Floating Butterflies

Do you ever get an idea that you can hardly wait to get the right tools to do the job? I have been awaiting the arrival of these cute little clip punches and this gorgeous silk ribbon (OK - so I'm too tired to put the link in tonight - I will hopefully get it up tomorrow) for a number of weeks now. When I saw the PaperTrey Ink Butterfly Wishes set (these are now on backorder, but will be back in stock about the same time as another must have set - big wink!) I knew this would be the perfect combination. The picture just does not do this project justice - I just couldn't capture it, but I hope that you get the idea of what I was going for with a little explanation.

My DH had given me a funky shaped card for Valentines this year and it was the starting point for this little butterfly journey. I used shimmery white cardstock as the base, along with Memory Box Lagoon and Mocha Cardstock and glossy white for the butterflies.

If you haven't played with alcohol inks you are missing out on a very fun product. Lisa Strahl and Cindy Lyles have me completely hooked on these inks. I started by putting out my mat so that I could keep my workspace clean. The colors I selected to use for the base are Adirondack Stream, Latte, and Ginger with Silver Mixatif as my "bright spot"

Dab drops of alcohol blending solution on your felt pad and then dot your ink colors (leave out the mixatif for now). I used mostly the stream (blue) because I wanted it to be my dominant color. I then dabbed this all over the surface of my glossy cardstock.

I then took a clean felt, adding alcohol blending solution to it once again and then adding a few more drops of the stream and only a couple of the drops of silver. Randomly dab this over your surface. Your mat appears to be quite the mess at this point, but don't worry it is super easy to clean up. With a little more alcohol blending solution and a paper towel, it makes for a quick clean up.

I then took the dotted butterfly and inked it up with Palette Burnt Umber and stamped my butterfly image on top of my blue creation. Next I made myself a template to use as a guide for cutting out the butterfly. I wasn't feeling particularly coordinated today and I didn't want to ruin my pretty butterflies - LOL! So I stamped the outline on a piece of Eclipse masking tape and using my lightbox placed it over the top of my butterfly in just the right spot, cutting slighly larger then the outline shape.

Next I punched the butterflies so that I could string them on this beautiful silk ribbon. I shaped the butterflies with my fingers and then adhered the ribbon. The greeting was then added and holes poked along the bottom mocha strip for some added texture. I added these in a horizontal line to counterbalance the strong vertical lines of this piece.

The butterflies just float on the silk ribbon and you can actually move them to position them where you would like. Put a little glue dot behind them if you don't want them to move, or leave them free to fly :D

I have so many more ideas for this little punch. Can you just imagine punching this little detail along the edge of your card and weaving ribbon through it? Share your ideas here for how you see this little tool adding to the creativity of future projects. Thanks for stopping by!

Comments

[Lisa Strahl]

Oh you are just too amazing Ellie girl! :D You never cease to amaze me.

[Viv (VivLyn)]

Well Ellen, I just did my shopping before you sold out of that neat little punch! Beautiful card! You are just so creative and always find the neatest fun tools to work with!

[Beate]

Girl....those what a great card! Your butterflies are gorgeous!!!

[Jovi]

Love it Ellen, the shape of your card and the butterflies off the edge are beautiful.

[Linda (LSN on SCS)]

Absolutely breathtaking! You have the coolest tools! Thank you for sharing them with all of us (so we in turn can be gals with cool tools).

Linda

[Angie DiMeglio]

Beautiful card Ellen -- I have to try this one.

[Juanita]

"Flutterific" and a great tutorial! TFS.

[Michele]

Ellen,

Love your work! I just purchased many of your new stamps. The little "vegetable" dresses. Adorable. I made my first card and posted it on Splitcoast. I even started my own blog. Not really sure what I'm doing but it's a lot of fun! I post more scrapbook pages than cards but I like to do both!

[Dawn Knapp]

So pretty!! Love those butterflies.

[Vera]

What kind of mat are you working on? I must have missed that in a previous post! Thanks!
Vera

[Marilyn McFadden]

OH!!! What a lovely card! I have to re-read the directions again, because I got sorta lost, but surely I can figure it out. I want to try this and be successful like you! Your card is a beauty!

[twinks]

I love this and your cards in the gallery for the April 1st reveal are my favorites as well; Simple elegance!