Saturday 24 April 2010

Circle of Butterflies

Saturday morning again and that means we have a new challenge for you at Allsorts. And this week Emma is our host who has provided a picture of a rather nice bracelet for her theme Photo Inspiration.

And I was so pleased to be able to take the picture of my card in the garden amidst one of the Spirea bushes that is full of beautiful heady blossoms. the pictures a bit lopsided, but you can't reason with nature and the way the branches lay. But what beautiful weather we have had this week and apart from the Camellias which are suffering from the nightly frosts, everything else is bursting into leaf and blossom. This really is my favourite time of year and I can't wait for the lilacs to come into flower filling the air with their perfume.

So the challenge.........I admit I got a bit confused with this one at first.....I know, par for the course and spent a morning making a lovely project based on a photograph. Silly me, I had not seen Emma's bracelet picture. No problem though as you get to see that one next Saturday as it fits that theme nicely........of course I can't say what it is yet, you have to wait and see.

It's no secret that I love playing with anything remotely connected to butterflies so it was no hassle making a card with them and I literally followed the circle of butterflies on Emma's bracelet. I created a background by inking a silicone sheet with Brilliance thyme, orchid and silver, spritzing with water and squishing a piece of carstock around in it. I them stamped Hero Arts H2356 Old French Writing using black stayzone, but used the third stamping to achieve a subtle image. I inked Penny Black 4040K Sparklers with Tim Holtz distress inks peeled paint and Victorian velvet, added some yellow Marvy pen to the centre of the flower heads and spritzed with water before stamping to achieve a watercolour effect.

I placed punched fern leaves around the edges of the Nestie circles, then some pounced butterflies. The background DP is Crate Paper, the corners are made using Martha Stewart around the page eyelet lace and finally pearls and gems added to embellish.

38 comments:

Lisa Jane said...

What a beaiutiful card Brenda - i love Btterflies too and this is my favourite time of year too as i love to see all the new buds and blossom. The image is so pretty and that circle of butterflies is exquisite.
Enjoy your day
Lisa ;)

Suzi Mac said...

This is gorgeous Brenda, I adore butterfly's too and you have made this so pretty, love the centre image and your design. Hugs Suzi x

Crafting Queen said...

Beautiful design, love it. Anesha

June said...

Gorgeous gorgeous card, i love the background you created especially
hugs June xxxxx

Fleur said...

Brenda, this is really lovely, love the subtle colours & the circle of leaves
Hugz Fleur xXx

Unknown said...

Hi Brenda
Stunning card love the circle of butterflies great idea, might pinch that idea for the future, hope you dont mind.
Have a great weekend
Christine x

Lynda said...

Absolutely stunning card Brenda - love the sparklers stamp and the circle of butterflies is so pretty.

Love Lynda xxx

Sadilla said...

Hi dear
that's absolutely gorgeous... no other words to say how much I love this card!!!
hugs
Sadia

Kari said...

Oh,my this is gorgeous!I love the butterflies too ;o)
Stunning card,Brenda!
Have a great weekend :)

HUgs,Kari :)

Unknown said...

Wonderful card Brenda,

I am also loving Spring my stawbrries and Rhubarb and well an truly on the way but I haven't planted anything this year I am too tired and hubby is feeling it too!

Yummy card thugh hun love the littke white flowers thay small fabby don't they

Love Dawn xx

Sally H said...

What a beautiful card! I love it. I hope I'll get the chance to join in this week.

Ludkasz said...

fantastic, very beautiful card:)

Anonymous said...

Hi Brenda,
just taking 5 from my home decorating....
I do so love this card,I was suprised to find your beautiful background was from your own garden, I thought you had done some work with photoshop or something....I am so impressed and pleased to see a fellow crafter not go to town with PS...

My hubby's fruit trees are beginning to bud, we have only had them a year, apple, plum,cherry and pear...time will tell if they are suited to our garden....
I have always loved wisterias, I have two but only the one has flowered, gardening has never been my strong point, our soil is clay based and I have lost lots of plants because of it, the best things that do grow though are the ruddy weeds...lol
Just wish I loved the dandelions in the garden as much as I do on cards....

Super card Brenda, your techniques are fab, loved the idea of taking some of the ink off for the backgroung and the circular frame...

Gorgeous work, keep it coming!!!
x
Vicky

Liz Corrigan said...

Brenda this is just gorgeous, and what an amazing effect you have created with the punched leaves and butterflies. Hope you have a good weekend. Rosie x

pinky said...

This is on pretty little card Brenda, love the effect you have created with the ferns and butterflies.
Pinky

Jacee said...

My word Brenda, this is so pretty, I absolutly love it!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card Brenda, the background text on the angle is really effective. Sue C x

Fliss said...

Really beautiful card Brenda and I'm astonished to see your Spirea already flowering as mine are very late. The magnolia has only just come out and it flowered in February last year!
Hope you're having a lovely weekend.
xx

Kat said...

This is beautiful Brenda. I love those pretty butterflies.

Kat x

craftymum said...

Hi Brenda
what a lovely card. This could be used for so many occasions. I might give it a go!!!
Love sarah XXX

Anonymous said...

Thats amazing, what cool ideas!!!!

HappyCrafter said...

so pretty! I like the script behind the flower image, as well as the balanced layout

Nannieflash said...

Hi Brenda, wow love that card, the design is fabulous as yours always are anyway, its a really stunning card.
I also love this time of the year, though I dont have spirea I do have some hyacinth in my garden and that spells gorgeous to.
With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxx

Nikbee said...

This is a beautiful card. The colours are really pretty and I love the inked and stamped background.

Nikki x

Emma (metalicbutterfly) said...

Hi B

This is so beautiful hun and I love everything about it the stamp in the centre is one of my favs of your's and it always looks fab!

thanks for making such a beautiful card for my theme this week

Emma xxx

Juls said...

Just so gorgeous!!! Love the soft colours, the script background, and the gorgeous image and the little gingham butterflies are just perfection! Hugs Juls

Mandy said...

Hi Brenda,
thanks for your lovely comment,I'm like you I see lots of Tilda's done so beautifully I panicked..This is soo pretty I love the butterflies and the background...
Mandy xx

PatR said...

Totally gorgeous Brenda, love the sparklers and the butterflies. Such a beautiful delicate design.
Pat xx

Maarit at Violets Corner said...

This is absolutely gorgeous Brenda! Love the central image and the butterfly circle you have created.
And your spirea :) We need a few weeks more until we can see blooming spireas.

Big hugs
Maarit

Sarah xx said...

Beautiful Brenda - love those butterflies and that stamp is gorgeous in pink!! xxx

Gez Butterworth said...

Gorgeous Brenda. I do so love the colours & your background. Have a great week. Gez.xx

craftimamma said...

This is just so pretty Brenda. I love the Brilliance background and the main image. Just beautiful!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Mel said...

Hi Brenda this is lovely, what a good idea. I don't like coming to your site anymore because you do about 100 cards to my One ! Melx

Linapyssel said...

Gorgéous Brenda as allways i might add!! Love the colors you picked out and the butterflies flying around in a circle, the card makes me happy!!!
Thank you Brenda for your comments on my blog..I feel honored to hear that from you!! Happy happy happy!!
Have a wounderful day you talanted one!!
Hugs Lina

Merry said...

Beautiful card Brenda...love all those butterflies and that flower image is wonderful.

La Vikinga said...

Like your cards!!!

La Vikinga / Charlotta

Beryl said...

Hi Brenda - a bit late spotting this one (it's Tuesday). It's stunning snd looks perfect amongst the spirea. Love your description of spring springing in the fens. I do miss it.
Beryl xx

Diane said...

What a beauty Brenda!!!!