THE FRAME
First, I prepared the frame. I opened it up and turned the mat over so the plain side showed. (The other side had stripes.) I closed the frame back up with the glass BEHIND the mat, so I could attach the butterflies directly to the center of my project. To create a background for my Swallowtail, I added a piece of vellum over some Island Indigo DSP (to lighten and soften the look).
THE MAT
I stamped various images from our Gorgeous Grunge stamp set onto the mat, using Island Indigo ink (stamped off, to create a lighter image) and then I stamped a few more images using our Encore Ultimate Metallic silver ink. Then I lightly spritzed random parts of the mat with my mixture of alcohol and Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.
THE SWALLOWTAIL
I stamped the Swallowtail 2 times, with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with White Embossing Powder, using Very Vanilla CS. After letting it cool, I sponged on 3 colors:
- Island Indigo
- Pear Pizzazz
- Crushed Curry
I cut out both butterflies, attached the first one directly onto the middle of my project. I added Liquid Tombow to just the middle section (body) of the second butterfly and held it onto the second one until the adhesive set a bit. When it was completely dry, I folded the wings up so it was quite dimensional.
THE TINY BUTTERFLIES
I stamped 3 sizes of the butterflies from our Papillon Potpourri stamp set, each in one of the colors used to sponge the Swallowtail. I stamped them onto Vellum CS. Because inks take longer to dry on Vellum CS, I had time to emboss them, using Clear EP. I made 6 of each size butterfly and attached them, 2 together, using a rolled up glue dot between them and then folded up the wings of each. I ended up, then, with 3 (doubled) of each size of butterfly. I attached them to the mat with glue dots. Because the butterflies were embossed, the glue dots do not show through the Vellum.
A FINAL TOUCH
For a final touch, I spritzed the entire finished project lightly with my Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz / alcohol mixture. The project is on display in my studio. I love it! I may move it upstairs later, when I get out my Spring decorations. We'll have to see.
NOTE --- HOW I MADE MY SPRITZ MIXTURE:
For the mixture that I used to spritz my project, I poured a couple of vials of our Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, along with some rubbing alcohol, into a travel size spray bottle. This gives me more to use, helps it to dry more quickly and makes it easier to get the amount that I want. Putting it all into a larger bottle means more to have ready to use in a class or for my future projects. I do not have a set formula for how much of each liquid to add. I just keep adding and testing it until I get it the way I like.
I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial and will try a project of your own. And, before I go, Happy St. Patrick's Day. May your day be lucky and blessed.
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