Swallowtail... a Gorgeous Project (with a tutorial for how to create it)

I've had this wonderful white frame sitting around for quite a while now, just begging to be used for a creative project.  If you follow my blog, you know how much I love to create framed projects.  I only had 1 white frame, so I wanted to save it for a really special project and was just waiting for the inspiration to hit me.  Well, this week, it hit me... I should use it to create a Swallowtail project.  Our Swallowtail stamp is one of the most gorgeous stamps we've ever had and I love it.  Here's my project:

Here's how I did it:

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.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

A Butterfly Scrapbook In A Box

As I mentioned in my last post, I love making Scrapbook In A Box projects.  For today's box, I used more of the Epic Day DSP and placed a beautiful butterfly on top of the lid.  

I started adding a few embellishments to this one --- some extra pieces of DSP layers and some of our new buttons.  I love the vintage look of these new buttons.  They come in 2 sizes.

Notice how I've chosen the DSP colors to contrast each other a bit so that all the layers show up nicely.  This one is all ready to add photos, more embellishments and some journaling.

Let me know ASAP if you would like to join us Monday night to make a Scrapbook In A Box.  They are so much fun.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

A Layout for National Scrapbooking Day

Today, I have a layout for you using the divided page protectors.  It's National Scrapbooking Day, so let's celebrate.  We made this layout at our last Hostess Scrapbook Club.

I stamped all the images with VersaMark and then embossed them with white EP.  It really makes the colors pop on the Crumb Cake CS.  The colors were sponged onto the butterflies.  The banners and the flowers were colored in with markers.  Our color story is Elegant Eggplant, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade.

I love how the large butterfly looks on the divided pages.

If you look closely, you can see that I've stamped the flowers to go right across the bottom of the page.  I then sponged a tiny touch of Lucky Limeade under the flowers.

The banners were stamped with our new photopolymer stamps, so I could bend them a bit to get the curve that I needed for the page.

The blank areas will be for photos and journaling.

It's a rainy weekend here and a great time to hole up and do some scrapbooking.  I hope you will join me in celebrating National Scrapbooking Day and get going on those pages.  Remember, scrapbooking is living a happy moment twice!

Cards and Layouts and Fun, Oh My!

I'm having fun getting ready for my Jan. 26 Winter Scrap and Stamp Retreat.  Here's a little sneak peek.  Enjoy!

The summer layout is one I made a while back and I've had a lot of requests to make it, so I thought this would be a good time to do it.

The Swallowtail card is from our new Spring Catalog and the bike card is from a S-A-B set called Feeling Sentimental.  Both involve special embossing and coloring techniques that promise to be a lot of fun.  (Sale-A-Bration starts tomorrow, so be ready for even more fun!!!)

I have several tutorials coming up, so be sure to check back soon.  I have so much stamping fun to share with you!

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Today's post is about a gorgeous new stamp:  our Swallowtail.  It is really large and truly gorgeous.  Which color combo do you like the best?

Now, here are several variations of the same card.  Be sure to let me know which combo you like the best.  I've asked all my customers and it's kind of coming in a triple tie so far.

So... here's the card.  My card base is Pacific Point.  The CS layers are Lucky Limeade and Marina Mist.  I used all these colors to sponge the colors onto my butterfly.  The butterfly was stamped in VersaMark and embossed with white EP.  You just lightly sponge over it with a circular motion.  I used sponge daubers and then smoothed it out a little more with a sponge.

Now here's where you get to vote:
version 1, top left --- sponged with just Marina Mist.
version 2, top middle --- sponged with just Pacific Point.
version 3, top right --- sponged with just Lucky Limeade.
version 4, bottom (my original version) --- sponged with all 3 colors.

Here's my card again with the entire butterfly.  I used our new hexagon embossing folder for the layer behind it.  I only attached the middle of the butterfly because I wanted this one to really be dimensional.   I would hand deliver a card like this, or attach it to a gift.  Be sure to vote!!!

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.