Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Book Binding fold.

A new challenge hits the headlines over at the butterfly challenge.  The wheel has landed on a fresh letter. 

Here is the new format wheel. You now have two choices to play along.



When I was choosing the wheel colours I picked Bougainvillea as the Bougainvillea flower (depicted here on the wheel) is usually known for being in shades of this but looking on line I found  there really is a variety coloured  yellow albeit with a white centre.  

1. Make a card using at least 2 of the colours on the wheel + your butterfly of course.
or
2. Make a card using the Book binding Fold Shape + any 2 of the colours + the Theme + your butterfly of course. 

There is a tutorial as normal over on the challenge blog  which you will find on the Card Shapes tab that is under the banner at the top of the page. 

This card shape just requires a couple of folds and your good to go.  Version 3 requires a bit more folding but nothing complicated. Would I do that to you!!

Here are my cards for inspiration. 

Version I
Using: Book Binding fold/Butterfly/Bondi Blue/Buff/Braid


The design paper is a freebie from Making Cards Nancy Watt Collection. The just for you  sentiment is a creative Expressions. The large butterfly is a piece of already die cut card I found in my stash from a previous card so not sure of the make now. I used my SU butterfly punch for smaller butterflies on the inside of the card. The braid element is three pieces of buff bakers twine plaited together on the spine of the card. 
Entering this card into the following challenges:

Version II
Using: Book Binding fold/Butterfly/Bondi Blue/Banana/Bougainvillea/Braid

 I really do have a love hate relationship with acetate but I have been using it lately in some other projects that I have been making and as it was still out on my desk I decided to incorporate into the book binding shape.  The back of the card is plain card stock and design paper by 'Sally Moret' adhered to the top. I then sandwiched a sheet of acetate on top before adhering the book binding flap down securing it altogether.  The strip of design paper on the edge of the acetate is only there for show as the acetate  is thinner than I would normally use for a card front but I had none thicker and it is helping in keeping the front ajar.  The braid is from The Works and the sentiment is made up from 3 different die cuts. Happy is Creative  Expressions, Birthday is a Memory Box die and the wishes is by Crafter's Companion.
Entering this card into the following challenges:

Version III
Using: Book Binding fold/Butterfly/Bondi Blue/Buff/Bougainvillea/Braid

This last card is an exploding version of the shape.  A full 'How to make this'  is over on the Butterfly Blog as mentioned above.  Just a few folds on a square of paper and Ta Da!!
Design paper is by 'Sally Moret'  Butterfly die cut is by Tonic Studios ' Monarch Arch'.
The sentiment is by Creative Expressions and the braid from The Works. 
Below is showing the card as you open it up to reveal the inside.
 The Works. Here is the card fully opened. 
Entering this card into the following challenges:


I hope you will come along and join in the challenge which is running for 3 weeks so plenty of time to make those few folds.  

Stay safe and well

❤❤❤



Sunday, February 20, 2022

Anyone for a Penguin!

Time for the girls in the Christmas Card clubto show our next cards and as it is  my turn to choose the theme I had best not be late for my own party. I chose Penguins. 


Card 1.


I have used several dies to create this card. The circle stitched die is by Card Deco. Snowflakes are from Memory Box 'Twilight Snowflakes' and the Penguin dies are by Apple Blossom 'Snowflake Penguins. I kept to a Black/White  colourway with just the green sprig of holly. No room on the front for a sentiment so I will put one inside.

Card 2.


More colour for this card. The red die cut frame is from Creative Expressions. The stamped ivy is from Inkylicious  from their 'Twinchies' range. The Poinsettia  die is from Ultimate crafts and again I have used the same  pequin die set.  The sentiment was a magazine freebie from a while ago. I struggled with this card as it just didn't look right until I added the Mummy penguin very much as an after thought. It looks rather busy now but I think it works okay.

Hope everyone in the UK weathered the Storm  'Eunice' without too much damage. We lost a concrete fence post so a 12 foot run of fencing needs to be repaired  but otherwise no other damage. The house opposite us lost 6 ridge tiles from their garage roof but their fencing remained intact. The wind was certainly gusting up at high speed.  


Stay safe and well
Hugs 

❤❤❤


Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Flowers

One more week for the current Butterfly Challenge #166 still to run and it's time for me to show you my inspirational cards for just using the the non shape elements of the wheel. 

Card 1.

Here I am using Circles/Cornflower/Celadon/Cardinal/Butterflies.

The image is a stamp that I bought last year and not used yet by AALL Create #278 Passion flower. I have one of these growing on a trellis in my side garden where it is protected from the wind and the worst of the weather. The design paper is an oldie Magazine freebie from Hunkydory 'Boutique Chic' Paper Crafter June 2016 issue.  It has three of the required colours on it.  The stamp is coloured with my trusty Promarkers/silver gel pen and the silver circle stickers are from my stash. All attached to blue cardstock to make the cardbase.

Entering into the following challenges:
Ally's Angels #55  Anything goes.


Card 2.

Here I am using Circles/Coral/Celadon/Cardinal/Butterflies.


I am using another stamp that I have never used before that I bought quite a time ago before even  slim line cards became popular.  This one is by Studio Light 'Smile Like a Flower.'  Coloured using my promarkers ,gold gel pen and clear Wink of stella.  The flowers really sparkle. The design paper is an unknown  magazine freebie. Butterflies are my SU punch and the gold circles from my stash. 

Entering unto the following challenges:
Crafty Calendar # Anything goes.
Stamping Sensations # Anything goes with optional wings.
NBUS #35 Never before used schtuff  (New stamp used.)



Card 3.

Here I am using /Cornflower /Celadon/Cardinal/Butterflies.

Stamp is by Clarity and coloured using my promarkers and a gold gel pen. The design papers is from Making cards June 2016 edition. Gold stickers from my stash. 

The challenge is running until Tuesday 22nd February 8pm (GMT) and I hope you will come and spend some time in the butterfly garden.  The squirrels are having a busy time in there at the moment as they have learnt how to open the box we bought for them which has their own special food in.


Yes they do actually sit on the little red stools, open the lid with their paws and stick their heads right in the box to eat.!! The Doc said they would never do it but it only took them a week to suss out. 

Stay safe and well

Hugs 

❤❤❤


Sunday, February 06, 2022

Festive Gifts

Time marches on regardless and the girls in the Christmas Card cCub have been busy making more cards to show. Lorraine chose the theme of Festive Gifts or Gift Bags. I made these two cards last night but just was not happy with them. Thought I would leave over night and see what inspiration awaited me in the morning. Zilch!!  Went and did a bit of tidying up in the garden and then looked at them both again and this time a delve into my christmas box produced the red and green Bakers Twine and with a bit of added bling with the gold circles and edging around the cards with the gold gel pen and they looked much better.  Good enough to post anyways so here they are eventually. 

I used a really old wooden stamp by Inkadinkado sent to me by a good blogging buddy (must me  at least  a good 10 yrs now) and coloured in with my promarkers, then edged with a gold gel pen.  The two sentiments are by Simply Creative and are meant to stamp out patchy which gives the grungy look.



 Not doing too well with my card stash this year as have only managed 4 so far. I'm not into christmas card mode at present. but must try and do better this month. 



As always stay safe and well
Hugs 

❤❤❤❤❤

Wednesday, February 02, 2022

Collar It!

Another new challenge awaits you over on the Butterfly Blog.


Here is the new format wheel. You now have two choices to play along.



1. Make a card using at least 2 of the colours on the wheel + your butterfly of course.
or
2. Make a card using the Collar Fun Fold Shape + any 2 of the colours + the Theme + your butterfly of course. 

There is a tutorial as normal over on the challenge blog  which you will find on the Card Shapes tab that is under the banner at the top of the page. 

I looked at loads of videos on You Tube making this card shape and 'Boy oh Boy' did they all over complicate it!
Really it is simply one cut. If you have a pair of scissors, a pencil and a ruler then you are good to go.
If you can Eyeball it then scrap the pencil and ruler.

This card does require the use of double sided design paper but if you only have single sided papers (don't despair) as I even show you easy ways to create a pattern on the reverse side. Go check out my tutorial  which you will find over on the Butterfly Blog on the Card Shapes  tab which is under neath the header banner at the top of the page.  
 
Here are my cards for inspiration. 

Version I
Using: All of the wheel + butterfly.
The design paper is one sided and I created the reverse stripe pattern myself using promarker pens. Easy Peasy. Paper is a freebie from Making Cards February 2016. Fluted circle is a die from Julie Hickey Designs and the gold stickers from my stash. 

Entering this card into the following challenges:
Creative Creases#24 Anything goes with a fun fold.
Crafty Catz #580 Add flowers.
Ally's Angels #54 Anything goes.
Version II
Using: All of the wheel +butterfly.

Here I have used a double sided design paper which was another magazine freebie. The Butterfly die is a set by Dovecraft called 'Layering Butterflies'.  Gold edging and sentiment from my stash. 

Entering this card into the following challenges:

Version III
Using: Collar fun fold/Circles/Cornflower/Cardinal/Butterfly

Again I have used a double sided design paper this one is from Simply Home Made.
The doily die is Medallion One by Spellbinders. Butterfly is my go to favourite from memory Box 'Pippi/Isabella. The ornate sentiment tag a newbie from Whimsy Stamps 'Fancy Label Die WSD269s. I backed the front of the card (underneath the doily) with matching design paper which gives the card a completely different look whilst still retaining the collar fold effect. 

Entering this card into the following challenges:


I hope you will come along and join in the challenge which is running for 3 weeks so plenty of time to sharpen up those scissors  and make that one and only cut. 

Stay safe and well

❤❤❤