Believe In Miracles

Hello and happy Friday!  I'm sorry I'm running so behind today.  I hope what I have to share with you will make up for my being a little late.  I thought I'd share this tutorial with you for the butterfly I used on this card.  This is the very first technique I ever learned at the first workshop I ever attended to make a card.  THIS is what hooked me on stamping forever!!  When I saw this Ornate Butterfly die from The Scrapping Cottage, I was instantly reminded of the first card I ever made, and I knew exactly what I was going to use this die for first!  So, off we go!!!!  Here is my finished card, and below, are instructions for how I did it.

This is a chalking technique using Versamark clear watermark ink.  You will need:  Chalks, an ornate, or filigree stamp (I used the Eyelet Circles Background stamps from TSC),  Versamark ink, and the Ornate Butterfly die from TSC.

 The first thing you will do is stamp the surface of your prepared die cut (I cut this out with Georgia Pacific white card stock) randomly with Versamark.  Sorry!  Pictures of that step don't show up, obviously, because it's clear.  ;-)

 After you have the surface covered to your liking, you will start applying the chalk colors of your choice randomly over the stamped ink.  There is no right or wrong.  It's just whatever you like, and don't be afraid to rub the chalk in for a deeper tone.  You can do one or as many colors as you like.

 I used a variety of rainbow colors for my butterfly.  Once I had the colors of the butterfly finished, I used acetate to cut the backing for the wings, then filled in with Crystal Effects and sprinkled with glitter for some sparkle.  Here's a close up, where you can see that you can see through the acetate backing on the wings, even with the glitter.  It's soooo pretty IRL!!!

I hope you've enjoyed this quick and easy tutorial today, and I wish you a blessed day, a wonderful weekend, and of course some happy stamping!

Gnomes, flowers and butterflies, oh my!

For this week's projects I've used versatile Cottage Cutz Made Easy flowers, ornate butterfly, and Mrs. Gnome. The new flower designs are so much fun. You can create so many flower designs with just these few pieces. And I love the "buttons" too! Such a great design.

Inside message:

I combined the new butterfly with an older one using the same glittery idea for the openwork in the wings. They go so well together and look how pretty when combined with the flowers.

Thanks for looking. Be sure to check out the store for the adorable gnomes, flowers, butterfly and more fun designs from the new spring release!

Flutter Fairy

I think this is my favorite design from the Gnomes & Fairies release - the Flutter Fairy.

I decided to take a picture outside with the Crocus' that are blooming in my yard, although the snow we had overnight has got them a bit shy today. It's a sign of Spring and I'm all for that.

For the wings on the fairy I took some clear contact paper and poured glitter on it, shook it off and then adhered it to some more contact paper. Press firmly so the two sides mesh together. After I cut them out I used a little aqua ink around the edges to they'd show up a little better.

Isn't she cute? She's just so delicate - I'm going to have fun making these in lots of pretty colors.

I also took my Spica Clear pen and went over the sentiment and the details on her dress, it just doesn't photograph very well but gives it a light sparkly look.

Have a great Wednesday!

Kay

Butterfly Dangle

Well I went a completely differant direction this week. I decided to do a Dangle or Chime type item. I used four dies from Cottage Cutz to make both of the dangles. The Ornate Butterfly, Dragonfly, Layered Daisy and the Peach. Each dangle is about 8" long.

I layered the butterfly by cutting the butterfly three times (picture three down) and only popping out some parts of the ornate area's. I also used Bazzill Bling card stock. Yes because I love the texture and gloss, but also because it is slightly heavier and the pop out don't alwaysa fall out right away. YES! they do cut, but will grenerally stay in tact until you give them a push. . .  .this also helps in not misplacing pieces that you need.

I trimmed the butterfly, dragonfly and flowers in Micro Yellow Glitter, Crystal Stickle and Micro Seed Beads. The Micro Seed Beads were glued on with Glossy Accents. It was a very random aplication og textures. This added a great deal of texture, dimention  and light contrast. The key is to add the glitters and textures in random area's. Solid area's will make it look leavy.

This is the Daisy, Layered. by cutting the top layer of the daisy out twice and saving the pop out tear drops, you can use them randomly on the solid base flower for added color. The tear drops were glued to the flat base flower. The top layer of the flower was only glued in the center and the petals were popped up. The leaf was from the Copttage Cutz Peachy Keen Peach Die. 

Here is the layout of the butterfly, the base is WHITE with no items punched out. Than the ORANGE layer has some of the pop out taken out, than the YELLOW top layer has all the items popped out. As you are glueing the orange layer to the base white, the glue is sealing the un-popped pieces so they will not fall out. After you have glued the three layers together, put under a heavy item like your work mat or book. . so it will dry flat. After it is completely dry. . use a brush or your finger to spread a thin layer of glue on the back. This will fix the remainder of the pop outs from coming out.

OK, here is a photo of the reason this all started, we are fish for all the nifty stuff out there. C-Thru Company as all this cool MY ART ATC Collection which inclues these sets of Micro Glitters and Beads, not to mention the cool packaging. They are in sets of three related colors of various textures of glitters and beads in bottles with a cork and tied in a twine. . WOW!  if for no other reason than to buy it for the cool look. The wooden handled tool is from some cheezy craft company, they come in three sizes and are durt cheap. They are to twirl wire and work perfect to add a wacky wire accent. Last trick of the day. Once you twirled your wire and you want that wacky thing to randomly happen to your wire. . .after you have the twirl spring-y thing done . . pull the twirled wire out a bit, so it is a loose swirl. . .take the side of the wooden block of a rubber stamp and crush the wire. . fast. . when you lift the wooden block, the wire will have cruched . . going all directs. . fluff and you are done
That's it for this week. . Happy Crafting.

Ewe Are The Best!

Good morning!  Well we had quite a bit of snow melt this weekend.  There is still a lot on the ground but it gives me hope that Spring will be here soon.


For my card today I used the Cottage Impressions Sheep Stamp.  I love this stamp.  After watching Lorie's awesome tutorial, I just had to give it a try.  I didn't have all the same colors that she used, but I am pleased with the end result.  Lorie, I hope I passed with flying colors. " Ewe are the best!"  The best copic colorer that I know.  Thanks for sharing your talent with all of us!
I will be back next Monday!  Have a wonderful week everyone!Hugs and smiles,Janice

Friends are flowers in the garden of life

Hello! For my card today I used the new Stitched Flower w/ Button die. Such cute and cheery lil' flowers! For the white button, I put embossing ink on it and heat embossed it with UTEE to make it look like a "real" button. It looks cool in real life. ;) For the stems I used the Rick Rack Edger die. I cut a strip and then lined it back up on the die to make different widths of rick rack.

The two biggest flowers are on Action Wobbles so the wiggle. ;) See you back here next Sunday.

♥ Nikki ♥

Birthday Wishes

I received a package of fun new Gnomes and Fairies Dies this week! It was so hard to decide which one I wanted to play with first!!

For my project this week, I pulled out the new Filigree Fairy to use on a birthday layout from my youngest daughter's summer party this year. When I started looking at this pretty fairy, she looked like she was blowing birthday kisses. I also used the cupcake mini to add some more birthday flair.

For this layout, I used a sketch from a fun new Sketch site by Donna Coughlin. You can check it out here. I hope you are enjoying playing with your Cottage Cutz dies this weekend! See you next week!

Flowerful Get Well

Good morning, or afternoon as the case may be with me.  I've had a lot going on this morning, but I was finally able to sit down for a few mintues and put the finishing touches on my card.  This was a quick and easy card made using the new Cottage Cutz Made Easy dies from The Scrapping Cottage.  These dies have fewer pieces and go together so fast!  I LOVE THEM!!!  I used the Daisy Layered with Button, and Stitched Flower with Button dies for this card.  I chose some colorful scraps from my scrap envies that matched my designer paper, and just started cutting.  Once I had them all cut, I assembled and added some patterns to some of the pieces with my white gel pen.  

I used the stem in the paper for a base for the sentiment, and I cut the scalloped background for the sentiment with the Circles with Eyelets die.  I finished this card off with some Stickles in the center of the flowers and some green gingham ribbon, and now it's ready to bring get well wishes to brighten someone's day!  I don't know about you, but flowers always brighten MY day, and these are so pretty!!  Wishing YOU a blessed and bright day, my crafty friends!!!

Come on, spring!

Won't be long now and spring will be upon us. Well, we hope so anyway, right!? LOL I love new blooms and green grass and all the freshness of a new beginning! And I love these new blooming dies too. Such versatility with these pieces, you can come up with oodles of flower designs. Just play and have fun!!

I've used the new blooms on this layout along with the frog and lily pad, and the dot/scallop edger. The frog die is perfect for this silly picture of Courtney and the huge frog she caught in the pond. Grama still says ewwww no matter how cute Courtney is holding it. ;)

For my next project this week, I used the adorable Mr. Gnome and his stump house. I thought it was the perfect way to congratulate someone on their new home or apartment. I used cork paper for the title background and added a mushroom to the ribbon for a little something extra.

This is the inside message:

Thanks for coming by today. I hope you'll find something that inspires you to create!

Is it Spring yet???

Here in Utah we keep getting teased with Spring weather, then reality hits and it snows again. Now that it's March it feels like it mentally anyway, hope it's springy where you are.

Heaven knows we've all had enough winter!

Today I am featuring the Ornate Dragonfly from the Gnomes & Fairies release. This die gives you the option to make a simple one cut dragonfly or you can cut out the two backer pieces if you want that look. I cut the body out of black and placed it over the silver to achieve the look I used on my card.

I added some Stickles and adhered it to my card. It was super simple.

We'll see ya next Wednesday - have a good one!
Kay

Get Well . .. Puppy with Bandage

 Get Well Pup. . . This Cutie is from the Cottage Cutz Valentine release, Puppy with Heart 4"x4". I decided to add a bandage in the pups mouth instead of the heart. The Pup was highlighted E33 Sand Copic Pen. I also added the Cottage Cutz Flower 3 3"x3" Die

 As you can see I created a large bandage pouch style matching envelope. The bandage was made with Bazil Bling card stock which gave it a shiny plastic look of a bandage. The pup is tucked into the pouch just so his eyes look over the edge of the bandage pad.

 The Bandage pouch is 3 1/4" x 7" with a 4 1/2" pocket front and a 2" x3" center pad. I used a medium corner rounder on the four corners, and slightly arched the ends on the outside corners of the bandage. The pad has random holes and the GET WELL was added to the pad. The mini bandage is 9/16" x 1 7/16" and the center pad is 1/2" x 7/16". I used a piercing tool to get the holes in the mini pad.  The pups head is cut a second time and raised on foam tape. Glue the mini bandage into his mouth in place of the heart. (than you will need to add a square of foam tape under the bandage. This adds a nice dimension to the head.

Using the pup to gauge how deep the pocket should be, use foam tape to raise the pocket. Because the pup is several sheets of card stock and foam, the pup will be thicker than the pocket (that is foam only thick). The pup will fit tightly in the pocket so his heads can be set to the edge of the pocket.

Thanks Barry . . . .