Butterfly birthday ....

.... hi, back for my second post today.  I've got a card for three challenges:

• Less is More - LIM51 - to make an aperture on your card
• Flutter by Wednesdays - FBW186 - an open challenge, but must have an angel, fairy or butterfly
• Runway Inspired Challenge - RIC#4 - photo inspiration

After checking out Less is More this morning, we headed into Chester for a bit of fun time.  We did a bit of window shopping and Kathryn has come home with two new friends from Build-a-Bear; Scarlett (a bright red Hello Kitty) and Justice (the Victoria Justice bear) - Kathryn is delighted, and I'm so pleased that she's still my little girl!!

While in town I had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to make.  I wanted to have a flower aperture with a butterfly on the edge as though flying towards the flowers inside the card.  It was much easier to make then I expected.  I cut a piece of white card to mount on the card base, onto which I stamped the butterfly.  Then I positioned my Spellbinder die and lightly pencilled where I needed to cut.  Then I carefully cut around the butterfly, extending the cuts down the wings to allow me to slip the die back.  Then I positioned the mat onto the card base and ran them through the Grand Calibur.  It's important to run the base and mat through together to get the aperture position correct.

I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to work out the correct position for the flowers inside the card, stamped them in black Versafine and embossed with clear powder.  I used my watercolour pencils to colour the flowers and the butterfly.  I found some ribbon with pretty rainbow polka dots in my stash and wrapped a piece around the mat.  I used dimensional tape to attach the mat to the card.  I stamped another butterfly onto card which was heat embossed with clear powder to give it a shine and then coloured and attached - you can see the layered butterfly above.  Finally, I attached a simple sentiment.

Stamps:  Kanban - All Occasions - Flowers; Spring Stamps - Butterfly (free with Crafts Beautiful)
Inks:  Versafine - Onyx Black
Spellbinders:  Dahlia (S4-191) #5, Fancy Tags (S4-235)
Accessories:  Staedler Aquarell Pencils; Ribbon and card from stash

I'm really pleased with the way this card has turned out - but it was tough trying to get a decent photo showing the depth and the aperture.  I think you can see from this photo just how well it shows the butterfly going towards the flowers!!!

I have to say that I'm so glad we got home when we did.  The wind is so strong, at one point while we were in Chester, Mum was really struggling to walk into the wind!  She's not a big lady and the wind was forcing her backwards!!  We've also had lots of rain - it's a dull, dismal day outside, but warm, cosy and fun inside!

I had a chat with Jonathan this morning - he's off looking at some houses today in and around the Novi/Northville/Plymouth area.  I selected a few places from some photos that I've seen, but Jonathan gets to do the fun bit - actually visiting and have a look round!!!  I'll find out later tonight what Jonathan thinks.  Bye for now - back again tomorrow!