Butterflies 2

As I said in my previous post, the dearth of butterflies in our garden has prompted me to put some on my cards instead.


A fairly simple one to begin with. I didn't want too much to detract from the main image, which is an old Penny Black stamp from 1999, but still one of my favourites. I coloured it with Promarkers (my first attempt with them!)


This one uses an Inkadinkadoo stamp. The butterfly is diecut & mounted with the Cuttlebug, with my Martha Stewart punch for the borders.


Next a set of four Hero Arts patterned butterflies, stamped over My Mind's Eye papers.



Another criss-cross card, using papers from the Butterfly Bliss CD from Graphicus. The stamps are Elusive Images, also from Graphicus, except for the sentiment which is by Rubber Stamp Tapestry. The white butterfly, which appears when the insert is removed, is punched.


Finally, a mini landscape card. I cut a square mask, along with a few butterflies, and then sponged over them with pigment inks to make a background, adding the stamped images (Elusive Images) after removing the butterflies but before removing the square. The result was then cut out and embossed on the Cuttlebug, before being mounted on to a card stamped with more Elusive Images (from the Wild Meadow set). Of the five, I think this is my favourite. I may not have many butterflies in my garden these days, but they'll never be far away from my cards!

Criss Cross Cards

Looking for something a bit different to do with my class, I came across this tutorial by Beate Johns on the Splitcoast Stampers website. (The SCS site is definitely worth a look, as it has lots of ideas, techniques and galleries for inspiration.)

Instead of opening in the usual way, the criss cross card forms a pocket to hold an insert upon which a message can be written. There is obviously great scope, then, for decorating both pocket and insert. In her tutorial Beate has used printed papers. I have such an amount of papers that I really should start to use them, instead of just admiring them, so I thought that these cards would be just the thing. I have made three so far, with a combination of papers and stamping. I used some more of my prize Elusive Images Damask Blocks, and that Martha Stewart punch also made an appearance.













I made the orange one first, then when I'd got used to the method it was quite easy to change the size and shape to make the different designs. I think they make a nice change from conventional cards, and I really do have lots of papers to use up, so I don't think these will be the last I'll be making!