Hip to be Square

Lately I have been making a lot of square cards. I stayed away from them, but now that I have envelopes for square cards, it's "full steam ahead". I like to have envelopes for all of my cards because I just hate putting a beautiful card into a mismatched envelope. I think first impressions are important! Anyone else think this way?

Our Creative Corner Challenge this week is 'hip to be square'.

If this was a layered challenge, I could enter this card. Counting the card base it is 6 layers.  Layer 1: card base.  Layer 2 is DP from JoAnn's.  Layer 3 is teal scalloped circles from Spellbinders.  Layer 4 is also a Spellbinders circle that has been embossed in a Cuttlebug folder, then the raised areas were colored with Prisma colored pencils. The birds are a part of the embossed image. I lined the birds up to fit inside the respective cages before embossing.  Layer 5 is Taylored Expressions birdcages stamped on acrylic, colored on the backside with markers and mounted to layer 4 with clear pop dots.  Layer 6 is leaves cut from a Sizzix die. The sentiment in the middle is from a Stamping Sensations' Perfectly Said Rubber Stamp set called .....wait for it....."BIRD QUOTES". How appropriate is that?

This is the sketch that was used to design this card.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Friends

***This card was a top three winner at Card Crafters Circle***

Challenges are a great way to keep those brain cells active. This card is for Crazy4Challenges (yup that's me ...CRAZY), using the Mojo Monday 226 sketch and the theme of 'Friends" at Card Crafters Circle.

The image is a Tina Wenke stamp, colored with Copic markers and Prisma colored pencils. The papers were at the bottom of my stash so I have no idea where they came from. The edger and tag are Spellbinders, small doily and sentiment are MFT, the ribbon from Hobby Lobby and the flowers and pearls are from Michaels.


This is the Mojo Monday sketch that I followed to create this card.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

All You Need is Love

"All you need is love...bum ba da dum".   Remember that song by the Beatles? This is the time of the year for 'love', so this card is for the "Love is in the Air" challenge at Simply Create Too and the 'Love' and 'Ribbon' challenges at Paper Pretties. Every "love" card need fantastic colors so the colors are from the inspirational photo at CR84FN.

The image is from Mo Manning, colored with Copic markers, DP from MME paper pad, Eiffel Tower die from MFT and the ribbon, flowers and rhinestones are from Michaels  OMG alphabet soup in that last sentence (wink). I had to color some of the floral background paper to get it to match the colors on the image. This was accomplished with Prisma colored pencils. You get a lot more use out of your papers if you can 'tweek' them with colored pencils...YEAH.

This is the inspirational photo that was used for this card.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Sparkly Center Step Card.

This card was created using two things that were new to me! Great to get those brain cells working. I have made several side step cards and even though I had the directions, I never made a center step card. I was challenged to do this by Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge.  The Shabby Tea Room has a 'Sparkly and Bright' challenge...use the inspirational photo to design a card with cream (or white), silver and a splash of pink! How long has it been since you created a card with 'silver and cream'? For me the answer is 'NEVER'!

A Memory Box butterfly die was used on the side panels. The lacey scallopped border across the bottom is a MFT die. The floating butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch, ribbon and pearls are from Michaels. A Sakura stardust pen was used inside the butterflies on the sides and the floating butterflies were cut from glitter paper.

This is the inspirational photo that I used to create this card.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Oh Baby

This is another great week for challenges, 2012 is starting off on the right foot. That's for sure. So many challenges so little time. What's a gal to do? This card is for the Our Creative Corner challenge and the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.

The stamp is Penny Black and it was colored with Copic markers. The challenge at OCC is to use the inspirational photo to make a 'baby themed' item. When I looked at the photo, my eye was immediately drawn to the one, large, golden colored flower on top of the cake. The coral flowers and the tree got my attention next. So this card is an attempt to recreate those items. The bear is for the golden colored flower, bet you can figure out the rest (wink).

I took a few liberties with the Mojo Monday sketch. I can never cut two squares the same size so I replaced the squares with rectangles hahaha, rotated the sketch 90 degrees and made the center panel narrower. Here is the Mojo Monday Sketch so you can see the changes I made.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Bears in Pairs

This week's challenge at Card Patterns is to make a "shaped" card. The challenge at Card Crafters is to make a card with "bears".  Paper Pretties challenge is to make a 'Valentine' card.

This adorable bear image is from the Stamp Fairy. The coloring was done with Copic markers. The Catalina wreath, behind the bears is a Memory Box die. It was cut from 'glitter' CS and shaded with a Copic marker. The heart behind the bears is actually sticker that is mounted on glitter CS and then cut with deckle edge scissors leaving a little boarder of white. Ribbon and rhinestones are from Michaels. The rhinestone necklace was made with a Dollar Store package of "Nail accessories".

This is the sketch that was used for inspiration. Isn't it a great sketch? 

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Wine and Bears

This week's challenge from Tuesday Morning Sketches is sponsored by Stamp Fairy. Our fabulous sketch was designed by Jessica. This week I made two card following this great sketch.

I created my card by duplicating the sketch....no sideways or upside down for me this week, but I did a mirror image sketch on the second card!

The 'Vino' stamp set from Technique Tuesday was used to create this card. First off...I love' wine' and I love  'Tuesday Morning Sketches' so it was only fitting that I should combine 'Wine' and 'Tuesday's'. After stamping the grape bunches multiple times (for the background) it was colored with Prisma colored pencils then blended with Gamsol. The wine bottle was stamped on a piece of acrylic, fussy cut and then the back side was colored with a Sharpie marker to make the whole bottle 'green'.  A piece of dark green cardstock was paper pieced to the back side of the bottle to simulate the amount of wine left in the bottle. The glass was also stamped on acrylic, layered on a piece of vellum, fussy cut and then burgundy cardstock was paper pieced to simulate the wine in the glass. Gold embossing powder was used for the sentiment.

This second card used a delightful image from the Stamp Fairy called 'Donna and Donny'. It is the mirror image of the sketch.

These two adorable bears were colored with Prisma colored pencil and blended with Gamsol. The DP and ribbon is from a Heidi Grace collection that was purchased at JoAnn's. Stickles were added to the hearts and the flower for a touch of sparkle. This card is being submitted to the Card Crafters "bear with me " challenge and the Paper Pretties "Valentine" challenge.

Please stop by to see the marvelous creations from the design team and our great guest designer, Cheryl.  While you are enjoying their samples...leave a little comment 'love' to show your appreciation for their continual inspiration. Angela, Cheryl, Dawn, Jessica, Kathy, Theresa and Melissa

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Hyacinth

***This card got an Honorable Mention at the Shabby Tea Room***

In my previous posting, I was 'thinking of Spring', well here I go again. This mild winter has deluded me into thinking that 'Spring' is on the way....well I can hope...can't I?  Today the sky is a beautiful blue, the grass is green (Yup I can see lots of grass, not the usual white lawn) there are lots of white fluffy clouds and we're having a heat wave...it is 25 degrees!! Now those are certainly signs of  'Spring'...don't ya think?

This card was inspired by the lovely colors from the Shabby Tea Room. USE GRAY (or silver), LILAC, PEACH & PINK PLUS LACE (paper or fabric) AND A METAL EMBELLISHMENT! Aren't those colors delicious and in my mind (HaHaHa) another sign of 'Spring'. This card was designed using a marvelous sketch from Card Patterns.

The Hyacinth and sentiment are from Flourishes, embossing is PTI, and the ribbon is from Michaels.  The image was colored with Copic markers.

Here is the inspirational photo from the Shabby Tea Room.

This is the great sketch that was used to create my card. I turned the sketch on it's side. Always laying down on the job! (wink)

The previous post is another 'Spring' card...so check it out! Think Spring!!!

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Thinking of Spring

The winter here in the Northeast has been exceptionally mild. So being the eternal optimist, I can't help thinking that Spring is just around the corner. Hahaha. Who am I kidding? It's only January!

The color challenge at CR84FN this week fits right into my 'Spring' fantasy. The colors are lt. pink, yellow and neutral. The air is always so clean and fresh in the 'Spring' so I wanted my card to be clean and fresh. The sketch at Mojo Monday was perfect for designing a clean, fresh 'Spring' card.

The stamps are from Printworks, embossing folder is Cuttlebug, DP is from a Heidi Grace paper pad, ribbon, glitter dots and silk flower are from Michaels. Each floral image was stamped twice, colored with Copic markers and then one was fussy cut and mounted on top of the other with foam tape. The vase was paper pieced. Stickles were used to highlight the vase and the centers of the flowers.

Here is the inspirational photo...be sure to read the quote.

The sketch was turned on it's side to make my card.

Be sure to check out the next  post....more 'Spring' flowers!! (Flourishes Hyacinth's are up next), If wishing could make it happen.....It would already be 'Spring'!


Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.

Cupcake Craftroom

***This card was the January winner at Cupcakes Craftroom***.

Time for another great challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches. This creative sketch was designed by the talented Melissa.

The sponsor this week is Cupcake Craftroom. The Craftroom is having an "Anything Goes" challenge this month.  If you love digi paper this is the place to visit. I enjoy making cards with a Dahlia folded focal point. These flowers have to be made with double sided PAPER (not cardstock). Unfortunately double sided paper is very difficult to find in most of the local stores. Well....Cupcake Cards and Crafts came to my rescue! Sandy taught me how to do this fold.

I printed out my paper using the Charlotte Designer Digital Papers Collection. The floral design was printed on one side of the paper, the paper was turned over and the solid color was printed on the opposite side. The circles were cut using a 1 1/2" paper punch. For the leaves I printed a solid green then used a leaf Nestie to cut out the leaves, which were highlighted on the edges with a Copic (YG97) marker then, crumpled before the were attached to the front of the card. The same Copic marker was used for the flourishes which were also cut out of the green paper using a Sizzix die. The Sizzix embossed background was highlighted with a Copic (RV 10) marker and the edges of the ribbon with a Copic (RV34) marker. The paper behind the embossed CS was from the Charlotte paper collection.  These lovely digi papers could also be used as a background for any of your images. Once you purchase them you'll never run out of designer paper in the middle of a project!

Stop by Tuesday Morning Sketches to see the great samples from the super talented Design Team and Cheryl our guest Designer for January.

Back to creating cards in my Butterfly Garden.