One of the new Summer release paper collections from Graphic 45 is Bird Song. Bird Song is an Asian-themed collection with beautiful reds and blues, stunning birds and flowers, and lovely ladies. I felt this was the perfect paper to use for cardmaking. The possibilities for beautiful and elegant cards are endless with this collection. I confess I have a stash of Asian coins and Asian-themed stamps in my studio! When I was a little girl my babysitter was from China. She had married my father's best friend and came to America in the 1950's. (I get my middle name from her! Her American name is DeeDee and I am Gloria Dee!) DeeDee watched over me for a few years before I reached school-age and taught me to love Asian food and colors, and to have a love of Asian art and culture. In turn, I taught her to read English! (Yes, folks, I learned to read at the age of two! By first grade I was reading at a jr. high level. That's your "Gloria Fun Fact" for today!) Red is my favorite color, so you can be sure I was attracted to the reds in this collection! However, Asian themes also tend to have orange tones as well as some pinks. What a joy to use all of these colors together! Bright and vibrant! I paired the new Graphic 45 metal key and keyhole staples with some flowers and Asian coins to make a pretty statement on my card. Those bright colors, popped with the black and tan neutrals give me goosebumps! I also used a packaging tag, covered with paper for an accent. I love to use the pretty G45 packaging! This card shows the soft side of the Bird Song Collection. Here, I used the soft blues and pinks for a feminine look. (I admit, the red is more ME!) To make this fun butterfly accent, coat one of the G45 metal butterfly staples with matte gel medium and adhere paper to it. Trim the paper and sand the edges. Then, glue a metal pen nib to the butterfly to mimic the butterfly's body. I used another keyhole and an Asian coin with flowers and punched butterflies. (My husband travels to Asia for work and brings me home Asian coins from all the places he visits.) If you think that Bird Song is not "your style," why not give it a try and make a few cards or tags? You may be surprised! Red Card: Graphic 45 Papers: Bird Song Good Fortune Jasmine Dream Harmony Tranquility Graphic 45 Staples: Metal: Key, Keyhole, Brads Graphic 45 packaging tag American Crafts: cardstock Clearsnap Colorbox: Dragonfly Black Pigment Ink; Graphic 45 Decades Photogenic Antiquing Ink Hampton Arts: Stamp May Arts: ribbon Wild Orchid Crafts: paper flowers Adhesive: Glue Dots, foam squares, tape runner, white glue Other: Asian coins Pink/Blue Card: Graphic 45 Papers: Bird Song Good Fortune Tranquility Cherry Blossom Shanghai Girls Graphic 45 Staples: Metal: Keyhole, Butterfly American Crafts: cardstock Clearsnap Colorbox: Wicked Archival Ink Hampton Arts: Stamp Really Reasonable Ribbon: ribbon Tim Holtz Idea-ology: pen nib Wild Orchid Crafts: paper flowers Copic: Markers Martha Stewart: punches My Favorite Things: Fishtail Flag Stax die Adhesive: Glue Dots, tape runner, white glue, Liquitex matte gel Other: Asian coins, brads
