How to Create a Butterfly Card - Freebie and Challenge!

Challenge and Freebie Below...

It's me again... Can you believe it?  I've actually got another fun project to share with you today woot woot!!!  Not only will I share how I made this beautiful card, but I'm also giving you a FREEBIE *insert another woot!!!*

Although it took me a little while to figure out how to get the butterfly die cut into my computer so I could create a shaped card using THIS butterfly die, the rest was a breeze!

I've been trying to incorporate my Cameo into my card making more often.  I forgot to mention in my previous post HERE that I used the beach ball template I downloaded from Paper Crafts magazine to create the shaped card with my Cameo.  It probably would have been much faster if I just used scissors for this one, but I wanted to use my Cameo so the cut would be even.  Know what I mean?  Scissors and I aren't that compatible hee hee.

On to today's shaped card. Shown here from top to bottom:  Finn Butterfly die cut; butterfly cut file layer 1 (colored with Primary Elements Mica Powder); butterfly cut file layer 2 (embossed); butterfly cut file card base.

The top layer is the GORGEOUS butterfly die cut by Memory Box.  It is approximately 3.5" x 5"  This was my inspiration : D  I LOVE butterflies!!!

Here's a better shot of the beautiful shimmer and color of the mica powder (sorry for the ugly hand and background : (  I've also given the die cut a couple coats of Ice Silks Acrylic Glaze which made it lift up naturally - yay!

Here are the materials I used to create this card:

• Finn Butterfly Memory Box Die (30% off!)
• Luminarte Mica Powder:  African Jade, Kiwi, Wild Blueberry
• VersaMark Watermark Ink Pad
• Dots Embossing Folder
• ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever
• Ice Silks Acrylic Glaze
• Rhinestones
• Soft paint brushes
• Krylon Workable Fixatif
• Heavyweight white cardstock for card base
• WHITE layering weight cardstock for embossed layer (same size as front of card base) and die cut
• BLACK layering weight cardstock for mica colored background (this cut will be the closest size to the butterfly die cut).
• Butterfly cut file (see below)

Step 1:  Open cut file with your cutting machine (adjust size as needed) and make all cuts.  Note which piece should be BLACK.

Step 2:  Using BLACK cut out (closest size to the die cut), 'stamp' entire surface with VersaMark pad.

Step 3:  Using mica powders and a soft brush, tap the mica powder over the VersaMark covered cardstock.  I simply dip my brush into the powder and gently tap the handle to create a splattered effect.  It's not a problem to use the same brush with each mica color if you are tapping it off each time...

Step 4:  Using a larger brush (only because it's easier) gently brush away excess powder to reveal your beautiful design!  You can rework, adding more colors until you are happy with the result.

Step 5:  Spray the mica colored card stock with Fixatif and lay aside to dry.

Step 6:  Die cut Finn Butterfly.  Since this is a large, intricate die, you may need to pass through your machine more than once (depending on your machine).  NOTE:  I've finally ordered the Vagabond!  I can NOT wait!!!!!  I am anxious to see how this die cuts with the powerhouse : D

Step 7:  Using Ice Silks Acrylic Glaze, cover the die cut with one or two coats and lay aside to dry.

Step 8:  You will now have one layer and the card base left.  Emboss the layer using More Dots embossing folder and score and fold card base.

Step 9:  Assemble layers using Best Glue Ever!  You only need small dots of this glue...  It's glue on steroids lol!

Step 10:  Embellish with rhinestones and sit back and enjoy your beautiful creation!

What colors or embellishments would you like to use on your butterfly card or project?  I would love to see what you come up with!  So... how about a...

***CHALLENGE ***

Using the Butterfly Shaped Card template/cut file (see below) with an additional entry if you also use Finn Butterfly... Let's see your creations!

Challenge will begin July 15 and end August 15.  This will give you LOTS of time to prepare and even order Finn Butterfly : )

What can you win?  Well... for starters, let's just say if you are a Magnolia or Tim Holtz fan, you'll be jumping up and down!!!

• First Prize:  Ten new or very gently used Magnolia stamps (list to come)
• Second Prize:  Tim Holtz tiny attacher with staples and assorted accessories
• Third Prize:  Four Embossing folders and two stencils

So what do ya say?  Wanna play?  Enter your butterfly creation with Mr. Froggy below.  Please enter a direct link to your blog post, not your blog.  Please also link this blog in your challenge post.

Thanks... and have fun!

*Edited:  Some of you have mentioned that you don't have an electronic cutting machine.  Never fear!  If you download the PDF file, you will be able to print out and cut by hand :D
Here's your FREEBIE!!!
Download Cut File Here:

• Butterfly Shaped Card

Available files are:  svg, pdf, mtc, studio, png.  After clicking on the above link, click on the file extension you want and then click download.  That's it!

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to help!  My email is listed on my sidebar.

Thanks for hanging in there with me : )  I know this was a long post!

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~

Grace and Peace to You!

Welcome back sweet friends!  I pray that you've been healthy and filled with JOY :D  I am on the Prayer Team at church and there have been soooooo many people in need of special prayer from cancer and other serious illnesses to anxiety and depression...  Jesus says that in this world, we will have trouble... but we are to take heart because He has OVERCOME the world with all it's sickness and disease.  Our sin has been nailed to the cross where we now have PEACE with God - IF we have made the personal decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  I pray that you have : D

Today's card uses Peace by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD from the Odds and Ends Collection.  I've been waiting to use her for someone special and today hubby and I are invited to a special lady's home for dinner.  She's going to show me how to make Butternut Squash Ravioli!  She is the BEST cook ever... but she's gone through so many surgeries for cancer, so I thought Peace was perfect for such a time as this!

She's colored with copics and accented with Stardust Stickles.  Just take a look at those pearls... The large half pearls in the center of the flowers are self stick, but the small pearls in groups of three are Viva Decor Opal Paper Pen.  If you've visited me before, you already know how much I ADORE my Paper Pens lol!  I simply can't live without 'em : D

What do you think of the red lace?  Everything else was in blues, so I wanted a touch of red... I have this awesome lace stamp by Kaisercraft so I can create any color lace I need, isn't that great?  I've stamped it twice here and used a 1/16" hole punch along the edges.  You can find the Lace stamp *Here.*

I finally have my sewing machine out and plugged in, but I wanted to use my Sew Easy Tool so I could hand sew while I watched TV.  The horizontal strip uses the Zig Zag Attachment.  I was actually surprised to find that it wasn't a problem going through two layers of paper (the cs is Bazzil, which is pretty thick!).  You can find the Sew Easy Tool and all the attachments *Here.*  I just ordered an attachment that will allow me to sew "♥love ♥ love" well, similar to that...  How fun!!!  The love attachment is *Here.*

Are you a MEMORY BOX DIE fan?  I've used the Elegant Scrollwork die here.  Susana has lots of different designs in the store.  The only trouble is that peeps keep buying them and when I want one, they are out of stock lol!  These dies are hot sellers, so if you want something, you'd better be quick!

Recipe

Stamps: Peace by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD; Lace by Kaisercraft

Ink Pad:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Copic Markers

Spellbinders:  Large Classic Oval and Large Classic Scalloped Oval

Memory Box Die: Elegant Scrollwork

DP: Memory Box - Brioche

Sewing:  Sew Easy Tool w/straight and zig zag attachments

Pearls:  Viva Decor Opal Paper Pen

Crystal:  Swarovski

Stardust Stickles

Stash:  Large self-stick pearls, flowers, ribbon

OK... I'm not sure if I was supposed to have a card featuring masking, but I sure do want to point you to Danni's FABULOUS masking tutorial *HERE.* You will find tons of valuable information!  Thanks Danni, you did a great job!!!  : )

It's been so nice spending a little time visiting some of you... I just wish that I could visit more of you, more often!!!  Well... I hope that my guilty conscience is good news for you, cuz I not only have one Cricut Cartridge, but TWO to give away!!!  They are both as NEW (opened, but never used).  My next post will have photos and a place for you to enter if you wish : D

Have a great weekend!!!  I hope to have one more post before the weekend is over, so check back soon...

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~

SCACD Reopens Today/Gift Set!!!

My oh my... has it really been a month since my last post?  It does feel like a lifetime ago!  First thing on my agenda is to wish you...

***Happy New Year!!!***

I hope that you've enjoyed lots of relaxation time and tons of fun with your family and friends!  Me?  Well... I spent the last three weeks laying low and reading a bunch - trying to get over a nasty virus.  It was a doosie!  I sure hope that you've been able to steer clear of it.

One good thing about 'having to lie around and do nothing' is that I became acquainted with my Kindle, which I received a few months ago for my birthday.  I didn't realize what I've been missing!  I LOVE it :D  I love that it's easy on the eyes; that it's light and easy to hold; that 'turning' pages is a breeze... If you love reading, you just might want to put a Kindle on your Wish List!  Right now, I'm reading Halfway to Forever by Karen Kingsbury (Book 3 in the Forever Faithful trilogy).  Have you read any good books lately?  What authors do you enjoy?

To celebrate Susana's REOPENING the store today, I've created a quick and simple gift set.  I'm not sure where I got the box template, but it is a print, cut and assemble project!  I've embellished it with  Diamond Stickles  and Opal Viva Decor Paper Pen.  Now to decide what to put inside for a special someone :D

For the 'matching' card, I decided to use one of the fabulous stamps by Carmen Medlin for SCACD.  Her Caged Heart is from the Reflections Fantasy Collection.

The image is stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and colored with copics.  Her dress was given a few coats of Crystal Glamour Dust Paint.  Can you see the sparkle???

Although I've used another die for the bird cage, Susana has an awesome Memory Box die *Here*  If you look closely, you'll see that I've embossed the die cut using Leaves embossing folder by Crafts-Too.  I adore this embossing folder!!!  Did ya notice the pearls on the bird cage and scattered around the card?  I made 'em with my Opal Paper Pen :D  Speaking of paper pens, the Graphite Paper Pen came in handy for the bird's eye...  I don't know what I'd do without my paper pens!!!

And now... Just thought you might like to know that...

Awesome New Products 

are Now Available!!!

• New Paper - Kaisercraft, Crate Paper, Fancy Pants and more!
• Cool New Adhesives 
• Memory Box Dies 
• Craft Concept Embossing Folders
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folders

I hope that you've enjoyed your visit with me today!  I know that I've missed YOU!!!  Here's to a wonderful 2012 filled with love and friendships ♥  See you soon!

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~

Make Your Own Flowers!

It's Saturday!  Yay!!!  Whatcha doing this weekend?  My plans are to get a few areas organized in my house.  This is gonna be a long term project, so I'm not gonna go crazy trying to get it all done!  If I've learned only ONE thing in my life, it's that I can't do it all.  No 'superwoman' - never was...never will be lol!  I am enjoying learning how to have balance in every area.  Note that I said learning... yep, it seems that everything is a process!  So I plan to do a little bit of cleaning/organizing, a little bit of crafting (duh!), a little bit of blogging, a little bit of shopping and cooking and a little bit of relaxing!  Then comes Sunday :D  That's another story for another time.

Have you seen Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog?  The first challenge was on September 10 with the theme 'Anything Goes.'  New challenges are posted every two weeks, so TODAY we have a new theme, 'Make Your Own Flowers!'  Here's what I came up with...

This is the ADORABLE digi Sweet Scent.  I fell in LOVE with her when I saw her!  Here's the copics I've used:  R85 R83 R81; YG63 YG03 YG01; G28 G24 G21 G20; C9 C7 C5 C3 C0; YR24 Y15 Y13 Y11.

The image is die cut using the second largest circle in the Classic Large Circles nesties set which is layered on black cs using the largest size die in the Tear Drop Circle set.  I love the lacy look it gives!

I just wanted to show you a different angle so you could see the bling better which was achieved by painting on a couple of coats of Ice Crystal Glamour Dust Ultra Fine Glitter Paint.  I am really loving this product because I changed printers - and you know what sometimes happens... the ink started bleeding (oh noooo!).  I had to be super careful as I colored.  From past experience, I know that stickles REALLY makes the ink run.  Your beautifully colored image turns into black MUD!  But.... yay...there is NO - NONE - bleeding with the Glamour Dust Paint and it gives a TON of sparkle (just not the dimension).

Here's my 'make your own flower' flower!  I don't think it turned out that bad, BUT there are definite things I would do differently.  First, I wish that I would have used different paper and maybe used the Ice Crystal Glamour Dust Glitter Paint instead of the Silver Bling.  Well, it was a good learning experience.  I wasn't sure that I would be able to do this, so... yay me lol!

Did ya notice that awesome scroll I tucked in behind the flower?  I'll say it again... I LOVE LOVE LOVE this scroll!  It's a Memory Box Die called Elegant Scrollwork.  Susana just might have one or two left, but it's hard to keep this beauty in stock!  Also the yummy pink (and black) pearls I made using my Viva Decor Paper Pens - Graphite *Here* - Rose *Here*

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope that you will join us for this two week challenge in Making Your Own Flowers at Di's Digi Designs Challenge.

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~