Wednesday 1 April 2015

Layered butterfly birthday card - use kraft card at CVC

I don't seem to make too many cards these day but there is always that special one needed at some point and this is one of those. My dear sister Chris had her birthday a couple of days ago and this is the card I made for her.



I started with a piece of Tim's correspondence papers cut to fit an 8 x 8 kraft card. I had just bought a tub of clear gesso for the first time and decided to experiment with it. (I am waiting to get my DecoArt products and want to try theirs too). This one is rather runny so I couldn't paste it through a mask with a palette knife so I daubed it through using a small piece of cut and dry to prevent seepage - it worked yay. I heat dried it and then lightly blended chipped sapphire distress ink over it and wipoed it over with a babywipe to clean the ink off of the gesso and heat dried it again. In fact I did this three times to get the depth of dark blue in the middle of the area and lighter tones at the edges.

I used the fabulous layered butterfly and embossing folder with kraft card .....


.... and die-cut a border and a mixed media piece from cream card.


The sentiment is a sizzix embossing folder run through the bigshot using coredinations paper and sanded ......


....and a collection of elements that I could see might fit the bill to complete the card. The metal embellishments I chose to use were daubed with picket fence distress paint. I chose the number three as it's the third month in the year March, which is Chrissie's birth month.


I took the butterfly and dipped it into picket fence, salty ocean and spun sugar distress paint, dried it and gave it a coat of rock candy crackle paint. When that was dry and the crackles were all showing I blended over with chipped sapphire distress ink and then edged it and daubed a couple of areas with gathered trigs distress stain and baked it in with the heat gun. Later, just before I added it to the card, I splattered it with white acrylic paint.


Now all I needed to do was assembly the card.


The pink shabby bow and charm ........


.... the hinge clip and pen nib .....


.... and the lovely painted butterfly.



I used the opportunity to make this my DT sample for the new challenge at Country View Crafts so I hope you will be able to pop over to see some wonderful inspiration in a variety of styles and also to note down the theme so you can enter this month.

Have a fabulous April.

hugs Brenda xxx

21 comments:

Pamellia said...

Holy gorgeous Brenda! Love the clear gesso resist technique...that just went on my wishlist!! Your butterfly is magnificent, the crackle texture is amazing and those colours,wow!! PINNED IT!! hugs :)

Annie said...

What a treasure you have created for Chris's birthday Brenda. I love the background, colours and details that you have combined in this stunning card. Love it!!

TFS and hugs Annie x

Gina said...

That yummy butterfly makes me imagine a hibernating Peacock butterfly, coming out of a dusty cupboard to shower in the warm April rain :D XXX

Patty O'Malley said...

What a gorgeous card, Brenda! I love the butterfly and all the beautiful texture.

massofhair said...

Your sister will adore her card Brenda, so many wonderful textures and colours. Good to see one of Tim's older border dies being used alongside his newer Mixed Media one, they work so well together :-) xxx

Mrs.B said...

Gorgeous card and the butterfly looks stunning.
Avril xx

Aspiring crafter said...

I really like this Brenda !
The gesso technique has produced a lovely result!
I have that mask and don't use it enough so this has given me ideas!
Also like the use of the dies ...all in all an inspiring piece that makes me want to get in the craft room!
XxxxRuth

Redanne said...

The gorgeous, stunning butterfly has captured my heart! Great use of the Postale papers and clear Gesso too. Lucky Chris! Hugs, Anne xx

Redanne said...

Correspondence paper even...!

Words and Pictures said...

Stunning, Brenda! The finish on the butterfly on is just fabulous, and I love the delicate white die-cuts top and bottom.
Alison xx

Felicia said...

This is just gorgeous! I love the colors you chose and those fabulous elements! That butterfly is wonderful! I am sure it was a beautiful blessing for your sister! :)

Lucy Edmondson said...

I love what you have done with the butterfly, Brenda, and the composition of the card is exquisite. I bet Chris loved it!

lucy x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Love the card Brenda. The images and the colours work so well.
Have a good crafty week, Angela x

Terry said...

Now I am convinced I need that butterfly die! Brenda, that butterfly is gorgeous and of course the entire card! I am sure Chris was over the moon! Love it! Hugs!

Vintagehandmade said...

Oh, Brenda your stunning card is so inspirational! I love the clear gesso resist technique! I really have to try this! Fabulous textures, great combination of Tim's dies, amazing colors!
Hugs :)
Branka xxx

experiments in paper said...

Brenda, this is stunning! I love how you deepened the blue against the clear gesso - I have not yet used mine, but this is great motivation to do so! Your butterfly is also incredible - love how you built up the layers, colors and textures. Fabulous card!! xxxx Lynn

Karin said...

wow, this is gorgeous!
Groetjes Karin

crafty creations said...

Absolutely stunning love how you have created the background x Hilda

Sue said...

This is really beautiful Brenda, I don't have any of the Bigz Dies with embossing folders, but a spending spree may be looming lol. Enjoy your Easter xx

Deb said...

Wow Brenda, what a beautiful card, your sister must have been over the moon to get it! Love the effect you achieved with the clear gesso and your butterfly is stunning!

Nikki Acton said...

Absolutely stunning Brenda - the butterfly is amazing. Please share how you keep the crackle from falling off! Such a great card for a great gal! Nikki xxx