Embossed Butterfly

Another butterfly card, this time a CAS one for my sister-in-law.

 The die I used for the panel down the side is a new one I bought at the NEC this month - I do like having a birthday in November, with birthday money to spend at the NEC!  It's a Memory Box die - 'Piestra Tile'.  The butterfly was punched out twice, then embossed before layering it to make it look 3D.  I used little black pearls for the body.  

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Country View Crafts' Challenge Blog ~ Bugs, Bees and Butterflies
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 286 ~ No design papers allowed

I'll be popping over to Pixie's Snippets Playground when the gates open tomorrow, as I used red snippets on my card.

Paper Pieced Butterfly

The challenge on the Butterfly Challenge Blog this week is 'Paper Pieced Butterflies'.  After looking through all my butterfly stamps and punches, I decided to use the lovely Lavinia 'Zen Butterfly' stamp.

I first stamped the image on a snippet of white card, then again on two contrasting oddments of Papermania patterned paper.  I cut out the top wings from one of the patterned pieces and the bottom wings from the other.  I then attached them over the original stamped image.  The body was coloured in with a purple Wink of Stella Glitter pen.  I found a VERY old butterfly corner punch, which I used for the purple piece of card. It pays sometimes to tidy my craft room, as I discover things I'd forgotten about!  The matted image was attached with foam pads,  as it made the corner butterflies stand out.  The dainty embossed background is one of my favourites.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge # 19 ~ Paper Pieced Butterflies

Country View Crafts' Challenge Blog ~ Bugs, Bees and Butterflies

Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge 127 ~ Things with Wings

I'll be popping over to Pixie's Snippets Playground when the gates open tomorrow, as I used lots of snippets on my card.

Snow and Sparkle

The Lavinia Stamps challenge this month is 'Snow and Sparkle', so I thought I'd try to creating a snowy background for the Lavinia 'Star Gazing' stamp.

After a couple of false attempts at using a mask with the ink to create the snow drifts, I finally worked out the best way to do it.  I made a mask by cutting a piece of acetate, as I find it easier to use than paper.  Little white pearls were added to the scene for the falling snow.  I used two Spellbinders Arched Window dies to make the window frame.  Star Dust Stickles were added to the centre of all the snow flakes on the patterned paper to give them a bit of sparkle, before finishing off with punched silver holographic snowflakes.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Lavinia Stamps Challenge #11 ~ Snow and Sparkle 
Stamping Sensations November Challenge ~ Christmas
Lisa B Designs Monthly Challenge ~ Christmas Sparkle
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 151 ~ Used silver snippets
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra ~ Anything Goes 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge ~ To the Moon
Divas by Design ~ Let It Snow

Christmas Kittens

I'm getting there with my Christmas cards..... 62 made so far.  This is my latest one, a spring fold card, using a cute Little Claire stamp.

The image was coloured in with Promarkers, Cool Grey 1,3,and 5 and Poppy.  I covered the bauble with Glossy Accents which gave it a lovely domed effect, which is hard to see in the photo.  I added clear gems to the punched border at the bottom to give a bit of sparkle.....after all, it is nearly Christmas!

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Little Claire's Challenge # 51 ~ Shaped Card 
Stamping Sensations November Challenge ~ Christmas
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 151 ~ Used red snippets
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra ~ Anything Goes