CELEBRATE BUTTERFLY

While many of the supplies used in this card are retired, the technique is still a winner, and anyone can have fun with it.

The star of the card is, of course, the decorative butterfly. To achieve this, find a stamp with lots of open line work -- think a coloring book. This butterfly stamp is ideal for the technique. Choose a piece of Designer Series Paper that would work well with what you picture in your mind.

In black ink, stamp your open image onto the DSP. I have bad arthritis in my hands, so I have trouble always getting a good even image. If you experience that also, just take a black marker and carefully go over the areas that need a little help.

Once the image is stamped to your satisfaction, carefully fussy cut it, cutting right up to the black stamped lines.

To create the antennae on the butterfly, I used some thin craft wire, shaping it into a "v" shape and taping the closed end to the back of the butterfly's head. 

The rest of the card involves lots of layering, and a bit of embossing.

Although it would be easy to recreate the card by simply looking at my sample, I will share a quick tutorial with you. Here goes.

SUPPLIES:

White cardstock

Real Red cardstock

Daffodil Delight cardstock

Choice of suitable Designer Series Paper

Black ink

Choice of large, open stamp (This butterfly is from Beautiful Day, retired)

Thin craft wire (if you're doing a butterfly)

Daffodil Delight ribbon

Die Cutting/Embossing Machine

Dot to Dot Embossing Folder (retired, but it can be replaced with any you choose)

DIRECTIONS:

Fold a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of White cardstock in half, creasing it well with a bone folder.

Run a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Real Red cardstock through your embossing machine inside the embossing folder you've chosen. Adhere this embossed piece to the card base.

Adhere a 1 3/4" x 5 1/4" piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock to a piece of White cardstock that measures 2" x 5 1/4".

Stamp a sentiment in black at the far right side of a 1/2" x 5 1/4" strip of white cardstock. Adhere this strip to the yellow, about 1/2" from the top of the yellow. Right below the sentiment, add a piece of the yellow ribbon, taping the ends to the back of the panel.

Adhere this strip to the embossed piece aabout 1" from the top of the red.

Stamp in black ink the open image you selected onto the DSP. If any of the lines are a little inadequately stamped, fix that with a fine black marker. Fussy cut the image, cutting right to the black stamp lines.

If you have stamped a butterfly, cut a 2" piece of thin craft wire and bend it in half. Use tape to fasten it to the back of the butterfly's head. Trim the ends as needed to the right size for antennae. Bend the wires as desired.

With adhesvie on just the body of the butterfly, attach it to the yellow strip alongside the sentiment. Carefully tilt the wings upward to simulate flight.

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Happiness is like a butterfly: The more you chase it, the more it will evade you, but if you notice the other things around you, it will gently come and sit on your shoulder.

- Henry David Thoreau -

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Butterfly

Smiles.