It's A Mystery

If you are my age you will now possibly be singing a Toyah Wilcox song in your head! If not, don't panic! There's no audio link with this blog (phew!!) And so may I firstly welcome my new followers to this little corner of crafty heaven, where the dog has been brushed (Malamute undercoat now litters half of the county!!) the garden has been tidied up (courteousy of my OH) and I have finished a double project as my entry for the Fashionable Stamping Challenges 'Mystical and Very Magical' challenge. If you've not yet had the chance to check out this site I can recommend it highly.

I don't have any witches or wizards lurking in my stamping stash but I happen to think butterflies are magical creatures who flutter in and out of our lives bringing a smile and a splash of colour wherever they go (not quite Shakespeare! - I'll stick to crafting!) Now you are going to have to bear with me - it's an image heavy post, so get a cuppa/glass of something depending on the time of day and personal preference.

 

They were inspired by a couple of pieces created by Hels Sheridan recently using Dovecraft papers that I bought on a whim in a sale and then went off. A selection of 6x6 sheets got chopped up and patchworked onto plain card. This was then covered in a thin layer of white gesso and CS Enchanted Gold mica powder.

Next came a spot of stamping - small butterflies in Brilliance Pearlescent Crimson - well at least that happened on the second card (hence the reason for their being two cards as I thought I had messed up the first, attempted a rescue, ummed and ahhed and finally got it done). The first card got stamped after the masking stage. This was achieved by using a TH mini mask covered in a mix of white acrylic, Ranger Snowflake embossing tinsel, and CS mica powders in Pink Ultra, Violet Frost and Tropic Blue. Once dry extra mica was rubbed over the top to strengthen the colour.

Then card one got stamped when I realised I'd forgotten this stage! Card one (above) got a SB Twisted Metal Accent with silver mirror card outer and the inner cut from one of the papers, embossed with a Texture Fades folder, highlighted with the Brilliance ink again and a sentiment added in Black Archival ink.

The butterfly was stamped onto another of the papers, but as it didn't stand out I went over it with silver Uni-Ball pen by hand and cut it out.

Card two was the one where I got the background right (although on reflection I should have eased back on the Enchanted Gold as it made it paler than the first.

The sentiment layer consisted of a SB Fleur de Lis square in black card that had been triple embossed with black embossing powder and had the mica powders mentioned above heated into it as well. The sentiment was stamped into the hot glaze and further highlighted with silver Uni-Ball pen.

The larger Fleur de Lis square was cut in antique gold card, embossed with the same Texture Fades folder (covered in Perfect Medium) with a sprinkle of the same mica powders dusted over the top.  Finally the butterfly was created using TH's mosaic effect with papers from the same set, Snowflake embossing tinsel coloured with Mulberry Promarker and Silver Lustre mica paint, and Glossy Accents.

Both pieces got layered onto white square cards with matching papers distressed at the edges (of course!) Et voila. Tons of shine and sparkle (although somewhat difficult for someone with limited photography skills to impart). If you haven't dropped off by now congrats for reaching the end of this epic!! I hope you've enjoyed it and now feel free to reward yourself - you've earned it!! It is time for me to go (the World breathes a sigh of relief) for Euro 2012, F1 and a turkey wrap await - what an exciting life I lead. Thanks for dropping by, hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Buttons x