Announcements and an Embossed Witch Flourish Card

Spooktacular Greetings Everyone!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post and my last video. Over the past few months I have been in and out of the hospital due to an unknown allergic reaction in my throat. Currently, the doctors are as mystified as I am as to why this is happening.

As the holiday and craft fair season begins, I am going through my supplies and weeding out things that I am no longer using or have never used. These items are available through my eBay store. 

Today I would like to share with you this embossed witch flourish card that I made using a stamp from Inkadinkado.

I made this card using a variety of materials that have been in my stash for...well...years. A kit for this card is available in the eBay store as well.

How-to Video:

How-to Emboss using Powder:

Thanks for stopping by. Happy crafting!

Proud to Announce...Our First Digital Stamp!

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I am very proud to announce that Blu Butterfly Creations has teamed up with Graphic Artist Adam Bagni to bring you digital stamps. Our first digital stamp is a sentiment for the upcoming Halloween Season. This image is available in The Butterfly Garden (Navigation Tab above).

Below is an example of a card using this digital image. The image is printed at 2.5x5.75" and colored using Copic Markers. I used Spica pens to accent the image. The image was then adhered to a black cardstock mat with a piece of striped paper from DCWV. The orange pattern cardstock is from American Loft. Both the orange pattern paper and image are distressed with Black Soot by Tim Holtz.

We have more digital stamps on the way. I hope you enjoyed stopping by.

Toni
Blu Butterfly

Day 2 of Winter Holiday Fun

Good Morning Everyone!

Here is the second creation in my Holiday Fun blog event.

This creations is using a stamp from Stamping Bella and paper from Core'dinations and DCWV. This is an A2 card measuring 4"x5.5".

Instructions-

• Cut a piece of Core'dinations White Wash Grandpa's truck cardstock to 4x5.5" and 2.75"x2.75"
• Cut piece of pattern paper to 3.75"x5.25". (My pattern paper is from DCWV 2011 Holiday Stack.)
• Cut a piece of smooth white cardstock to 2.5"x2.5"
• Using Tuxedo Black ink from Memento ink and stamp image on white cardstock
• Color image using Copic Markers
• Use Fiskers Heritage punch to cut the corners of the image cardstock and coordinating sized Core'dinations
• Ink edges of image with Tea Dyed Distress Ink by Tim Holtz
• Adhere image to cardstock and pattern paper to card stock
• Adhere image to pattern paper
• attach ribbon and bow
• Adhere card front to base measuring 8"x5.5" folded in half
• Write "Wishing you many 'Cups of Good Cheer' this season" on the inside of card. (Lyric from "We Wish You a Merry Christmas")

Today's challenge

Use a holiday song lyric in your project. When posting your project please state the song title. Please link through the comments section.

Core'dinations Online Holiday Crop-Lydia's Sketch Challenge

Good Evening Everyone in Blog land!

Whew! I finally found the perfect pictures to finish Lydia's sketch Challenge for the Online Core'dinations Holiday Crop. As I was going through my pictures I realized that I don't have many pictures of winter events. (Memo to self-take more pictures in winter. :) )

If you haven't heard of the Core'dinations Online Crop here is the link.
This challenge can be found here.

On to the final project....

Here is the sketch that Lydia gave as the challenge.

Unfortunately my camera doesn't work at the moment so here is the layout in scanned pieces.

I used paper from the White Wash collection. the border around the page is punched using a Fishers punch. I then sanded the edges to add a little more blue color to the edges. The pattern paper is from the 2012 DCWV Stack. I trimmed the pattern paper to 11x11".

I created the center divider using two punches from Fiskers and flipping one strip color side up.

 

The Snowflake in the corner is crocheted by me. The ribbon is from Michael's.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you feel inspired by this layout.
Toni

2012 Holiday Gift Bag-Winter Landscape

Good Morning Everyone,

It's a busy day for me here in New Hampshire. Outside it feels like Old Man Winter is gearing up for a little snow. This inspired me to create a winter landscape gift bag.

 I used paper from the Core'dinations Chocolate box collection to create the trees and sky. The trees are cut at 3" and 3.5" using the Christmas Cheer Cartridge for Cricut. The snow landscape is embossed using the Swiss Dots folder for the Cuttlebug.

The ribbon is from Michael's.

 I found the snowflake jewels at JoAnn's last year.

13 Days of Halloween-Day 2

Good Morning World!

It's warm and sunny here in New Hampshire. I love warm Autumn days. Today I have a vintage looking Autumn card that is super simple to create.

I used paper from the 2011 Fall/Halloween stack by DCWV and some Core'dinations Vintage cardstock to create the card. The image is stamped using Memento Rich Cocoa ink and distressed around the edges using Tea Dye ink by Ranger. The image is called "Colonial Fall" and is made by Impression Obsession.

I love how this card turned out. It's warm tones reminds me of Autumn joys from my childhood.

There are two card kits and a set of six (6) finished cards available for purchase in my eBay store. Just click the tab above.

Video:

Challenge: Today's challenge is to create a project that uses the vintage feel. It can be a card, scrapbook page or a piece of altered art. To enter your creation, just post your blog address where I can find the creation in the comments below by November 1st.

Thanks for stopping by.

13 Days of Halloween-Day 1

Hello Everyone,

I do apologize for not having this post up on the blog yesterday. I was rear-ended two weeks ago and I'm still recovering.

Today's challenge (or, well, yesterday's challenge) is to use Core'dinations Black Magic paper and pumpkin images to create a card, altered art item or scrapbook page. To enter simple leave your name and blog address where the image is posted in the comment section below. I can't wait to see your creations!



Here is an example-

Materials: 

• (1) 12x12 sheet of Core'dinations Black Magic Warlock
• Stamping Up Halloween Smiles Stamp Set
• (1) 8.5"x11" sheet of ivory Copic approved cardstock
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink pad
• Cuttlebug Candy Cane embossing folder
• Halloween Dew Drops
• Orange with black poka-dot ribbon
• adhesive (runner and Zots)
• sandpaper or sanding tool
•  Cuttlebug with (1) A plate and (2) B plates
• Copic Markers-N0, N3, N6, C7, YR15, Y38, E59, E33, YG95, G99

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of the Warlock to 4.25"x5.5", one piece at 4x5.25"and one piece to 3x3.25"
2. Cut a piece of the ivory cardstock to 8.5x5.5" and fold in half-creating a 4.25x5.5 card base
3. Cut a piece of ivory cardstock to 2.75x3" and stamp image from Halloween Smiles using Memento ink.
4. Color image with Copic markers as desired.
5. Place 4x5.25" piece of Warlock in embossing folder so that the black side is facing up.
6. Run embossing folder through Cuttlebug
7. Remove cardstock from folder and sand the the black side exposing the orange color underneath.
8. Adhere larger piece of Warlock cardstock to card base so that the orange is face up. 
9. Using the "cheater" or "Saver" method adhere a piece of ribbon to the left side of the embossed cardstock about .5" in from the edge
10. Adhere Embossed cardstock to center of card base
11. Adhere stamped and colored image to orange side of smaller Warlock and adhere to the card front
12. Adhere three Dew Drops using Zots 
13. Enjoy.

Steampunk Banner Using G45 and the Cricut

Good Morning Everyone,

Above is the Steampunk Version of a Halloween banner I saw on Xyron's Facebook page a few weeks ago. I love the original banner. So I decided to first make my own Halloween version then I decided to create a Steampunk version. I used paper from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante collection along with cardstock from Core'dinations. The keys and hot air balloon are from the Victorian Romance Cricut Cartridge.

The quote is from Edger Allen Poe; one of my favorite authors.

Here is a picture of the original banner I saw on Facebook.

I thought it was very cute, and something I could create with my Cricut and the Happy Hauntings cartridge. So here is a picture of my version of the Halloween banner.

I used paper from Die Cuts with a View and various embellishments I had in my brad and rub-on drawers. The pattern papers are inked with Walnut Stain Distress ink by Tim Holtz.

I hope you find this inspiring and create your own version of the banner.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sassy Studio Designs Challege for September 13th 2012

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I'm very excited to submit my first entry in the Sassy Studio Designs Challenges. This week was a sketch challenge.

Here is a picture of the sketch:

Here is my take on the sketch:

I decided to use the SSD Steampunk Vivian image. I used paper from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante, Core'dinations Vintage Collection, Copic Markers and Dew Drops. The card measures 5.25 square and is distressed with Tim Holtz Tea Dyed ink.

I hope you like it. Please leave a comment.

Thanks for stopping by!

G45 Botanicabella Altered Notebook

I absolutely adore Graphic 45 paper! I recently found a few sheets from the Botanicabella Collection in my paper stash. I decided to create an altered notebook with the pages that I had.

Here is a picture of the completed notebook cover.

Supplies used in this project:

• (2)-12x12 sheets of Graphic 45's Botanicabella Collection Botanicabella #4500045
• (1)-12x12 sheet of Graphic 45's Botanicabella Collection Ode to a Butterfly #4500053
• Golden yellow cardstock 
• (1) 8.5x11" shimmery white cardstock
• Composition Notebook
• Adhesive for book making and paper ( I used Glue Arts High Tac and Perma Tac)
• 1/8" pop dots
• sharp scissors
• Wild Honey Tim Holtz Distress Ink
• Ink distressing tool
• Red gems in 2 sizes
• scotch tape
• metallic thread
• Heritage Corner punch from Fiskers
• Zots for Bling
• craft knife
• bone folder
• ruler
• other embellishments

 Directions-

-Using High Tac or other book making adhesive (Mod Podge for example), outline the edges of the cover of the Composition notebook. NOTE: Do not cover the black spine with adhesive.

-Center one (1) sheet of the Botanicabella 12x12 paper over the adhesive so that the edge abuts the black spine so that the red with gold design is facing up.


-Smooth paper down on the top of the notebook

-Trim the over hang along the width of the notebook leaving about 1" on paper past the edge of the cover.

-Take the bone folder and placing the notebook on it's cover run the bone folder around the edge of the cover. This creates a crease line-making the next step so much easier. 

-Fold the paper over the edge of the cover on one of the short sides and the long side. Place the ruler on an angle that connects the inner and outer corner of the folded paper. Using the craft knife cut along the edge of the ruler. Be careful not to cut through the cover. Remove extra paper and adhere the flaps to the cover. Repeat process on the other corner.

-Repeat this entire process for the back cover using the second piece of Botanicabella.

-Cut two pieces of golden yellow cardstock to fit within the cover of the notebook (if using a smaller or larger notebook than the standard composition notebook, cut the cardstock so that it rests 1/8" in from the long and short sides of the cover.) These inside pieces measure 9.5x6.75"

-Using the Wild Honey distress ink ink the golden yellow cardstock around the edges and adhere to the inside of the back cover.

-Create a pocket on the liner for the cover by placing the back side of Ode to a Butterfly on an angle across the liner. Using the corner covering process from above to adhere the pocket to the liner. Using scraps from the Botanicabella cardstock cut a strip of butterflies and adhere as a pocket edge and wrap around the back of the liner.

-Adhere liner to the inside of the front cover.

-Cut a piece of the the white shimmery cardstock to 3.5x5" Using the Heritage punch, cut all four corners of the cardstock

-Distress with Wild Honey ink and apply title (I used a "Dream" rub-on)

-Thread clock face embellishment (or embellishment of choice) on to the metallic thread. Using the cheater method attach the thread to the title block.

-From the paper scraps of the Botanicabella paper cut out seven butterflies. Create dementional butterflies by using pop dots to layer two of the butterflies together. Adhere two of the butterflies to the front cover around the title.

-Attach one to the center of the pocket liner on the inside cover. Attach the last butterfly (flat) to the top right corner of the cover liner.

Attach the red gems to the bottom of the front cover as pictured.

A Steampunk Morning

Good Morning!

It's finally Friday here in New Hampshire. I woke up this morning wanting to watch Return to Oz. If you  haven't seen this movie you should. It's a great 'what-if' movie. Anyway...

Last night was a great night at the Steamy Swan Society's first movie night event. We screened League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The event was a hit! We had about twenty-five plus people and plenty of goodies including popcorn (a movie staple), warm brownies, cookies, soda, and mini pies. As a group, we look forward to having more events like this in the future. We are currently working on a Masquerade Ball, Victorian Tea, and a Murder Mystery Theater.

I'm so happy to find people in my area that are into the culture/genre that is Steampunk. So this post has some of my recent projects that incorporate aspects of the Steampunk world.

Steampunk is basically a what-if scenario. What if technology didn't progress the way it did? What-if everything was still powered by steam? This genre takes on properties of popular fiction during the mid 1800's through about 1910's. Julies Vern for example.

3D Mandala using Assorted papers and Embellishments

A paper pin for the Mystery Murder Event

A card for a time traveler (i.e. Birthday)

Love Graphic 45 paper

  Thanks for stopping by and reading. Have a great day!

Technique #1- 3 Tier Stamping

3 tier stamping is a fun and easy way to create a layered card or background for a scrapbook page. This technique uses three layers of paper that gradually shrink in size. When stamped this layering creates a cascading effect with the stamped image. When practicing this technique, it is easier to use a stamp that has a flourish image.

You can find a printable version of these directions here.

Materials-
-(1) 8 1/2x11" piece of white cardstock
-(1) 8 1/2x11" piece of colored cardstock
-(1) stamp with a flourish
-(1) card base of 8x5 1/2" folded in half
-ink in your choice of color (chose an ink that won't run when using the distressing ink like Memento)

-distressing ink a coordinating color to the ink used to stamp the flourish-this should be lighter than the stamping ink
-distress ink applicator
-ashesieve
-1/8' pop dots
-fibers or ribbon for embellishment

Directions-
-Cut the colored cardstock into three pieces measuring (1) 3 3/4x5 1/4, (2) 2 3/4x4 1/4, and (3) 1 3/4x 3 1/4"
-Cut the white cardstock into three pieces measuring (1) 4x5 1/2", (2) 3x4 1/2", and (3) 2x3 1/2"
-Using a small piece of adhesive, layer the three white pieces of cardstock so that the smallest piece is on top (You may have to dull the hold of the adhesive by pressing and lifting your finger off of it)
-Ink up the stamp using selected color
-Stamp randomly across the three layers of white cardstock making sure the flourish overlaps the layers of paper.
-Continue inking and stamping (for this size card about 3-4 times)
- Peel the three layers apart and apply distress ink using applicator tool.
-Adhere the stamped pieces to their coordinating sized background paper.

IMPORTANT- Check your stamped images to make sure they are going the right way and mimic the stamp image across the layers.


-Adhere the top and middle layer together by centering the top layer over the middle.
-Wrap ribbon or fibers to embellish around the top and middle layer.
-Use pop dots to adhere top two layers to bottom layer.
-Adhere bottom layer to card base and enjoy. 

Steampunk Altered Art Shadow Coffin

Good Afternoon Everyone!

It's sunny and hot here in New Hampshire USA. Laundry is drying in the sun and I have finished another Steampunk themed project. I bought the coffin at Michael's and the paper from Stamping Memories in Belmont NH.

This item is available on ebay

Front of the outside-

 Inside the coffin-

The pattern paper is from the Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante collection. I used some of Tim Holtz's Wild Honey distress ink around the edges of the paper.

I used denominational foam under the flowers in the left side of the coffin and the corset on the right side.

The charms are jewelry pieces in my collection of embellishments. The loop opens to add more charms or to change the assortment. I spray painted the gears using Krylon paints.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Trace Adkins and Martina McBride Concert 2010 Book

In March of 2012, I was able to go to the Trace Adkins and Martina McBride concert at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. I purchased the tickets for my mom, Crystal, and I online. Then counted down the days.

The concert was amazing! I was able to get some beautiful professional quality pictures. However, the pictures sat in a box until this week. Finally I was able to place in motion the ideas for a mini book that were wondering around my head.

I used paper from Rusty Pickle and the Paper Element to create the final book. Here are pictures of the book as of today.

I used some of Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink on some of the pages for Trace Adkins. 

I used some of Tim Holtz Tattered Rose Distress Ink on pages for Martina McBride. 

I used brads and other accents to fill in large spaces. 

Each of the pages has the chorus from one of the songs each artist sang.

I kept the pages simple and left room for journaling...I think this may be a present for my mom this Christmas.