Banner Butterfly

I have always enjoyed the fauna side of nature. Watching butterflies, hummingbirds, or even the first fawn sighting of the year. Something about that always reminds me of my childhood, visiting my great grandparents who lived in the country where life just seemed simpler. 

I have always loved this butterfly stamp. The color combinations to be used are endless. I honestly have a Pinterest board dedicated to color combinations and many of these butterfly images are saved to it. It's not that I can't come up with these color choices on my own... but sometimes I like to see the finished product first before I start. The following color combination jumped right out at me... especially when I thought of the intended recipient. 

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:

Watercolor Wings (SU)

Banner Style (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:

Island Indigo (SU)

Whisper White (SU)

Bermuda Bay (SU)

Ink:

Memento Tuxedo Black

Island Indigo (SU) 

Bermuda Bay (SU)

Pool Party (SU)

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot 

Banner Style Dies (PTI)

Framed Tulips TIEF (SU Retired)

Dimensionals (SU)

...there is you

I have a full set of distress oxide inks, and I have been waiting for the right stamp to use them. After seeing so many designs online, I realize there simply isn't a wrong stamp to use them with. I just needed to dive in and experiment.

What was originally planned to be a card with a white embossed image, quickly changed after I finished sponging the background and realized I created a landscape scene. I had what looked to be grass and sky, and I quickly knew which stamp I wanted to use. Ironically, this wasn't one I had planned on buying. I liked the image and how it was used without being colored in. I am still learning how to use my alcohol markers and watercolor pencils... so I am shying away from the "color me in" stamps.

I kept the backing from the stamp to use as a mask when I spritzed water onto the card. My first attempt at this design left some larger water droplets either on the girl or between the girl and the background image. Some of these distressed watermarks looked a little peculiar due to their random placement. The second attempt had a more pleasant result.

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:
...there is you (Unity)

Paper:
Basic Black (SU)
Whisper White (SU)
Vintage Jadeite (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:
Versafine Onyx Black
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Cracked Pistachio
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Broken China

Accessories:
Marvy Heat Gun
Clear Embossing Powder
Blending Foam (Ranger)
Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer

Congrats, Grad

I will admit that I totally CASE'd this card from Pinterest. As we are nearing graduation season, I needed cards for that occasion. I own absolutely NO graduation stamps. While I have several congratulations stamps, I own nothing that is specific for a graduating student.

When it comes to making cards for this occasion, I usually make a small handful of designs and use the appropriate school colors... utilizing stars, the words congratulations, or even a punch art mortarboard with diploma, but this specific design struck me as a 'must do'. I saw this as being very modern looking and attractive to both the giver and the receiver.

The number framelits has proven to be a very useful tool in my craft closet. From birthday to anniversary, and now graduation cards, this set has proven its versatility. I'm looking forward to the many other ways that I can use these dies in other creations.

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:
Bravo (SU Retired)

Paper:
Real Red (SU)
Basic Black (SU)
Whisper White (SU)
Glimmer Red (SU)
Glimmer Silver (SU)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot
Swirly Scribbles Thinlits (SU)
Large Number Framelits (SU)