Trading Butterflies {Swapping Smiles}

So happy to see you all!

Today's card is for three particular challenges:

1) Our Swapping Smiles Card Swap Group - going to Paula of "Look I'm Stamping" blog. The theme this month is "Butterflies and/or Flowers" - no flowers on my card, but three layers of butterflies should count!

2) The Butterfly Challenge where this fortnight the letter is "G" - for glitter and/or Grape Color.

My card uses both!

3) Stamplorations Theme and Sketch Challenge - where this month's challenge is theme and/or sketch - I used the THEME which is Stamps and Triplets 3 of anything (I have 3 butterflies and layers of 3 on each)

Remember WAY... BACK... WHEN? 

When stamps were only available on wood?

And unmounteds and digitals had not even been thought of?

I bought this stamp in THOSE DAYS, and, sad to say, it was a VIRGIN until this card!

It never had seen ink, so as part of my "using my stash" promise, here it is.

The image is gold embossed on each butterfly layer - 

the card base is stamped on SU Whisper White, where the Tombow Markers blended beautifully!

Then a layer of pearly vellum was gold embossed and fussy cut (including the antennae):

Finally, another layer of colored, fussy-cut, gold-embossed butterflies. The gold embossing looks striking in real life, making a nice contrast in texture:

Dimensional Glue was used on the butterfly bodies, and above and below the gold embossed "frame" of the image for added dimension.

The layers of wings were separated by shaping and tiny dimensional adhesive pieces.

If I could do it over again, I would have made 4 separate white punched edges for adorning each side of the pink glittered card frame, instead of measuring and punching a square - it would have fit better and been easier, too!

How the glittery frame was made:

1) die cut a scallop rectangle,
2) trim the outside to suit your card size,
3) "paint" with SNS Brushable Glue,
4) dredge with SNS Starfire Glitter,
5) adhere with dimensional tape.

My Tip for the Day is how to stretch your glittery dollar:

Purchase a very sparkly, colorless, transparent glitter like SNS Starfire G1017.

THEN...

Paint your cardstock and colored images with glue! 

Dredge on transparent or semi-transparent colorless glitter.

The result is customized glitter colors - whatever "color" of glitter you need on a project,

all from a single jar!

[pssst! just in case you did not know - adhered glitter can also be transformed by coloring it with watercolor markers (like Tombow) or alcohol markers (like Copics) and even inks from your pads!]

 Final result:

multi-colored, dimensional, glittery butterfly bodies-

clear "white" glittery border around the gold embossed frame-

"pink" glittery frame-

all from Starfire Glitter

Products Used:

• Image: Stamps Happen Inc "Butterflies" #90247
• Spellbinders Mega Scallop Rectangles LG
• Memory Box Curled Ribbons die cut set
• Martha Stewart Vintage Floral Edge punch
• Tombow Markers
• Glitter and Embossing Powder: Sparkle N Sprinkle Starfire Glitter G1017 (on pink cardstock frame, and dimensionally on white cardstock, and butterflies' bodies), Gold Detail EP (on all three layers).

Challenges I'd like to enter pretty please:

1. The Butterfly Challenge #49 - "G" is for Glitter and/or Grape. 3/8 (used both glitter and red grape color) (mentioned blog in my post above)
2. Chocolate Coffe and Cards Challenge #103 "Anything Goes" 3/4
3. Creative Fingers Challenges #103 "Anything Goes" 3/4 (winners post on chal #105)
4. Simply Create Too Challenges #103 "Use Pink or Red Only" 3/4 (winners may be announced week after)
5. Stamplorations Theme and Sketch Challenge (Feb M) theme and/or sketch - used the THEME which is Stamps and Triplets 3 of anything (I have 3 butterflies and layers of 3 on each) (mentioned blog in my post above)
6. Star Stampz Challenges (Feb 18) Monochromatic Challenge 3/4
7. Southern Girls (Feb 18) "Add A Little Sparkle To Your Life"  Glitter and Embossing Powder (on pink cardstock frame, and dimensionally on white cardstock, and butterflies' bodies), Gold Detail EP (on all three layers).    (sep post for winners)
8. Crafting for All Seasons Challenges - #120 "Three of Anything" (3 butterflies and layers of 3 on each butterfly) 3/2
9. Creative Moments Challenges - #87 Anything Goes with Embossing (The image is gold embossed - and the butterflies are triple layered and fussy cut, with gold embossing on each layer) 3/2
10. Inspiration Destination Challenges - #74 Anything Goes 3/2

Thanks for stopping by!
hugs,

How to set up Bloglovin'

Hello, sweet friends!

Have you noticed that many bloggers are following you using other formats and readers?

Not just Google Followers?

One easy-to-use format is Bloglovin'.

Many of us have the convenient "follow me on Bloglovin'" buttons on our blogs. 

To gain more followers, and make life easier for those who utilize Bloglovin'

you can enable a Bloglovin' button, too!

AND

you don't need a Bloglovin' blog to do this!

Go to http://www.bloglovin.com/

Create an account (email ID + Password).

After creating your account, "Claim Your Blog" for your HTML (which will be added in your Blogger's "Add a Gadget" column). Here's how:

You may find that your blog already has Bloglovin' followers, making it easy to claim.

If you have trouble "Claiming Your Blog",  follow the step-by-step directions here:

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2016/02/verifying-blog-ownership-in-bloglovin.html

Bloglovin' has very handy apps for smart phones and tablets. 

In fact, I leave comments on my Friends' Blogs via the app on my iPad.

It's very user friendly.

Bloglovin' allows you to organize blogs the way the old, old Google Reader did - 

sorting and categorizing your blogs into folders, like:

Friends

Computer Tech

Challenges

Knitting

Recipes

Techniques

or whatever works for you!

Hope this helps a little.

PS - to keep up with the Google Blogger, Word Press, Typepad quirks and understand the latest gadgets, problems, solutions and easy step-by-step directions for making blog life more manageable, try following
The Real Blogger Status.

hugs,

Bugaboo Valentine

Bugaboo Style is exactly what my husband enjoys when it comes to cards made for him... 

so today's card is made according to the February Catch The Bug Challenge guidelines -- 

KEEP IT SIMPLE 

No Glitter - no metallics -

Simple it is - colored with my beloved Prisma Color Pencils (they had been squealing with neglect)!

This card is all about Light!

Jack is my Light during my hardest trials and deepest physical difficulties. 

He is always there - patiently helpful and lovingly supportive.

So without further ado - here is my Valentine "Jack Style"!

Products used:
Bugaboo's "You Light Up My Life"
SB Marvelous Squares, SB Squares, SB Decagons (interior)
Prisma Color Pencils, Straw Distress Ink
Computer Generated Sentiment

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone - the tradition began with a compassionate man - and it is still all about being compassionate and kind toward not only the needy, but to those we care deeply for.

love,

Scallop Petals {Scrapy Land}

Greetings, Sweet Crafty Friends!

Welcome to Scrapy Land Challenge #35!

Theme: Anything Goes Using Die Cut brands sold by Scrapy Land. 

Up for grabs is a $15 gift card to the Scrapy Land Store, and several badge opportunities, as well. 

We love being inspired by your pretty cards submitted to our challenges.

You have until February 14 to submit your pretties!

My card is 8.5" x 5.5" and uses the following die cuts:

Scrapy Land Products Used:

Spellbinders:

5x7 Detailed Scallops

Fancy Tags One

Carnation Creations

Bitty Blossoms (leaf)

Sue Wilson:

Configurations - Lattice Arched Adornment

Dandelion Clocks

One of my promises this year is to use stash items. This beautiful Stampin Up! RIOT OF PETALS image has never seen ink - and the stamp is long retired. How awful is that? But at last she received a little ink and embossing powder. Now she will be happy for a while until I bring her out again!

DO YOU HAVE ANY OLD VIRGIN RUBBER IN YOUR STASH?

Image Close Up: The bottom 2 inches have been cut off the image:

The individual flower petals are "colored" with SNS Starfire ultrafine glitter.

Tip: Hold brads with tweezers. Heat brads with embossing tool, then dip while hot into the Gold Detail EP. Repeat and dip again. Heat one more time and dip into Starfire glitter. Briefly heat one last time. The brads are now a molten, distressed gold, darkened a little by the glitter:

Create the frame without using a plain rectangular die on the inside of the decorative frame die:

TIP: Glittering Vellum: After painting PPA on the vellum leaves, they were dredged in the SNS Starfire glitter. The wet vellum rolled into tube shapes. Upon drying the vellum relaxed to its original form. Even though the leaves have a slightly translucent quality, the glitter camouflages the adhesive when adhering the leaves to the card base.

BUILD A FRAME:

A Sakura Glue Pen (Quickie Glue) was used to "color" the petals of the mums a little at a time, and Starfire glitter was dredged on top. I wish the photos would pick up the glitteriness. It's really pretty!

The white centers to the gold flowers were also dredged with Starfire Glitter.

Now it's your turn!

We always look forward to seeing your beautiful projects at:

Scrapy Land Challenge #35

Scrapy Land Products Used:

• Spellbinders 5x7 Detailed Scallops, Fancy Tags One, Carnation Creations, Bitty Blossoms (leaf)
• Sue Wilson Configurations - Lattice Arched Adornment, Dandelion Clocks

Other Products:

• Images: Stampin' Up! Riot of Petals (retired), sentiment by Penny Black
• Paper: Gold glossy, Gray, White, Gray vellum
• Sparkle N Sprinkle: Detailed Gold embossing powder, Starfire Ultrafine glitter
• Gray Tombow marker to outline the gold embossed image
• Embossing Folder - Craft Essentials EFOB0010 Basket Weave

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Crafty Cardmakers #156 Use Dies or Punches (used 6 diff die sets) 2/7
2. Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenges #156 Monochromatic theme 2/12
3. Crafting With Friends #13 Anything Goes 2/12
4. Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges (Feb) Use EP and Glitter (Detailed Gold embossing powder, Starfire Ultrafine glitter on every petal of the white mums, on the vellum leaves and in the white centers of the die cut flowers 3/1
5. Glittern N Sparkle Challenge #173 Embossing (dry or heat) - Used Craft Essentials EFOB0010 Basket Weave EF on gold background and gold flowers. Used gold EP on the large mum image and sentiment. The brads were dipped into Gold EP and then again into the glitter to create a unique finish) 2/7
6. The Crafter's Cafe #142 "Monochromatic" 2/15
7. The Crafting Musketeers #34 "Monochromatic" 3/1
8. Ruby's Rainbow Challenges #122 "Anything Goes" 2/17 (JFF "shout out")

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamping Hugs,

Kissing Frogs {Crafts Galore Encore}

Hello, dear crafting friends!

Welcome to the second challenge of 2016 at Crafts Galore Encore Challenges!

The Rules to the Challenge are so easy! 

Just create your project (using any crafting medium) according to this month's theme with up to 3 entries, and link your blog posts directly to the linky on the CGE Challenge site! That's it!
Three adorable images are the prize!

This month's challenge theme is easy-peasy - 

"Anything Goes Using a Digi or Stamp".

Our Sponsor this month is: 

Sherri Baldy "Besties" Digit Stamps

I absolutely could not stop the little girl in me!

     My card became girl-i-er...

          and girl-i-er...   and girl-i-er...

               no matter how many times I tried to stop! Yikes!

Products Used:

Big Eyed Girl - Sherri Baldy "Besties" Digit Stamps
     All the dies are from Scrapy Land,
          Glitter is from Sparkle N Sprinkle,
               Pretty flowers (etc) are from Lavish Laces (Etsy),
             

This little "Kisser of Frogs" was so fun to color! It was only natural to glitter-fy her!
Glitter on her dress,
Glitter on the edges of circle,
Glitter on the leaves,
Glitter on the flowers
Lastly,

glitter on our unsuspecting German Shepherd!

Computer-generated sentiment because...

Life becomes full of Love when we fully embrace it - 

-all of it - 

even the hard times!

Next, I made a flat 6" x 6" card for mailing purposes.
Not my normal color choices,

it is in ultra neon bright colors, but still in pink and green.

Only her petticoats are glittered! She looks electric!
Distressed edges are sewn with three layers of stitching.

Now it's your turn to play!

Crafts Galore Encore Challenges

Products Used:

• Image: My Besties IMG308
• Sentiment: computer generated
• Sue Wilson Dies: Italian Decorative Frames Circles, Italian Corner Border Tag, Dandelion Clocks
• Spellbinders: (1st card) Grand Big Scallop Circles, Grand Labels 23 (frame), Petite Scallop Long Rectangles, Long Rectangles, Grand Circles (2nd card) Diamondessence, Grand Stately Circles
• Memory Box (1st Card) Cascadia Butterfly Trio, Leavenworth Butterfly Trio, (2nd card) Fuchsia Sprig 98303
• Sparkle N Sprinkle Green Iris Glitter G1068, Starfire Glitter G1017
• Fabric Flowers, Silk Flowers, leaves and Lace from Lavish Laces (Etsy)
• Recollections rhinestone hearts

Challenges I'd like to play in Pretty Please?

1. A Gem of a Challenge #161 In The PINK - LOTS of Pink plz - 2/4
2. Crafty Cardmakers #156 Use Dies or Punches (used 11 diff die sets to create the circles and other shapes - the specific dies are listed in the Products Used section of my post) 2/7
3. Allsorts Challenge Blog - #348 Bring on the Bling (both cards are loaded with glitter, but the first card has blingy heart rhinestones across the bottom of the easel card, very sparkly-glittery flowers and leaves, her dress is all glittered except for the petticoat, the two large green flowers have crystal-green brad centers 2/3
4. Crafting With Friends #13 Anything Goes 2/12
5. My Besties UK Challenge (Feb 1) Anything Goes with buttons or brads (brad centers in the green flowers on the first card, 3 buttons sewn into the CS on the 2nd card) 3/1
6. 613 Avenue Create #161 - Anything Goes Using Something From Your Stash - my promise was to use lots of my stash this year (Card 1: used old green negative frame around outside, old green ribbon roses, old green crystal brads, old flowers and leaves, old pink heart rhinestones. Card 2: used old buttons and designer paper) 2/7 
7. Eclectic Ellapu: (Feb 1) "Love Actually - Anything to do with Love" This little kisser of frogs is seeking her true love. She is surrounded by hearts in the first card, and the sentiment is bordered with pink heart rhinestones - and still hopeful in the 2nd card LOL holding her little crowned frog prince) 2/28
8. Scrapbook Stamp Society #84 Anything Besties with Option of Heart (1st card has hearts circled around Besties from a Sue Wilson die combined with a Spellbinders scallop die) 2/14
9. Elliebelle's Creative Moments Color It Up Linky Party - Anything Goes as long as it is Colored #3 - 2/12

Stamping Hugs,

Whimsy Moon and Fairy Darcee {Our Crafty Corner}

Greetings Crafty Friends!

Today is my first post for the Our Crafty Corner Challenge!
It begins this morning and continues until the end of the month.

OCC is a month-long challenge, beginning the first Monday of each month.

Every month's theme: ANYTHING GOES

My card features quirky little Fairy Darcee enjoying a lovely evening with her friend Whimsy Moon

offered by this month's sponsor My Stitch Back In Twine digitals.

My Stitch Back in Twine: 
Fairy Darcee
Whimsy Moon

I am using two of the My Stitch Back In Twine digital images in my easel card.

It is night time, and the moon is casting a beautiful glow for Fairy Darcee!

The little shooting stars and crescent moon brass charms have been coated with Silver Pearl Embossing Powder from SNS - in real life, the cosmic shimmer shows up - sorry it does not show with the photos.

I used a few of the flowers on the bottom (right side) of the digi image and added them to the other side of the image, to the little mushroom, and even put tiny ones at the ends of her braids!

More flowers from the fairy base are also sprinkled on the computer generated sentiment:

The White Labels 46 border and Whimsy Moon are "halo'ed" with SNS Sparkle embossing powder:

In fact, there is NO GLITTER on my card!

It is all SNS embossing powders that contain glitter!

(the leafy blue background panel, the wings and clothing of the fairy, the halo around the moon, and the green base on the bottom of the easel card!
The charms have been embossed with Silver Pearl Cosmic EP to remove the brassiness.

Now it's your turn to link up to the 
Our Crafty Corner Challenge!

Products Used:

• Images: My Stitch Back in Twine Fairy Darcee, Whimsy Moon
• Sparkle N Sprinkle Mediterranean Star embossing powder, Pear Star embossing powder, Sparkle embossing powder, Silver Pearl Cosmic embossing powder
• Spellbinders Triple Tear Circles (moon), Labels 46, Decorative Labels 46
• Copic Markers, Moonlight White Brilliance ink
• Crafter's Companion Die'Sire Star of Wonder and Regency Swirls embossing folders, 
• Martha Stewart Laurel Leaf Punch ATP and Doily Lace Trim Deep Edge Punch
• Moon and stars charms which have been heated with Silver Pearl Cosmic EP
• Gold metallic thread
• Apache Quote computer generated, Corner Punch by EK Success

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Sketchy Colors #264 (shown in photo above - blue, green white) 2/7
2. Crafty Cardmakers #156 Use Dies or Punches (used 3 diff die sets, a corner punch by EK Success, A deep Edge trim MS punch in the bottom portion of the card, and a leaf MS PATP on both top and bottom - the specific dies and punches are listed in the Products Used section of my post) 2/7
3. Allsorts Challenge Blog - #348 Bring on the Bling (loaded with glittery embossing powder, top- her wings, dress, white frame, and aquamarine leaf punch panel. bottom is loaded with same around moon and green panel. The charms are also covered with a mica embossing powder) 2/3
4. Crafting With Friends #13 Anything Goes 2/12
5. Lacy Sunshine's Color 'n Craft Anything (Jan 24) 2W "Anything Goes" 2/5
6. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #26 Anything Goes 2/5
7. 613 Avenue Create #161 - Anything Goes Using Something From Your Stash - my promise was to use lots of my stash this year (used old charms heated with very old EP, 2 six-month-old virgin Crafter's Companion embossing folders, old neon green cardstock) 2/7 
8. Glitter 'N' Sparkle Challenges #173 "Embossing - dry or heat" Lots of both kinds of embossing on this card (three top panels are dry embossed, the Martha Stewart punch around the page leaf panel is heat embossed with Mediterranean Star EP, the fairy's dress and wings are embossed with Sparkle EP, the 3 charms are embossed with Silver Pearl EP. The bottom of the card - green panel is embossed with Pear Star EP, the charm is embossed with Silver Pearl EP, and the moon is embossed with Sparkle EP.) 2/7
9. Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges (Feb) Use EP - (Moon and stars charms have been heated with Silver Pearl Cosmic EP, Mediterranean Star EP on turq leaf panel, Pear Star EP on green panel, Sparkle EP around moon and on fairy's wings and dress) 3/1

hugs,