My blog is called "Creative Smiles" because my designs are the result of incorporating mistakes. With fumble fingers that drop whatever they are holding - repeatedly, it takes a lot of giggles, smiles and creative patience during my crafting process. xx

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Morphed Butterfly

Note: April's Blog Candy Question can be found here. Deadline is April 30.


Have you ever met one of those
special 
blogging buddies 
who almost instantly becomes not just a friend, 
but a Muse as well? 

Shirley Deatcher and I have long enjoyed visiting each another's blogs. 

Recently, we exchanged butterfly cards as well. 

Today I made another butterfly card, courtesy of seeing Shirley's inspiring card hanging on the bulletin board over my computer.

Shirley sent this gorgeously shimmering, textured butterfly card. (just click on her card to find out how she created the effects). It became my inspiration in using a pretty new Inkadinakadoo butterfly stamp which was feeling sadly neglected.

The only similarity in these two cards is that both have large, heat-embossed butterfly images.

That's 'cuz mine morphed. Without any planning. It just happened.

That means I had no forethought except I wanted to use the new image (smile). This week's Sketch N Stash challenge inspired my background. The hosts at Sketch N Stash provide an awesome sketch, and then challenge us to use new or neglected Stash.

In this case, the Bazzill Bling cardstock is at least 6 years old, the green Stardream CS is 4-5 years old, the  Radiant Moss Embossing Powder is at least 2 years old, the ribbon is a good 3-4 years old, but the butterfly is only a month old! (hoping to redeem myself). All these items had never been used (hanging head in shame).


My photographs do not capture the card correctly, as is frequently the case with blingy stuff like embossing powder and glitter (this is glitterfied embossing powder - it actually looks more like glitter than EP).

The green powder has been combined with gold and green glitters, to produce a spectacular effect.

Depending how the card is held, the glitter sparkles green or gold, but not both at the same time.

The cardstock is also blingy except for the white, which is matte. The Bazzill Bling has been distressed and inked with Meadow dye ink and heat set. VersaMark was smooshed in areas of the four panels and glittery embossing powder heat set, to produce a lovely effect. Wish you could see it!



and I thought, 

"How Perfect!" 

Two virginal embossing folders from Couture Creations and SNS Embossing Powder were readily available.




This card is submitted to these great challenges (thank you Challenge hosts!)

Sketch N Stash #111 - see paragraph in blog post (cardstock, EP, ribbon, butterfly image)
Creative Moments - #14 Things With Wings (butterfly)
Whimsical Designs - Emboss It - (2 embossing folders, 1 embossing powder)
Artistic Inspirations - #36 Anything Goes
Card Mania Challenge - #18 punches or die cuts (2 SB dies Fleur de Lis)
Crafty Bloggers Network - #10 Anything Goes
LEJ Designs Challenge - #48 Show us your Ribbons (green & gold in the middle)
Flutterby Wednesday - #235 must have butterfly or fairy
Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge - #4 Monochromatic (all green - except white panel)
2 Sisters Challenge - #138 Anything Goes


Products Used:

Inkadinkaclings Butterfly
Sparkle N Sprinkle Radiant Moss Green embossing powder EP271
Inks: VersaMark, Ranger Meadow dye ink
Cardstock: Bazzill Bling green, White, Stardream Green
Die Cuts: SB Fleur de Lis embossing dies
Ribbon
Embossing Folders: Counture Creations Tied Together and Venus Crest
Adhesives: Quick Dry Glue, SNS 1/2" Tear-ific Tape, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by (and thanks for inspiring me AGAIN today, Shirley!)

hugs,

44 comments:

Debi said...

Donna,
Absolutely gorgeous card. That butterfly stamp is wonderful with the designs in it. I'll be lookingh for that one at the Allentown show on Saturday! Nice job girlfriend.

Karen Petitt said...

Absolutely gorgeous Donna! I love the stamp and I love the embossing powder, a really stunning creation hugs Karen

Chrissy said...

So very pretty Donna, love your butterfly and gorgeous greens.Pretty ribbon detail and love the layout.
Thanks for joining in with us at Flutter By Wednesdays..

Luv CHRISSYxx

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Donna! What a wonderful surprise to read your blog post this evening. First, your card is stunning, love all the details - the sparkly embossed butterfly, embossing, inking and combination/layers of die cuts & ribbon. Your take on the sketch is beautiful. Thank you for your ongoing inspiration, support & kind words. I hope you are doing well! Hugs, Shirleyx

scrappymo! said...

This butterfly card is beautiful...Love the embossing and the lovely shade of green that you chose.

Donna Maligno said...

What is all this green luscious ness? Sooooo elegant and another of my favorite colors. Love this, De!

Donna Maligno said...

What is all this green luscious ness? Sooooo elegant and another of my favorite colors. Love this, De!

Brenda said...

WOWSER!!! Stunning! Love all the elements and the mostly green color :)

Danni said...

Gorgeous!! What a wonderful card! Thank you for playing along with my Flutter By Wednesday Challenge!

Dawn said...

This is just stunning, Donna! LOVE that butterfly and all the wonderful glitter and embossing. Every little detail on here is just gorgeous. I think I'm going to have to track down that butterfly stamp - those wings are amazing!

Hugs, Dawn

Sue said...

WOW!! This is stunning Donna. Your sparkly butterfly looks amazing and so beautiful. The shades of green are gorgeous and I really love the way you have used the sketch
Hugs Sue

Eret said...

Donna, your card is magnificent. So elegant and beautiful. I love all the shine and embossing. The green is perfect for it. Stunning card!
Hugs
Eret

KarinsArtScrap said...

gorgeous cards Donna beautiful done.

greetings karin

Shona Erlenborn said...

Totally gorgeous Donna! Love the double embossed background. Very elegant with so much texture. That butterfly image is just beautiful.

Monica said...

Hi Donna,

WOOOOWWWW!!! This is so very pretty - the butterfly is popping out and smiling away. All the monotones look simply fab. I have so many embossing powders all hiding in a drawer. Now you are giving me inspiration to go and use them before my Versamark ink decides to ditch me. It dries up so quickly you know. Anyway back to your winged beauty - SUPERB.
The card sent by your friend is very pretty as well. Thanks for sharing it.
Donna, your comments always warm up my heart. Thank you for the joy you bring to me.
Much love,
Monica

lady jasmine crafts said...

What wonderful card love the greens and your friends butterfly would inspier anyone. Thank you for joining us at Rhedd and Rosie. xxx

Anne Temple said...

This is spectacular! I can see why you had to have the butterfly - it's gorgeous all by itself. Love the embossing powder and dry embossing too. Fabulous take on the sketch.

cotnob said...

This is a beautiful card Donna, I love your gorgeous heat embossed butterfly and the fabulous texture you have achieved on your card.
Pauline
x

Helen said...

Thank you so much for the lovely comment you left on my blog - much appreciated. Your card is gorgeous - I love the colours you've used.

Helen x

Zoe said...

Gorgeous card, what an amazing butterfly, really stunning, thanks for joining in Rhedd and Rosie's challenge, good luck Hun, Zoe DT xx

Sylvia said...

Fabulous card, love the butterfly and all the dry and heat embossing. Thank you for joining us for the Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge.

Sylvia (DT)

pam said...

beautiful card Donna, love all the sparkle and the fabulous colour, amazing butterfly, with a fabulous layout
pam

Verna Angerhofer said...

Your card is absolutely gorgeous and so is that of your friend's. I just love all the glitz and details of the sketch.

creativearts said...

Fantastic project! Beautiful butterfly and I love how you embossed the corners of the squares. This really made the card pulled together and the butterfly the main attraction. Mixing embossing powders together are so neat.

Leslie Miller said...

I'm in awe every time you stamp! What a gorgeous butterfly, especially all glittered up with your special EP. Beautiful card design with the alternate embossed panels, and love the gold threaded scrunched up ribbon. Wonderful to do it all in green. Such a soothing color of nature. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be green.

Karen Willis said...

Beautiful card, love that butterfly! Thanks for joining us at LEJ Designs Karen xx

kenli said...

Very lovely! The image is adorable! Love your design and colors! Thanks for joining us at Card Mania Challendges.

Sue Jones said...

WOW!! Beautiful AND in my fav colours! Thanks so much for playing along this week at whimsical Wednesdays - Good luck.

Gerlinde said...

What a gorgeous butterfly stamp! Love all the elements behind it too - the embossed sections, the folded ribbon and die cuts - just beautiful!

NanaConnie said...

Fantastic card, De. I've never seen such an incredible butterfly! Your greens are simply magnificent and I love the green/gold glitter you chose. There just aren't enough superlative adjectives to so this justice so I'll settle for saying I love absolutely everything about this, including your great take on that sketch.

Tfriday said...

Wow, what a card. Love the embossing folders and that butterfly is gorgeous. Awesome job. Thanks so much for joining us at Whimsical Designs this week.

Julie Z said...

Love all the cool shimmering greens in this De! And kudos to you for getting all those "seldom loved" lol products combined with your new stamp - everything came together wonderfully!

Glenda Atkins said...

Gorgeous monochromatic card with a darling embossed butterfly! Love the green colours,the die cut frames and your ribbon. Thanks for sharing with us at LEJ Designs!

Karen Petitt said...

Hi Donna, back again this time with my DT hat on. I still love this, in fact I think I love it a little more than the first time I saw it lol! Thank you for joining us at Creative Moments #13 things with wings challenge. We really appreciate it and hope to see you at our next challenge Karen P CM DT (http://stampinginpink.blogspot.co.uk/ )

PinkyLisasInkyCrafts said...

Thank you so much for joining out 48th Challenge 'Show Us Your Ribbons' over on the LEJ Designs Challenge Blog.
This is absolutely gorgeous. I love all the texture detailing and the layour of the card. The diecuts are beautiful and I love the gathered ribbon. Lovely card.
Thank you so much for joining us this week and I hope you will join us for more of our future challenges.

Hugs Lisa xxxxx LEJ DT Member

Sue said...

Donna, this is simply stunning, love the green and the embossing, I have those two folders, and love them both. Beautifully made!

Hugs
Sue

Carol Hurlock said...

Wow Donna this is really spectacular. I love the effect on the butterfly and how it sparkles in two different colors. That is really cool. I am also taken with your embossed panels that are distressed. I love that look-it caught my eye immediately. Those embossing folders are spectacular. This is a beauty.
Bear Hugs,
Carol

Tina Theis of Ivory Moon Designs said...

OH MY GOODNESS what a truly stunning card ... i really love it so much ... fab xx
Thanks for joining us over at LEJ DESIGNS Challenge Blog..

Hope we see you again soon

Good Luck

Tina (Design Team)

Tina Theis of Ivory Moon Designs said...

Hey Donna ... Just had to leave another comment .... this realy is a stunning stunning card .... I ADORE it .. the colours stand out so much xxx

REALLY beautiful xx

Tina xxx

Sian Ridley said...

Such a gorgeous card! It's always nice when a card just sort of comes together and creates itself :) I love that this card is all green and sparkly :)

Janet - aka stacky said...

Absolutely Beautiful everything about it is gorgeous. Thank you for joining in the fun with us at Sketch N Stash x

Mila said...

Lovely card! Really beautiful!
Thanks for joining us at Card Mania Challenges!
Hugs, Mila

Sandra Wright. said...

A stunning entry for our challenge..my favourite colour too.

Thank you for joining in with our challenge over at Rhedd & Rosies.

Hugs
Sandie x (owner/head designer)

Ger said...

Very pretty! Love the die cuts and inking. Thankyou for joining us this month at Crafty Bloggers Network.
Geraldine M
CBN DT