Little Birder’s Journal

Have You Ever Counted Birds?

Hi and welcome! I’m Di. This is the first blog that I wrote for Elizabeth Craft Designs as a design team member. Now I can share it here.

Have you heard of the Great Backyard Bird Count? It is an event where people all over the world count and record birds. It’s hosted by The Cornell Lab, Audubon, and Birds Canada. This year’s count is February 16-19. You can get more informations at https://www.birdcount.org. I’ve submitted my counts several years and that inspired me to create this small birder’s journal. My observations will include bird location, date, species, and notes. Here’s how I created the journal.

Die-cut the large folder from the ATC Special Kit from Neenah Desert Storm paper.
Position the die-cut with the two slits on the left.
Use brown ink to stamp “For the Record” on the right side. Score at 3 1/2” from the right side.
Turn the folder over. On the back middle section, stamp “Journal” from Honeybee stamps in brown ink. This will become the journal’s cover. Stamp frames from Layered Labels around “Journal”.

For the woodpecker, use Reminiscence book 3 paper and Layered Birds dies:
Cut a bird body, then an extra black tail using the bird body die (left)
Cut one large black wing and the bird’s eyes, beak, and feet from white paper and black paper.
For the woodpecker’s red head, cut the jagged breast piece from red paper. It will be used in reverse. Cut with the red side away from the die (photo on right above). Assemble the woodpecker.
Cut a cork branch and small leaves from red paper using the Fall Wreath & Owl dies.
Turn the file over. The slits should be on your right. Adhere the cork branch and leaves. Add the woodpecker.

Flip the folder over so the woodpecker is on the back. Fold the side with the slits along the score lines, and adhere creating a pocket.
Use Splatter Page 1864 to cut a bird silhouette from black paper. Attach the bird above the top slit.
Cut & create two vellum envelopes with the Journal File XL 2 envelope die. Leave the top flap open for memorabilia like found bird feathers.

Cut 4 of the Journal File XL 2 from tan paper. Score and fold all of them in the middle.
On three of the Journal File XLs, use the “Highlights from Today” from the Ink with Journaling Cards set to stamp on the front left and back left with brown ink.
On the fourth Journal File only stamp “Highlights from Today” on the back left.
Use the lined stamp (from Ink with Journaling Cards) to stamp on the right front and right back of all four Files.

Cut four 1 inch wide pieces of Rustic Winter paper 4 3/4 inches long. Score each lengthwise at 1/2”.
Attach a Rustic Winter strip to the back of the pocket folder with glue. The fold should be at the back. Glue it to the File Folder XL front that wasn’t stamped.
Adhere each folder back-to-front with the next folder to create a book.

Use the bird from the Fall Wreath & Owl set to make the dove pair. Cut one gray body and one pink chest.
Turn the papers over and cut again to make mirror image doves.
Cut a red wreath from Fall Wreath & Owl from the Reminiscence book 3.
Adhere the wreath to the front of the File that wasn’t stamped. Attach the lovebirds (a nod to Valentine’s Day).