Birds In A Brown Tree Birthday Card

I needed a masculine birthday card for my cousin. I knew I wanted to use the tree from Thoughtful Branches which was a special release stamp and die set made by Stampin' Up last fall.

I created an ombre background using Distress inks and Brilliance Metallic inks. I've had the Metallic Inks for many years now, I bought them for holiday cards, I made a HUGE supply of holiday cards and haven't used these since so I thought I would try sponging with them to give them some use.

I started with Hickory Smoke and blended in Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain. I then sponged on the metallic inks which softened the background nicely giving it a metallic sheen. I finished all around the edges with Gathered Twigs. I added water droplets and wicked the water away with a paper towel for more background interest. 

I die cut the tree using Soft Suede cardstock. The birds were inked with Soft Suede and Basic Grey ink on Whisper White Cardstock and then die cut.

I cut the sentiment using Cottage Cutz Happy Birthday in Soft Suede cardstock and I applied it using Mono Glue.

After matting with Soft Suede to match I felt that I wanted more texture so I took my Taylored Expressions brick embossing folder and wiped Gathered Twigs ink on the front, then ran it through my Big Shot. I liked the added colored texture.

I popped up the tree with dimensionals. I wish the metallic sheen of the background showed more in the photo, it is much prettier in real life:)

I am entering this project in the following challenges:

• Connie Can Crop Challenge #60 - Use Your Stash - I drug out my aging Metallic Pigment inks for the background
• Crafty Calendar July Challenge - Anything Goes
• Cropstop July Link Party - Distress Inks