Mid-month Inspiration at Stamping Sensations

The DT's current mid-month theme at Stamping Sensations is "My go-to stamp", and I have to admit that my heart sank a little when I saw it! For me, trying to pick a go-to stamp is like attempting to choose a favourite piece of music - there are so many I like and all so different. How do I narrow it down to one above all? Well, if I have to decide, I guess it must come down to trees or butterflies. And as this month's challenge theme is Animal Magic, I've gone with a butterfly. It's by Hero Arts and I have it in three versions: the original rubber, clear (in a set), and a rubber cling which is part of a Sizzix Framelits set. Oh, and a digi version! Sadly I think they are all now discontinued, but some occasionally pop up on eB*y.

The original one is one of my oldest stamps, but I still use it a lot, often as an embellishment to something else. This time, however, I decided to let it take centre stage, which, since it is so pretty, it certainly deserves to do. And it's wonderful to colour.

I made a background by dusting with Memento inks and overstamping the butterfly in two colours. Then stamped the butterfly again on white card, coloured it with Zig Clean Color pens and cut it out and matted it with Spellbinder dies. Sentiment by Stampingallday. Here's a closer look.

There's still time to enter our Animal Magic challenge, with a fabulous prize from sponsors Tattered Lace. Thanks for looking!

Glamorous Butterflies

Just flying in by the skin of my teeth with an entry for this fortnight's Butterfly Challenge. The theme is "Glamorous Butterflies", so they have to glitter and sparkle!

I began by spraying the card with diluted Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink, then stamped the flowers and sentiment with the same ink (undiluted). The butterfly was stamped on a separate piece of card and cut out with the matching Hero Arts Framelits die to give a bit of dimension. I used a water brush to draw some of the ink into the flowers and the butterfly for a hint of colour.

 All that remained then was to add the glamour! I tend not to use a lot of shiny stuff on my cards, preferring a subtle sparkle to bags of bling, so I just added a bit of glitter glue to the spots and body of the butterfly and the centres of the flowers. I hope that's enough for Mrs. A! You can see it better in the following detail shots.

 

The flower and butterfly stamps are by Hero Arts and the sentiment by Stampingallday. Thanks for looking!

Butterfly Challenge No. 2

I was delighted and very lucky to find out that my entry for the very first Butterfly Challenge was drawn as the winner! I have been extremely busy with work and other non-crafty things lately, but didn't want to rest on my laurels, as it were, so I was determined to get an entry in for Challenge No. 2, for which Mrs. A would like to see Butterflies, Buttons and Bows.

It was very quick and very last minute, but here it is!

Background paper: Prima
Butterfly stamp: Prickley Pear
Sentiment: Stampingallday
Ribbon & old button from my stash.

A couple of close-ups:

Must dash! Thanks for looking!

Fairy Nuff!

We have a new challenge for you at Stamping Sensations, one which I've really enjoyed making a card for, and I hope you will too! A bit of escapism, just the thing to take our minds off the miserable weather we've been having lately! We'd like you to show us your creations on the theme of

*** WINGS, FANTASY AND FICTION ***

We're thinking butterflies, fairies and mythical or fictional characters here, but you are of course free to interpret the theme however you like.

Our fantastic sponsor this month is Crafty Devils, see the Challenge Blog for details of the prize they have generously donated.

Anyway, on to my card. I bought the Lavinia Stamps Hobbit Home stamp ages ago, but had been waiting for a suitable occasion to use it. It was perfect for this challenge!

All the stamps I've used here are by Lavinia Stamps. As you can see, I partially cut around the door so I could open it, and made a little scene to put behind it. (The tree, hill and birds are hand drawn.)

 Background papers are Bo Bunny "Autumn Song", butterfly and leaf dies by Cheery Lynn, and sentiment by Stampingallday. Circle and scallop circle dies are Nestabilities.

Butterflies and fairies are two of my favourite things, so I can't wait to see all your gorgeous projects! Thanks for looking at mine, and keep those entries coming in!

Still flying!

We have lots of gorgeous entries coming in for this month's Stampalot Challenge, which is "Take Flight". I thought I'd show you a few more of my butterfly cards, all using the beautiful butterfly stamps by Prickley Pear.

BP: Wild Rose Studio "Butterfly Garden" (freebie with Quick Cards Made Easy mag).

Stamps: Butterfly and sentiment by Prickley Pear. Circle design on doily by Waltzing Mouse.

Dies: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, butterfly circle by Spellbinders.

Lace from my stash. Button from Fun 2 Do, Carlisle.

Crafts shops are a bit thin on the ground up here in Dumfriesshire. One of the few things I miss about Nottingham is that there are several good shops within reasonable travelling distance of where I used to live. However,  I found the beautiful floral button (on the card above) in a lovely shop called Fun 2 Do in Carlisle. They have the most gorgeous selection of buttons, ribbons, fabrics and general crafty bits and pieces, and I've just found out they have a website and do mail order! Driving back out of Carlisle I also noticed that there is a brand new Hobbycraft store being built there, due to open very soon! Oases in the craft desert! I'm happy now!

More cards:

BP: Book 7 "Shades of Summer" by Crafty Individuals.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by The Craft's Meow.

Dies: Butterfly by Prickley pear, poppy by Memory Box.

BP: Patterned paper ("Neighbourwood") by Trimcraft, plain pearlised from my stash.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by Stampingallday.

Die: Butterfly by Prickley Pear.

Punch: Hearts border by Martha Stewart. 

I love this butterfly with the leaves and grasses design. Just beautiful!

BP: Patterned paper ("Neighbourwood") by Trimcraft.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by Chocolate Baroque.
Dies: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, Nestabilities label by Spellbinders.
Antennae and stick-on pearls from my stash.

There's still plenty of time to enter the Stampalot Challenge, and the flight theme doesn't just mean butterflies! Interpret it however you like. There's lots of lovely inspiration from my talented teamies on the Challenge Blog, so do flutter over and take a look!