Sep 16 2009
Black Birds on a Fence - Tutorial #261
Here is a little Autumn scene for you today. Every since I purchased this Stampin’ Up stamp set “Branch Out”, Item #113200, I just knew I wanted to see those little birds lined up on a fence. Today’s lesson teaches how to put a fence in your scene using a ruler and a marker. Rustic fences are the easiest to create because you don’t have to worry about straight lines. They look better if they are a bit crooked and gnarly looking. 
Announcement: I will be teaching Brayer workshops in Kenova, West Virginia on July 17, 2010, Auburn, Washington on September 25-26, 2010 and Elk Grove Village, Illinois on October 1-2, 2010, please contact me for workshop information/registation at mzindorf@aim.com.
Now let’s get started on the tutorial . . . .
Supplies:
| Stamps: Stampin’ Up Branch Out, Autumn Harvest & Sanded Background |
| Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Apricot Appeal, Basic Black, Creamy Caramel & Always Artichoke |
| Ink: Stampin’ Up Apricot Appeal, Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Going Gray & Really Rust |
| Accessories: Stampin’ Up markers, White Gel Pen, Brayer, Sponges, Ruler, Oval & Spiral Punches & post it notes |
Want a free 39 page, Stampin’ Up Mini catalog? If you are a resident of the United States, just e-mail your mailing address to me and I will get one in the mail to you. Are you inspired by this Blog? One way you can help support this blog is by ordering your Stampin’ Up products through me. You can order from me 24-7 from this link: http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net or e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com If you are within the United States. Want a copy of the brand new 2009-2010 Stampin’ Up Catalog for $9.95 with free shipping, just e-mail me at mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you. Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and earn instant income? Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team. Also check out the Stampin’ Up specials, click this link to check it out: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/michellezindorf/promotions
On a 3.5″ square piece of Whisper White card stock, brayered Apricot Appeal ink at the top of the card stock.
Brayered Certainly Celery at the bottom of the card stock.
Stamped the Branch Out tree with Basic Black ink. Note: I did not ink up the grassy portion of the image. I did this so I could extend the trunk of the tree with a Basic Black marker after it was stamped. 
Ripped the edge of a Post It Note off to make it jagged and used it as a mask for the ground area.
Sponged Apricot Appeal at the edge of the Post it Note to darken the horizon line.
Removed the post it note and sponged Going Gray ink a the bottom of the card stock and below the horizon line.
Used a Basic Black marker to make the cross bars of my fence.
Used a Ruler to draw two straight lines about 1/4 inch apart for each fence post and colored them in with the same marker.
Stamped the little Birds on the fence using Basic Black ink.
Added a bit of Really Rust ink with a brayer at the top of the card stock.
Brayered Always Artichoke ink at the bottom of the card stock.
Sponged Basic Black ink around the outside edge of the main image panel.
Stamped some leaves on the tree with Basic Black ink.
Added feet to the birds with a Basic Black marker.
Stamped the small Pumpkin stamp from the Stampin’ Up set Autumn Harvest using Basic Black ink on a separate piece of Whisper White card stock.
Colored the Pumpkin in with an Apricot Appeal marker.
Added More Mustard marker to the pumpkin.
Added a bit of Pumpkin Pie ink to the pumpkin.
Colored over the entire pumpkin with the Apricot Appeal Marker to blend the colors together a bit.
Colored the Stem with an Always Artichoke marker.
Punched the Pumpkin out with a large Oval Punch.
Sponge Certainly Celery ink around the edge of the Oval.
Sponged Basic Black ink around the edge of the Oval.
Punched Spiral punch down the side of a piece of Creamy Caramel card stock. Then used a paper cutter to cut the spiral punched card stock into a strip.
Glued the main image panel on a Apricot Appeal panel and added a strip of Always Artichoke cardstock. Put a square Post It Note on the Main image panel to mask the center of it. This allows me to stamp the Sanded Background stamp over everything and still get a bit of the background image around the edge of main image panel.
Sponged Always Artichoke and Basic Black ink around the edge of the card stock. Also sponged a bit of Basic Black ink on the Spiral punche strip.
Added a Black bird at the top left corner of the card with Basic Black ink.
Time for some White Gel highlights on the Tree, fence, pumpkin and birds.
Here is the finished card measuring 5 3/8 square.
May you have a moment to feel the sun on your face today.
Until my next post. . . . .
Huge Hugs,
Michelle
Get ready for Brayer Workshops! I am coming to:
Yardley, Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia)
Knox, Maine
Akron, Ohio
Broomfield, Colorado
Moore, Oklahoma
Nashville, Indiana
Portland, Michigan
2010
Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper
Phoenix, Arizona
Monroe, Louisiana
Jacksonville, Florida
St. Louis, Missouri
Mechanicsville, Virginia
Raleigh, North Carolina
Colleyville, Texas
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Boise area of Meridian, Idaho
Riverside, California (Southern California)
Salem, Oregon
Wheaton, Illinois
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Rockville, Maryland
North Chili, New York (near Rochester)
New Johnsonville, Tennessee
Kenova, West Virginia
Helena, Montana
Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Venice, Florida
Ginnell, Iowa
Piedmont, Alabama
Auburn, Washington
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Here is a link to my workshop calendar where you can see all of my travel schedule and to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops:
http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar
Link to my Stampin’ Up website were you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7:
http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net
Frequently asked questions answers:
http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/
How come I don’t see the Seattle area on there? I would love to take one of your classes!
i love this card. So elegant, and classic. I am ready for fall. Bring it on!
beautiful! love the bird on the upper corner - great touch
I think I need to have more confidence in myself. I’ve been making rustic fences like this for a long time and yet have spent hours looking for that just right fence stamp assuming that nobody in the world would make a fence the way I do!!!! For some reason, I thought I felt like I was cheating or something. What a joke on me!!! I especially love this scene Michelle. I think it is every aspect of it and not just one thing! Thanks for all the details and accompanying photos, they are so very helpful.
That card is beautiful!! Of course all of your work is amazing.
This card is fantastic. Your attention to detail always astounds me. Thanks so much for sharing the tutorial.
What a great card. Can’t wait to try a rustic fence. Thanks Michelle,
Jill
Michelle,
This is beautiful!!! Since taking your class….I can make a card like this.
Hugs,
Lori
Yowza! OK, those birds just jumped right out at me, lol, but the whole card is fantastic! As usual, right? I don’t know how you can keep this up with all the classes on the road on top of your tuts here, but let me tell you, they are SO APPRECIATED!
Love it, love it!!
I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE this! I have to give it a try. Thankfully it is a set I already have:) Autumn is my favorite season. This card is so perfect, TFS the easy to follow tutorial.
Michelle — yet another GREAT scene — how wonderful
This is an absolutely fabulous, stunning card!!! Awesome! I guess you can tell I really really love this one Michelle! And I love the little bird right at the top.
Incredibly detailed scene Michelle. Fall is my favorite season, maybe because I like rustic fences, pumkins and crisp air. Thank you for the tutorial.
Wendy
LOVE this card! The little black birds are the stars of the show! And love the little guy up top keeping an eye on things! Thanks so much! You can tell by all the comments we’re going nuts on this one!
Love it!!!
Wow, Michelle!! Woman, you are so talented. I really dig the way you brought the fence into the scene. Lovely card!! Thank you so much for sharing the photos!
Take care and STAY POSITIVE!
What can we say? WOW! SUPERB! FABULOUS! PULCHRITUDINOUS! Are you getting our drift? This is really wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with us. You are still my favorite. My best to you always.
How stinkin’ cute are those little birds!! Especially the one on top of the card….unexpected. As usual you rock. Thank you for sharing all your techniques…
another pretty card
Hugs
Norine
Love it! This is wonderful! Thanks!
Sandra
I had discovered your site just a short time ago, have been following it ever since and after seeing this card, I just have to share a comment, too!! (First time, ever!) Your technique and talent is just incredible. I always stare at them for a while just in awe. And then when I read your tutorial, you make it seem so simple… But even more than that, I am grateful that you are so willing to SHARE this with us, on a regular basis, and inspire us to add a little beauty of our own to the world… truly creative and really, such lovely works of art! You have the heart of a genuine “craftiste”! Paula
What a great card. I love the colours and how you used the punch.
Hey Michelle,
Enter me in the drawing for the Dream Gardens set. Putting the birds on the fence is cool. Great job.
Truely… you are amazing. A Fence just like that. Mine looks like a 3 yr old did it. LOL…
I would love to go into the draw for the stamp set. I saw your card with the mirror image of the japanese lady….AWESOME
Can’t wait to try this one, love it. I am as always amazed by your talent……. TFS
Evelynn
Hi Michelle…
Thank you, thank you, thank you for getting my juices flowing again! I LOVE your website! I gave a shout out to you for doing this on my blog http://adayinthelifeofastamper.blogspot.com/ because I actually got creative with a card because of you!! Yeah!! I realized that I had been using designer paper for my backgrounds instead of using my whole stamp set. I am so thankful I stumbled on your website! I feel creative again!
Regina
HI Michelle! I love what you do!!!!
I tried this technique and I wanted to share how far I got with it.
http://zacksnanaat.blogspot.com/2009/09/work-in-progress.html
Thanks for inspiring me to try new things!!!
Good monring Michelle
Thank you so much for all your inspiration, your work is wondeful.
I had a go at this design yesterday, not up to your standards, but at least I enjoyed it. I hope it’s OK that I posted on my blog with a mention and link back to you.
B x
Love it! The fall colors are BEAUTIFUL! The birds look great on the fence….but they remind me a little of a certain Hitchcock film. LOL!
Michelle,
I just have to tell you what a talented artist you are! Your work is just incredible and your tutorials are great. I have only attempted one so far with mixed results, but that has not deterred me from trying again.
Thank you for sharing your talents with the rest of us.