The Stamp Review Crew: Butterfly Basics Edition

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It’s time for another round of inspiration from The Stamp Review Crew. If this is your very first visit, we are a group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators whose mission is to do a blog hop on the first and third Mondays of each month. Our hops are unique because each of us features the same stamp set. The result is you see the versatility of the set and the amazing things you can create with it. This week we are featuring Butterfly Basics. I am Stop #13 on the hop. You may have just left Stop #12: the talented Shana Gaff.  Her work always blows me away.   Enjoy today’s hop!

IMG_2174-001Butterfly Basics is one of my go-to sets from the Occasions Catalog.  I have used it to create several cards, but most of them have been designed using light, springy colors.  To show the versatility of this set,  I decided to create something using darker colors,  suitable for fall.  I actually CASED one of my previous cards, which you will see at the end of today’s post for comparison purposes.

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips
This finished card measures 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ when folded.

  • Watercoloring! The flowers were stamped with VersaMark onto Very Vanilla cardstock, and then heat embossed with Early Espresso Embossing Powder.   Next, they were colored using Aqua Painters and Always Artichoke, Crushed Curry, and Cajun Craze inks.  After fussy cutting, the edges were lightly distressed with Early Espresso ink, using a Sponge Dauber.

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  • Random stamping! The background was created by randomly stamping a Sahara Sand cardstock panel using the images available from the set.  The stamps were inked with Early Espresso and stamped off once before stamping onto the panel.

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  • Pearls and lace! A Sahara Sand Lace bow adds texture, while a few Pearls adorn the butterflies for bit of bling.

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As I stated earlier,  I have used this stamp set several times over the past few months.  Here are three cards from the archives:

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IMG_1438And here is the side-by-side comparison of today’s card, with the one created with Wisteria Wonder.

PicMonkey CollageI think the darker colors work with this set, too. What about you? Won’t you let me know in today’s comment? Your comments are important to me, and I do ready each and every one.  Of course, if you ever have a question about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  Now hop along to Stop #1,  Lisa Young  Her work never ceases to amaze me. And if you get lost along the way, you can find a list of all the hoppers at The Stamp Review Crew.  Until next time…

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Moon Lake for The Paper Players

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IMG_2166It’s Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players! This week, the amazing Sandy has a fun Theme Challenge for us: Transportation!  I suppose a rowboat can be considered transportation, right? I needed a masculine retirement card that evoked feelings of relaxation and lazy days.  I thought this image filled the bill. Enjoy!

pp243The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips
This finished card measures 5-1/2″ by 4-1/4″.

  • Watercolor! The boat image from Moon Lake was watercolored using Aqua Painters and inks. Pear Pizzazz and Soft Suede were used for the tree, Sahara Sand for the foreground, Smoky Slate for the boat, and Soft Sky for the water.   The image was stamped a second time, and only the tree and boat were colored.   Stampin’ Write Markers were used to add accents.  The images were then snipped out with Paper Snips  and added to the original by popping them up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

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  • Selective inking! The sentiment, from Really Good Greetings, was inked using Early Espresso and Always Artichoke Stampin’ Write Markers.  Tip: Remember to “huff” to moisten the ink before stamping!  Although Really Good Greetings is on the Retiring List, it is one set which I will be keeping.  I just LOVE this sentiment!

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  • Banner!  To add interest to the scored panel on the left, banners were cut from the Adventure Bound Designer Series Paper Stack.  The “V” ends were created with the Hexagon Punch.  Of course, it never hurts to add a few Pearls…even on a masculine card.

IMG_2166-004 I hope you enjoyed today’s card. The husband of a dear friend will be retiring in few months, and I think this card will be quite appropriate, since he plans on catching up on some fishing!  Because I want him to live the retirement life he imagines after retiring, I think this sentiment will work.  What do you think? Won’t you let me know in your comment today? Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one.  Of course, if you ever have a question about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.

I leave you today with a picture of little Kia.  She was supposed to watch the Kentucky Derby today…but she tuckered out during the post parade.

11121682_720067254770361_42425107_nUntil next time…

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach
Anne Marie Hile
Claire Broadwater
Jaydee
Joanne James
Laurie Schmidt
LeAnne Pugliese
Nance Leedy
Sandy Mathis
Debbie Mageed
Karren Johnson
Shannon Jaramillo

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Stippled Blossom Beauties…and a Puppy Picture

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From the Archives

Stippled Blossoms is one of my retiring “go-to” sets.  (Click Here to see the updated Retiring List.)  If this set is not in your arsenal already, here are 12 reasons it should be!

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Last Day for Butterfly Framelits Discount

There is still time to take advantage of two special offers, which end today,  April 30:

  1. Get the Butterflies Thinlits at a 15 percent discount–just $21.20!
  2. Buy any of the Butterflies Thinlits Bundles–already discounted 15 percent–and choose one of three FREE Sale-A-Bration items (only available while supplies last)!

Become a Demonstrator Today!

Stampin’ Up! demonstrators are getting their peek at the NEW 2015 – 2016 Catalog TODAY! And starting Tuesday, we will be pre-ordering products from this catalog.  Here’s the GREAT news! YOU can add pre-order items to your Starter Kit. You will receive $125 of product for just $99…and it ships for FREE! As always, there’s no risk, no obligation to purchase anything further, no requirement to host workshops or parties and no penalty to drop!  It’s like taking a test drive! Join now…and if you reach $300 in purchases and/or sales during a quarter, you’ll renew your perks and benefits! Want to see what all the new catalog buzz is? Click HERE to join Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator today today!

Puppy Picture of the Day

Today’s Puppy Picture features Jumpin’ Jack Flash.  No light-weight, Jack weighed in at 5 lbs. 14 oz. at 25 days of age.   In his spare time, Jack loves to eat, play, and sleep!

Jack Body April 29, 2015

As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me!  Until next time…

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