . . . . . . . . and the winner is . . . . . .
Debbie Stelton who wrote “Michelle I as so glad you enjoyed your trip and teaching your classes. As usual your card is awesome. Thank you for another chance to win some blog candy you are always so generous with your talent and great blog candy. Have a great week and TFS.”
Debbie, please e-mail your address to mzindorf@aim.com and I will get this terrific set in the mail to you. Congrats!
Thanks to everyone else who played along!
Now for the Tutorial.
Supplies:
| Stamps: Innovative Stamp Creations “Nature Silhouettes I” & “Textures”, Close to My Heart “Season of Splendor” |
| Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Real Red & Old Olive |
| Ink: Adirondack Pesto & Lake Mist, Palette Noir Black & Stampin’ Up Basic Black |
| Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Grey and Black marker, Versamark pad and marker, sponge, brayer, ruler, post it notes, Diamond Stickles, fine detail clear embossing powder, heat gun, brads, white ribbon |
Stamped Cardinal with Palette Noir Black ink on a 4.5″ square piece of Whisper White card stock.
Colored the bird with a Prismacolor Scarlet Lake Marker.
Added Crimson Red to the dark areas.
Went over the entire bird again with the Scarlet Lake marker to blend.
Added Tuscan Red to the top of the back and underside.
Colored the beak Burnt Ochre.
Colored over the entire bird with a Versamark marker, being very careful to stay inside the lines.
Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Stamped the flourish at the top of the card stock using Versamark only.
Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Brayered in Lake Mist ink all over the card stock.
Stamped wood grain with Lake Mist ink.
I decided I wanted the wood grain to show up better so I restamped it with Pesto ink.
Masked the Top of the card stock with a post it note and sponged Pesto ink right at the post it note edge to create a shelf for the bird to sit on.
Switched the direction of the post it note to create a board running from top to bottom by sponging Pesto at the post it notes edge.
Removed the post it notes and sponged Pesto ink around the outside of the card stock.
Also used a ruler to add a line of Grey marker to really define the boards I created.
Punched a circle in a piece of card stock and held it on the main image panel and sponged Pesto ink inside the circle to create a hole in the bird house.
Drew a black line around the inside of the circle skipping over the flourish showing. The black line gives a bit of dimension to the whole.
Sponged Black ink on the very edge of the card stock.
Wiped the ink off of my embossed images using a soft paper towel.
Sponged Black ink on a 5.25″ square panel of Old Olive card stock.
Added Ribbon, Brads & Stickles to the flourish.
Here is the complete card measuring 5.25″ Square.
May your day be filled with Peace and Joy.
Until my next post. . . . . . . . .. . . . .
Hugs,
Michelle
Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/
Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar
Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/
WoW! Another amazing and inspiring card. I just love all the love you put into each of your creations. Also Congrats to the winner!
Fantabulous! What a great way to start my day, by enjoying your artwork! Thanks so much!
What a beauty! Love that flourish and the woodgrain, and of course that pretty red cardinal! Hope you enjoy your day relaxing. I’m sure you could use the downtime with the busy schedule you keep! Thanks for sharing this with us
When I lived “Back East” I always loved the male cardinals and the robins (and the fire flys). What a beautiful card, Michelle. Thanks for sharing your creativity before relaxing for the day and thanks again for coming to CA for the classes. I had a awesome time.
This is another beautiful card that is wonderfully done. I love the crackeled wood of the Cardinals home. I also have to tell you that once again you are my enabler. I have looked at the Cardinal stamp for some time now and haven’t purchased it, this card has taken me over the edge, I have to buy it now! Thanks for sharing your tutorials and your talents with us, I really appreciate it.
What a great way to start out Sunday!!! Blog winner (congratulations!) AND a new tutorial! Woo Hoo!!! We share a love of birds too. Cardinals are a favorite because of their color but also how they protect their mates with such fierceness. They come at dawn and dusk and tend to stay away except for water and baths during the day. I love their little “chits-chits” sounds they make. ANYWAY, this piece is as beautiful as they come Michelle. I value the artistic hints you share such as defining the hole and how you color your images and explaining your color choices. It helps take away a lot of the mystery of creating art. Have a refreshing Sunday and as always, thank you for what you do.
Love, love, love this tutorial. I am excited to try this card out. Thank you so much for this tutorial. Have a great Sunday!
GORGEOUS!!!
Just gorgeous Michelle!
Old olive is my absolute favorite color of cardstock….and you did it justice with this beautiful Cardinal card. I love your use of Prismacolor markers. I noticed they now sell them at the big “M” craft store. I think I may just have to go buy a set. Thanks for your generosity!
Fellow Stamper,
Gaylynn
Oh Michelle you have out done yourself this card is just gorgeous. I grew up in the Midwest and was used to seeing Cardinals, Bluejays, etc. Living in Phoenix I do not get to see these glorious birds any londer. Imagine what a treat it was to see your card with that beautiful Cardinal. Thank you so much for the blog candy I am so excited and once again thank you for sharing your talents with us. God bless you.
Debbie/Phx AZ
Michele, you are so creative! Only you could create a birdhouse without a stamp. I am always fascinated with your work. Thanks so much for your tutorials.
I’m a big cardinal fan too and blue jay fan. I was just looking at this set 10 minutes ago thinking about ordering it myself. Now I may have to. I’m just not a fan of clear stamps but maybe these would be better quality than I’ve purchased before. Happy STamping !!!
Sigh…. THis is lovely. I really like the wood grain. TFS
Breathtaking, Michelle….the colors, images, the cracked background….everything is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!
Wow! Really nice! You make it look so easy. I just have to find the time in doing this. But I’m learning new styles! Love to visit your blog daily!
Thanks for posting and sharing with us!!
Beautiful card Michelle. You do wonders with every stamp set you get your hands on! I am impressed with every post. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
So gorgeous!! LOve the crackle in this!!
Once again, a gorgeous card! I am getting to where I can’t hardly wait to open my email and see the latest addition. I practised this past weekend with my brayer. It is fast becoming a favorite tool. It was rarely used before I discovered your cards and tutorials. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I wish I could take a class from you but I live in Las Vegas Nevada so that would be difficult. Thanks again!
Great again ;-D
I hate to repeat but what Adele says is exactly what I feel! I love coming in in the morning to see what I have in my inbox/email. I know I’m going to get that ‘ahhh, ooohhh, *sigh*’ feeling and make another promise to myself to do these tutorials!!
THANK YOU!
Just stunning. I learn so much from you. Thank you!
This is another beautiful
card it still amazes me how you can bring all of your stamps to life and this is no exception… I feel I am looking out my window at the magificent cardinal sitting on my terrace (don’t have a fence)….lol
As always thanks for your beautiful cards and your amazing tutorials… I enjoy following along
Love the wood grain background, your bird just pops!
As always I am in awe of all you do. WOW!
Wow! That is unbelieveable. What an imagination. I just love it.
It is so wonderful to see the entire process come together. I think you have wonderful tutorials because I can not only see how you do it, but HOW you do it! Magical…