Saturday, April 07, 2007

Stained Glass Butterflies

I hope you are having a restful holiday weekend. I so needed a bit of downtime. Yesterday I had the chance to go to a couple of stamp and craft stores. I didn't spend much money but it was good to just soak in all the samples and stuff! I came home inspired to stamp and here is what I did. It was near impossible for me to photograph this so I could show you all the details, it is so cool in person ( if I do say so myself!!) It is a variation on a stained glass technique using a piece of acetate.
The card base is naturals ivory and I ended up needing to stamp this stamp from the Artful Stamper 3 times for this one card. It is stamped twice in Timber Brown Stazon, once on the card and again on acetate. The card measures 5 1/4" square. I cut a piece of old olive 5" square and made a 3/4" frame. I temporarily tacked down the frame onto the card front and used my SAMJ to help me stamp it again onto the old olive with Versamark and then gold emboss it. (after I used my SAMJ I temporarily replaced the cut out center square so I didn't get ink on the card front). Once all three pieces were stamped I set out to add color. I used a water brush and ink to color in the leaves and parts of the butterflies on the card base. (old olive leaves, cool caribbean and lavender lace wings) What didn't photograph was the Stardust glitter pen I used to accent the stems and leaves. In person it really adds a nice touch, tying in the gold embossing with the image under the acetate. Then I used 3 different colors of Souffle pens to color on the backside of the acetate. The orange of the tails/antennae and the turquoise and purple accents on the wings are all Souffle pens. I also used a gold leafing pen on the front side of the acetate for the bodies of the butterflies. The acetate is adhered to the old olive frame and then the entire window is mounted with Scotch foam tape. There is also gold leafing pen on the edges of the old olive frame. I love the final look of the window and the butterflies but the card seems unfinished still. I will think on it for awhile. The side view gives you another look.

We signed up for a free trial membership at BJ's today and scored big!! I have been wanting a sewing machine for some time but didn't want to spend the money. They had one today that was being discontinued so it was marked half off already and since the display was the only one left I got it for even less, so in the end I got a $150.00 sewing machine for $60!! Now...I have no clue how to sew but I am willing to learn for that price. I think I will go re read Julia Stainton's tutorial on sewing on cards. Don't expect any samples for awhile, I don't even have thread yet but I am so excited! My mother visits from Germany in May and she has skill on a sewing machine, maybe I will wait for a hands on lesson from her.
I got plenty of other fun stuff in the mail this week, my Papertrey order came as well as some new Cuttlebug folders. It should be a fun week!
I wish you a blessed Easter!!

29 comments:

saucygoat said...

WOW. The coloring you did on the card is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

This is a beautiful card. Maybe what it needs is a saying stamped in the lower right hand corner.

Amy said...

oh my gosh, this is stunning!

Amy

dawnmercedes said...

gorgeous! It needs to be framed!

Rachel Hope said...

GASP!!!!!! I would hang that on my wall! Amazing!

Allison Rankin said...

Easily one of the best compositions I have ever seen...OMG!

Michelle W. said...

This is just stunning! I might have to give this a shot. It is just beautiful!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is absolutely stunning...gorgeous!

Dawn Easton said...

WOW! Stunning! That card is beautiful!

grandmascraps said...

Tracy, This is absolutely my favorite card to date. I love it! Have a blessed Easter.
Gail

Anonymous said...

Tracy, this is gorgeous! Happy Easter!

Tracy.H said...

This is one of the most beautiful creations that I have seen on a blog!! Wow!! Truely amazing!!

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful! Everything about it is so perfect. One of the prettiest cards I've ever seen!

Linda Nicholson said...

Thud! That is the sound of my jaw hitting the floor! I can only imagine how gorgeous this is IRL as the picture is to die for! Absolutely gorgeous!

Who makes this stamp?

Linda (LSN on SCS)

Anonymous said...

Really took my breath away...beautiful!

Julie S. said...

I am just adding my voice to an overwhelming chorus: this is FABULOUS. Really, you should enter this in contests because it is a _sure winner_ WOW.

Lois Michael said...

Absolutely Beautiful. What talent.

Debi Calandrelle said...

Absolutely FANTABULOUS!!! WOW! I love everything about it!! Thanks for sharing!

KOstvig said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KOstvig said...

This Card is just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is SO pretty that it hurts! Very lovely. :) Thanks for the inspiration!

Diane said...

My oh My!!!This is just stunning!!
You are oh so very talented!!!
I would frame it also,it's just gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

This is so beautiful.. I bet its even prettier in person.. Just gorgeous!

-Ginna

Anonymous said...

Tracy you are really an artist. This is my first visit to your blog and I must say I am very impressed with your talent.
SuzyQue

Rose Ann said...

OMGosh...I've never seen anything like this! Simply gorgeous!!

broni said...

I'm a little late browsing your blog, but I had to stop and tell you how totally COOL this card is. I wonder if I should even attempt something like this?!

Bethany Paull said...

This is so STUNNING!!! Thanks for sharing it.

Starr Mercer said...

Can I ask where you bought your Souffle pens? My email addie is: starrmercer@shaw.ca

Thanks
Starr

Anonymous said...

Oh WOW! These are about the most gorgeous butterflys I think I've seen yet! Awesome job on this one for sure. Barb g