Build a Scene Around the Window Die

 Today I wanted to use the Poppy Stamps Madison Window (816) to create a scene.  I have included a mini tutorial on how I created this card.  I used the small Madison Window which measures 2.4" x 3.25".  The Grand Madison Window (815) measures 3.25" x 4.25".  Both the design papers I used in the background are from the Prima "Sweet Fairy Collection" Paper Pack.  I choose this design paper because it reminded me of a stucco wall.   The paper behind the window is different but doesn't show up well in the picture, does it.  

The branch above the window is the Memory Box "Woodland Branch" (98187).  I love working with this branch because there are tons of different ways you can decorate it. 

Today I used a K & Company bird sticker that I had in my stash and placed it over the center of the "Woodland Branch".  I wanted some leaves on that branch so checked all my dies and found that the Poppy Stamps "Gentle Leaf" (807) die would work perfect for tree leaves if I just cut them off the main stem.

Here you can see that I started cutting the leaves off down each side of the  stem.  I found it was easiest to place a tiny dot of glue on the branch where I wanted a leaf, then I used the self-closing tweezers from the Flower Tool Kit to pick them up.  That was very easy to do.  I tried it first with tweezers that are not self-closing and it was much harder.

 You may already know this, but I wanted to show you how to use a grass die and create dimensional grass.  I used the new grass die from MFT, Die-namics "Fresh Cut Grass".  I have several different kinds of dies for grass and this one is about a medium height of grass and worked best for this project.  I used a piece of green  card stock and placed the bottom of the die along one edge and ran it through the machine.  With this die it creates another perfect row of grass on the opposite side, so I had two pieces to work with.

 The shorter piece was glued just below the grass on the larger side.  The blades are going in different directions which gives the grass a "natural" look.   It was then trimmed off along the bottom of the top strip of grass.

 I used the Poppy Stamps "Small Flower Box" (823) for my window box and the Poppy Stamps "Wildflower Patch" (820) for the flowers.  You need to cut this die once to get the greet stems/leaves, then another time with card stock you want your flowers to be.  You need to snip off the flowers and glue to the green stems.  In the past I have used liquid glue to attach the flowers to the back of the flower box and today found a much easier way to do it.  I added a strip of ScorTape along the top of the flower box.  I laid all the flowers down on the Teflon Craft Sheet then could just push the flower box down over a flower right where I wanted it.  Worked like a charm.

To give fullness to the back of the flowers, I used a piece of the die cut grass behind the flowers.  It stuck to the ScorTape since the stems of the flowers are so small.  Very easy to do.  You can see in this picture how the back of the flowers are green and I glued the pink flowers to the green ones.

I thought the edge of the front of the flower box was kind of bare, so I die cut the Poppy Stamps "Ivy Tenrils" (822) and the Memory Box "Madera Corner (98237) to use as fillers.  I cut apart the Madera Corner and glued them down first, then attached the "Ivy Tenrils" over the top.  I wanted to use two different dies so it would create more fullness.

I die cut the Marianne Design "Birdhouse" (LR0204) and had a hard time deciding if I wanted to add it or not or where to place it.  I sponged it with yellow ink then decided to move it from the original position to the other side of the card then even changed the color by sponging over it (just placed it back in the die) with brown ink.  I die cut the Cheery Lynn Rabbit from the "Spring Basket 1" die (DL214) and placed him down in the grass but thought this scene needed some additional greenery.  I wanted a few bushes and did not have a bush die.  I decided to get creative and use the Poppy Stamps "Meadow Leaf" which you can see in the above picture.  I ended up die cutting three for each side, cut them down and tucked them behind the grass.  I started to add some flowers but decided I had added enough to this card so left them as green bushes.   The sentiment is from the JustRite "Your Special Day Medallion Labels" stamp set.  

It is so much fun to design cards using die cuts.  I love finding different ways to mix and match them to come up with new ideas.  Hope I have given you some ideas to use when you are working with your dies.   Thanks for stopping by.

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