Straight From the Nest

This is my first project using my new Cricut cartridge, Straight From the Nest. This cartridge has so many great cuts on it. One of the things I really like are the "corner" cuts. 

For this card, I cut the "Happy Birdie Day" corner at 3 inches but adhered it straight rather than in a corner. I had to bling it up a bit using my crystal Stickles.  I cut the birds at 2 inches. I cut the base and the layers out of a light tan cardstock .  

I colored the legs,wings,beaks, hats, and pompoms using various stamp pads and sponge daubers. I embossed the little blue bird bodies using my Sizzix Texture Boutique and the Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder. Oh, for the birds' eyes, I used a black marker on the base. When I adhered the body to the base, the birds now had black eyes. I used a white gel pen to high-light the eyes and I used my glittery Gel Writers to add some accents to the hats, beaks, and pompoms. I did some shading with pastel chalks.

I purposely placed the birds a little off center and slightly tilted. For those of you who know me well, you know this is quite a step for me. I tend to try to keep everything centered and "just so." I am really trying to be more free and casual with my projects. I know, baby steps, baby steps.

I am looking forward to the weekend crop with my buddies from the sfyscybercroppers Yahoo group. I have a little message for any of my friends from that group who may check in here ------- Chatters Rule, Emailers Drool. You know who you are!