"Remembering You" Dry Embossed Butterfly

Hi, everyone! Welcome to my little blog, and Come on into the cool Air Conditioning, have a seat, and prepare to be entertained by a myriad of butterflies, hummingbirds, and a host of pollinators just outside my window!

Recently, the incredible duo Darlene and Diane had a challenge on their "Can You Handle the Pressure" challenge blog involving dry embossed butterflies. Thoroughly inspired, I set about creating a card especially for a friend who lost her husband 4 years ago this month - as a remembrance of his dear life, (but was unable to finish in time to play in the challenge). Still, I thank them for their inspiration! Since the EF was at least 10 years old and had never been used before, it qualified for their Neglected Stuff Challenge instead. 

The challenge at the time was "BUTTERFLIES" and dry embossing. This 4"x6" butterfly is the single element on this Craft Stash Limited embossing folder. Four white images were the result after running it through the machine. 

Next, Spun Sugar Oxide was smooshed atop the embossed areas. Because the design did not have clearly-defined areas to fussy cut specific layers, I made my own cut design, carefully applying clear glitter in some of the design and on the edge of each layer. 

After the glitter was dry, Kitsch Flamingo pink DI was applied along each edge of the wing layers, for a little dimension. On the two top layers, Black Soot Oxide was also applied along the edges.

A black "shadow" of black vellum was also fussy-cut for dimension:

Incidentals: "dry" distressing the edges of the "designer paper", an edge punched on one side, ink distressing the edges and here-and-there, a few pearls.

On the inside: The same color cardstock (vintage pink) for the VERSES STAMP, and a larger "PNG" of the scanned background. The card is 5"x7".

I'm thankful to the designers at "Can You Handle the Pressure" challenge blog - as I am to all of the design team members who inspire us.

I know you all are marvelous chefs in your kitchens. Never take for granted being able to cook! Usually Jack needs to help me, or finish what I start.  Recently I was able to bake brunch - and do it all by myself from start to finish LOL Normally fatigue and symptoms prevent me from doing any project unless I work on it a few minutes at a time. It's surprising how much can still be accomplished doing things in one-to-three minute increments! The crust is pretty ugly, but the quiche was yummy with spinach, garden-grown scallions and cherry tomatoes! I used Feta in place of heavier cheeses. It was good!

UGLY CRUST QUICHE:

Products: Large Butterfly Embossing Folder from Craft Stash Limited EFOB0007 (2015) (I see that Craft Stash is closing this year, but that many of their products can be purchased on Craft World), Inks: Spun Sugar Oxide, Kitsch flamingo DI, Black Soot Oxide, Nocturne VersaFine Clair Other: Clear Glitter, Pearls, home-made designer paper, black vellum, black & vintage pink papers, MS Arch Lattice Edge punch. The "designer paper" is from a book I saved particularly for this purpose. A smaller PNG is on the front, and a larger rendition is inside. Interior Stamp is from VERSES RUBBER STAMPS SY0521-E "Embrace a Memory".

Playing in these fun challenges:

1. Neglected Stuff Challenge (July 6) Use at least one neglected item (virginal embossing folder, a forsaken interior sentiment stamp, a book I had saved specifically to use in card making since 1992, and has never been utilized.) ends 7-28 (8/4)
2. Crafty Animals Challenge #96 "AG with animals or teddy bears" 7/28 (8/1)
3. Heart's Quest for Love Challenges Blog HQCOLCB #7 "BEWAS themes" Mine is a Sympathy Anniversary for a dear friend, ends 7-31, (8/7)
4. Creative Fingers Challenge #305 (sep post) Anything goes - Thank you for sharing such a positive message on your blog! (8/2 sep post)
5. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday (June 4) Anything goes - 7/31
6. Creations in Pink #82  Anything Goes Mainly in Pink 7/13 (7/15)
7. A Perfect Time to craft Challenge #7-2025 7/28
8. Triple B Birds, Butterflies & Blooms Challenge July 3 - Birds, Blooms or Butterflies using inspiration tile 7/31 (8/6)

Stamping Hugs,

Sweet Baby Shower - Nitwit Designs

Greetings to all my blogging buddies! Recently, a friend asked if I would make a baby shower card for her to give to her granddaughter. She is about to become a great-grandma!

Would you believe, as long as I've been stamping, I didn't have any appropriate items in my stash? So I dashed off to Nitwit Designs where they were offering a 50% off site-wide, and found the cutest little "Just Ducky" set. At least 60 separate items were offered in this set, including embellishments, digital stamps, borders, papers, sentiments and more! What a deal LOL

The granddaughter's favorite color is purple. While the papers in the set offered lots of pastel options, we liked this darker version. Using my Mac, each panel was outlined, shadowed, framed, and layered into place. In order to brighten some of the borders, a burgundy shadow was added rather than the purple used elsewhere. (the white lace border is from Creative Market digitals).

The folded (closed) project is 5.5 inches square. 

In my stash from Marcos Papers aeons ago (25 years?) is cardstock that is 7" tall and 25" long - perfect for creating 5x7 accordion cards. So I cut it down to accommodate this card. While the pattern papers were printed at 5.25" size, the card base was cut to score at 5.5" and 11", leaving a little space for flat folding. A Purple Copic Marker chisel tip (the same color as the background papers) was used on all the edges and creases, so white background would not show through. 

When the card is untied, and the first flap is opened, a scalloped sentiment appears, outlined with purple glitter. Even the fine, metal tip glue didn't help my shaky fingers, but it still adds sparkle. I also dotted the background of both these papers, adding the same purple glitter to make the paper a little more festive. 

The white circle is for a private note from Grandma to Granddaughter.

When the 2nd fold is open, the 3-page interior looks like this:

There is also glitter around the baby's name on the right. The font used is called "Blossoms" and can be found on Creative Market.

Flipped, the back of the card (center) is plain. The ribbon is adhered under the front panel (on the right) and goes behind the middle (back) panel. The panel on the left is what became visible when the card was first opened. AND YES, two ribbons were used. The organza ribbon was a good 25 years old, and the 1/8" satin ribbon was from Great Aunt Agnes' notions stash. Interestingly, it was $1.25 in the 50s! Both ribbons were made in the USA and are still made in the USA, but actually cost less these days in comparison to the 1950s and 1990s!

This is what the card interior looks like when it is completely opened.

Thanks for stopping by! 

A personal note to my friends:

We pulled up two gigantic Podocarpus bushes that were becoming extremely cumbersome to maintain. (Don'tcha hate when you have to do that? It's like losing friends who have grown by your side)  My passion is gardening, (including weeding, planting, pruning, caring for) which is no longer feasible health-wise, so that has fallen onto Jack's shoulders. While he enjoys vegetable gardening, hydroponic gardening, and maintaining our acreage, he's not wild about pruning the landscape bushes near the house. We found some fabulous azalea bushes on line, and pulled out the giant podocarpus bushes with the help of a tractor and Jack's brute strength. Jack has planted 13 new azaleas in their place around that corner of the pool cage, and is putting in a custom drip system for them. At age 82, I cannot help but admire how hardworking and strong he is - truly a Jack of All Trades. Now he'll visit the sod farm on the other side of the county and fill grass-sod in where the tractor decimated the grass. 

😆😄😄

Oh! The azaleas arrived in pristine condition via FEDEX, and well worth the money. We purchased them through Lowe's on-line and they arrived from Alabama and Florida (we live in Florida). The actual "nursery" is called ENCORE AZALEAS. Their website shows a zone map, and which azaleas (or rhododendrons) will grow in your area - whether they need shade or can take full sun. AND, the plants arrived guaranteed for several months.

These days, I mostly read an assortment of books, including scientific, anthropologic, philosophical, and fun cozy mysteries - and lots more! Every 2 weeks, a friend keeps our home vacuumed, dusted, and bathrooms clean. I try to do the "deep cleaning" that no one else notices. You know what I mean, right? I love listening to audible books throughout the night. CFS/ME means interrupted sleep, so I only sleep in 20-40 minute increments. I love coming into my crafting room, even when it's not possible to accomplish anything. 

Some of the people who enlighten my heart when I visit my crafty place are Connie Griffin, Leslie Miller, and Verna Angerhofer. 

QUESTION:

When you craft, do you think of the person for whom you are creating the card? Those thoughts usually guide me through the design process. Or perhaps do you think of several individuals (crafty buddies), feeling inspired by their friendship and influence in your life? I do both, MAKING ME so grateful for you all!

May I play in the following challenges please?

1. CD Sunday Plus #160 Anything Goes (using "Just Ducky" Digital set, and Creative Market lacy border and fonts. My Mac helped with embellishing the digital sets. 6/22
2. Crafty Animals #95 Animal 6/28
3. Critter Crazy Challenges #99 Animal as main Feature 6/25
4. Creative Creases Challenge #104 AG with Fun Fold (ribbon closed-tri fold creation) 7/1

Stamping Love,

Kitties for a Friend

 Hello, dear blogging friends. Wishing you all a Happy Mother's Day - and for those of you who did not raise children of your own, thank you for the nurturing impact you have had in our world - in all our communities - where life would not be the same without your specialness.

A kitty-loving friend's birthday is coming up, and I've made a card for her, in addition to some extras for her personal use later.

Having lost some abilities, I chose to use forgiving techniques by using Versafine Clair ink, Distress inks for coloring, clear EP to make those shiny eyes, and lots of scraps including OLD OLD OLD designer papers.

First is a vellum strip, dry-embossed on the edges and heat embossed with gold EP for the sentiment. Eyes, ears, etc were colored with Prismacolor Pencils.

The black sentiment is from my Brother Label Marker, using black background and white font:

Products: Starving Artistamps Kitty Cat, Warm Breeze Versafine Clair, Scattered Straw & Wild Honey DIs, Versafine Marker for eyes which were clear embossed. Tutti scalloped stitched rectangles, Martha Stewart border punch (black), stash designer & glitter papers. Eyes, ears, etc were colored with Prismacolor Pencils.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

Please forgive my inability to visit and leave comments as I once did to your dear blogs. One of my diseases has progressed into the severe stage. Cognitive abilities are crippled as a result. If I "think too hard" it throws me into a severe body-wide flare and can cause me to be "bedridden" for weeks with the strangest of symptoms. Thank you for understanding that it's beyond my abilities, and NOT because I don't care.

Here is a fun puzzle we recently put together. Check out the book titles this snoozing kitty loves! (click on the photo to enlarge LOL)

Sending you my love and best wishes for a beautiful and safe May.

Challenges:

1. Crafty Animals #94 (AG with animals) 5/28
2. Critter Crazy Challenge #98 (AG with animals) 6/1
3. Love Those Pretty Papers (May 3) AG with pretty pattern papers 6/7 sep post

hugs,

Mica WaterColors on Dark Card Stock

Hello, my dear blogging friends! I hope the recent weather upheavals were not too harsh for your areas.  

I was inspired by the mood board over at Beautiful Blossoms this month, showing bright flowers atop a dark background in the photo. To accomplish this in my card, mica watercolors were painted on turquoise card stock, after heat embossing my image. With a VERY finely-sharpened white colored pencil, the image was outlined to make the dark outlines stand out a little more:

The card base was dry embossed with Craft Essentials Basket Weave EF and distressed with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink. 

A FUN EXPERIMENT:

Using a product we all have in our stash: a stencil was placed atop the image panel, and randomly colored with WINK OF STELLA for a bit of sparkly background. 

Colored With:

Products Used: Mica Watercolors, Wink of Stella, VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze, Mermaid Lagoon DI, Clear Detail EP, Waffle Flower Stamps (310321 Bouquet Builder 5), background stencil, white prismacolor pencil; Craft Essentials Basket Weave EF

Challenges:

1. Beautiful Blossoms #28 mood board (see above) 05-12.