Dangly Birdhouse Tent Card

I have a new "thing" - I can't seem to resist birdhouse dies!  My friend Lesley and I were in the Glitter Pot together and both of us had already put a Memory Box birdhouse die in our baskets.  Later on Lesley showed me a Marianne Collectables birdhouse die and stamp combo set before placing it in her basket.  I saw the hole at the top of the birdhouse and I immediately thought it would be fab to use to make a dangly tent card.  So that meant the item had to be placed in my basket too!

One of my favourite new craft stash items is the SU! Hardwood stamp, it is just wonderful!  I decided to make my birdhouse look like it was made of wood so I inked the Hardwood stamp with Soft Suede ink, stamped it onto Crumb Cake CS and die cut the birdhouse.  I cut a small strip from the stamped piece of CS, added that to the bottom of the birdhouse, die cut the bird and popped him up on thin foam pads.  Then I added linen thread to the birdhouse hole.  I made a 5 1/4" square Crumb Cake card base, stamped the Hardwood stamp on the front, stamped the sentiment and die cut a circle aperture and a frame.  I embossed Soft Sky CS with the SU! Cloudy Day folder, brayered Soft Sky ink over the top and glued the panel inside the card.  I taped the linen thread behind the aperture so the birdhouse freely dangles.  I die cut Old Olive leafy stems, glued them in place and punched Raspberry Ripple and Soft Sky flowers.  I shaped the flowers, glued them and added crystals to the flower centres.      

Here's a side view showing the W shaped CS piece I glued inside.  I always add these to the dangly tent cards I make so that the card stands up properly.  It really vexes me when top fold cards collapse!  To make a W shaped piece I cut a piece of CS to the width of the card x 3 1/2" and score at 1/2", 1 3/4" and 3". 

Here's the back of the card.

Here's the envelope flap.

I was really pleased how this card turned out and I really enjoyed putting it together!  I wanted to make a special thank you card for our very special friends Debbie and Mike.  They took us out to dinner on my birthday and bought me lovely gifts too.  They are true treasures indeed!  We went to their house on Easter Sunday for a scrummy roast dinner and I handed this card over then.  Happily, they loved it!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Hardwood', Hero Arts 'Friends are Treasures' cling set, Hero Arts 'Sending You Love' clear set
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Soft Sky, Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple & Very Vanilla
Ink: SU! Soft Suede, Soft Sky & Early Espresso
Tools: Circle Nestabilities dies, die from Marianne Design Collectables 'Birdhouse Flowers' die & stamp combo set, Memory Box 'Gold Finch' die,  Joy Crafts Vintage Flourishes 'Branch Leaves' die, Woodware multi flower punch, Hero Arts 'Small Tag Frame' Framelits die SU! 'Cloudy Day' embossing folder, brayer, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: clear and iridescent Swarovski crystals, SU! Soft Sky Candy Dots, SU! Linen Thread, thin 3D foam pads