Artisan Finalist Blog Hop #9

Here we are on our 2nd last day!!

If you don't know by now, we are a group of 9 ladies who were selected as finalists for the Stampin' Up! Artisan Awards. 10 other ladies moved on to be the new Artisan Design Team, and us 'non-Design Team' winners are doing a blog hop to show you the projects we created!!

Today's project is my last 3-D project. I really love this one, and I am SO sad that I didn't get better photos... (it does look better hanging on a wall though...) This is no surprise to people that know me, but I was really running late with my entries. In fact, I almost gave up 3 or 4 times thinking I just wasn't going to get them done in time. I'm really glad, in the end, that I persevered!

This project had many permutations. It was first going to be a baby mobile with hanging birds/clouds... then it kept morphing (out of necessity) and ended up a "love birds nest" hanging wall piece.

The 'nest' is made of Always Artichoke seam binding ribbon tied in knots around the embroidery hoop - For extra texture, I also tied around some Linen Thread and some Hemp Twine. I tucked in a few branches from the Bird Builder punch as well. The birds are made using the Beau Chateau designer fabric. I cut out the tail feathers multiple times to give them some more 'oompf".

Here's a closeup of the nest:

Up next Mindy is going to show us another beauty :)

Here's a list of the participants. Be sure to check out the projects by the other fabulous ladies on this tour!

1. Connie Collins 
2. Holly VanDyne 
3. Melissa Stout 
4. Amy O'Neill 
5. Sandie Conner 
6. Amy Rogers 
7. Mercedes Weber 
8. Tara (Murphy) Bourgoin (you are here!) 
9. Mindy Bingamon

-Tara
xox

List of Supplies:
Elegant Bird Bigz Die, Beau Chateau designer fabric, Chantilly Crochet Trim, Antique Brad, Hemp Twine, Linen Thread, Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon, Soft Suede cardstock, Bird Builder punch (Non-SU: Embroidery Hoop)