Followers

6/11/2014

Butterflies are free...

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

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.

36 comments:

  1. Beautiful butterflies Mary. In fact I love the card. Hugs Rita xxx

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  2. Stunning card, love those brilliant Butterflies.
    Glad all went well with your Hubby.
    Happy crafting

    Patricia x

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  3. OMGoodness! Mary, my card can't even begin to compare to this beauty!!! Love the background you created for those stunning butterflies too. Gorgeous!!
    And another OMG for your husband! Bless his heart - Hope all is good and make him get some rest now. Thinking about y'all!
    Lynn

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  4. Beautiful card! Love those butterflies! Thank you for the welcome!

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  5. I'm happy to see you posting, Mary, and feeling a little bit better! On the other hand, I'm sorry to hear that DH had an ordeal to get through. If it ain't one thing ... right? I hope you both take it easy as you continue to recover from your tissues!

    Your butterfly CASE from Lynn's inspiration is extraordinary! It will definitely be a big hit at the Playground and I think you are doing swell with the Copics!

    Thank you so much, my friend, for your wonderful compliments and for spreading the word about my NBUS Challenge! I appreciate you! Thanks, too, for the links to your new followers! Mwah! Darnell

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  6. Wow, Mary! That is stunning! I love the gorgeous colours! I am sorry it has been a while. My visits to blogland are a bit brief at the moment as I am still writing reports

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  7. Beautiful card mary, I like the butterflies and the colours,
    Kevin xx

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  8. Fabulous card Mary, love the beautiful textures.

    Take good care!

    Warm hugs
    Maarit

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  9. I adore Darnell and how lovely is she, running this fabulous challenge - there are so many entries too, it has been a huge success.

    Your card is stunning Mary, those butterflies are so beautiful and I love the wonderful background you created. Hugs, Anne xx

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  10. Oh Mary this is so beautiful those butterflies are magical as well as the background colours, super, super card.
    hugs
    lorraine x

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  11. I so loved that card of Lynn's too. You ladies always know the cool stuff to use and half the time I've never even heard of these products. lol I love the way your card came out too Momma Mary! Those butterflies are amazing looking, I love the textured background and the beautiful colors you used. Love the "thanks" on the wood grain paper too. This card looks amazing! Hugs, Brenda

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  12. What a gorgeous card Mary the butterflies are beautiful and I love the background :)

    Vic x

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  13. What a beautiful card Mary and such gorgeous butterflies:) I'm playing catch up again! its been so nice here so I've been in the garden because the weeds seem to love the sun too LOL hope your DH is good now ..take care lots of huggles Sue xxx

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  14. WOWSAH! What an outstanding card, so lavish with beautiful color and details! You really know how to put a card together! Those butterflies are gorgeous and so is the background!
    Sending hugs to you and get-well wishes to the hubs for all he's been going through too. I hope he's feeling chipper in no time!

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  15. Oh wow, Mary, this is absolutely stunning!! The butterflies are gorgeous!! I love the wood paper and the colors!! This is seriously fabulous my friend!! What a beautiful card!! I hope your hubby is feeling much better!! Have a great evening :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  16. What a GORGEOUS creation Mary! So love <3.

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  17. Great card and love the colours. I had to close down Memories to Keep due to a hacker, so my new one is up and running with a candy...if you want to join up and join in please do so.xxx aNNie xx



    The Journey is the Start

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  18. WOW Mary. Love the card. Beautiful job and the coloring is outstanding. Happy I made this my last stop for tonight. Been out trying to comment on the cards for Darnell's NBUS challenge. I made it through 60 and ran out of gas. LOL. I will return and check out your new followers tomorrow.

    Blessings
    Jim

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  19. Gorgeous card Mary, love those big butterflies on the pretty background, Cathy x

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  20. Super background for these gorgeous butterflies Mary. Love the woodgrain snippet too - a butterfly house. So much fun that you use bits and pieces that are awaiting a new home - always looks like you've made them specifically for each card!

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  21. Cute card!! Love the butterflies

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  22. Wowwwwowwwwww Mary love these stunning butterflies...

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  23. This is so lovely and bright and cheery Mary, and who doesn't love butterflies, and with the extra sparkle too. Love the way you have coloured the background and the woodgrain makes it look as though the butterflies have just landed on a fence. Perfect! So sorry but didn't realise your DH has had a problem but hope things are improving for you. Take care. x

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  24. So pretty and those butterflies are gorgeous - I am not going to be around from here on out until probably the end of September. Will try to pop in when I can!
    Sandy xx

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  25. This is fabulous! I really like the effect of that black Pico embellisher. And the Sakura silver star pen lines look beautiful!

    This is a wonderful card, Mary!

    I owe you a long catch up email and a big thank you...but...can't seem to get my tail in gear. Kiddies overnite tonight then dahsing madly about for a couple days to get ready to go to Mum's for another week of helping out.
    It is not the lake or holiday packing that is hard...it is the carft packing as I always need something and hate the cards I make because of it. I am seriously thinking of stamping images (as I am low at the moment) and then bringing gamsol and pencil crayon as well as copics.
    I think I have enough cards to post but i am gone a month altogether, so will have to make cards for my Christmas Club commitments, and Rudolf Day.

    Will send a long email once I am at Mums.

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  26. Beautiful bg :) Lovely card :). Glad everything was ok with your husband. I'm also behind my visits. Hope I will improve :).

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  27. Such pretty background and butterflies, Mary! Wow! I'll have to check out this new product although my shelves are groaning from too much schtuff! Glad to see that you feel like playing again.

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  28. Beautiful butterflies on that great background that you created!

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  29. This is so beautiful and those butterflies are simply gorgeous! What a sweet way to say thanks.

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  30. Beautiful card Mary with lots of colors and textures. Loll xx

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  31. Your card has beautiful colors and amazing texture, Mary. You and your husband take care!

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  32. stunning card love the courful background and wood grain snippet and those butterflies are sooooo beautiful -hope your Hubby is feeling better
    carol x

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  33. I thought for sure I left you some love on this make Mary - I must be loosing my mind! Love the background of your card and those certainly are gorgeous butterflies.
    sandy xx

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  34. I thought for sure I left you some love on this make Mary - I must be loosing my mind! Love the background of your card and those certainly are gorgeous butterflies.
    sandy xx

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  35. WOW, your butterflies are great, Mary!!! Lovely bg you've created with lovely texture, too!!!
    Hope that by now you and hubby are both feeling 100%!!!
    Hugz

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  36. Ooh! Love those butterflies. What a great card!

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