Butterflies Aplenty

I wanted to make a really quick but fun card for another Convention swap. It is a reworked version of a card in the new Idea Book & Catalog. This is one of the things about the IBC is that it is a great resource for inspiration. If you need an idea for a card there is nothing wrong with looking to the catalog for inspiration. Why reinvent the bicycle?

I forgot that I still had some of my first edition paper in my file drawer and I printed out some 8.5 x 11 pages from MDS. But that is OK. I have more for later. I stitched the background paper onto the card front with my sewing machine since this is a simple card it was worth adding that extra detail. Next, I punched my butterfly shapes using the Butterfly punch and gave them dimension with stampin' dimensionals. Last, I stamped the sentiment with Curly Cute. I'm glad I bought this set! It is so cute. Anyway since it was a clear mount set it was a cinch to stamp it perfectly onto a 3/4" piece of whisper white cardstock and then to create a perfect ribbon cut on each side I used my pennant punch to cut the V shape out of each side.

Convention Swap: Christmas Card

I started coloring these last night so I could send this swap out with my friend that is going to the Stampin' Up Convention next week. I wish I could make it but I have a one year old at home that is a little too young to leave for that long. Anyhow I stayed up until 1:30 AM coloring. I actually tried to go to bed earlier but couldn't shut down my mind. So I got back up and finished the job. I used a faux watercolor technique that I saw described by Karen Barber. I've been wanting to try this out so I came up with this card. Here's the palate that I used:

Stamp: Greeting Card Kids
Girl jacket and Hat: Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Rose Red, Cherry Cobbler
Tights: Bashful blue w/ blender pen
Scarf: Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo
Face: Blush Blossom, Blushing Bride
Tree: Certainly Celery, Lucky Limeade, Old Olive
Box: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip

I did a color wash around the image with Bashful blue & my blender pen. Highlights were added with the White Uniball Signo pen.

Card base is Baja Breeze, Ribbon is Rose Red binding Ribbon, Designer Paper is Paisley Petals. The matte is stamped with Four Frames in black and punched with the Decorative Label punch out of Cherry Cobbler cardstock. I cut the label in half and adhered it on each side of the image.

I had fun making this, I hope you like it!

The Unvailing of the New 2011-2012 Catalog!

I'm so excited for everyone to see the new products in this catalog. Sometimes I get so used to having to keep the new catalog a "secret" that I almost forget to show it on July 1st! I love the samples in this year's catalog. I'm sure all of you will too! Click on the catalog on the left sidebar to view it now. And click here if you need to pick up some of the new products.