Butterfly Thanks

Today I have yet another card inspired by the Stampin' Celebration challenge.  Don't you just love when inspiration strikes and continues to fuel your creativity for weeks? I'm telling you, those photos really sparked my creativity!

Instead of balloons floating into the sky, I had a bundle of butterflies.  The sponged heart in the background gives them a nice anchor to float away from.  There is still time to play along with the current challenge.  Just be sure to link up here by Friday.

SC98

The heart in the background was sponged to give it a softer look than cardstock alone gives.  If you would like to see a tutorial on sponging backgrounds for depth and color, be sure to check out the sponging section of the new Technique Toolbox: Dye Ink class at the Creativity Grows Here classroom.  Here's a sneak peek at the card (and video) I made for this class.

I also showed a cool sponging technique using hand made stencils on my card last weekend. Clicky to see that or scroll down.  :)


Stamps: Papillion Potpouri (SU)
Ink: Crisp Canteloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, Soft Sky, Wisteria Wonder (SU); Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers (Distress)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White (SU)
Accesories: Thanks Script (Mama Elephant); Hearts Framelits (SU)

Purple Butterflies

Every week I check out challenges on the web and "plan" to do them, but most weeks I am lucky if I get one done in time to enter.  Today I have 2! 

Dynamic Duos is one of the few color challenges that I rarely struggle with.  Perhaps because it is just two colors and a neutral.  When I saw that they were doing 2 shades of purple this week I knew I had to join in the fun!


Dynamic Duos

The butterflies from SU Papillion Potpourri were stamped in Perfect Plum, then layered with a smaller butterfly punched out of Perfect Plum cardstock.  The script in the background as well as the mat is in Wisteria Wonder.  Don't you just love my new stamp?   The card needed a little bling so I added strips of silver glimmer paper behind the butterflies and two rhinestones to the center of each of purple butterfly.

The second piece of inspiration comes from Unscripted Sketches.  You know how I love sketches.  This one looked challenging to me at first, but when I started to think about all the shapes/punches I could use in place of the circles the ideas started flowing.  In fact, I am thinking about a few other cards I can adapt this sketch for.



Unscripted Sketches

What challenges inspire you?  If either of these spark your interest give them a try.  There is still time to enter both of them.  I would love to see what you come up with.



Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: Defining Words (Wplus9), Papillion Potpourri
Ink: Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder
Paper: Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch

 

 

Love and Sympathy

My uncle passed away last weekend, at the age of 49, after his battle with cancer.  My heart is heavy for my aunt and cousin who had to say goodbye so soon.  It's never easy to make sympathy cards, but I honestly feel it is the most important card I send.  My hope is that it will bring some small measure of comfort to know that I care about them and I'm praying for them.

The stems were colored with a Pear Pizzaz marker and the flower was colored with Wisteria Wonder.  The butterfly was stamped onto vellum then punched out using the small butterfly punch.

 

The sentiment from this stamp set is just lovely.  It's a new stamp set for me and I'm just sorry I needed to use it so soon.

Rest in peace, Uncle Rod.  We'll be holding your wife and daughter in love and prayers.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: EnFrancais Background; Love and Sympathy; Papillion Potpouri
Paper & Ink: Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizazz, Wisteria Wonder
Misc: Small Butterfly Punch, Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon, Distressing Tool

 







Colorful Butterfly ~ Video

Several months ago I sent my Father in law a card while he was recovering from surgery.  (Click here to see that card.)  He sent me the sweetest note and asked how I made the colorful butterfly on his card.   It's taken me awhile to get the video filmed and put up on the blog.  I was saving it for Spring.  Finally I am able to show all of you how I made the butterflies.  It's very easy and in the video I show you two different ways it can be done.  Hope this helps you Papa Marty and Nana Joanie. 

I've used different colors on today's card from the one I sent Papa Marty.  This card is for a friend who loves lilac almost as much as I do. 

Don't you love how folding the wings before adhering the butterflies makes them look like they are about to take flight? 

If you are viewing this post in an email or reader you may need to go to my blog to watch the video below.  Simply click on the post title at the top (Colorful Butterfly...) to go to my blog and watch. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.  This technique is such a pretty one, and once you learn it, it's pretty easy to recreate. 

For Papa Marty's card I tied some twine around the butterfly and tied it in a knot at the top.  It's a nice added touch.  

Creative Blessings,
Heather

Fabulous Friend Card Recipe:
Stamps: Papillion Potpourri, Fabulous Phrases
Ink: Versamark, Black Staz-On, Various shades of pink and purple
Paper: First Edition, 2011-2013 DSP Patterns Stack, Naturals Composition DSP, Wisteria Wonder
Misc.: Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers, Curly Label Punch, Basic Rhinestones



Papillion Potpourri



Sponge Daubers



Elegant Butterfly Punch



SU Regional Swap

Today I am headed to Tacoma, WA for Stampin' UP!'s regional convention.  I have no idea what to expect.   Scott and the boys will be staying home and taking care of our kitty who just had surgery, so I'm driving in the "city" alone. 

These are the swap cards I made.  You can see the sewing stuff I have pushed to the edge of the table so I could work on these.

On SCS they say that people swap at these things.  I've never been, so I have no idea what to expect.  They said to make 50-100 cards, but I didn't have the time to come up with that many.  I made 25.  I figure if people do want to swap with me I will have something to share, and if they don't I can use them as my October thank you cards for ordering with me. 
The first set of cards is from a Mojo Monday sketch I made recently.  You can check it out HERE if you want to see the supply list and sketch.

The second set of cards is one of my favorites.  You can check out the original posts HERE that have videos and variations on how I made this card.  Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page, because there are 3 posts featuring this basic design.

For the swap I decided to pull out 4 InColors and make four different, yet similar, sets.  Calypso Coral, shown below, Primrose Petals, Wisteria Wonder and Summer Starfruit, were the four I chose. If I had more time I might have bought a pack of Wisteria Wonder CS and made them all in that color, but I'm actually glad I didn't.  They are so pretty in all the colors.  (even Summer Starfruit)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Retro Well Wishes ~ rs#29

As I said on my post on Monday, one of my Father-in-laws is having surgery soon.  (Yes, I have two father-in-laws. That makes me extra special!)  I made another "get well" card to send to him while he is recovering.  It's not completely masculine, but I think the colors make it work so that I can send it to him.

As you can see, I am having fun playing with more autumnal colors this week.  The design is from this week's sketch at Retro Sketches.  Such a fabulous sketch, as always.  I'll be using this one again and again!

http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/2012/09/retrosketches-29.html

Nothing about this card was difficult for me.  For some reason it seemed to come together very easily.  Doesn't that butterfly look like it just landed on my card?

The only snag was that my only corner rounder is a Creative Memories one and it is too big for the little squares.  I wanted a slightly rounded corner on each of the squares, but the CM made them almost into a circle.  Instead I just rounded 2 opposite corners, and it turned out fine.

I wonder if the SU corner rounder is an smaller???? hmmm.... if you know, please leave me a comment. 

Let me know if you make a card for Retro Sketches this week.  I would love to see what you do with it.  :)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: Papillion Potpouri, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Black, Early Espresso
Paper: Orchard Harvest DSP, Newsprint (retired), Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze
Misc.: Brushed Bronze Button, Linen Thread, Punches

Feeling Like Fall

Well, I hope it starts to feel like fall soon.  :)  It feels like Fall in the morning, but we're supposed to get up in the 80's all week.  Very unusual for where we live.  I'll soak up the sun while I can, but I decided to start making fall cards last weekend.  The Colour Q challenge helped.  When I pulled out those colors they looked like Autumn sunsets to me. 

The challenge included Cameo Coral.  I don't have that color, so I pulled out Calypso Coral and Primrose Petals.  I LOVED Calypso Coral with this, but Primrose Petals seemed like a closer match to Cameo Coral and I actually had that stamp pad, making it easier to do the sponging I wanted to do.  :)  Both are lovely in my opinion.  Thanks Colour Q for a FABULOUS color combination.

Which card do you like best?  I couldn't decide if I wanted a butterfly *or two*, which color it should be, or where to place the butterfly.  :)  I like all the different combos so I think I will make a few more, put different sentiments on them and have some notecards to send.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

 

(6)

Another shot of 6

So, which one is your favorite?  I can't believe I made a one layer card that I actually like and would be proud to send.  Clean and simple is never simple for me, but I feel so proud of myself when I am able to accomplish it.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Blooming with Kindness

Papillon Potpourri

Stampin' Sponges

Wonderful Papillion ~ Part 3

When I first sketched out this card I only planned to make two of them.  A simple version using a punch and a stepped up version using Framelits.  But, when I started making them I knew I could step it up further and do a "step 3" card.   (I guess watching all those step it up videos my upline is fabulous at making finally paid off for me.  lol)

This final version of the card is very similar to the second card.  I just added one thing and changed another.   Watch the video to see how I made this one.

In this version of the card, my butterfly has linen thread instead of Baker's Twine.

I also added a sentiment with some bling to my final card.

I'm curious, which card is your favorite? 

Card 1:

Card 2:

or
Card 3:

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Papillion Potpouri

Elegant Butterfly

Lacy Brocade EF

Blooming with Kindness

Wonderful Papillion ~ Part 2 Video

Did you like the first card in my 3 part series?  If you missed it, click here, or scroll down to see yesterday's post.   My second card comes with another video.  Actually two videos.   In the first one I show you how to make the card, in the second video I show you how to make your own shimmer spray.  :)

The video shows how I stepped up this second card.

In case you missed my technique on creating your own shimmer mist, here is that video.  I also have this video on my Cardmaking 101 page for future reference.  :)   It's super easy to make.

Here is another look at the finished Step 2 card.  

After I finished this card, I wanted to add a bit more "bling", so I filmed a 3rd card.  It's fun to see how adding just a few more elements can really change a card.  Come back tomorrow to see Step 3 in my Wonderful Papillion series. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Papillion Potpouri

Elegant Butterfly Punch

Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder

Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon

Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint