I'd follow you...

to the ends of the earth! This is the sentiment that was going through my  mind as I created this card. Who knew butterflies could create a romantic card so easily.

One of the things I like to do when I get a new stamp is to think of all the different occasions I could use it for. One of the thoughts I had this week while observing the butterflies at the Pacific Science Center was how they all flitted through the air, appearing to be darting after one another. My thoughts as usual turned to a project that would then recreate this idea using the Lockhart butterflies. I selected my color scheme as I thought about the ribbon (May Arts) that was in my collection, colored the butterflies with Prismacolor color pencils, and added some micro twinkle stickers to highlight the butterfly spots (Linda, if you are reading this we need MORE COLORS :D - I want clear, purple, limey green,... I need more, more, more. Just call me and I'll give you my list - LOL!). The paper used is Memory Box (Granny Smith and Wisteria) - I truly adore the white interior of these cards - they give such a clean, crisp feel to my work. I have more colors to upload that are just scrumptious (yes, scrumptious). Every time I gaze at these colors for some odd reason they make me salivate - LOL! Yet another project on my "to do" list.

The background was created using the "elegant" piercing stencil. I have been wanting to play with these stencils for ages now - in fact it was this desire that started the project. I was SO curious as to how it would look after piercing all four corners and so I set out and completed the project below.

Needless to say I think it is absolutely exquisite, but realized that the butterflies just got lost against the purple background and that for this application it was just too busy IMO. So I used my pierced artwork as a guide to create the background used on my card face. By using stick pins to hold it down on my ornare piercing mat. (Yes, I still need to upload these in to the store too - I have them, but just haven't had the time. I truly apologize - I hope to get to this soon.) I then just followed the inside holes to create a more simple version of this design. The flexibility of these piercing guides is enormous. By using only portions of it you can achieve so many different looks! This is the reason I adore tools of this nature - once again they are only limited by my own imagination. I have used them as butterfly trails, corner "place holders" for greetings, and the list goes on.

In analyzing this piece upon completion I would do one thing differently. I think that there is too much white space on the white background - if time were not a constraint I would pull the whole thing apart and stamp a VERY light viney background for the butterflies to flit through :D

So let's think outside the box girls - what other occasions can you celebrate using these adorable little butterflies. I know I can think of using the IB Butterfly with some type of baby concept, add the tails to turn it into a balloon for a birthday greeting, turn them into kites - the list goes on and on and on. Share your thoughts below to get this creative universe thinking :D

I hope this post gets your artistic juices flowing and your stamps inked and colored. For me it was therapeutic coloring and stamping last night and this morning - I LOVE it when I have the opportunity to create :D Thanks for stopping by and have a great remainder to your weekend!

Comments

[Sara in WI]

What a beautiful card! I just ordered a few items including the butterflies and piercing tool and templates and can't wait for them to come! TFS!

[Juanita]

OOOOOh, Ellen, your work is MAGNIFICENT!!!! I think the butterflies would be great on; get well, sympathy (new hope & calming), thinking of you, female birthdays, graduation, and Father's Day if done in masculine colors like browns, tans, creams, blues, and very pale yellows, ge. There are many Dad's that love gardening!

[Otter]

I personally like the white space on this card!! I can't wait to get my hands on these butterflies!! I think I need that flowery one next!! Ellensweets I love your work!!!

[Karen]

I am going to use one of the butterflies to make a card for our school secretary for Administrative Assistants' Day. After having 5 inches of snow last week, we are celebrating our day near 70 degrees here in WI. Just looking at a spring card is cheerful!

[Paula]

Beautiful card. I love the colors. I think I need that piercing template! How about a hello card...Just fluttering by to say Hi. I like your idea of a birthday card...Fluttering your way to wish you a Happy Birthday. TFS

[Ruth Gore]

Love the use of micro dots on the butterflies! Perfect for these stamps! I just received my first ever order from your store today and it included these! I was trying to think of all the ways to use them, and here you have given me an excellent apllication!