Whimsy - Butterflies

We're having a special Whimsy release this month. It's amazeballs!  I LOVE these Butterflies and the Lattice A2 Die is to die for.

To start, I sponged Distress Oxide Picked Raspberry and Spun Sugar onto the card front. Highlighting the space behind the second butterfly was accidental--a good one!

Then I made my own mask/stencil using the Lattice A2 Die. I sponged that with Distress Oxide Mustard Seed.

I also sponged a few Speckled Heart Stencil circles with DO Peacock Feathers and the Fall Dangle Stencil with DO Mowed Lawn.  Such a pretty color combination.

I then used my MISTI to stamp the largest butterfly from the Butterflies set using Versafine Onyx Black. I used the same ink for the sentiment, stamping off as I went along to get a variation in tone.

I love how this one turned out and it just took a few minutes--for real!

TFS - If Nothing Changed . . .

I'm over on the Topflight Stamps blog with this dreamy card.  Come on over and read more about it!

THD 13 Mid-Challenge Reminder

Sometimes I don't get around to making a mid-challenge reminder card for The Heart Desires Challenge (shhhh!) but I had to this time--love the mood board so much!

For my card, I focused on the green and white patterns using a stencil and Distress Ink as the backdrop. I added texture with woodgrain patterned cardstock framed by narrow bands of black, like spokes on the umbrella. The black edges tie in nicely with the bold sentiment that is further emphasized by the sprinkling of berry dots. I love the white butterfly--subtle but oh so there.

The Details:  My Favorite Things Friends Like Us, Concord & 9th Floral & Flutter die, Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Round Ink Applicator, Eyelet Outlet Matte Red Enamel Dots, Distress Ink Twisted Citron, Memory Box stencil

My Favorite Things Friends Like Us	Concord & 9th Floral and Flutter Dies	Ranger Round Ink Applicators Refills	Ranger Round Ink Applicators
Ranger Multi Medium Matte	Eyelet Outlet Matte Red Enamel Dots

InLinkz.com

Cards in Envy You the Man

This round at Cards in Envy we're asking you to create a card for a man. Come join the fun!

I chose to get all lovey-dovey for my sweetheart. I based my card on the MFT sentiment, challenging myself to create a masculine card with butterflies which I don't think of as masculine. So, stylized blue butterflies cut from a Brusho background mounted on a bright yellow background (upscaled Waffle Flower stamp backing). I love the blues against that yellow--the butterflies really leap off the card. A black border pulls together the sentiment and washi stripe of this bold card.

The Details: Stamplorations Flutter Zen 1 Layering Die, Brushos, Memory Box Leavenworth Butterfly Trio die, MFT You Make My Day, Doodlebug black/white striped washi, packaging from Waffle Flower stamps, Simon Says Stitched Rectangle die

Stamplorations CAS Challenge #16

Time for a new challenge at Stamplorations CAS! The optional color twist is any pastel color. ANY! Woo hoo!

The Stamplorations Things with Wings Blog Hop & Linky Party started yesterday which has me still all in the mood for spring things so I sponged various Distress inks over the Flutterby stencil, brightening up as I went higher to draw the eye. A play on that fabulous sentiment. Love it!

Use the code STAMPGIRLTONI to get 20% off all regular- and sale-priced stamps, stencils and dies! This code cannot be combined with any other discount codes. Happy crafting!

The Details:  Stamplorations Strong Women and Artplorations Flutterby, Distress Ink Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass, Seedless Preserves, VersaFine Onyx Black

Stamplorations Things with Wings Hop!

We are kicking off spring in a big way at Stamplorations by having a Things with Wings Blog Hop and Linky Party!  What's that, you say? Why, you check out the inspiration we have for you, leave comments, and link up if you like. There are lots of prizes and fun to be had. Read more about it on the main blog!

I sponged the background then the stencil.  For the stencil, I used Peacock Feathers Oxide as the base essentially to cover up the green beneath the flowers then went over that with Picked Raspberry to achieve a graduated purple tone. Love! I had this other really nifty idea for my card where the zentangled butterfly wouldn't be cut out through the center so only the wings lift. Cool, huh? Well, I completely forgot about that when I was running it through my Big Shot so I used Scor-Tape to adhere it down the middle instead. Still cool!

The sentiment was cut from leftover cardstock heavily sponged with the Cracked Pistachio. I love the subtlety, don't you?

Use the code STAMPGIRLTONI to get 20% off all regular- and sale-priced stamps, stencils and dies! This code cannot be combined with any other discount codes. Happy crafting!

The Details:   Cutplorations Be Kind and Flutter Zen 1 Layering Dies, Artplorations Happy Flowers, Distress Ink Cracked Pistachio, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers Oxide; Ranger Multi-Medium Matte, Memento Tuxedo Black, Simon Says Stitched Rectangle Die, Pop Tone Orange Fizz Cardstock, Scor-Tape

Cards in Envy Fantasy and Flowers Challenge

A bright and sunny day to you (I hope)! This fortnight's Cards in Envy Challenge focuses on fantasy creatures with lots of flowers. This may be my favorite challenge theme yet because I love both! I do hope you'll come over and play with us!

I chose to use the pixies as I hadn't yet inked them up. Actually I don't think I had used the flowers yet either. NBUS! Choosing the palette was a no brainer for me as I adore yellow flowers and the BG (blue-green) tones are my favorite in Copics. I extended the palette a bit by mixing the yellow and the BG to create shades of green. I also used the red from the heart wand to create a deeper orange. One big happy color family!

I'm entering this in Seize the Birthday without Vellum Topping,  Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes

The Details:  Avery Elle Pixie Dust, Stampendous Daisy Cluster, Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black, Waltzing Mouse Stitched Scalloped Rectangle die

Hello, My Favorite!

You know that thing where you start out with a concept and, boom, end up in a totally different place? Yup, this card. I had been thinking about this girl on a swing--super simple card in mind--but wouldn't it be cute if she could actually swing? Maybe one of those cards were the image is suspended on thread--hmm, that takes too much planning, eww.  So, rejiggered my mindset and placed her on a lift up flap. Virtual swing!

1. I diecut the Lawn Fawn tree die border and turned it on its side as a branch. 
2. I figured out where I wanted to place the girl and diecut a Pretty Pink Posh Peekaboo Window, extended for length to fit (did this on the Big Shot--I bet Jennifer McGuire or somebody has a video about this technique). 
3. I stamped my image and drew in extra chain using a Copic Multiliner (0.3). 
4. After I colored her up, I decided to add clouds and grass for more interest--a Ranger round sponge applicator for the clouds and a Clarity brush for the grass (love the effect of the stippled grass).
5. The coverplate looked plain so I used another border die cut scallop the edges. Omg, so cute.
6. A handful of leaves, butterflies and a precious bird make the scene more lively.
7. And finally, finally, finally, I stamped the sentiment and colored up a few hearts on the card base so when the recipient lifts the flap (or should I say, swings it), they get a secret message.

I'm entering this in Fab n Funky #342 Children, Simon Says Wednesday Bit of Green, Cute Card Thursday 368 For Mothers/Ladies Only

The Details:  Lawn Fawn Leafy Tree Backdrop Portrait dies, Distress Ink Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, and Vintage Photo, VersaFine Onyx Black, Ranger Round Ink Applicators, Love Cynthia Be Awesome Today, Mama Elephant Cloud Border die, Memory Box Dancing Butterflies, Doodlebug So Tweet Shape Sprinkles, Clarity Brush, PTI kraft and PopTone Sour Apple cardstock, Waltzing Mouse Stitched Scalloped Rectangle, Pretty Pink Posh Peekaboo Windows, Copics

Lawn Fawn Leafy Tree Backdrop Portrait dies	Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies	Distress Ink Mowed Lawn	Distress Ink Tumbled Glass
Ranger Round Ink Applicators	VersaFine Onyx Black	Ranger Round Ink Applicators Refills

InLinkz.com

Happy Little Stampers CAS September Challenge

This month at HLS CAS, the technique we're asking you to use is watercolor spritz.  Super fun, super easy!

I sprinkled some Brushos on watercolor paper then gave it a good spritzing with water.  I've found with watercolor powders that a little water goes a long way so I spritz less than I think I need to and let the water and powder do their magic.  You never know what the results will be!  The huge butterfly die allowed the different colors to really shine, doesn't it?  To finish the card, I stamped & embossed the sentiment then dry embossed the base panel for lots of fun texture.  I added a few shiny enamel dots and Wink of Stella for a bit of bling. 

The Details:  Turquoise and Yellow Brushos, Clear Wink of Stella, Hero Arts Hello Gorgeous, We R Memory Keepers Next Level Gemstone embossing folder, VersaFine Onyx Black, Strathmore watercolor paper, Doodlebug enamel dots, Stampin Up Butterflies Die 

Stamplorations CAS July Challenge

I am so very excited that orange is the optional color for the Stamplorations CAS Anything Goes challenge starting today.  Woo hoo!  How I do love me some orange!

I stamped and masked the French Marigold - Large stamp then colored it in with Zigs.  Such a luscious orange.  I used red as the shadow and blended it a bit into the lighter orange for added pop.  I added bright yellow to the petal tips and blended that downward.  It's like the blossoms are alight--love the effect.  I diecut the sentiment in foam then added a layer of cardstock on top (I don't prefer how foam looks by itself).  I added the butterflies for added interest and balance--the sentiment looks lonely otherwise. :)

Ready to get your orange on?  Or not--totally up to you!  Come join us!

The Details:  Stamplorations French Marigold - Large, Simon Says Painted Hugs die, Memory Box Dancing Butterflies die, Zigs, Tim Holtz watercolor paper, Recollections 110lb white and black cardstock, Waffle Flower Lacy Layers die

Butterfly Hugs

I took a class with Julie Ebersole this past weekend--very fun and inspiring.  One of the projects involved this watercolored butterfly but I didn't finish it and then couldn't remember quite what it looked like so I made it my own.

Edited to add link to Julie's card I CASEd.

Don't you love how the Wink of Stella glitters beneath the Glossy Accents?  And I was really surprised by how much HA ombre ink lightened up after I applied the GA.  Very cool since the ombre remained--now it's like I have 2 sets of ink for the 1.

The Details:  Concord & Ninth Floral and Flutter dies, Hero Arts ombre ink butterbar to orange, Doodlebug Black & White Striped Washi, Glossy Accents, Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Wink of Stella clear, Impress Coloring Book stamps, Zigs, Simon Says watercolor hugs die, Recollections 110lb white cardstock

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Make My Monday In the Garden, Neat & Tangled #68 Anything Goes

HLS Mixed Media May Challenge: Shine!

There's a whole lotta shine happening on this here blog.  Check it!  And then why not join us for the Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Shine challenge!

For my card I embossed the SU Swallowtail stamp onto a watercolored cardstock panel.  Next I cut a piece of SU gold embossed vellum and layered it over the SU corrugated cardstock--swoon-worthy.  I love this stuff!  I added a bright gold speech bubble for even more blingy goodness.  So lots of layers and texture but overall a simple design.

The Details:  Stampin' Up Swallowtail, foiled vellum, and corrugated cardstock, Savvy Hello die, Versamark, Ranger gold embossing powder and multi medium matte, Distress Inks Picked Raspberry, Candied Apple and Mustard Yellow, Simon Says stitched rectangle dies, Recollections gold foil cardstock

More Butterfly Basics

I'm still loving the butterflies so worked up a couple of quick cards.  Seriously.  No joke.  Quick.   For the first card I swiped alcohol inks across glossy cardstock using a gloved finger then die cut the giant butterfly from it.  Dried within a few seconds.  So pretty.  So easy.  I next stamped the sentiment on a plain piece of cardstock then diecut the hexagon hive from it.  This allowed me to pop up parts of the sentiment, at different heights although you can't tell from this pic.

I'm entering this in Cards in Envy Beautiful Butterflies, Simon Says Wednesday A Bit o' Green, Addicted to Stamps and More #184 CAS

The Details:  SU Butterflies Thinlit, Hexagon Hive Thinlit,  and Butterfly Basics sentiment, Recollections 110lb white cardstock, Versafine Onyx Black, Adirondack alcohol inks, 80lb glossy cardstock

Now this card looks so complicated but is so not.  First I stamped the lacy butterflies using an ombre ink pad (look how fancy that turned out without doing anything special!).  I stamped the sentiment next, luckily I hadn't gotten so butterfly happy that I didn't leave sufficient room for it.  Then I took a repeating stencil (diamonds, I think), placed it over the card front, and drew a single dot right in the center of each diamond.  Is that not fab?  Thanks to Julie Ebersole for that tip from a recent card-making class.  The striped panel on the side?  Washi tape.  Love!  This would be one-layer if I hadn't added that strip of black, which I could have done with a marker instead--duh!

I'm entering this in TIME OUT #51 Easter/Spring (without optional twist of masking)

The Details:  SU Butterfly Basics, Heidi Swapp washi tape, Versafine Onyx Black, Recollections ombre ink pad, and white and black110lb cardstock, Sakura Glaze black pen, Ranger Transparent Gloss Texture Paste, TCW Art Is stencil

Tonya's SU site

SU Butterfly Basis Set

SU Hexagon Hive die

Balloon Butterflies

Can you believe I was going to toss these butterflies away?  I die cut them from a couple of smooshed watercolor panels and assembled them into a card that I absolutely hated.   Good thing I waited a few days and gave them a second life!

Inspired?  Consider hopping over to Tonya's site to pick up some goodies and use the code 9HZBDHKP which you enter in a new field under the special offers section of the online order shopping bag.  Thanks!

The Details:  Stampin' Up Butterfly Basics, Butterflies thinlets, Distress inks, VersaFine Onyx Black, Stampendous detail fine black embossing powder, Copic Multiliner 0.3, Recollections 110lb white cardstock

I'm entering this in CAS Mix Up, Cards in Envy Beautiful Butterflies

Stamplorations - Art Marks Special Release

We're having a special hop in celebration of a new Stamplorations set called Art Marks.  Isn't it fab?  You can grab the set with a 10% discount until March 2.  AND you have until Friday, February 26, at 11:55pm PST to leave a comment on the Stamplorations blog and maybe win the set.  Woot woot!

Do you think grunge when you look at the set?  Me too!  But I also saw flowers.  Ranunculuses to be precise.  Ranunculi?  Ranunculae?  Well, apparently spellcheck couldn't spot a ranunculus if it were standing on top of one.  LOL.   For the big flowers, I used the large swirl circle then the small inside and finally one of the bullseyes from the string of them inside of that.  I used Distress inks and let the colors meld as they would when I applied water.  The stems and leaves I free-handed using an angular shader brush.  I embossed the sentiment on vellum and added a sprinkling of butterflies.

The Details:  Stamplorations Noteworthy and Art Marks, Distress Inks Carved Pumpkin, Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Mowed Lawn, PTI kraft cardstock, Recollections 110lb white cardstock base, Versamark, Stampendous detail fine black embossing powder

Masking Butterflies Tutorial

Time for a little mid-challenge inspiration and reminder for the Happy Little Stampers CAS masking challenge.  Come on over and join the fun!

Now, Linda had commented on my previous masked butterfly card and asked for clarification on my masking technique with Copics and the MISTI. So, last night I made another butterfly card and documented the process as I went along.  I hope this helps you!

1. Set up your MISTI and place scrap paper between the card stock panel and black foam pad.  This avoids ink being absorbed by the foam. I also find it easier to see what I'm doing.
2. Stamp your first image and leave the stamp in place on the lid of the MISTI.  Do NOT remove the cardstock panel.  
3. Notice the image is rather splotchy at this point. 



4. Color the image carefully to avoid accidentally moving the cardstock panel.
5. Re-stamp the image to cover up any stray marks and to deepen the color.  It really pops now, right?

6. Now lay down a mask over your image and position the next image.
7. With the MISTI I place the stamp where I want on the card stock panel and then lower the lid to pick up the stamp.  When I ink up and stamp the image, it is exactly where I had it.

8. Color up this image as above, leaving the mask in place.

9. The first stamping was really light but look how it pops after re-stamping.
10. You can also see where I nudged the card stock just the tiniest bit so the second stamping isn't quite in alignment with the first.

11.  Continue in this manner until your work of art is ready to go!

The Details:  Hammermill 80lb color cardstock, PTI 140lb white card stock base, Recollections black cardstock, Memento Tuxedo Black, MFT Inspired by Butterflies, 7 Gypsies sentiment, Wink of Stella, Versamark, Stampendous black detail fine embossing powder, Copic BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18, Y11, Y13

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps and More #157 Make Your Mark, Fab 'n' Funky #270 Anything with Wings