Beautiful butterflies

Happy Mother's Day! I want to wish a wonderful day to all the moms, grandmas, godmothers, aunts, cousins, sisters, friends and other mother figures out there. And in honor of all those who nurture and care for us, today I'm sharing the Mother's Day card I made for my mom as well as a couple of other cards that each feature a die-cut butterfly.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Mother's Day (Close to My Heart)
Paper: Crumb cake, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla card stock; Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper (DSP) stack
Ink:Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral
Accessories: Scallop embossing folder (Close to My Heart), Bold Butterfly Framelits dies, pearls, sponge, Glue Dots

I love the colors and patterns in the Pretty Petals DSP stack; so much so that I bought a second pack when it was on the Clearance Rack recently. (And that's saying something, because I really try to limit my patterned-paper purchases since I don't use them up very quickly.) I used an idea book for the basic layout, layering patterned paper and embossed card stock on a Crumb Cake card base. For the focal image I stamped a sentiment and border on a square of Very Vanilla card stock and sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink. (I also sponged the edges of the patterned paper.) A Crumb Cake butterfly with a pearl in the center finishes off this card. A simple but pretty card perfect for a spring day. This design would be great for a set of cards -- just change the background DSP and the sentiment for each card in the set. Hmmm ... something to add to my to-do list.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Paper: Basic Black, Old Olive, Very Vanilla card stock; Pretty Petals DSP stack
Accessories: Bold Butterfly Framelits dies, pearls, Mono Multi liquid glue

No stamping on this card, but there is more of that Pretty Petals DSP. A layout like this one is a wonderful way to use up those scraps of patterned paper that are too pretty to just recycle. Or for a more subtle, monochromatic look, use scraps of the same color card stock but emboss them with different textures to add a different type of visual interest.

To create this card, I started in the lower left corner and then filled in other pieces, trimming as necessary and trying to balance colors and patterns. Don't start adhering paper right away; just move around pieces until you have an arrangement you like. (Sometimes I use my grid paper for this step. I draw an outline the size of the card, and then I can use the grid lines to make sure the edges of the pieces are even.) When you are ready to adhere, it's helpful to use a liquid glue because it gives you just a little time to wiggle the paper if you don't get it down in exactly the right spot.

When I make cards like this I always seem to end up with one spot that is just too small for a piece of DSP. That blank space is a perfect place to add an embellishment -- or just cover it up with a focal panel, as I did with this card.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Delicate Details
Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake card stock; Zoe patterned paper (Close to My Heart)
Ink: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Butterflies Thinlits dies, delicate white doilies, pearls Picture My Life card (Close to My Heart), burlap ribbon, sponge, Dimensionals, Mono Multi liquid glue

I don't do a lot of scrapbooking (I have a San Diego scrapbook from a trip in 2010, I think, that I haven't touched in years), but pocket-style scrapbooking cards also make great elements on cards. This card was one that was in my goodie bag at the craft retreat, and I love the colors, images and subtle text on the background. I used the card as my focal layer on this card by adding a large die-cut butterfly to the top of the card and a bit of paper doily on the bottom.

For the card base, I cut a piece of patterned paper, sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink and adhered it to the bottom half of the card front. I stamped a lace image along the top of the paper and wrapped burlap ribbon around the card front between the paper and stamped lace image. I attached the focal panel to the card with Dimensionals and added a strip of pearls to the butterfly's body and a single pearl in the upper right corner of the card.

Now that spring is here -- and seems to be staying this time -- I suspect I'll want to add butterflies to lots of cards. Thanks for stopping by!