Butterflies are free...

Good morning and welcome. I'd like to say hello & thanks to some new followers, so will do that first:

Margaret A of Granmargaret's cards-n-stuff

KT of KT's Designs

Danielle V of D's Crafty Connection

Thank you so much for joining as followers and checking out what goes on here.

I'd also like to send big Congratulations to Our Darnell who has a fantastic new NBUS Challenge going on until June 27, to celebrate reaching 500 followers on her blog. (I'm not at all surprised. You won't be either if you get to know Darnell...not only a talented lady, but so funny with words and a kind & generous crafting friend too). So if you have time, check out Darnell's NBUS Challenge (you do know what NBUS means, right? Never Before Used Stuff...and we all have 'em). Also do yourself a big favor and check out the new followers' blogs listed above. You're in for a treat.

Today's card has been done for a while, but due to current Life circumstances around my house, it just didn't get photo'd and posted. Inspiration for this effort  was this beautiful card by my blog friend, Lynn. Saw Lynn's nifty card & read about the Tsukineko irRESISTible Pico Embellishers. Had to order some. Found some previously stamped butterflies; colored them with copics, and experimented with the new product. I have a learning curve using these, but think I'm going to like them. Here's the card :

- may have been a Hero Arts image borrowed from a stamp buddy (found in my pre-stamped stash that goes along when we travel). Colored with copics, outlining with Sakura silver star - which shows better on the top butterfly. Black Pico Embellisher was used on spots and body. IRL it has a raised shiny effect, similar to Glossy Accents. I used a straight up technique to apply the product, and think it would be better controlled to use at a slant. There is a tiny pin tip that is unscrewed when using, that keeps the product from clogging. I think I'll like this stuff a lot, once I feel comfortable using it. There are colors to match all the Memento ink pad colors (I think), as well as metallic colors too.

- antennae made with bronze wire

- dp wood grain snippet (CASEing Lynn's card)

- background created with DI Wild Honey, Barn red, ?Chipped Sapphire and Broken China? Spritzed with water, dried & then spritzed with Tattered Angels gold. Stamped with the SU Swallowtail butterfly, but that can only be seen down in the lower left corner.

- embossed with Craft Concepts Thoughtful Collection Achebe EF.

- MB Thanks die - cut from the same background paper. This die cuts individual letters, and my first layer didn't adhere well. Cut a 2nd layer - so the letters are raised a bit, which I liked.

- MS tiny butterflies (snippets) from a bit of Dylusions sprayed scrap paper. Hides a couple of glue smudgies from the first attempt to layer the Thanks letters evenly.

It's been a while since I visited Pixie's Playground, and I see that the Snippets Playground Week 128 is still open. I have a tiny dp snippet  and if I stretch a bit, the butterfly images could be considered snippets too (?). So I'm dashing over to play with my buddies that I've been missing. Won't you come along & join in the fun? Always some fun prizes and lots of inspiration from some terrific folks.

In the meantime, thanks for visiting today. I'm trying to do better with posting & visiting, but still not a lot of energy. Yesterday we spent at the hospital where DH had a heart catherization, so it was an all day affair. Thankfully no stents had to be done, so we were both happy to get that ordeal over with. He just has to take it easy for the next 48 or so hours, drink lots of water to flush out the dye so that it doesn't cause kidney damage.

Have a great day, and thanks again for all the emails I've had from you lovely folks. I've enjoyed each one, and felt so blessed to have such sweet blog friends.

Hugs! God Bless.