Cardinal and Butterflies {Scrapy Land}

Greetings, Sweet Crafty Friends!

Welcome to Scrapy Land Challenge #37!

Today's card is a combination for the SL Challenge and a card commission.

A friend asked me to make a 60th Birthday Card with a cardinal and butterflies.

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 March 13 to submit your pretties!

My 6" x 9" card uses the following Scrapy Land Products:

Sue Wilson Noble Ornate Pierced Design

Sue Wilson Double Pierced Rectangles

Spellbinders Grate Effect

Couture Creations Embossing Folder Flamingos and Hedgehogs

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Swiss Dot"

Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio

Memory Box Leavenworth Butterfly Trio

Taylored Expressions Poster Graphic Numbers

The Taylored Expressions Poster Graphic Numbers are quirky and fun with "holes and fancies".

The white shapes behind the grey panel are all on a single layer!
Here's how:

Now it's your turn!

We always look forward to seeing your beautiful projects at:

Scrapy Land Challenge #37

Scrapy Land Products Used:
Sue Wilson Noble Ornate Pierced Design, Double Pierced Rectangles
Spellbinders Grate Effect
Couture Creations Embossing Folder "Flamingos and Hedgehogs"
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Swiss Dot"
Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio, Leavenworth Butterfly Trio
Taylored Expressions Poster Graphic Numbers

Image: Stampin Up! Cardinal (Beauty of the Season set)
Glitter: Sparkle N Sprinkle Fire Engine Red G1007, Starfire G1017
Copic Markers
Martha Stewart Laurel Leaf Punch ATP
Papers: White, Red, Grey

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Crazy Challenge #217 - Use Red 3/14
2. Craft Your Passion #301 - Always Anything Goes 3/6
3. Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges - (Mar) Use Loose Glitter 3/31
4. Ellibelle's Let's Color Linky Party #4 - Anything Goes with something Colored 3/12
5. One Crazy Stamper Inc - (March) Anything Goes with Rubber Stamp 3/31 (used Stampin Up! Rubber Stamp)
6. Addicted to Stamps - #121 Glitter/Bling plus a Stamp - (SU Cardinal, 2 colors of glitter in the frame and "60" and distressed around the cardinal) 3/13
7. Glitter 'n Sparkle Challenges - Things With Wings (bird + 4 layered butterflies 3/5
8. Nordsalten Hobbyklubb #134 Use Punches or Die Cuts 3/15 (listed below)

• Die Cuts Used: Sue Wilson Noble Ornate Pierced Design, Double Pierced Rectangles
•  Spellbinders Grate Effect
•  Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio, Leavenworth Butterfly Trio
•  Taylored Expressions Poster Graphic Numbers
•  Punch Used: Martha Stewart Laurel Leaf Punch ATP

Thank you for stopping by!
hugs,

KennyK Mermaid {Crafts Galore Encore}

Hello, sweet crafting friends!

Here's to Spring (giggle)!

While we have had a mild, unusually wet winter here, with only occasional freezes, the rest of you are ready for Spring. Maybe my blog header will hasten Mother Nature? Our azaleas are about bloomed out, the tulip tree has sprouted with pink magnificence, and the camellias are still prolific. Surely Spring is about to greet us?

On to Card Making!

The March challenge at Crafts Galore Encore is upon us already!

The Rules to the Challenge are so "painless"! (giggle)

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!

This month's challenge theme is oh-so-easy! 

"Make a Card".

Our Sponsor this month is KennyK. There will be two challenge winners who get to choose 3 digital stamps of their choice from the KennyK Store! Please see the details for a special discount and contest available to all of the Crafts Galore Encore followers on our challenge blog post this month! 

KennyK stamps are sent as beautiful PNG images. Today I'm featuring "Mermaid".

My little Mermaid has been splashing with the dolphins, enjoying a fantastic day!

I used the aluminum liner on a Planter's Peanut Container to die cut the shells:

Copic Markers provided a little color on the silver aluminum liner.

There are a number of Mermaid quotes on the internet. I've assembled several with a little editing and adding some of my own to make a fun sentiment on the inside!

Some paper layered sea shell die cuts, and a few tiny real sea shells, help set the stage:

Now it's your turn to play! All you need to do is create a card!
See you at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenges

Products Used:

Image: Kenny K Mermaid
Punches: MS Scallop Teardrop Punch (around the page), EKS 3/4" circle
Die Cuts: SB Triple Tear S4-490, SB Circles, SB Dolphin, Impression Obsession Shells, KandCo purple border
Paper: White, aqua, turquoise, metallic liners from Peanut Cans
Copic Markers, dye-base inks, embossing folders, Brilliance Ink


Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenges #119 (Feb 27) Anything Goes with a Twist of Fantasy 3/7 (sep post)
2. Crafting With Friends #15 Anything Goes 3/12 (top new chal)
3. Creative Fingers #103 Anything Goes 3/5 (posts on 2 newer chals)
4. Jo's Scrap Shack Fun-Day Friday Challenge #127 Recycled Scraps (pink border pieced from left overs, metallic shells are from recycled peanut can lid, Turquoise circle and dolphin are pieces, and the silver embossed dolphin is from a tin sliver of silver) 3/5           (winners announced week of March 7)
5. Simply Paper Crafts #24 Anything Goes 3/13 (top new chal)
6. Color Your World Team B Inspiration Feb 21 - Anything Goes - 2W 3/6  (top new chal)
7. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #28 Anything Goes - 3/5 (may show in sep post)
8. Craft Your Passion - #301 Anything Goes 3/6
9. Digi Stamps 4 Joy - #122 Anything Goes + Option of Add an Animal (mermaid plays with 2 dolphins) 3/14
10. Doodle Pantry Challenges #15 Anything Goes 3/25
11. Nordsalten Hobby Klubb #134 Use Punches and/or Die cuts (Punches: MS Scallop Teardrop Punch (around the page), EKS 3/4" circle    ANDDie Cuts: SB Triple Tear S4-490, SB Circles, SB Dolphin, Impression Obsession Shells, KandCo purple border
12. Sisters of the Craft (March) Anything Goes 4/1
13. Your Scrapbook Place (March) Anything Goes 4/1

Thanks for popping by! I always enjoy your visits!
hugs,

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,