Wednesday, June 29, 2011

CR84FN & Mojo

Another post today! Yikes, my muse is on a roll. Sometimes I sit in the Butterfly Garden and create nothing..... other times there aren't enough hours for me to complete the cards I want to make. There are even times when I have it designed in my mind but.....it looks terrible when I translate it with papers and stamps. These colored daisies have been floating around for a couple of months. I would look at them often but could never get the right combination to make a card. Today it all came together and I was fairly happy with the results. (Maybe I was just glad that the daisies wouldn't be haunting me any more!) After I completed the card I realized that I could submit it to 2 challenges. BONUS!!!! So here is the card for Mojo Monday and for CR84FN.



The stamp is Lazy Susan Buggies (love this stamp), embossing folders are Cuttlebug, pearls are from Want2Scrap, doily die is PTI,and the ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.

Here is the CR84FN sketch that Mona selected that fortunately matched my card! Ha ha ha. Thanks, Mona!



The gals at Mojo Monday created this sketch to match my card, also. How great is that?!

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garde. (only if my muse isn't too exhausted)

Card Patterns #121

Time for another great sketch from those talented gals at Card Patterns. My muse has been working overtime lately so it took her a little longer to inspire me for this sketch. I was happy with the results....good things come to those who wait! (wink)


The floral image is a Magenta stamp, the dies are from Nestabilities and PTI, the butterfly stamp (PTI) was embossed with white embossing powder, pearls are Recollections and the ribbon is from JoAnn's.The floral image was colored with Copic markers. I used 28ga. wire to form the antennae for the butterflies. My favorite Marvy Gold Calligraphy pen was used around the circular edges and some highlights on the bottom doily.

Here is the sketch that inspired this card. Still time to enter, so get some papers and play along.


Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

New Technique

I just learned a new technique from Summer Card Camp and have been coloring up a storm. (Oops should not refer to it as a "storm"....but you know what I mean.) I stamped and embossed lots of flowers and butterflies then colored them with markers. It is difficult to blend colors using markers inside embossed images. Copic markers blend well but they dissolve and smear the embossing powder. I stamped "my favorite things".....butterflies, but you can't have butterflies without flowers so I stamped some flowers too. I fancy cut the images, and attached them to the front of a "die cut transparent window" card. I used the colors from Summer Card Camp and since I stamped "my favorite things" I am also submitting this to the Shabby Tea Room Challenge. I used Stampendous "Winter Wonderland" embossing powder...I love the glitter in this embossing powder.


The verse stamp is from Inky Antics, the butterflies are PTI, dies are from Nestabilities and pearls are Recollections. These are the colors that are being used at this weeks Summer Card Camp.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Summer Challenge

Inky Antics is hosting a HoneyPop Summer Challenge. I know you are havin' fun in the sun and want to enjoy the warm weather so.......you still can! The deadline for submitting a card is July 23rd. The prizes will be three $25.00 gift certificates. You have lots of time to make a card and if you don't have the ingredients there is plenty of time to go shopping. Who doesn't love shopping? There is a tutorial video that shows step by step directions to make these "surprise inside" cards. Check it out.

I used the "Caterpillar" set to create this card.





The glasses imply that he is a very studious caterpillar, probably doing some of that 'summer reading' that the teachers make the school age children do, every year.


Diamond glaze was used to give his glasses a more realistic effect. The coloring was done with Gamsol and Prisma Colored Pencils. You can find an technique sheet for using Gamsol here.

I love using embellishments but don't always have something that coordinates with my stamps. I felt that this card needed an extra special embellishment so, I got out my "Shrinky Dink" plastic. (holy blast from the past) I stamped the caterpillar, colored it with the same colored pencils that I used to color the image, cut it out leaving about 1/16" around the edge, then shrunk it with my heat gun. (Too hot to warm up the house by turning on the oven and I didn't think I could shrink it on the grill). This is a closeup of my embellishment.



Isn't it adorable? But I'm not finished yet..........wait for it............there is a 3D surprise inside.




TA-DA. Isn't that amazing. An apple that looks like it was made from a honey comb, only RED.

I hope you enjoyed this card with the 3D surprise inside. I am having a blast working with these HoneyPop paper pads. I have a few more cards that use the HoneyPop paper inside but, different stamp sets on the front. I'll share them at a later date.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Shabby Tea Room #67

Are you ready for a fun week of inspiration and creativity in the Tea Room? If so check out the beautiful cards that the DT has designed and don't miss the creative entries. Be sure to leave a little love! Grab some papers and play along. Using the photo as inspiration create a card or project using the colors in the photo AND polka dots and/or gingham.


Here is the card I created using the above recipe. I used all the ingredients just like I do when I cook or bake. Ha Ha Ha


This was a "fun" card to make. The flower and leaf dies are from PTI, the butterfly (which I seem to be using a lot lately) is from C.C. Designs. The pink gingham paper is from a Heidi Grace paper pad that I purchased at JoAnn's, green polka dot paper is DCWV, rhinestones are Recollection and the edger is Martha Stewart. I slightly curled the leaves and flower to give it a little more dimension then used foam tape to keep the shape. Plaid Extreme Glitter was lightly brushed on the flower and leaves to give them a little glitz. Coloring was done with Copic markers.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Mojo Monday #196

This week they have a pretty simple sketch at Mojo Monday. You can do a CAS card or a fancy card if you desire. Are there "letter abbreviations" for "fancy"?


I'm not sure if you would classify this as "clean 'n simple" or "fancy". You decide! The embossing folder and foliage is from Sizzix, butterfly dies are C.C. Designs , the flowers were made with Nestie Blossom Four, pearls are from Recollections and ribbon from JoAnn. I used a piece of Cut 'n Dry to sponge PTI white ink over the raised designs and Vivid Lavender on the edges of the butterflies and flowers. The butterflies and flowers were highlighted with Plaid Extreme Glitter.

This is the sketch that I followed.



Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

CR84FN32 & Card Patterns #120

During the moth of May we had record "rainfall". :-( I remembered this stamp when it was pouring but figured that we had enough rain outside and we didn't need to see more inside. Since the last week or so has been sunny, I figured it was okay to use this stamp especially since we now have to water the lawn! Let's face it....we're never happy, either too much rain or not enough. On to the "rainy day" card.

This cute little stamp is one from the S.W.A.L.K. stamp collection. The stamp and matching umbrella charm are from Stamp and Create. Papers are from DCWV and HOTP, coloring courtesy of Copic markers, raindrops and puddle from Diamond Glaze, rhinestones are Recollections, Marvy Silver Calligraphy pen and the ribbon from Michael's.



My grandchildren would have been splashing in that puddle! I stamped the umbrella area on patterned paper then fussy cut it,used my fingers to mould it into shape and mounted the front edge with foam tape. I even put some rain drop on the umbrella.

Here are the sketches that I used to create this card. CR84FN has a wonderful color challenge this week. Check out the great cards by the DT!



This is the sketch that Card Patterns Challenge is sponsoring this week. More inspiration from this site. Get some paper and play along.


Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Shabby Tea Room #66

The theme for this weeks challenge at The Shabby Tea Room is 'Pink Lemonade', using the beautiful photo as inspiration we create a card with pink, green, neutrals and flowers. What a great color combo especially when you combine it with flowers!




The Teacup Bouquet stamp is from Inky Antics, the edger is EK Success, the brad is from Eyelet Outlet, flower border is Martha Stewart's, the ribbon from Hobby Lobby and the shapes are Nestabilities. I used Diamond Glaze on the cup and saucer to give it a 'china glazed' effect and Copics to color the image. Two of the flowers were mounted with foam tape for added dimension. Little mouse with teacup and teapot is from Boyd's Treasure Box Collection.

This is the inspirational photo. I would love to be sitting there sipping 'pink lemonade'. Why don't you join me.



Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Mojo Monday #195

Wow did last week fly by fast! Time for another Mojo Monday Challenge. What a great sketch they created for us this week.




The Teacup Bouquet stamp is from Inky Antics, the dies are Nesties, the floral border is Martha Stewart the edger is EK Success and the "you're tea-riffic" stamp is from Fiskars. I used Diamond Glaze on the cup and saucer to give a it a 'china glazed' look and Copics to color the image. Two of the flowers were mounted with foam tape for added dimension.


The little mouse who is enjoying a cup of tea is "Cammy McNibble". She lives in the teapot which is one of the treasure boxes from the Boyd's collection. She's a proper English Lady, hat and Sunday dress. I think I saw a similar hat at the recent Royal Wedding!



This is the sketch that I used to design my card.


Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Card Patterns #119


Here is this weeks challenge at Card Patterns. When I saw at this sketch I immediately thought it would be great as a gate fold card.






Here is the card I submitted for this challenge.



The stamp, paper, punches and cord are from Hanko Designs.


Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Lilac Inkers June Challenge



When our Lilac Inkers group met in May, Cathy suggested that we try a "clean and simple" card (CAS) for our June challenge. We decided to do a one layer card (OLC) which is one piece of card folded in half with no additional layers. Sounded like fun so everyone agreed. Well it sounded good but we all found out that it wasn't as easy as it sounded. I think that for a first try the cards were spectacular. Sorry about the glare in this picture.




Here are a few more cards.




And a some more.







And last but not least.




Well...what do you think about our first try at CAS? I would love to hear your comments.



Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

CR84FN31 Color Challenge


Beautiful spring colors for this bi-weekly color challenge at CR84FN. The new bi-weekly format is perfect for the busy summer months ahead.



I decided to do a "plain 'n simple" card for this challenge. When I look at the highly embellished cards, I wonder....."How do you mail them, how much extra will it cost, do I have time to make a trip to the post office"? The challenge at "Lilac Inkers" for the month of June was to create a card using one layer. The Less is More site states: "One piece of card folded in half with no additional layers and minimal embellishments, where the image is stamped or printed directly onto the cardstock". YIKES it was hard ;-0 (I will be posting the challenge cards later today so check back to see what the ladies created)



I deviated a little for this card and used 2 layers.




Spellbinders Rose Blossom edgeability, Cuttlebug embossing folder and Copic markers were used to create this card.



This is the challenge sketch.




Back to creating card in my Butterfly Garden.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Mojo Monday #194

Time for another Mojo Monday Challenge. If was fun to work with this sketch. Since I call my work room the "Butterfly Garden". I decided to do a card with Butterflies, since I really love them (wink).





I painted a light coat of Extreme glitter on the paper before I die cut and punched the butterflies and small circles. Unfortunately the photo doesn't show the lovely glittery effect. The white strips of paper are mounted with foam tape which added additional dimension to the card. Cuttlebug and Sizzix embossing folders were used for the background strips and the black scalloped circle. The butterfly die is from C.C. Designs, the small butterfly is a Marvy punch, the edger is Martha Stewart, the scalloped circles are Nestabilities, the pearls are from Recollections and the ribbon is from JoAnn's. The "Fluttering by" sentiment is from the All A Flutter stamp set at MTME. I used some silver wire to make antenna for the butterfly




This is the sketch that I used to create this card.




There is still time to enter this challenge. Get some papers and play along.



Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 119.

This is the card I made for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. There are some fabulous cards posted by the DT and the cards that are linked are also great. I get lots of inspiration from browsing through these cards. Check them out and "leave some love" for the designers they appreciate it. (So do I!) (wink)





The "cheeky boy" stamp is from Stampavie, the "Fly away" stamp is from PaperTrey Ink, Memento ink was used to stamp the image and it was colored with Copic markers.


This is the sketch I used to design this card.






Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Mojo Monday #193


Okay I surrender! I looked at the Mojo Monday sketch and said "I don't think so", square and round cards aren't in my comfort zone. Then I thought for a couple of days and said "Well, maybe I should try". Today I said "Go for it, it's a CHALLENGE"! If it was easy it wouldn't be a challenge. So here is my interpretation of the sketch.





I used a Nestability die, papers from K & Co., floral stamp is Hero Arts, ink pad is from Memento, Copic markers were used to color the image and rhinestones are from the Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby).



Here is the Sketch that I followed.





Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.