Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop: ScoreBoard Bird

Welcome everyone! Hard to believe but we are halfway through the six weeks of the blog hop already. Are you having fun? The Fresh Vintage designers are totally awesome and rocking these dies- I could not be happier!

In case this is your first time here, this is how it works. To see all of the different projects, you can click on the thumblinks below or go to our cool navigation button on the sidebar and click “hop forward” or “hop backward”. After you have clicked through all the projects, head over to the Oh My Crafts blog where you can answer a question regarding projects on the hop and be entered to win the Flower, Layers #9 die!

Today’s featured die is the ScoreBoard Bird. When I designed this die, I was thinking what a cool Christmas ornament this guy would make. But what about bridal and baby showers, empty nesters, Happy Bird- day (sorry- know that was cheesy but couldn’t resist), tweeting, and general everyday cards? Birdies are always in style!

And now let’s see what the designers have cooked up!

I decided to make a Christmas ornament prototype for my yearly gift for family and friends this year. I knew what I wanted the sentiment to be as my son will be deploying again in May 🙁 The dove of peace is always appropriate- a symbol of our hopes for the coming year, especially for military families…

Die cutting makes it so easy to produce a large number of finished items using an assembly line style. However every extra process adds time, which is where I run into trouble. But I want it to look just right! OK, I’m setting the timer and here we go… I like to use unusual materials so decided to use foamboard as a base for this project. It cuts great and is nice and light for hanging (and mailing).

1. Die cut bird from foamboard. That’s right- foamboard- it cuts like a dream!! And in case you are wondering, those little circle shapes are eggs…
2. Place die cut pieces in Textured Impression folder (Lace Set coming soon!) and run through die cut machine. With craft knife, trim off extra flap of foamboard leaving just the backing paper (the bulk of this extra foam is not needed)
3. Ink bird body, wings, beak and egg with turquoise and yellow pigment ink using a foam blending tool.
4. Run a line of Zip Dry Paper Glue around the otline of the bird and wings. Outline bird with yarn, ribbon, twine or trim.
5. Adhere wings to bird with tacky tape.
6. Coat bird with spray adhesive. Shake crystal glitter all over bird. Designer’s note: I added a LOT of glitter. So much that it’s hard to see the embossing. Next time I’ll use a lighter hand!

 Banner

1. Access Duetica Lettering Arts Studio and select the Mandolyn font. This is my very favorite font and is perfect for reflecting the sentiment I chose for the ornament.
2. Type in “Peace on Earth 2012”. Use the software to create the perfect collection of letterforms for your message. The beauty of this sytem is that there are 15-20 options for each letter both upper and lower case. There are great swashes and for beginning and ending words. Notice in the photo that there are 2 forms of e in “Peace”. This is an extra added cool touch for using text in your projects. 
3. Print out on off-white card stock and cut into a banner shape. Run through paper corrugator. Punch hole before “Peace”. Add a line of Stickles along the top of the banner if desired.

Nest:

1. With strong scissors, cut the bottom off a soda can (I used the flat part of the can for the Butterfly project and hung onto the bottom for this!)
2. Ink with brown alcohol ink.
3. Add Fringed Flower cut from vinatge sewing pattern.  Glue on noodles to outside of can. Add Melissa Frances finged tissue paper strand to bottom.
4. Cut about a yard of wire. Fold into fourths. Create a bird cage and bring all wires together at top and form into hook for hanging. Add nest to inside of cage. Glue bird in place.

OPTIONAL: Pierce a small hole on top of bird for hanging if you don’t want to make a nest. Add decorative twine, wire with beads or ribbon to hang ornament.

Thanks for hopping along! Here’s some info in case you are wondering how to get around…

FAQ about the Fresh Vintage Blog Hop:

How do I hop around to see ideas using the current featured die?        Every Tuesday and Thursday between September 27-November 3, 2011 there will be a new Sizzix Fresh Vintage die featured on 6-10 of the 75 participating designers’ blogs. The navigation buttons for “Hop Back” and “Hop Forward” will allow you to easily hop around and see projects featuring whatever the current die is, since those buttons are programmed to navigate only to the blogs that are participating for that die. On the next Tuesday/Thursday, the buttons will automatically reprogram themselves to navigate to the blogs that are signed up for the next featured die.

What if I start at a designer’s blog that isn’t one of the 6-10 signed up for that die?

Can I go back and view the ideas for a previously featured die?

Where can I buy the Sizzix Fresh Vintage dies, by Eileen Hull?

The Blog Hop has ended and the navigation widget is no longer in the sidebar. How can I see the ideas?