Trio of Raffia Butterflies

Finally resolved to use up these hand made raffia butterflies that's also a swap return (created by Sheryl H from Colorado from the SBA forum) due to this week's inspiration at the Muse Challenge & Addicted to CAS Challenge sites.

I paired a sentiment from Verve with yet another of my water coloring attempts while spreading out the trio of butterflies.

It has a dated look due to the style and material of the butterflies, but they're still very well hand crafted.

I stamped the sentiment on top so that the butterflies could "hover" over the springy green water colored background.  And it's lighter and airier on the top?

Here's the Muse Inspiration of the week for Muse Challenge #120.

And here is the prompt over at the Addicted to CAS Challenge site for their Butterfly Challenge #65:

Thanks for visiting!





Trio of Raffia Butterflies Card
Paper: Canson Watercolor Paper
Stamps: Verve Nicest Thoughts  ("You are one of my nicest thoughts. - Georgia O'Keefe")
Ink: Versacolor Black; Canson Angora Water Colors
Embellishments: MM Buttons; Wire; Wire Tools; Glue Dots; Raffia
Size: 4.25" x 6.5" rectangular 

"Love Peace Freedom" Repurposing Swaps for Card Donations #RonaldMcDonaldHouse

Been dipping into the decade old swap returns and scraps again and decided to to try the current SCS Sketch Challenge #543 because I've been struggling with how to utilize these lovely embellished patriotic themed squares AND I've been dying to try the lower askew border layout design.

Here's my card where I merely added the solid red cardstock matting, mini dotted navy patterned paper and the stamped sentiment in SU Night of Navy.

Here's the SCS543 Card Sketch:

I had a few pre-fab 8.5 x 11 themed patterned paper sheets from a company called Robin's Nest from probably 20 years ago that never was my style.  So I decided to fashion these into cards too using the card sketch.  I added a bit of 2015 in the form of silver sequins and a stamped sentiment from my new SU From the Herd set I just received.

That's three whole sheets used up by hand cutting all the flowers and winter trees out and then pop dotting them on top of each other.

I'm going to have to try this lower askew border some more as I love it!  Feels good to use up supplies to create cards for donation to my monthly Ronald McDonald House effort.

Thanks for visiting!


 

"Love Peace Freedom" Card
Paper: White CS; SU Real Red; Bazzil Red/Navy/White Serendipity Squares; Misc PP & Handstamped PP
Stamps: Stampendous Peace Freedom 
Ink: SU Night of Navy
Embellishments: Misc Star Shaped Buttons
Size: 4.25" x 6.5" rectangular 

Flower & Winter Trees Cards
Paper: White CS; Robin's Nest PP
Stamps: SU From the Herd ("just looking in on you..."}
Ink: SU Pale Plum
Embellishments: QK Nesting Cookie Cutter Basic Phrase Dies;  Sequins
Size: 4.25" x 6.5" rectangular 

HaHa!! #Stamping #Alignment #Fail Shoulda Pulled Out the #Stamp-a-ma-jig Sooner #CardsforACause #RonaldMcDonaldHouse #Charity #Donation

It's been over 5 years since I've packed for a crop, so while I did pretty good packing for my 4 day extended weekend, my crafty brain is obviously a little rusty in not thinking of EVERYTHING I would have needed when drafting up my packing list.

These are cards I eyeballed stamping the text.  The Garden Green Lattice Window cards are pretty obvious as the text should have been a bit lower. The Lavendar Lace tag flower cards are blurry because I overstamped each twice using the Stamp-a-ma-jig twice.  Talk about shaky hands! I should have practiced a few more times.

Ah well.   The Garden Green Lattice Window cards were my first projects when unpacking because I had JUST relocated my Big Shot plates and wanted to christen my new to me SU Bigz Lattice and SU Window Frames Framelit Dies. These were always on my wishlist, so glad there were ladies on SCS who were willing to sell to me without charging ebay prices!

The pale yellow vellum was from my scraps pile - whoohoo! A sheet at a time, I WILL whittle the pile down!

The next two cards were salvaged using a set of identical hand drawn lilac flower tags using Zig brush pens waaaaay back when Zig brush techniques were the rage at the turn of the century.  Yup, these two tags were swap returns. Goes to show you how accurate the claims of acid free paper and ink are, eh, that they still look fresh and crisp nearly 15 years later?

I just added the Verve "knock your socks off" sentiment once I got home.  They turned out fuzzy because I should have practiced a few times with my Stamp-a-ma-jig once I finally admitted to myself that I did indeed needed the help. Else my alignment without this tool was a hot mess all weekend!

I obviously need more practice with my watercoloring techniques.  Lol, I was pretty happy to finally crack up my brand new set of Cansan watercolors that I purchased, probably 10 years ago, from my local stamp store.

These four cards will be going in my monthly donation to the ongoing Ronald McDonald House Cards for Cause effort that I'm both participating in and hostessing over at SCS.  I'd love it if you'd like to donate some of your cards to this cause.  

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE MISSION: To provide a community where children and their families embrace life and healing (from cancer) with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy. 

Pasadena Ronald McDonald House 

763 South Pasadena Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

I have chosen to adopt the location in Pasadena to donate cards that I create and collect from friends throughout the rest of this 2015.  

SEEKING THESE CARD THEMES:  Anything other than religious, make them uplifting, thinking of you, children themes, etc.  Cards with no sentiments are perfectly acceptable too. Examples of themes: Welcome Baby Card / Wedding / Sympathy Card / Birthday / Thinking of You/ Thank you / Missing you. 

WANT TO DONATE:  Please leave a comment here with your email, and I'll reply to you with my home address.  

By forwarding to me or any of our other monthly hostesses throughout the US, you'll allow our group of ladies over at the SCS community to tally the number of cards donated and lives impacted.  Check out our Call for Cards here. 

 DETAILS:
1. Cards need to use good quality cardstock- HEAVY WEIGHT--- (so the card can stand alone) and include a minimum of two layers and one embellishment.  

2. IF you use colorful / dark cardstock—please line the inside of the card with either white or vanilla paper so the guests can write in them using black/blue pen.

3. If you place a sentiment inside—repeat the sentiment and place on copy paper so that it can be added inside the back of the sleeve-so the individual can see if there is a “saying” on the inside or it is “blank” 

4. If you would like to include envelopes and sleeves it would be greatly appreciated - sleeve IS NOT necessary.  What's a sleeve?  Click here for example. 

Nevertheless, I'll be preparing each card by inserting them and a matching envelopes inside individual clear A2 sized sealable envelopes in to keep the card clean and in pristine shape to allow the RMH recipients to handle and make their selection. 

I definitely had a super fun creative weekend using just recently purchased and finally opening long ago purchased crafty items to play.  I'm pretty happy that I got to use swap returns and scraps as well to pay it forward towards such a great cause. 

  

"Just Wanted You to Know How Special You Are" Garden Green Lattice Window Card
Paper: SU Garden Green CS; Vellum 
Stamps: SU Versatile Verses ("Just Wanted You to Know How Special You Are")
Ink: SU Garden Green 
Embellishments: SU Bigz Lattice Die; SU Window Frames Framelits
Size: 4.25" x 5.25" rectangular 

"Hope Today Knocks Your Socks Off" Tag Cards
Paper: Canson Water Coloring Paper; SU Lovely Lilac CS, SU Tempting Turquoise CS  
Stamps: SU Mosaic Madness; Verve All About You ("Hope Today Knocks Your Socks Off")
Ink: SU Lavendar Lace; SU Tempting Turquoise; Versacolor Black; Canson Watercolors
Embellishments: SU Modern Mosaics EF; SU Mosaic Punch; SU Sizzix Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die; White Sheer Ribbon Scraps
Size: 4.25" x 5.25" rectangular 

Re-Purposing Handmade Scrapbook Swap Returns into Patriotic Cards

With From Our Hearts closing, I'm hoping to send out as many more cards as I can for their last card call which is for Father's Day and Patriotic cards.  I created a bunch of Father's Day cards for my previous shipment, so this time, I've decided to tackle the Patriotic theme by making use of the large bounty of Patriotic swap returns that was intended for scrapbook pages.

I remember hosting several large groups, in addition to participating in post 9-11 themed swaps.  So that means I have tons of amazingly cutesy paper pieced firefighters, shaker box embellishments, photo mats, long borders, etc.

So, here's what I've created by just using cardstock, pp scraps and these themed stamps as these are the only patriotic stamps I own. Ink I used was SU Not Quite Navy.  In some of these, I wish I had my gold EP and heat gun with me.

1.  Starting off with one of my two favorites.  This started off using a long 12 x 2 inch matted border. The gal was pretty darn creative with using skinny border stickers, skinny cardstock strips and punchies for her own embellished page border.  I decided to cut off one end to use as a vertical left border on my stamped card, so got two cards out of this border.  I added the bling which was yet another swap goodie.  2 swapped items used.

• Embellished 12 inch border
• Bling (Baggie of decorative embellishments was a category in the 9-11 swap I hosted)

2. This next one is tied as my favorite!!! I wanna keep this one for awhile! I provided the mustard colored folding card that I thought made everything else pop, and stamped the Love, Peace, Freedom. 2 swapped items used.

• Paper Pieced Shaker embellishment set of the firecrackers.  I could kiss the gal that created this work of art.  It's so detailed and well designed! 
• Scallop Square Punch Art Journaling Mat (I'm still friends with the gal that made this. I'll show her this card; wonder if she'll remember making this back in 2004-2005?)

3. This one, I combined two handmade embellishments onto a triple matted journaling mat by placing it on a white folding card. Stamped sentiment words were split up since I didn't have room otherwise. 3 swapped items used.

If I could redo it, I would have place the phrases more towards the bottom right corner, but maybe the entire card's symmetry would have been off.  Wish I had my stamp ma jig with me (no I'm not gonna buy the MISTI, no more expensive tools for me lol).   

• Journaling mat - white cs on red cs on white star/blue pp. 
• Embellished die cut stars on red cs. 
• Embellished Shaker box using two die cut stars, wire and beads. 

4. These next two cards were made using a set of 6 serendipity squares from the same gal who incorporated the now retired SU Stars & Swirls set.  In one, I just added a piece of red card stock that was already torn and a piece of scrap metallic ribbon, and the other, I popped an embellished tag on top.  On both, I used same sentiment stamp in different placement as space allowed.  2 swapped items used.

• 6 Serendipity Squares
• Embellished Tag

5. These next two cards was inspired by set of US flag embellished tags.  I cut into full sheets of coordinating themed paper for the background before laying the tag down. Yup! Those skinny strips of scalloped solid red card stock were scraps.  Just cut it down the middle and I had two instant accents for this card. I also added larger star/heart punchies and stamped my sentiment on the flag stripes. 3 swapped items used.

• Embellished flag Manilla Office Tags
• Star and Heart Punchies
• Themed Patterned Paper 

6. I tried to emulate the design of my previous card using a different embellished border.  I love the way this gal "strung" her star punchies on a softly colored border.  I trimmed one side of her matted border with pinking sheers to add interest since the colors are a bit pale for my current needs.  Tried to jazz it up with the star brads and themed USA ribbon, both of which are also swap returns. 4 swapped items used.

• Embellished 12 inch border
• Silver Star brads Bling 
• Themed USA ribbon 
• Themed Patterned Paper

7. This next one uses a stamped embellished tag I made using just the script portion of the SU God Bless America Limited Edition stamp.  I paired it up with another embellished tag made by someone else and matted it on a scrap piece of SU Night of Navy cs. 2 swapped items used.

• Stamped themed tag (I made this!) 
• Embellished Die Cut Tag

8. All I did was provide the the Brilliant Blue folding cardstock on this next one and the stamped star shaped I Pledge of Allegiance image.  2 swapped items used.

• Stamped "God Bless America" with star eyelet embellished matted square
• Set of 3 embellished red die cut tags

This was fun to create out of this particular themed swap returns because it was designed so that the returns would be, in essence, a full kit with everything you would need for a few matching pages.  Instead, I created, in many instances, duplicates of the same card designs shared above.

Re-purposing swap returns is giving me such satisfaction since I'm wasting nothing and it's going to a great cause.

I'll be at this task for months due to the quantity and variety of themes that I have in swap returns. If you have any worthy causes that would welcome donated handmade cards, please leave your suggestions in the comment section.  Thank you!! 


  

All Cards 
Stamps: Stampendous "Love, Peace, Freedom"; PSX Script "United We Stand"; Printworks Handwritten "United We Stand"; My Sentiments Exactly Pledge of Allegiance Star; SU Limited Edition God Bless America 
Ink: SU Night of Navy