Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 11 – Butterfly Card

I decided to take the plunge and join the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge hosted by the very talented Mary Jo Price-Williamns on her blog, "Techno-Stamper."  I used the small butterfly stamp from the beautiful Artistic Outpost stamp set "Happiness" as well as the film strip and part of the how to fly stamp for the sentiment.

I fully intended to make this card bright and springy, but as you can see, I somehow just can’t seem to resist the temptation to grunge it up a bit!  Guess I’ve found my stamping niche! 

Supplies:

Stamps:

• Happiness – Artistic Outpost

Paper:

• Old Olive
• More Mustard
• Certainly Celery
• Berry Sweet – K & Company

Ink:

• White Craft
• Shabby Shutters Distress
• Peeled Paint Distress
• Old Paper Distress
• Vintage Photo

Accessories:

• Shabby Shutters Distress EP
• Old Paper Distress EP
• Pixie Pink Sampin’ Pastels
• Floral Fantasy A2 Embossing Folder & Cuttlebug
• Island Blossom Dew Drops
• Inksentials Matte Accents

Technique Tip:

To achieve a worn look, I always use a sponge dauber and/or sponge and dark brown ink-the brand depends on what I happen to have out at the time.  I use Chocolate Chip (SU!), Palette Hybrid Burnt Umber, and Ranger’s Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I get about the same results with each one.  I use a sponge dauber to get a darker edge, and sponge to soften the distressing as I move toward the inside of the card stock.

The Cuttlebug background – After embossing the card stock in the embossing folder I used the Shabby Shutters inkpad to directly ink the "high" areas.  Because this was for the background and I was going for a vintage look, I didn’t use a sponge, which I normally would use…I immediately doused the whole piece with Shabby Shutters Distress embossing powder.  It is VERY important to shake the embossing powder before using it to evenly distribute the crystals.  I then heat embossed (remember, the distress EP does not get glossy), and then just used my finger to rub over the embossing powder to release the crystals.  It is normal for the distress EP to feel rather like sandpaper.

Today is the last day of Artistic Outpost’s March special-so be sure to check it out; this  is a great opportunity to pick up a couple of their fabulous vintage stamp sets as well as get the Mini Masterpiece stamp set FREE!  Several lovely stamps make up this 8.5" x 5.5" plate.  You get a button background, a grungey pen nib background, an ATC back with the Artistic Outpost feel, a mini-ATC frame (2.5" x 1.5"), and a grunge frame for your inchies.  They’ve also included a little bow and a "doo dad" for your embelishing.