Blooming Butterfly

 I found the most gorgeous butterfly stamp, with the most intricate webbing.  It is absolutely breathtaking.  When I saw this, at So Suzy Stamps, I knew it had to be mine.  I'll be entering this lovely creation into a couple challenges today, listed at the end of my post.

I started my project by heat embossing in several different colors, using a tiny spoon to dip out my powder and sprinkle where needed.  I did one color at a time, tapping off the excess, then heating all the colors at once.

I watercolored my background and the inner workings of the butterfly as well, using numerous inks, then used a stencil and white paint dabber for the corners of my project.  The sequins were placed with Stickles Glitter glue and I brushed some Wink of Stella in Clear all over my butterfly.

For the inside of the card, I stamped a sentiment from So Suzy Stamps by masking and stamping one word at a time, so I could then use this adorable cloud shaped die on each word.  I blended a little Powder Puff chalk ink around the edge of the clouds, to coordinate with the butterfly.

Card dimensions 5.75"x5.75"

Linked to these challenges:

So Suzy Stamps

http://www.sosuzystampsblog.com/2015/03/march-challenge-watercolor.html

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=2568

Additional supplies: Spellbinders Celebra'tions Cloud die, Ranger Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass distress ink, Tombow Dual Brush pens Bright Collection, Spellbinders Celebra'tions Odacious Orange ink, Ranger Picket Fence paint dabber, Simon Says Stamp Stencil, So Suzy Stamps pink sequins, Quick Quotes Powder Puff chalk ink Tahini, DCWV Quince Blossom chevron cardstock, Strathmore Bristol 300 series 140 lb watercolor paper, American Crafts Zing Embossing powder in Aqua, Black and Pink Glitter, Stickles Neon Flamingo Glitter Glue, Wink of Stella Glitter pen Clear, Colorbox Pinkolicious ink

#nationalcraftmonth #sosuzysaysstamps #simonsaysstamp #tombow #spellbinders

Old Fashioned Ribbon candy Mason Jar shaker card

I'm so happy to have been chosen to participate in the Christmas Card Craft Challenge from May Arts Ribbon.    My idea was to make old fashioned Christmas ribbon candy out of the ribbons, supplied by May Arts, for this project.  I chose to present this in the form of a Mason Jar shaker card.  Sweet!  Be sure and head over to the May Arts Ribbon blog Here and vote for your favorite.  Mine is the last entry.  Just leave a comment to vote.  Even if mine isn't your favorite, go look and vote anyway.  There will be prizes given out to those who vote, as well as to the winners.  Nice, huh? 

I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to make the ribbon candy.  I didn't do any research to see if this had been done before.  I'm kind of stubborn that way, haha.  So, after several failed attempts,  I finally figured out that I really needed some wire to help make this bendable and maintain its form.  Luckily, I had some old green wire ties in my stash that I've had forever.   We crafters hold on to everything, don't we?    I glued the wires to my ribbon with Tombow Xtreme adhesive runner, then added a few thin strips of American Crafts glitter adhesive tape.

Next, I made a panel card with a lovely piece of Christmas designer paper from K & Company, and added a border strip that would be wide enough to allow room for my candy ribbons and sequins.  I used some Thermoweb glue lines for this, so when shaking, the sequins wouldn't escape. I cut out a shape that was a tad smaller than the jar die itself.

I made the Mason Jar using the Sizzix (pictured/linked below) die and coordinating embossing folder.  I discovered I can use Sizzix Bigz dies with my Cuttlebug, found at pinkcricut.com that shows different combinations for mixing and matching dies and embossing folders with other die cutting machines.  Here's the direct link:  Sarah Hamer Designs (printable cheatsheet).  I also used the die to cut some acrylic sheets for my shaker.  Do you save empty acrylic bags?  I do.  Use them for shaker cards!  The acrylic cover was also glued with Tombow Xtreme, to the backside of my mason jar die cut.  It's much easier to apply the glue to the cardstock, than the acrylic sheeting.  Bonus tip!

I inked my jar up slightly with Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy distress ink and Memento London Fog for the lid.  Then I added some Mod Podge magic dimensional glue and Glossy Accents for shine.  The pictures do not do this justice!

I also made peppermint swirls for my candy jar.  In this case, I had some May Arts Ribbon red 2 mm bakers twine that I formed on large Elmer's glue dots.  Aren't they cute?  And so easy to make.  Lastly, the sentiment is from the Unity Stamps October 2013 Kit of the Month called, "Oh Christmas Tree"; one of my favorite stamp kits.

It took me a good 1/2 a day to figure all this out but now that I know what I'm doing....next time will go much quicker.  I hope I've inspired you to give this a try.  Enjoy and Merry Christmas!






Other Supplies: dark green heavy cardstock, Cricut scoring tool, Star cut from Martha Stewart Christmas paper, Wink of Stella glitter brush in Clear (over sentiment), Tim Holtz distress marker, Pretty Pink Posh clear and Christmas mix sequins

#mayartsribbon #cre8time #unitystamps #modpodge #tombow #sizzix

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Grinch Christmas card

If you're a fan of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, then you are well familiar with this quote, which Kaisercraft made into a wonderful Christmas stamp.  I'm breaking in this "Grinch" stamp called "Christmas Feeling" and also my new Tombow Dual brush pens, which by the way, I'm already in love with.  They color so smooth!  I free-handed the Santa hat and colored in with my Tombow green marker from the Bright pen set.  To stay inline with the Grinchy green theme, I colored the white glitter ribbon on the Santa hat as well as the snowflakes, which are from the Unity Stamp "Like a Snowflake" sentiment kit.  Then, a touch of Wink of Stella glitter pen in Clear on those snowflakes as well.  The mini pom pom on my Santa Grinch hat is from May Arts Ribbon, my absolute favorite ribbon maker!  I stamped the inside of my card with a Christmas sentiment in Powder Puff green ink and then guess what?  Yup, the ink fell in my lap.  Crafter's Essentials wipes to the rescue!  Not only did they clean up my inky stamps perfectly, but they cleaned up my legs as well.  #grin  

Merry Christmas and have a wonderful Holiday season!



Additional Supplies: Memento London Fog ink, Ranger black ink, Marvy Le Pen black, American Crafts green adhesive glitter ribbon, Tombow Xtreme adhesive runner, Quick Quotes Powder Puff chalk ink Parrot green

#Christmas #Grinch #Cre8time