Butterfly Dreams

It's almost time for the One Layer Wednesday challenge and I've yet to post for the last one.  Last Wednesday, Susan challenged us to use yellow, orange and aqua.  Susan's card, with her simple yellow & orange sailboat on an aqua ribbon, was so perfect that my mind got stuck and for days I couldn't think what I wanted to do.  Finally, I settled on this little butterfly, which is the only stamp I've ever used from this set.  Not very original but I like it anyway.

I used some of the new In Color ink that will be available in the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog.  The Aqua is Pool Party, the orange is Calypso Coral and the bottom butterfly is Daffodil Delight (a regular color).

I used the Confetti paper for a strong base and also for the lovely flecks that look like stuff in the air.

My frame is hand drawn.  That's why it's not perfect.  I will admit that it's straighter than usual and I held my breath the whole time I was drawing it.  Nearly fainted!

And here is what I did with my practice round.  It was fairly straight and I hated to waste it.

 I matted it with Calypso Coral and love the pop it gave.  Not one layer but still CAS I think.  I even added a little bling in the corners.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Dreams du Jour, All Holidays
Ink:  Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, SU Markers (Pool Pary & Early Espresso)
Paper:  Confetti White, Calypso Coral
Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit.  I hope you come back soon and thank you for the lovely comments.

Enjoy!

Nature's Inspiration

In case  you haven't noticed, I love flowers, trees, butterflies....pretty much all things nature.  What a wonderful world God has made for us to enjoy!

Jennifer Styles is hosting this week's OLW challenge and she gave us a sketch to use.  It goes without saying that the card has to be one layer with minimum or no embellishments.  Here is the sketch she gave us to work with.

I reversed the sketch.  It just seemed to work better for me backwards.  There is so much inspiration in this gallery each week.  I hope you get a chance to check it out.  Just click on the link above.

And yesterday, when I saw the Just Add Ink #53 challenge, this card just fit.  Here's the inspiration picture....

Isn't that the most beautiful, happy picture?  My flowers aren't as bright though I think they work for this challenge.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Inspired by Nature, Dreams du Jour, Happy Harmony
Ink:  StazOn Black, Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Basic Gray, SU Markers (Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Old Olive, Soft Suede)
Paper:  Watercolor
Accessories:  Blender Pen

I used the small flower and the edge of the grass on this stamp inking the flowers with markers and "thumping" with a darker color marker before stamping.  I colored the butterflies with a blender pen and ink.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Step it up a Notch

Last week I did two one layer cards and wasn't satisfied with either of them.  So, I decided to step them up a notch.  This week I stepped up the butterfly card.

This........

 From this..........

I like it better.  What do you think?

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Dreams du Jour, Because I Care
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Cajun Craze
Accessories:  Early Expresso Su Marker, Corner Rounder

Off to do a workshop.

Enjoy,
Bonnie

Inspired

I am struggling with these challenges this week.  I guess we all have to go through some days when inspiration seems to be hiding.

The first one is for the One Layer Wednesday challenge on Simplicity.  Her challenge this week is to make a one layer card inspired by NATURE.  Nature is always so inspiring.  In fact 99% of my stamps are nature related.

Last fall DH talked me into taking a nature hike with him.  It was BEAUTIFUL!  There were some leaves still on the trees and the ground was covered.  It was like walking through a golden tunnel!  I wanted to try to capture some of that feeling with this card.  It falls far short! 

Don't tell Susan, but I will probably cut this and make it a 2 or 3 layer card.  Still simple, but I think it needs something else.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Sincere Salutations

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede

Paper:  Whisper White

Acc.:  Mask, Sponge Daubers, Soft Suede SU Marker

I did this card first but I wasn't crazy about it.  I love seeing the butterflies.  I always feel like I've received a gift when I see one flitting past!

The layout of this card was inspired by a card by ravengirl on SCS.  Her card is much prettier (and so is the one I did just like it).  This however doesn't give me that yeah! feeling at all.

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Dreams du Jour, Because I Care
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede
Paper:  Whisper White
Acc.:  Mask, Stampin' Sponge, Soft Suede SU Marker

I hope tomorrow my mojo comes back!

Thanks for the visit.
Bonnie

Dreams du Jour Color Challenge

This week's Color Challenge was to use Lovely Lilac, Gable Green & Cameo Coral. I thought "Gable Green, ugh"! Evidently I have used it before because there was only a little piece left in my Bold Brights package. All of these colors will be making their fond farewell on July 1st. If you are a fan of Gable Green, my apologies and you may want to stock up while you can.

With these colors, I thought butterflies. I love this little butterfly from the Dreams du Jour set. The other stamps are sweet but the butterfly gets the most use. The little guys are stamped with Black Stazon ink and painted with a blender pen dipped in the corner of the ink pad. When doing this technique, be careful not to rub too hard since it will pull the cardstock.

I stamped and colored 2 of each color and cut one of each out. These were mounted on top of the stamped squares ( 1 5/8" x 1 1/2"). The color squares are 2" x 1 5/8". Did you notice that I added a little bling? Just a little.

The background was done with my new toy! It's the new SU Square Lattice Embossing Folder. It's on p. 24 of the Summer Mini Catalog. I ran it through the BIG GUY and WOW!, what a nice background. It looks as good on the back as on the front too! I love new stuff!

The Black Gingham ribbon finishes it off. I'd tell you how far apart the knots are, but I just tied them randomly and tried to match them with the butterfly squares. I call it the By Guess and By Gosh technique, LOL!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Dreams du Jour
Paper: Whisper White, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green, Cameo Coral
Ink: Black Stazon, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green, Cameo Coral
Acc.: Ticket Corner Punch, Big Shot, SU Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Black Gingham Ribbon, Rhinestones

I hope you enjoyed seeing this card as much as I enjoyed making it. Let me know what you think. I love the comments.
Bonnie

Flutter-by

Today's card color combo was inspired by a card on Splitcoaststampers by a British stamper, ApricotRose. I loved the yellow, black, & white together. It makes a cheery card don't you think? With Spring coming so late this year, I think we all need lots of yellow!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Dreams du Jour, Autumn Leaf Prints (Retired)
Paper: Whisper White, Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black
Acc.: Corner Rounder Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch (in the Occasions Mini Catalog, p. 11), Big Shot, SU Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Black Gingham Ribbon, SU Markers

You can't really see it in the picture, but the yellow piece has been embossed with the BIG Guy. In real life you can see the swirls.

Wishing you butterflies and sunshine.
Bonnie