I started thinking about the Can You Handle The Pressure challenge to use an embossing folder with a twist of birds/birdhouses. I thought I had the perfect stamps and embossing folder in mind and when I found my stamp, it was a mailbox not a birdhouse. LOL….So I opted for an Inkadinkadoo bird stamp and a Sizzix embossing folder. I found a oval mask that fit perfectly over the embossed oval and blended some Distress Oxide Inks. Sentiment is from Taylored Expressions.
I did make a second card, well actually, this one was made first and put aside. Embossed my tree with the Darice embossing folder, then colored the leaves and tree with markers, sponged some blue ink for a sky background, stamped my “condo” birdhouses from a Gina K Designs stamp set “Sweet Friends”, and cut a frame from Taylored Expressions’ Frame in Frame 3 cutting plate, adding a sentiment also from Taylored Expressions. It seemed a little bare so decided to add some splatter which in Pennsylvania is also called pollen. Pollen is on everything and giving me a seasonal allergy attack.
Today’s silhouette card will be shared with:
Can You Handle the Pressure: Birds/Birdhouse twist
Just Us Girls #681 Silhouette and CAS Week. I think the silhouette has lots of white space so I’m considering it CAS even though I just realized it should be a CAS challenge week. It must be the pollen.
For the second year in a row, Mama Robin built her nest above our porch light. So I was very carefully going in and out the back door until Mama didn’t seem to be around anymore. No mama, no eggs, so hubby took the nest down. A little disappointing but really didn’t need bird poop on my patio.
Thanks for stopping in for a peek. I appreciate you and your time. Take care and be safe.
Stamp Buddies 
I like both cards! Pollen lives here also.
Thanks, Lisa, the pollen is awful and we definitely need rain.
Two terrific cards, Gayle! I like the way you framed the silhouette bird. Thanks for joining us at Just Us Girls this week!
Thanks for stopping in and a fun challenge.
Both cards are beautiful! Love the birdhouses!
The embossing and masking for your first one is outstanding with the bird in silhouette.
Thanks Bonnie my bottom portion got a little muddy looking but I enjoyed making this one.
I really like them both. I think the silhouette one is my favorite. You did a great job on both.
Thanks Gerry. I prefer the silhouette card too.
These are both great Gayle although my personal fave is the blue one. I love how that fit together so perfectly and your folder is really nice. I get your seasonal allergy issues. We have a specific tree in bloom and they always make me sneeze. Beautiful but my lungs don’t like them
Thanks, Johanna, I liked the silhouette card better too except my last blend looks a little muddy. We need some rain to help with the pollen at my home.
OH WOWZA!!! Both cards are beautiful and you would have been just fine with the first card as our challenge is Anything Goes Embossed and the theme is optional but we do appreciate you share a second fabulous & inspiring creation with our challenge blog. LOVE your first card as I have that same embossing folder and NEVER thought o use it in the manner you did … what an awesome idea (I’ll be ‘borrowing’ that idea lol). Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Can You Handle the Pressure challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
Darlene
Co-Owner
Can You Handle the Pressure
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
These both came out great! Your inked oval looks great with that embossed background, and the black just pops beautifully. And I love the soft colors you chose on the second one and the color you added to the embossed tree and leaves.
Stunning colourful silhouette Gayle and a lovely layout. Thanks for sharing at JUGS this week.
Sorry to hear your allergies are or were bad, but the “pollen” on your card is great. This is a sweet card.