Butterfly Basics

I'm very excited (and also a bit nervous) to say "hello everyone" because this is my very first blog! Hopefully, though, just the first of many because I have lots of ideas that I'm looking forward to sharing.  I am very grateful to all the talented people who have inspired, taught and encouraged me.  I hope that I can do them justice and would love to "pay it forward".

A butterfly seemed appropriate for my first blog - I went into a chrysalis as a technophobe and emerged as a blogger!

This card was inspired by a Think Ink challenge set by the incomparable Sue Madex with this inspiration piece.  At her site Madex Creations, you'll see Sue's beautiful and very creative card.   It was the first challenge I had attempted but it definitely won't be the last.  It really stretched my creative muscles and made me more aware of my own creative processes.

So how did I do it?  
I folded my A5 Basic Grey cardstock in half to make my card.  Then opened it up again and used the fold line to gauge where I wanted to place my butterfly.  
Then I cut out my butterfly with the largest of the Butterflies Thinlets Dies.  After that I cut another butterfly (with the same thinlet) from black cardstock.  I adhered Whisper White cardstock to the inside of the front of the card (under the Basic Grey) and then stuck my black butterfly onto the white - fitting it snugly into the butterfly-shaped space in the grey.  
Having coloured the butterfly with my markers (I left some bits white for "pop"), I carefully cut around the bottom of the butterfly to remove the excess white card and drew on the feelers with the fine end of a black marker.  
To add the two borders (from the Butterfly Basics stamp set), I first masked the butterfly to protect it and stamped in line with the edge of the card.  I added one of the sentiments from the same stamp set at an angle to balance the butterfly.  
I cut a piece of Smoky Slate cardstock a little smaller than the card and adhered it to the inside of the card and in the middle, stamped the other sentiment from the Butterfly Basics stamp set.
It didn't necessarily need the bling - but I couldn't help myself!

See you again soon!
Stephanie

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