Hello Maja Design fans and friends!  Nancy Hanttula here again to share my latest project….once again using the spring-time beauty of the Vintage Spring Basics paper collection.

I just cannot help it.  It is that time of year when all I want to do is surround myself with sunshine and tulips.  Matter of fact, 11 years ago this very day, I was in Ireland on my honeymoon, literally surrounded by tulips. Maybe that is what has me pining so much for tulips. Well, here is a wall-hanging that I created to “Welcome Spring” to my house.

I have had my mind on creating a paper creation using an embroidery hoop for a very long time now.  This particular embroidery hoop is approximately 10 1/2 inches wide and I bought it at my local Walmart.  I just loved the bright pink color.

The most important step to getting your paper to go safely (and tightly) inside of the embroidery hoop is to wet the paper on both sides BEFORE you even attempt at putting it into the hoop.  The water releases the surface tension of the paper and allows it to bend and curve to fit into the hoop. Take your time with this step and don’t worry if there are a few bends and wrinkles.  When the paper dries, most of the bends and wrinkles will flatten out of the paper and it will lie perfectly flat.

After getting my paper into the embroidery hoop, I began to construct my birdhouse.

After deciding the papers I wanted to use, I stitched borders around the pieces.  I have always been a big fan of hand-sewing on my projects.  There is something very therapeutic to hand-sewing … well, actually, it is quite similar to how therapeutic the whole crafting process is for me. I imagine that many of you can relate to that feeling as well.

Once my house was created and glued down, I constructed the base….

and then the roof….

and then the really fun part began.

I created my bird using a stamp from Hero Arts.  The wing of the bird was created by cutting a butterfly (from Michaels) in half.  I added a few dimensional details to the bird using my Perfect Pearls pen.

I added some fun trims …the green from Webster’s Pages and all of the others just from my stash.

I lightly sketched some swirls with pencil….pierced some holes…and then stitched them in using green embroidery floss onto the background.

I lined my birdhouse’s roof by stitching on buttons in various colors and then added my “Spring” banner.

I added some fun colored feathers and a chipboard leaf flourish.  I painted the chipboard piece with gesso and then stamped it with a script stamp from Stampabilities.

I added some fun flowers from Prima, Sassafras Lass, and some I cut from the 3rd of March, Vintage Spring Basics paper.

Specific Vintage Spring Basics papers used for this project included:  5th of March; 3rd of March (bs); 1st of March (bs); 7th of May (bs); 4th of March; 3rd of March; & 6th of March.

Other supplies used for this project included:  10 1/2 inch pink embroidery hoop from Walmart; ribbon/trim from Webster’s pages and my personal stash; buttons from my personal stash, Jaylynn embroidery floss; paper piercer from Timeless Touches; flowers from Prima, Sassafras Lass, & Petaloo; stamps from Stampabilities and Hero Arts; butterfly from Michaels; feathers from my personal stash; & small alpha stichers from the Girls Paperie.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you create something amazing today! Hugs!