A Soft, Shimmery, Thank-You and a Challenge / NAC #4

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Hey y'all. Happy Humpday! I hope you've had a fabulous week so far. Just two more days until the weekend. Woo-Hoo!!!

*Disclaimer*- Today's post is a little wordier than normal, but full of pretty pictures. I hope it at least makes you smile if not full-on belly laugh. :)

Have you ever gone somewhere and expected one thing and ended up with something totally different? Most of us have had this happen at one time or another. Often times, unfortunately, our "something different" is not something that makes us very happy. I recently had an experience though, that while not really "happiness inducing" at least had me laughing a Great deal. In fact it was so pleasant I decided to make a Thank You card for the people involved.

It just so happens that I was also able to incorporate Nacho Average Challenge's Color Challenge for the week. Most of you know I'm not a fan of the color challenges as they leave me feeling very inadequate, but I think I did ok this week. Thanks to NAC for another great color combo! I don't normally look at the DT samples prior to making my challenge cards, because I don't want my card to come out looking like theirs. It's a good thing I did though, because I had thought of summery ice-cream cones and well, apparently great minds do think alike (lol) because one of the DT members had the same thought. How embarrassed would I have been to have submitted a card so similar!?! Very, would be the correct answer. So I had to come up with a new idea. I thought about some yummy cupcakes, but I recently did a card with a cupcake for another challenge and I wanted something new. What to do, what to do....you know what to do here, come on say it with me in your best Pooh Bear voice...Think, Think, Think, Think.... I would use my new Butterfly set, Papillion  Potpourri. I've seen lots of cards with this set recently but I hadn't had a chance to use either the stamp set or the punch, so I was pretty excited. I've seen lots of people layer the punched out, stamped butterflies over a butterfly that was stamped onto c/s. But just the other day I saw one where the punched butterflies were layered over a butterfly punched out of coordinating cardstock. Genius! It looked so pretty. The stamper had colored her butterflies in with daubers for a really pretty effect. Well,  let me just tell you that I tried searching my reader feed with the "search" function and by going back through all of my recent feeds and couldn't find that card anywhere! I wanted to link to her card. I must have hit upon it off of one of my feed's websites. :'( So if that was your card, or you know whose card it was, please let me know so I can give proper credit.

Any-whoo, back to my story.... I had to take last Friday off to do paperwork for my stolen vehicle which was of course recovered the next day...After I used a day of vacation running around to complete the darn paperwork!!!!! While I was out at the end of the day, no really it was after 5, I stopped by my dental office to give them a down-payment on some dental work I needed done. Fun, right!?! Not!!!! Well, they tell me "The doctor's free now, do you want to just go ahead and get it done?" Well, the it was a root-canal and a crown. Uh-No!!!! I don't ever "want" that done, and somethings you want to give yourself a chance to prepare for.  Especially since even though my new dentist seemed really nice, what did I really know about how uncomfortable she was about to make me? So, why is it that the words "Sure" came tumbling from lips? Ruh-Roh! Can I just tell you that I left there almost 3 hours later and my cheeks hurt! What in the world do "Cheeks", have to do with a Root Canal and a Crown. Well we were all laughing so hard they couldn't help but hurt. My dentist was having such a good time, she said she wanted to "Send me candy, so we could do it again real soon!" Uh, thanks doc, but I'll be good with just a Hi! So long story short, that's why I needed a Thank-You card for my  unexpectedly happy "something different". My dentist is Amazing! Although I don't "want" to need another Root-Canal, if she's the one doing it, I won't be apprehensive. The only thing she needs remedial training in is "How to understand what your patient is saying when you have both hands and instruments in her mouth." Other than that, she and the entire office as well are the Best!!!

Here's today's card-

Thank You Card featuring
Papillion Potpourri and Curly Cute

Here was the challenge-

What pretty, soft, colors! I felt pretty confident about this challenge even with my initial idea null and void. I started with a base of So Saffron. I topped this with a Whisper White panel that I ran through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots E.F. Layered onto that were the Pink Pirouette and Certainly Celery layers. Because of the width of the three butterflies I couldn't fit a So Saffron layer on so I sponged the edges of the W.W. panel with some So Saffron for the illusion of another layer. :) The P.P. layer and C.C layers were Tombowed together and then raised up with Dimensionals. The W.W. layer was also elevated with Dimensionals. Oh and I stamped my sentiment prior to embossing. Much easier that way.

Here's a closer image of the focal point-

I wish you could see how pretty this is in person! I used my Copic Style Water-coloring Technique shown here. Although it's difficult to see because I then let Tink have her way with the inside portions of the wings.
You can still see some of the shadowing and color variations in these close-ups-

I tried to get them to line up across the screen but they wouldn't, not even small. :( Can you see the color variations. I made it darker at the black lines and softened it out from there. I left the very outer portion of the wings, the little scalloped portions, full strength. The bodies are colored in a light wash of Soft Suede. I stamped them in Black Staz-On on watercolor paper, punched them out, colored them, and then Tink made my studio a mess. :) I gave a slight crease to the center so the wings would come up and then attached them to the coordinating colored Butterflies beneath them with a Mini-Glue Dot.

Here's the inside-

I used the sentiment from Kindness Matters. I liked the thought and how even though it's from a different set than the sentiment on the front, the font is similar with the little curls. I inked up different butterflies from the same set by coloring them in with my Stampin Write Markers and the  let Tink have some more fun. :)

Here's a close-up of one of the beautiful babies-

I. Love. This. Card. I really wish it showed better. This is another one of those cards where you look at it and think "Wow! I made that!?!" And the best part is that this was so simple even beginners will be able to make beautiful reproductions. Love when that happens! :)

That's all I have for you today. I hope you liked today's card and that it inspires you to create something beautiful today. Don't forget to check out the Nacho Average Challenges' site. They are really doing a great job with their new challenge site. This challenge is open until Saturday night at midnight. I hope to see your fabulous creations there.

I love hearing from you, so if you have comments or questions about today's card, leave me a comment or feel free to e-mail me. I read all of my comments and they really do make my day! If you'd like to +1 or Pin today's card, I've put the buttons here on my site for your convenience. Friends and Followers are always welcome too! :)

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to stop by my little corner of the world. You are very appreciated! I hope you'll stop back by soon. Till next time-

Remember- Life is often more about the storms than the peace they seek to overwhelm. It's not about Waiting for the storms to pass, but Learning to Dance in the rain.

Be Safe,
Shan Pin It

A Daydream and A Challenge - SSC #265 / My challenge #31

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Hey y'all. Happy Tuesday! I hope you're having a great day and that your week is progressing nicely. It's overcast here in the DMV with calls for storms today. I hope it's sunny wherever you are. :) I have another challenge card for you today. It's over with my favorite peeps at Stamping 411.  I hope you'll take a minute to check them out. They always have great sketches and great cards.

Here's today's card-

Card featuring
 DayDream Medallions set and A Paper Ribbon

I'm so happy with how this card turned out and it's full of sneak peeks for you.  The black border is one of our new edgelets, isn't it fabulous!?! The Real Red center strip is embossed with one of our new Embossing Folders. Both will be available in just 7 short days. The stamp set is all new and it's called Daydream Medallions. I had hoped to play with it at convention. When I found out I wasn't going to be able to go, it was one of the first sets on my wish-list. I also used the Floral Framelets that coordinates with it.

Here's a closer look-

Each layer of the focal point was stamped and then Heat Embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. They were then cut out with the coordinating framelet and popped up with Dimensionals. I needed a ribbon for the sketch and didn't have any in Real Red, so I decided to make my own out of Real Red c/s. This is the first time I have tried this and I have to say I loved how it turned out. Sorry I didn't take step by step pictures, but it's pretty easy. Will do this again soon as a EWT with step by step pics.

Here's what you need- card stock in color of your choice, paper cutter, bone folder and adhesive of your choice. (of course I used Tombow)

Here's what you do-

1- Cut your c/s in the width you'd like your ribbon to be. I used 1/4 inch x 11 1/2 for the entire bow.
2- Fold your c/s loosely into a circle to find out how big you would like your bow to be. I think my bottom bow was about 6" long. Snip it to this length.
3- Take your bone folder and run the edge over and under the strip of c/s almost like you are curling ribbon. This will make the c/s soft and pliable.
4- Fold one end in to the center of the strip and secure it with adhesive. Do this with the other side as well, This will give you the two side loops.
5- Add as many additional smaller loops onto the top of this one, securing each with adhesive.
6- Take another strip and wrap it snugly around the center, securing on the bottom with more adhesive.
7- If you'd like you can take additional pieces and attach them to the underside at an angle like the "tails" of the ribbon, like I did. Cut the ends either at an angle or in banner fashion, and attach to your project. I used Mini-Glue Dots.

Here's the inspiration sketch-

To be  honest, when I first saw this I thought of a big Holiday Ornament. However, I didn't want to just make a holiday card, so I chose to interpret it as a wreath, but in all honesty will probably use this design again later this year as a Christmas Card.

Here's the inside-

I chose to make this a Thank You card and I love the striking combination of Black, White and Red. I think it works well for a masculine as well as feminine card. What do you think? Surprisingly, there is no glitter on this card. *Gasp* I let the shine from my embossing take the center stage.

Well, that's all I have for you today. I hope you liked it and I hope it inspires you to get all your supplies and play along. If you liked it and would like to +1 or Pin it, I've put the buttons on my blog for your convenience. If you liked it and have just a moment to drop me a quick line, you'd make my day! I love hearing from you and read all of my comments. Friends and Followers are always welcome too! :)

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to stop by my little corner of the world. You are so appreciated! I hope you'll come back soon to see all the fun new things I've been working on for you! Till next time-

Remember- Life is often more about the storms than the peace they seek to overwhelm. It's not about Waiting for the storms to pass, but Learning to Dance in the Rain.

Be Safe,
Shan

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