Inlaid Die Cut Butterfly

     I'm experimenting again with inlaid die cuts.  That's the challenge theme from AAA Cards and I do like the way this turned out.

     All the dies I used this time are from Spellbinders and I just love the way they work together.  For the background, I nested together 4 dies from one of my framing sets and cut both light and dark turquoise CS, then alternated the colors.  These are not stacked layers -- the two colors are actually inlaid so that when it's finished, there's only one layer.  I did layer everything onto white CS but that was only for gluing purposes.  I trimmed away all but the tiniest border of white before applying that piece to the black card base.  The outside frame and the oval were both embossed by using the die again but this time with a rubber pad for embossing instead of cutting.

     Then I used two butterfly dies to cut butterflies from two shades of CS in the purple family.  I inlaid those the same way but left a couple of negative pieces of the lavender instead of inlaying the darker purple.  I just liked the look of it that way.

     The sentiment is hand stamped and die cut.  While it was still in the die, I drew around the inside of the die with purple ink.  After removing the die, I edged it with purple ink.  Finally, I added one of those bows which I make by the dozens and put pearls on the butterfly body.  I kept it very CAS, even though my "white" space is black on this card.  :-D

     Challenges:
613 Avenue Create
Artistic Inspirations
Craft-Dee BowZ
Crafting from the Heart
Craft Your Passion
Crafty Cardmakers
Dare 2B Artzy
Our Crafty Corner
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Pile It On
Ribbon Girls
Scrapy Land

     We're halfway through the week and nearly half way through the year - can you believe that?  Next month is the turning point and we'll celebrate the longest day of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere, although the hottest days of summer will still be ahead of us so I'm not sure the days really feel all that much shorter.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Escaping the Doctors

     A week or so ago, I told you how much I dearly love the bears from QKR Stampede (challenge theme: dies or punches) and today I'm using another one for a Get Well card.  I hope this brings a smile to your face.

My design sketch came from the CASE card at

AAA Cards and it has to be CAS.  

I tried to stick with the colors, too, but dulled my background pink quite a bit.

       I colored the bear with ProMarkers, then die cut the image with a square die and used a corner punch on all 4 corners.  The background piece I made myself, using an old piece of plastic netting (like you get with a fruit or vegetable bag) and coloring across it with the chisel tip of the ProMarkers.  Aside from the fact that I wanted something close to the background on the CASE card, I really like that effect and will use it again, I'm sure.  That piece is also die cut and punched.

     I dry embossed the brown CS strip with the "Lattice" folder from SU.  The sentiment is my own, printed with a computer font.  My only embellishment on this CAS card is the die cut swirl in the lower corner.  No ribbon, no twine, no string, no flowers, no gems or pearls -- I think I'm finally getting the hang of CAS!!  :-D

     Challenges:

A Creative Romance -- 1 for the boys

Artistic Inspirations -- Dies or punches

Come and Get It -- Bingo: Texture/ Free/ No dp

Crafting from the Heart -- A/G

Fan-Tastic Tuesday -- 1 for the guys

Glitter n Sparkle -- For men or male colors

Graph'It -- Warm colors

Hiding in My Craft Room -- Embossing

Paper Nest Dolls -- A/G

Papertake Weekly -- Ooh, so cute!

Passion for ProMarkers -- die cuts

Speedy Fox & Friends -- No design paper

Wags 'n Whiskers -- 1 for the boys

     Well, this was fast and simple so you did get a post today after all.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie