Saturday 15 June 2013

A Flutter of Butterflies

Hello and welcome!

Last month I was lucky enough to be selected amongst the Top 3 by Country View Crafts for my card here. They then kindly invited me to Guest Design for their challenge this month when the theme is Die Cuts. Do pop over to Country View Crafts Challenge site to see what the rest of the Design Team and fellow 'Top 3' winners have created to inspire you - a new piece is posted every few days for your delectation! I know the team would love to see your 'Die Cuts' in action.

I had a butterfly shaped box that I felt would be perfect for this project. To meet the 'Die Cuts' theme I've used dies in a few different ways. The most obvious of course are the butterflies and wings cut using every butterfly die and punch that I possess.





The raised centre panel has been created by applying texture paste through a lattice diecut.




Some border dies feature too.




I've also used 'on the edge' dies to form a rim around part of the box (with grungeboard in between the paper layers for body).



Butterfly shapes were stencilled with texture paste - then gessoed and gilded. Most are covered up by all the die cuts but you can see the gilded outline of a butterfly hidden in the centre here.



Finally I placed a few grungeboard diecuts on the surface of the box (then again gessoed and gilded). In the centre here you might spot part of a raised golden flourish diecut.





Mixed in with all the die-cutting was a whole lot of buffing and distressing with distress inks, stamping and heat embossing, gilding paste, glass glitter, layers of crackle glaze, gloss, pearl mists and glitzy frantage. I made sure to add a floral corner as all those butterflies need nectar. I also added pearls, flowers and metal charms for thoraxes and lots of other bits and bobs to make all those fluttering wings pretty! Finally I added the sentiment (cut from My Mind's Eye paper) between musical quaver charms.

Do make sure to check out the Country View Crafts Challenge where your die cut projects are very welcome this month!

Thank-you so much for stopping by today. I greatly appreciate each and every one of you in crafty blogland. In case you missed my last post, just a reminder that I have signed up to Bloglovin' - I'd be thrilled silly if you decided to follow me there.

Have a very lovely weekend.
Nicola x

I wish to enter box to the following challenges;
Our Creative Corner: Recipe - Ribbon, Metal, Inks
Craft Room Challenge - Here Comes Summer
Simon Says Stamp - Transport (Butterflies transport Pollen)
The Crafty Bloggers Network - Bright and Breezy
Unruly PaperArts - Art Quest Chabby Chic in 3D
A Creative Romance - Anything Goes

39 comments:

  1. Oooooh Nicola, what an outstanding piece of crafting, so intricate and creative, just love it. Have a great weekend. xx

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  2. Totally love how you've transformed this with all those die cuts and punched butterflies. Perfect colours, lovely layering and of course the ribbon corsetry down the middle all make for a wonderful make. Thanks so much for joining us at Our Creative Corner with this, hugs Jenny x

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  3. Just wonderful work my dear friend^_^
    Gorgeous papers and colors as always^_^
    Have a sweet weekend^_^
    Big hug,
    Sonia

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  4. Fun and fabulous! Thanks for joining us in our Readers Art Quest this month!

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  5. wow what a stunning project , jam packed full of delicate and delightful butterflies
    xx hugs trace x

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  6. I'm completely and utterly open-mouthed in awe! What an absolute beauty of a make... the glowing golden vintage colour palette, those butterflies in all their varied shapes, sizes and papers, amazing die-cutting... completely gorgeous, Nicola - huge WOW from me, and thank you so much for playing along at Our Creative Corner with this wonder!
    Alison xx

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  7. Congratulations Nicola!
    Oooooh what a beautiful box this is. You captured such amazing energy but also so elegant and graceful at the same time.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  8. This is crafted poetry, Nicola!

    I love everything about it! Such a beautiful make with a massive load of loveliness and detail!
    Thank you for sharing this with us at OurCreativeCorner!

    Claudia x

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  9. Hi Nicola, I said it over at CVC and I don't mind repeating it - this is one of the most stunning projects I have ever seen - it is breathtakingly beautiful...... Hugs, Anne x

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  10. Absolutely stunning project - all those wonderful layers and details, yet all so brilliantly put together. The colours are just wonderful too. Jennie x

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  11. A beautiful profusion of Butterflies. Magical make. Annette x

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  12. Hi Nicola
    This is do lovely especially all the different elements
    Rosie x

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  13. Fabulous butterfly box and colors.


    Regards Diane

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  14. Hi Nicola, saw this on C V crafts and just had to say what a fantastic project. Love all the details you've added, Stunning.
    Hugs, Avril xx

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  15. Nicola,
    This is an utter masterpiece! WOW! I'm really speechless

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  16. O my word... This is a Masterpiece..I Love it Nicola... the attention to detail is amazing.. Such a wonderful design... Love all the die-cuts you have used...Simply Breathtaking!! Hugs May x x x

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  17. I saw your creation at Unruly PaperArts Nicola - this is totally gorgeous. The box with all the details is absolutely stunning and very unique.
    Amelia.

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  18. wow this is fabulous Nicola.i love the buttefly shape and really stunning colours and details :D

    xx coops xx

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  19. Oh la la Nicola, what a wonderful project...TOTALLY GORGEOUS!!!!!!! Love every detail on each of your gessoed and die-cut beautiful butterflies... They are very lucky to have you accepted to be their Guest DT ! :) Big Hugs (and thanks a lot for your last kind reply I really enjoyed!), Coco xxx

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  20. These butterflies are just gorgeous...wonderful project. Thanks for playing along with the TRANSPORTATION challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog this week!

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  21. You are simply amazing, Nicola. I can pore over your work for ages and still see something new. You are incredibly talented

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  22. Wow Nicola - this is fantastic! It must have taken you hours and hours to create all that detail - it deserves to be on display somewhere. Love, Margie x

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  23. This is FABULOUS!!!! I love the 3D aspect of it...just fabulous I tell you! The vintage colors are wonderful as well! I would have this out for display!

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  24. Wow Nicola, this is a real stunner! You have such a wonderful eye for detail.
    Claire xx

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  25. Oooh lah lah! What a beautiful box. I can't get over the variety of butterflies and how gorgeous each one is. Stunning!

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  26. WOW!! I honestly don't know where to start on complimenting you with this box. I don't think I've ever seen this many butterflies congregated in one area EVER. It's completely amazing what you've done here to maintain movement and beauty and constant points of interest. I think I would have just made a huge mess, but you have such incredible skill with this style. I think it's truly beautiful what you've created here and I'm so glad you shared this. :)
    hugs,
    Lisa x

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  27. Oh Nicola, this is such a beautiful infusion of butterfly magic. I love the lace up in the centre and you've got so many beautiful details. Truly to die for! Xxxx

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  28. Stunning box, love all the butterflies and the colors are just gorgeous.
    xx

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  29. Fabulous project, love the butterflies and all the beautiful detail. Thank you for joining us for the Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge.

    Sylv xx
    CBN Design Team Member

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  30. Just wanted to reiterate how magnificent this project is Nicola. You have created a wonderful masterpiece and I am so pleased you shared it for your guest designer piece at CVC.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  31. Oh my word, this is stunning Nicola! You have used your dies in such wonderful ways, and I love your collection of beautiful butterflies. You've really turned this into something amazing. It's lovely to see you over at the Craft-Room as well.

    I hope you are well Nicola, and I will be in touch with you very soon :-)

    Take care

    Maria xxxxx

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  32. Wow there is a HUGE amount of work gone into this creation. You have married all the paper patterns perfectly with their respective die cut shapes. The composition is inspired and brilliant.

    Thank you for joining us at the Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge this month.
    Claire x
    (DT)

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  33. Completely in awe of this fantastic creation cannot imagine how you even came up with the idea never mind created it. Stunning thank you for sharing with us at Craft-Room Challenge XOXO Zoe

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  34. A beautiful project. Good luck in the RAQ at Unruly PaperArts. X

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  35. This is simply spectacular!

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  36. Such a beautiful piece Nicola! I love all the elements that you've brought together. The die cuts, the paste, the ribbon and those wonderful little music notes. A real treat for the eyes.
    Thanks for joining us at Our Creative Corner for this challenge. Juliax

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  37. So much detail went into this stunning piece! It is a beautiful entry for UPA RAQ.

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  38. Amazing creation! So many gorgeous details - wow! Thankyou for joining us this month at Crafty Bloggers Network
    Geraldine M
    CBN DT

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  39. This is amazing Nicola!!

    All those gorgeous details!

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Thank-you! Your visit and comment is very much appreciated. Nicola x