Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Inspired by Framed Butterflies & a goodbye

Happy Tuesday!  I have missed being here on the blog, but these last several days were so busy.  I made a lot of design team cards in advance, did major work in the front yard, went to dinner with the family, took a yoga class, buried a dead baby bunny found in the garden (made me SO sad), took Cristabel to the vet.

That last thing was stressful.  Cristabel HATES to go into her carrier, and I usually walk away with lots of scratches.  It actually went smoothly, to my surprise, thanks to a trick my vet taught me (if you want to know what it is, just email me ;)  Unfortunately, Crista might have asthma (ironic, because I have it too).  The vet heard a little bit of wheezing, but wasn't sure if it was actually a breathing problem, or the fact that she was super-nervous being in the vet's office.  We need to keep an eye and ear on her, to see what is going on.  :-(

As for today's card, I ripped out a page from Country Living magazine's May 2012 issue because it inspired me so.  Check this out:


Those butterflies aren't real; they are paper and available from Blumchen & Co. HERE.  You get 18 butterflies for $2.00.  SO cheap!  I, however, love to make my own.  These are from Lost Coast Designs' Butterflies set.

Here is a Mother's Day card for my MIL:


Challenges entered:

  • Runway Inspired - (photo above) - I was inspired by the way the light in the background creates a 'frame', with texture on the white portions (so I embossed my card base); also, if you enlarge that photo, you can see beautiful design and color like a butterfly's.
  • Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - butterflies


Okay, so now the part about the "good bye".

I've been with Blockheads Paper Arts since December 2011, but my term has come to an end.  Owner Stacey Dunning has been so generous and kind, laid-back and encouraging.  Thank you for letting me be part of your team, Stacey!  I enjoyed every moment.



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Butterflies - Lost Coast Designs
Paper: white - PTI; Basic Black - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Other: Victoria embossing folder - Cuttlebug; Big Shot; frame die - Spellbinders; rhinestones - Recollections; Copic markers

49 comments:

Jennifer said...

What a seriously gorgeous card! I am in LOVE with those butterflies! Oh my goodness....someone might be shopping today haha.

Holly AKA KopyKat said...

Love those framed butterfly's, so beautiful!

Nan G said...

Beautiful butterfly card! Great inspiration photos.

Jackie Rockwell said...

Awe sooo sad about the baby bunny. :(

On the brighter side though your card is beautiful Colleen! :)

Karen McAlpine said...

We, The Blockheads, will miss you dear Colleen! Your fun attitude and gorgeous projects have been such a treasure. Stay in touch!

Karen McAlpine said...

PS: Love the card!!

A said...

przepięknie!! kocham!

Lisa Elton said...

Wow Colleen your butterflies are spectacular ~ Love the scrolled frame too! Gorgeous card. Hope your Cristabel will be ok. So sad to hear about the baby bunny :(

Bonnie said...

Colleen, this is one of my favorite cards that you have done. And I have a lot of favorites! The butterflies are colored beautifully and the embossed background is the perfect resting place.

LeAnne said...

This is just stunning....that company has some AWESOME stuff! They look real!

Bonnie said...

Hi again Colleen. Just wanted to add that I had to order the butterfly stamp. Your were so pretty. Now I hope I can color them half as well and hang on the wall. :>)

Peggy Lee said...

just stunning....beautiful so love love this...

Vicki Dutcher said...

THUD! Beautiful creation!!!

Marlena M. said...

This is so pretty Colleen! Amazing.

trisha too said...

Another really gorgeous card, Colleen!

I'll miss you at Blockheads, you are such a sweet person, and it was great being on the dt with you! But you know I'll still be visiting--you can't get rid of me that easily!

;)

Clare said...

Stunning card!! LOVE it!

Ann Schach said...

Beautiful, Colleen! I love how you translated the inspiration pieces into your card!

Leslie said...

Oh, Colleen, this is absolutely beautiful! I love butterflies too and yours are so realistic! I am going to miss you too, and look forward to visiting your blog from time to time to see what you're up to! Good luck in all your crafting endeavors! I've enjoyed getting to know you and being on the Blockheads DT with you!
Hugs,
Leslie

Jinny Newlin said...

Absolutely stunning, Col! LOVE that bold, black frame against your bright, white, embossed background! And those butterflies are fabulous! I know you will be deeply missed!

Donna B. said...

Amazing card Colleen!! Love the butterflies! Congrats on the Splitcoast shout out!!

Unknown said...

Your card looks wonderful. I just love your spin on the inspirational photo. Love those butterflies..

Hugs~

yyam said...

Classy classy classy. Love how the black frame just draws the eye in. :)

Anonymous said...

Those butterflies look like they could fly off the card - so realistic! Or, stick a pin in them and we would think they were alive but now dead specimens! What I am babbling about is that your coloring is fantastic - so cool! I swear the bodies look almost like a real butterfly with sort of a fuzzy texture. No silly, not drinking anything stronger than a Diet Coke! Love the black border thingy too. Great job as always! Hugs to the kitty for me since I am allergic to cats.

Chris R. from Iowa

Florence Turnour said...

That's stunning! Your colors and coloring are beautiful.

Marie said...

Love the way you framed those beautifully colored butterflies. Thanks for sharing with us at FTTC.

Marisa said...

Gorgeous card, Colleen. Perfect use of the inspiration! You have me curious about the trick for the vet visit now.

nwilliams6 said...

Ok - I am going to start tearing out pages from magazines and making cards too - that is so fun!! Beautiful card - pretty 'flies and great details as usual. Sounds like your life is very full and full of the right stuff. Many hugz to you my friend!!!

maria f. said...

I had to check your link to see if those babies were cut from PP or stamped. Incredible (not surprise the stamp is out of stock with you advertising it!)
Wish you lots of fun in your new endeavors.
And your uber-gorgeous thank you card arrived in my mailbox today. You are so sweet. Those butterflies are so pretty with their shimmer. Didn't you love that TT?

Benzi said...

Oh, do those butterflies ever pop!!! Love them and the pretty frame just makes them the center of attention. Beautiful for Mother's Day.

Blockheads will miss you. I have enjoyed the beautiful cards you made for them.

Sure hope your Cristabel is going to be fine. I know 'MOM' is worried.

Victoria Lavender said...

That's SHARP! Wow, great punch to this one! Hope you are well. I'm in my new house and the craft room is together. Now I need to get my creative hat back on...which is hard, I keep thinking of things to do to the house. Loving your blog, always some pretty clever stuff. Take care, chat again soon.
Victoria Lavender

Elizabeth said...

Gorgeous card and love your sources of inspiration. I don't always think about where I get my inspiration but you clearly do. The butterflies are beautiful against the embossed background and the frame is terrific. Elizabeth

Emily Keaton said...

Hi Colleen! I can identify with the being away from the blog bit. I've been immersed in design team work these past few days, too. And yesterday I went for a haircut--it's pretty dramatic! Everyone seems to like it, though :).

Every time I pick up Country Living in the kids' orthodontist's office, I always find TONS of inspiration! I saw that page from CL, too, and *wished* I could have ripped it out myself! I think I'm going to have to add CL to my subscription list next fall when my daughter's school does its magazine sales fundraiser. I've been loving it!

And speaking of loving, I ADORE this pretty card! Those butterflies are magnificent. You were clearly inspired by that fantastic faux butterfly collection in CL! Way to end your Blockheads term on a high note!

Savannah O'Gwynn said...

Oh, Col! This is goooooooorgeous! I LOVE those butterflies--and I LOVE your frame! AMAZING:)

Mona Pendleton said...

WOW Colleen! Those butterflies are so vibrant and stunning! Thanks for joining along with FTTC :)

Mynn xx said...

I think this is AMAZING! LOVE the black frame on the white embossing and your inspiration is perfectly captured! LOVE this!!! :)

ChristineCreations said...

Stunning job with these butterflies Colleen! I love the colors and you did a gorgeous job coloring them!

Amanda said...

STUNNING! Ok, I am woman enough to admit when I see something I wish I had thought of, and this one's it!! Absolutely Wonderful coloring and Genius inspiration idea! I love everything about your card :)
Thank you for playing along with us in Flourishes Timeless Tuesday!

~ Amanda :)

Shirley said...

Very very elegant! It need to be in a shadow box. The colors and the embossing are perfect for you cut out!

Larissa Heskett said...

WOW!! This is BAUTIFUL!! I LOVE the INspiration for your card and it turned out PERFECT!! THANKS for sharing and I hope your sweet furry baby gets better!! Have a FABULOUS WEEKEND!! =)

Jennifer Rzasa said...

Love those delicate butterflies framed out by the ornate black design. Thanks for playing with the Runway Inspired Challenge!

Anne-Elise said...

Wow, this is just stunning! Your butterflies are gorgeous! I'm your new follower!

Unknown said...

OMG Colleen! Your butterflies are breathtakingly beautiful! Perfectly colored; the top one has a translucent quality to it. I love how you framed them on the embossed bg.
hugs,
Ellen

Helen Berry said...

Ooo Colleen!! What an exquisite card - those butterflies are amazing and I love the frame and the fabulous embossed background! Just stunning - I'm in awe ;)))

Leigh S-B - The Sharpie Domino Queen said...

Absolutely stunning Colleen! I LOVE it! We will miss you at Blockheads so stay in touch ;0)

Jennifer said...

Colleen, this is stunning! Love the striking contrast in colors and textures! Just beautiful!! :)

Sarah said...

Those butterflies are gorgeous! And I really like the way you used the framing of the runway look to inspire your card. Thanks for playing along with us!

me said...

I love how you interpret with the inspirations photo, great card! Thanks for joining us at Runway Inspired Challenge!

xoxo
Angeline

Agnieszka said...

WOW Those butterflies are just gorgeous! Beautiful card!

Unknown said...

I only came across that CL magazine at my arlington dental clinic as well and since then my perception of the wild life has changed for the better.

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