Blue Tits on Blue Blog Thursday

Blue Tits on Blue Blog Thursday

Hi there!
Thanks for stopping by. It’s snowing here in Mountainair today! 
So let’s snuggle up indoors and get crafting! I’ve been admiring the birds here in New Mexico all week, so here’s a super stamp set which comes unmounted and complete with masks now:
The Garden Birds. I remember when we had some Blue Tit fun on telly with Nigel….saucy boy!
So here are both the bird set and the blossom branch set, which go together perfectly.
Let’s make a card! Mount the birds on Clarityhandles and away we go!
Stamp your large bird onto Theuva card, using a black Archival ink pad, cover it up with the mask, and then add the branches and add the little birds so they perch on or hang off the branches. 
Before you go on, go round all 4 sides of Theuva card with lowtack masking tape, to make a frame. Don’t worry if your bird or the branches are in the frame – that’s cool!
Here’s another invaluable mask set to add to you crafting arsenal: the Landscape Mask set.
We want clouds!
Using one of our Clarity brushes and a Stonewashed Adirondack, lightly dust clouds into place by placing the cloud mask over the artwork. I find it best to start at the top. 
Now I have gone in very, very lightly, just because I know I can add clouds, but I can’t take them away!
Once you think you have done enough clouds, remove all the masks, replace them on the wax carrier paper they come on, and let’s add colour to the large bird at the front. This time we need the outy mask.
Using a make- up sponge, pull a small amount of Butterscotch Adirondack into the lower wings from the plastic mask. Then do the same with Stonewashed, or light blue.
Where yellow and blue meet, you will get a fab green blend.
Add some darker Denim to the wing tips and his crown.
I am always really impressed with the almost airbrushed effect this technique gives us. 
Have I told you how much I enjoy using Spectrum Noir Pencils recently? Well, if you haven’t tried them, they are rich, waxy, almost oily pencils. Brilliant.
There are 5 tins of 24 in the set. We have a special offer on our website:

I could go for hours here, titivating…
When you remove the masking tape, there will be a visible frame from the brushed clouds.
Using a Black Micron pen, go right round, making a deckle-like, jiggling line.
Needs a bit more umph. The birds need more framing, so let’s go round again, winding and hopping from point to point, like so:
Now let’s colour the tatty edge in with a yellow Distress pen.
Once you’ve matted and layered this artwork with blue and yellow paper maybe, the birds will literally jump off the page!
All done. I really love these stamps. I may have a go at jazzing them up a little after supper….
Now if you want a little chuckle, go back over my instructions and replace bird and birds with tit and tits. Nothing like a bit of harmless fun for a silly chuckle. 
And if you disapprove, then all I can say is LIGHTEN UP!!!!
xx
Love Barb

48 thoughts on “Blue Tits on Blue Blog Thursday

  1. Love the colours on the birds Barb (or should that be tits?) Clever way of framing artwork which anyone could manage. Enjoy the snow, we haven't got any thank goodness!! Pat x

  2. Birdiliscious! Laughing my bluebirds off here! Hope the snow doesn't keep you cabin bound for too long, but you know, you do need to have some "sit down by the fireside with a good book time" too! ~~~Deb

  3. Lovely. Need to add this set to my ever growing wish list. Thanks for lightening me up! LOL enjoy the snow, it's promised here again today but I see nothing but rain 🙁

  4. I do remember when these stamps came out with all the innuendoes, everyone ended up doing it, so funny. Maybe its all that snow that is making you think of Blue Tits so much??? Have a lovely day. I am off to my Craft Room. xxx Ooops – its a lovely card by the way and I love your outline techniques, after trying to mat and layer last night I think I will be adopting a version of this. xxx Sam

  5. Good morning,
    We had 80 degree weather and it has rained all night long… Funny. I love the garden birds and the cherry bleaches you have created a wonderful card for today. Enjoy your time left in anew Mexico. Travel safely backmtomEngland. Xxx

  6. Ooh you are naughty!! I have a wonderful pair of birds – they are constantly hanging about in my garden and getting up to mischief on the bird feeder. Lovely card too. xx Margaret Col.

  7. LOVE the card Barbara, especially as I have both sets of stamps. What I could do with is the masks. I don't think I was aware that they were available when I bought my stamps. Thanks for the inspiration.

  8. Hi Barbara oooh I do like your ………….birds Barbara (that as an oooh Matron moment from the carry on films if ever there was one!!!). This is gorgeous and I do love the way your squiggle frame things, it makes them pop. (Not sure you want your birds to do that though!) . Hope you manage to go out for a warm but snowey walk today and find some beautiful pieces of nature. Take care. Love Diane xxx

  9. Hi Barbara. I love this card, your squiggly frame really does make the images pop out, it's brilliant. I'm not sure you would want your tits caught in the frame though! : )
    I hope you are enjoying the snow, but it doesn't become too deep for you to get home again. Then again as long as you have food, water and heat what a wonderful place to be stranded. Anyone that is offended by something so harmless that makes people laugh and smile is a very sad person in my book!
    Take care.

  10. It's so gray and rainy here this am in virginia . I love love love your blogs . Just received my first stamp from you from the stamp club and then the next day a wonderful surprise of a card and a goodie to spend . Just wish it was snail mail . You'd think we were living in the 1800's . Enjoy your day and thanks again .

  11. Hello Barb, these stamps are fantastic, they are on my list, but as i have just received my fairly big order from Clarity, I have to hang on for a while. The colouring and framing is superb. I had such a chuckle reading through your blog about birds and tits, and that just turned in full blown laughter reading through the comments. I think Maureen's resulted in the loudest laugh/snort/cackle. Although yes you also dont want your birds caught in a frame or popping. Anyone who gets offended by such lighthearted humour, obviously does not want to smile or need to do so. Thank you Barb and everyone, you have just made my day so much better. Take care Barb and dont get snowed in. Bx

  12. I remember seeing those stamps and saying must have so did just love them male female doesn't matter beautiful cards every time, just love love love those cheekie tits love joy x

  13. Thank you for making me laugh with all your innuendos; you're worse than me!! But I knew that! Deep snow here, time to puck up our things and try to get home….don't forget to check in tomorrow here. I've prepared a little treat for you, if you like a laugh…xx Barb

    1. I always use the Google translater when there is a word in english I don´t understand… And I was wondering why and how you pack a puck (in deutsch: Kobold)???

  14. Hi Barbara, beautiful artwork. I sometimes do a double squiggly line but never thought to colour in the spaces, a good time out thing to do, and very effective. Thank you.

    I did as I was told and reread, very funny, and so are some of the comments, thank you for making me laugh today. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us tomorrow 🙂

    Hope you are going out to play in the snow before you come home, you can't have all that snow round you and not!!! Safe journey home

    love Brenda xx

  15. Hallo Barbara, das ist heute wieder eine ganz tolle Anleitung.
    Ich freue mich ganz besonders, denn ich habe alle Stempel
    und Schablonen. Morgen kann es dann gleich losgehen.
    Liebe Grüße aus Hamburg
    Gaby

  16. Loved your blog, laughed all the way through and everyone else's too, one of my favourite stamp sets, love the inspiration. I have 9 cards to make this month for birthdays so I shall get the tits out for sure x x x x

  17. Oh Barbara you are naughty, but I like you! Great blog today using fab stamps, I really like these. Love what you've done with them too. And yes I remember that show with Nigel. Have a great day – will you be having a snow ball fight with Dave? xx

  18. As Frankie used to say "titter not""!!
    He said it a lot in "up Pompeii"!
    Does anyone remember that awful show!!!
    Back to the birds in question .
    Barbara , your artwork is superb!
    I love the way you have framed this , I must practise as the last time I did this it just looked like a mistake , whereas yours looks so artistic!
    The bird stamps are a delight .
    Again you have created a work of art.
    Thanks for the inspiration,
    XxxRuth

  19. Snow and mountain air ….sounds like bliss to me Barb!!!! Loving the new packaging and absolutely loving this blog today – beautiful tits!!!! LOL – no seriously – I love it!!!
    I have no doubt when you return to blighty soon you are going to be filled with oodles of inspiration and cannot wait to see what you have up your sleeve for us all to enjoy!!
    Much love
    Kim x

  20. i love the spectrum noir pencils and now the kids are starting to discover them too! i love the little birds and the cherry blossom, i've used them a good few times, hugs xx

  21. Oooo er missus! Said like Frankie Howard would say it!!
    Oh I do love these birdies! And you make them look so real!!! I like that edging too!!! I'll be using that idea I think if I may!!
    Have a safe journey home! Love and hugs xxx

  22. I did what you said Barbara and couldn't finish reading as I was giggling too much!! Really funny!
    Lovely card though, these bird stamps are next on my list. Xx
    Hope you are enjoying your holiday. Xx

  23. Hi Barb,
    Love both of these sets of stamps and am lucky to own them. Just need to get the bird masks now. I have had a good time reading everyone's comments but I think Maureen's wins – I really laughed out loud at that which really hurt as I think I've broken a rib with coughing so much over the last couple of days unfortunately! Jackie cou beat me to this but I'll say it anyway " Ooh you are awful, but I like you!" Love Alison xx

  24. Love the blue tits stamps. & was so very thrilled when I made a card with them, you are so good with these squiggles they do make a lovely finish to a card. Have a safe journey home. You gave us all a good laugh today looking forward to this surprise tomorrow.xx

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