Butterfly Challenge #147

 It's been a while since I made a card for the Butterfly challenge and I did intend to try the clever fold idea but sadly this was not to be but the details of all the different card shapes are on the Butterfly Blog so I can try again another day.  The alphabet letter for #147 is 'D' - double point fold, diamonds and colours of delft blue, dandelion and damson with of course the usual butterfly.   I managed to incorporate diamonds in the large die cut background shape and some 'diamond' gems on the butterfly body, also colours delft blue and dandelion yellow.  The die used for the main fancy shape is one which I've had for more years than I care to imagine and using it has made me realise just how dies have improved over the years in terms of ease of use.  This one needed more than one pass to cut and then it wanted to hang on to all the pieces rather than letting them just drop out.  The butterfly was cut in the two colours as well and some matching paper was used for the background.  Card was finished off with some matching 'card candi' - something else which I've  had forever!!

Die cut Shape - Marianne die set
Sentiment - stamp from my favourite freebie set
Butterfly - Sizzix die

Free as a Bird

Yesterday I was quite pleased that I had to stay at home because the weather started out by being just a bit damp but deteriorated into being extremely wet and dreary as the day went on.  Just the sort of day for sitting by the fire doing a bit of stamping, colouring and fussy cutting.  I finished up with a bird, a branch and a selection of blossom and leaves which I then turned into this card.  I found some pretty background paper, die cut two shapes and embossed the smaller, white one before arranging the bird and blossoms in what I hope is a pleasing way.  Found an odd strip of pink card which I die cut on both edges to form a border, finally adding a birthday sticker. Blue skies and sunshine so far this morning but the forecast doesn't look good - mind you it is October so I suppose we can't hope for endless summer weather.

Bird and Blossom - Free as a Bird stamp set from Stampin' Up
Border - die from Crafter's Companion
Sentiment - sticker from Clarity book of stickers for many occasions
Shapes - Window frames collection Stampin' Up
Embossing - 3D Embossing folder from Creative Expressions
Colouring - done with Inktense pencils

Humming Bird

 I came across this image when I was sorting through a box of miscellaneous pieces of paper and card. I'm sure I must have printed it but for the life of me I can't recall the source. It was ages ago I know and probably before my computer crashed and had to be replaced.  Anyway I thought I'd use it to make up a card using some toning punched strips of card and adding a few more of my stray flowers and leaves which happen to be the right colours.

Image - unknown source
Background - from my stash of papers
Ovals - Tonic nesting dies
Strips - Stampin' Up punch
Sentiment - computer generated using Word
Flowers and leaves - Stampin' Up Botanical Builder dies