by Jane Pinder
Your plate of stamps this month, Cage Collage, was designed by my sister Fryn who also works with me at The Stamp Bug. Many of you may well have spoken to her when telephoning us, although we do sound very alike! Anyway, it is her first plate of designs and we hope you will enjoy using it.
There are lots of different ways that these images can be used and the first sample here is very simple and uses a Nestabilities die. I thought it would be amusing to make a card for when children leave home, fly the nest, or as in this case, fly the cage!
The second card is more of a collage idea using several bits and some thick embossing on the small square frame. We used, for both cards: It’s About Time!
 Step by Step: - Cut the dark blue card to measure 15 x 21cm and fold in half to form the main card.
- Using the largest scalloped oval Nestabilities and a die cutting machine, cut a shape from the patterned blue paper. I used a Cuttlebug machine for this. Use the next size die to cut a second shape, this time from the Baby Blue Pearlescent card.
- Stamp the Cage onto the Pearlescent die cut using the Denim ink pad.
- Ink up the word stamp with embossing ink and stamp it on the lower left of the card, as close to the spine as you can. Emboss this with silver embossing powder.
- Trim a piece of organza ribbon to measure approximately 14cm and cut the lower edge at an angle to prevent it from fraying. Cut a length of the narrow ribbon to the same size. Use the Invisi Dots to attach the narrow ribbon to the organza ribbon. Attach this to the card with double-sided tape, placing it about 3.5 am from the right hand edge of the card.
- Use double-sided tape to attach the largest oval centrally over the ribbon and about 1cm from the top of the card.
- Attach a silver Metalz sticker to alternate scallops on the stamped die cut, the use sticky foam pads to attach it to the centre of the patterned scallop on the card.
- Lastly stamp the Bird in the top left of the card and add a couple of falling feathers to the left of the scallops, using the Denim ink pad.
One card all ready to give to your son, daughter or grandchild as they leave home for the first time! Bird Collage
 Step by Step: - Start this card by making the main card from ivory card cut to 15 x 21cm, as above.
- Ink up the Swirl Plaque with the Faded Jeans ink pad and stamp it onto scrap paper before stamping it on the upper right of the card. Repeat this process and stamp it again to the lower right. We want a pale image in both cases.
- Ink up the Cage stamp with the Denim ink pad and stamp this to the right of the swirls at the top and again in the lower left hand corner of the card.
 - Ink up the Penny’s Text stamp with embossing ink and stamp it between the swirls and the cage on the left hand side of the card and again on the right hand side of the card. Emboss both images in silver.
- I used the medium sized square frame from the sheet of chipboard die cuts. Stamp this with the Flower image that is on the Cage Collage plate, using the denim ink pad. Once the ink is dry, pat the frame with the embossing pad and cover the frame with clear embossing powder. Heat with a heat tool, allow to cool, then repeat the process three times in total. I used ordinary clear embossing powder, rather than the thick one, as the frame is quite narrow and I wanted it keeping neat.
- Cut a tag from the Marine Blue card, measuring 4.5 x 8.5cm. Punch a hole in the top.
- Stamp the tag with a couple of the Swirly designs from the plate of stamps and the Denim ink pad.
 - Tear a piece of blue mulberry paper to about 4 x 8.5cm and use double-sided tape to attach it to the card.
- Thread the tag with a short piece of raffia and then attach the tag to the card with double-sided tape.
- My patterned paper had a tree like image on it, so I stamped the bird in blue ink, sitting on a branch. Trim the paper to fir the glazed frame and attach them together using a glue stick. Stick this in place over the tag using double-sided tape and your card is complete.
I am sure you’ll have a lot of fun with these stamps. They would also look good used in Altered Art projects. The Finished Pieces
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Japanese Lace Paper Set
Really nice project - my head is brimming with