Friday, June 02, 2017

Butterfly Bonanza Extended! - CUTFILE New Butterfly & Border Set

Hi all!

I wanted to get this done for the early part of this week BUT I ran into snags with my new computer setup and software.  I am also very rusty!  I almost have to relearn all my tricks! LOL

Because of thisButterfly Bonanza is still in effect!  Use code BUTTERFLY  ( through STORE cart or via email order ) to get 20% OFF your order :)   CODE EXPIRES TUESDAY JUNE 6!

Anyhoo... I made another cutting file set! ... and a mini tutorial!

Blossom Borders & DFT Butterfly CUTFILE SET:


I re-envisioned the Blossom & Three Leave Springs cutfiles into a border.  The set includes all the cards, fronts and borders you see in the preview.    The butterfly is derived from the Doodle Flower Trio sets:
Doodled Flower Trio with Butterfly/Flowers
Here is a card made using the diagonal border cardfront and the butterfly. 



 I added Ranger Diamond glitter to the butterfly and cut the base of the butterfly out of pink vellum.  I experimented with watercolour dabs on the border front and then added diamond Stickles glue dabs.  oooh GLITTER!...




Here is another card using the Blossom Border:


Here is a mini tutorial on how to make and use a butterfly embossing plate :)

First THE EMBOSSING PLATE:


First this is the embossing plate.  It is made out of 2-4 butterflies cut out of 110 lb cardstock.  The cutting file is the SwallowTail CUTFILE.   I glued each butterfly down onto a rectangle of cereal box board cut to fit in my cuttlebug.  You brush matte or gel medium onto the board and glue the cardstock butterflies with brushed on matte medium... even layers of matte medium between each layer and on the very top.  Let dry... a day or two!  You want it to completely harden. The embossing plate shown above has seen many butterflies and just gets better and more distressed with age.  When I make another one I will stick to only 2  layers of butterflies.  A bit shallower emboss would probably be better.

Cut a base solid butterfly same size as the cut butterflies on your embossing plate.  Colour with any medium.  I love watercolors.  This example I tried gouache.



Once dry, align the butterfly to the embossing plate.  


RUN the plate and butterfly through your embossing/cutting machine.  Use a sandwich of base plate/C plate + B plate/embossing plate + butterfly plate and butterfly face up + silicon embossing mat + another B plate/embossing plate.  You might need a card stock shim.  I did not.  Also before I forget ( like I did with this example) ... lightly spray the backside of your butterfly with water to soften the paper a bit to avoid cracking.  I got cracks but didn't care LOL!


This part is the most satisfying!   Swipe a black inkpad over the butterfly.  The raised areas will get inked.  The look is very pretty and distressed.  To get the look on my card, I had best striking results with Versafine and Ranger Archival Inks.


 I have also had fun with distress inks... a nice subtle effect with that.  I am going to try flowers and leaves next... this embossed inked look on  watercoloured flowers and leaves... so pretty!

The sentiments on the 2 cards shown are from a new rubber stamp set coming out June 15 from Sparkle N Sprinkle!  ;)

Have a great weekend!

:)*  Fred