Welcome to the Stampin’ Pretty Pals’ Blog Hop!

This month, the theme is Seasons’ Greetings. This month’s design team members showcase projects inspired by their favorite seasonal time of the year. We really hope that you will be inspired by all the amazing creations the Pals are sharing with you! As you hop from blog to blog, we would love for you to leave a comment. You will find the lineup at the end of my post to help you “hop” along from Pal to Pal.

Oh wow, it feels so good to be crafting again! I took a two month break while moving to Chicago and it was the hardest thing I have ever done – and I honestly hope I never have to move again! I’m not sure if I will be able to do much crafting since I really don’t even have a craft room yet, but I have really missed the blog hop.

My card for you today depicts the scene outside my new house where I put a new bird feeder to entertain my grandson (and me, of course). The Garden Birdhouses stamp set was the perfect choice to go with my favorite pattern in the Rings of Love DSP pack. Although this card could be done for any time of year or season, I just love fall – at least before it starts to look more winter here in the north!

Garden Birdhouses Fun Fold Card by Secrets To Stamping

My secrets to making this Quiet Meadow project

  • Firstly, this card is a pocket fun fold card and it’s a great way to showcase your designer papers! All I did was cut the paper to 6″ x 12″ and scored at 4″ and 8.” Then, on the 6″ side, I scored at 1/2,” which secures the bottom of the card by making the little pocket once you trim off the two ends to the score lines.
  • If my directions aren’t clear for you, here is a Splitcoaststampers Criss Cross tutorial, which is basically the same process.

Now, the FUN Part!

  • Once the fun fold portion was complete, all I had to do was make a panel with Night of Navy cardstock ( 5-3/8″ x 3-7/8″).
  • After that, I cut Crushed Curry cardstock to 5-1/8″ x 3-5/8″ and white cardstock to 5-1/16″ x 3-4/8.”
  • Then, I cut out three leaves from the Forever Flourishing dies. But guess what? – I couldn’t find the Stampin’ Blends I wanted to use to color them. So, I inked up a small stamp block and used it to color the leaves with a blending pen to the first one. After that, for the second one, I decided to add water to that block and watercolor the leaves. Finally, I figured out where my box of Blends were and colored the third one with the Soft Suede marker.
  • Then, I stamped and colored the birdhouses and little birds and snipped them out.
  • The sentiment was stamped in Soft Suede ink and cropped out with the stitched circle die from Stylish Shapes.
  • After that, I decided that I needed a little more detail so I cut a banner in Crushed Curry.
  • Before I started placing these items onto the card base, I wrapped the Linen Thread around it and tied it into a bow. Then, I started attaching all of the elements from the bottom up, ending with the Brass Butterflies. Finally, I decided to add a little pull tab at the top of the inside panel, using the smallest circle die in Stylish Shapes.


More inspiration awaits, so use the lineup below to visit the rest of the Design Team.

The Pals are excited to show you what they’ve created! Then, mark your calendars for our next blog hop on September 14th. Our theme will be Focus on the Sentiment, when the design team will showcase a sentiment as the focal point of their project.

Until then, have fun in your craft space.

Stampin’ Pretty Pals Blog Hop

  1. Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
  2. Deb Walker at Deb Stamps Life
  3. Su Mohr at Aromas And Art
  4. Windy Ellard at Windy’s Wonderful Creations
  5. Rae Harper Burnet at Wild West Paper Arts
  6. Tricia Chuba at ButterDish Designs
  7. Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping
  8. Melissa Seplowitz at The Stamping Ninja
  9. Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
  10. Debbie Mageed at Secrets to Stamping
  11. Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
  12. Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
  13. Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
  14. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
  15. Pamela Sadler at Stampin Pink Rose
  16. Amanda Howard at Papercrafting With Amanda
  17. FREE Sale-A-Bration Items with any $50 Order!!

    Product List
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I hope you enjoyed my card today! If you did, please:

  • Don’t forget to visit my Gallery for lots of ideas, and…
  • And provide your contact information to receive a birthday card from me!
  • NEW! Buy any of my cards just by sending me an email at debbie@secretstamper.com!
  • Follow me on Pinterest and Facebook.
  • Finally, want to know what’s new with SU? Check it out HERE

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Thanks for scrolling to the end!

My grandson Noah is the best reason we had to make the move to Chicago! Here he’s relaxing in his elephant chair, watching the birds and “talking” on the phone!



It\'s Great to Create Again with Garden Birdhouses for the Pals Blog Hop!It\'s Great to Create Again with Garden Birdhouses for the Pals Blog Hop!