Wednesday 22 April 2020

Hope Butterfly Autumn


Another card in my series of Hope Butterflies. I have been making these for friends and neighbours using the same Statement Butterfly and sentiment. They have been well received by the recipients so far. It is bringing me joy making them as each one is different. I am using papers from my scrap drawers for the most part. The butterflies were all cut over the same 2 day period. As I am making the cards I am putting together a sketch and pretty papers and voila.

I love the colours on this one. I adore warm colours like orange and like to marry it with brown....very 70's but I love the happy colours together.

The butterfly was made from brown card as the base layer, plain orange paper for the middle and then cream linen textured card for the top. The orange layer didn't die cut quite right as the tape slipped and the die cut funny in a couple of places. I managed to save it though by snipping some pieces away with my tiny Fiskars scissors so it opened it up a bit. I think this worked quite well as you can see the brown poking through more. Every cloud has a silver lining......

The top layer of butterfly has been inked with a Tim Holtz distress ink pad. On the Outlawz Crash Your Stash challenge they were encouraging you to pull out your forgotten doilies. I used one as a base layer to mat the butterfly on and also inked around the edges. I think it makes it look softer and more antique.

I used the current sketch 808 from Stella Says Sketch for the layout.


The base of the card has been covered with a Papermania paper to match the colours in the wings. I used a die from Crafter's Companion called Intricate Floral Border and cut this from brown card. It amazes me how well these cut out with how intricate they are. I am however very glad I have the bristle roller tool to get the bits out with as they are a bit fiddly. One of the best things I have bought from HunkyDory I can tell you.

I used a digital sentiment from McMahon Five Designs who retired some years ago from designing stamps. I coloured the hearts with an orange glitter gel pen. This was matted onto offcuts of orange and brown left over from the butterfly. The finishing touch was some golden yellow gems for the body.

I have given this to a lovely elderly couple that live 2 doors away. They absolutely love my cards and as they are self isolating they do not have an awful lot to look forward to at the moment. Hopefully it will have brightened their day.

I hope everyone who visits my blog is safe and well wherever you are. It is a weird time but we can all play our part by following the rules that have been set out by our governments. The UK death toll is over 17,000 at the moment which is a huge number. 

I am incredibly sad for people that have been lost to this virus. I know a person who has passed. She is not a government statistic, she has a big family and it will have a devastating impact on them especially her mother. I am sure there are a lot of families who are in the same boat. Life as we we know it has been cancelled. This year has been cancelled. We have had Sports events and musicals cancelled until next year. I cannot even begin to fathom how upsetting it must be for people whose weddings have been cancelled. 

My sister and niece are frontline workers at a care home. A very good friend is a Sister in a hospital in a very nigh risk area. They are scared witless at the moment as they are put at so much risk every day. The stress is immeasurable, damaging their own healths as well as doing a difficult job anyway.  I am incredibly proud of them. When we clap on a Thursday at 8pm I am clapping for them especially, but also for every frontline worker.

I miss my friends and family but we are all keeping in touch, in some cases probably more than you would normally. I am creating beauty in my home and being crafty. The circumstances are not the best but lockdown isn't all bad. It is teaching us to slow down our busy lives. I had been unknowingly preparing for this since leaving my job at the end of October. I needed to de-stress and slow down, sort my head out and get into a much happier place. With meditation and being calm I have found peace. I am truly grateful I did that as I would have been going stir crazy by now. I am in a good place, probably the best I have been for many years which is crazy when you think what we are at the moment.


At times like this it is important to be positive and look on the bright side of life. I love how much quieter it is. I live on a major flightpath to Birmingham International airport and it is amazing how much quieter it is without so many planes. You can hear the birds twittering, the skies are so much clearer without as much pollution. Animal life is thriving and we even had a visit from a Sparrowhawk in our garden which we have never had before. 

My sister in Law saw an otter in the river in Stratford-upon-Avon yesterday, leatherback turtles hatching in high numbers on Thailand as the beaches are closed. I saw pictures yesterday of clear skies in Delhi without pollution, it is the same all over the world. Even the canals are clear in Venice as there are no gondolas stirring up the sediment.

Today is Earth Day which seems very apt as nature is thriving while humans are in lockdown. Maybe, just maybe when we get out of lockdown things will change for the better. Maybe we don't all want to go back to what normal was before.......

Card Details -

Size - A5
Digital Sentiment - McMahon Five Designs (retired)
Paper - Sunshine Capsule Collection by Papermania 
Colouring Medium - Sakura Glitter Gel Pen & Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad
Embellishments - gemstones

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (in Alphabetical Order)





59 comments:

  1. Your card is pretty and inspiring. How sweet of you to bring sunshine into people's day!

    Thanks for joining us at Cut it Up for Our Beautiful Earth challenge!

    Evelyn
    http://mylittlecraftblog.wordpress.com

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  2. Beautiful butterfly card. Thank you so much for playing along in our Crafting Happiness Challenge this week. Hope you’ll link up again!
    Hugs! Janis
    Crafting Happiness Challenges, Challenge Blog Owner
    Pause Dream Enjoy, Personal Craft Blog

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  3. Gorgeous card, beautiful sentiment to go with your stunning butterfly. Love the picture of the sparrowhalk.

    Hugs, Lori m
    IKE’s World Challenges Design Team Member
    My blog: LittlemsCraftedMind.blogspot.com
    Thank you, for playing along in IKE’s World Challenges!

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  4. A beautiful card Mandy. I have read your writings and found them very moving,
    Thank you for joining us again.
    Carol xx
    CD Sunday Plus DT.

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  5. Mandy- What a beautiful card, beautiful gesture! You have some lucky friends and neighbors! The sentiment you chose
    is absolutely perfect for your gorgeous creation. Thanks for entering JDS Blog Challenge #11. Good luck and be safe.
    Hugs,

    Jan (owner/illustrator- Jan's Digi Stamps Shop)

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  6. So beautiful, thank you for joining us at Allsorts and at Crafty Friends xxx

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  7. What a beautiful layered butterfly die cut and I love the 70's color palette! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at the Cut It Up! Challenge!
    Rachelle - DT@CIU : )

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  8. Beautiful card, love the colours and that stunning butterfly, so pleased you chose to play along with our Stella Says Sketch Challenge at Catch the Bug.

    Wonderful photo of the sparrowhawk, how lovely to see it in your garden.
    Chris
    x

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  9. Beautiful card and what a lovely gesture to create for friends and neighbors. Love the earth tones. Thanks for joining the Cut It Up, " Our Beautiful Earth" Challenge.

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  10. Lovely colours! Thank you for sharing with at Allsorts challenge this week.

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  11. Beautiful card and sentiment, thankyou for sharing with us at CraftyCatz this week.x

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  12. Beautiful card. Thank you for joining us at Creative Craft Cottage challenge good luck. Have a nice day
    Anneke DT

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  13. Personally, I love the color combination-always have! And such great use of dies! Thanks for joining us at Die Cut Divas!

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  14. Love those vibrant colours - butterfly is stunning. Thanks for joining The Library.

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  15. Love the color combo of your card and all the layers! What a gorgeous butterfly and a very lovely sentiment. Thank you so much for sharing this with us at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!

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  17. Thank you for entering our Anything Goes Challenge atThrough The Craft Room Door this week. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.
    Regards
    Judy
    TTCRD DT
    <a href="http://insearchofmycreativeside.blogspot.com”>YOUR BLOG LINK{My Blog}</a>

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  18. A lovely desiged card. I love the colours and that butterfly is beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us.
    Jocelyn x
    CD Sunday Plus DT

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  19. Lovely warm colours Mandy - as you say. We can usually save the die-cuts can;t we when they cut quite right. Thank you for joining us at The Alphabet Challenge xx Lynda DT

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  20. A beautiful card Mandy, I love the colour combo!

    Thank you for joining our challenge at MAWTT. Good luck with your entry

    June/DT

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  21. Such a gorgeous card Mandy the colours are beautiful and thanks for joining us at Crafty Calendar Challenge hugs Sue x

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  22. Thanks for playing along at Crafty Friends with your lovely card! Hugs Ela DT

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  23. I'm with you with the orange colours! It gives warmth and brighten up a day. You creation is lovely!
    Thank you for joining Catch the Bug's Bingo challenge
    Thank you for using Stella Says Sketch
    Thank you too for joining Creative Moments.
    Hugs from Africa!
    OlgaB

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  24. What a beautiful card, love the sentiment and the gorgeous butterfly . Thank you for joining us at Cupcake Inspirations, hugs~ Ishani.

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  25. Another beautiful card using that wonderful die,
    Thank you for joining us
    Margaret
    CD Sunday plus DT

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  26. Gorgeous butterfly and great B.paper.My daughter works in a care home too dealing with dementia -we said exactly the same thing too clear blue sky and can actually hear all the birds singing now there is no contant traffic noise -I think the Earth had just had enough and decided to teach us a tough lesson!
    Carol x

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  27. Hi Mandy just popping back to say-Thank you for joining us at Creative Craft Cottage
    Carol DT x

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  28. The butterfly is gorgeous and it's go perfectly with the background paper. I never thought about the colors with brown, very 70s, but they are! LOL So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas for our "All about the Animals" April challenge.

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  29. So beautiful..Thank you so much for joining in with us at 613 Avenue Create..hope you will play along again..

    Luv CHRISSYxx

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  30. What a vibrant card and your butterfly is lovely. Thank you for joining us at Cupcake Inspirations :)

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  31. Love that layered butterfly! Great colour scheme too... Thanks for sharing with us at Country View Challenges!

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  32. The butterfly is so wonderful!!! Great card!!! Thank you for joining the April challenge of the Country View Challenges!

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  33. Very beautiful card!!! Similar to another one I've seen of you and as pretty!!!!! Love that butterfly die with the gorgeous colour combo!!! Thanks for joining us at Creatalicious Challenge, we hope to see you again next time. Hugs, Brigitte

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  34. This is FABulous! Thanks so much for sharing with us in the Happy Little Stampers April Anything Goes With Dies challenge! We appreciate you joining us this month!
    Hugs,
    Leslie, HLS Dies Team
    Love To Scrap 2

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  35. Wow - so gorgeous in these fabulous colors. Thanks so very much for joining us this time at the Creative Fingers Challenge, elizabeth (DT)

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  36. Great use of that sketch, Mandy, and I love your color combo! Magnificent butterfly. I'm wearing 2 DT hats today - I'm so happy to see you playing along at both 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and at Jan's Digi Stamps this month. Good luck in both. :-D
    NanaConnie DT

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  37. Beautiful butterfly card!
    Thanks for joining IKEsWORLD Challenges. DT Val x

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  38. Fab card ! Thank you so much for joining my challenge 'animal magic' over at Country View Challenges ! Corrie x

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  39. Wonderful work. Thank you for joing us over on the Angie's Digital Stamps Blog. Good Luck!

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  40. Excellent post Mandy! Your card is beautiful ... LOVE that butterfly! Glad you're in a 'good place' and I too pray that people take heed as the wonders & beauty around them and appreciate what they have vs complaining about what they don't! Thanks so much for playing in our challenge at Mix It Up!
    Darlene
    Mix It Up
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please stop by for a visit.

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  41. Your card is gorgeous. Love your butterfly. Thanks so much for joining our Paper Shelter challenge - Patsy

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  42. This is an absolutely gorgeous card. I love the colors! Thanks for playing along with us at The Paper Funday Challenges. Donna - DT Member

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  43. Wow this butterfly is awesome!! I love yhe colours.. Thanks for playing with us at TPS this week, good Luck! Hug Lena

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  44. Gorgeous card! Thanks you for joining with us at https://digichoosday.blogspot.com/2020/04/wk-16-anything-goes-craft-cardmaking.html. Good luck with your entry
    Maritza DT

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  45. Thank you for joining us at challenge Lemon Shortbread
    DT Maria

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  46. Absolutely stunning card. Thanks for joining the challenge at Love to Craft Challenge Blog.

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  47. Such a stunning butterfly. Thank you for sharing with us over here at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Annette DT / Admin / Registered Owner for https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/

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  48. A beautiful butterfly card with a lovely, inspiring sentiment. And, such a kind gesture to give it to your elderly neighbours during this difficult time when we are missing family and friends. Stay safe and well and thank you for sharing your project at the Path of Positivity Challenge. x.

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  49. WOW your card is beautiful I just love it. (Glad you are doing well and have found a better place during all this.) Thanks for sharing with us over here at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry. Barbara DT member for { World Wide Open Design Team Challenge}

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  50. Gorgeous, love the butterfly! Thanks for joining Catch the Bug Bingo and Stella Says Sketch challenges, good luck! Dawn Bugaboo DT

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  51. This is gorgeous Mandy. I absolutely love butterfly images and this card is wonderful. Thank you for joining us at Bugaboo Stamps and good luck. Hope you join us again. Gail DTxx

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  52. A beautiful card Mandy. Thank you for joining us at SheepSki Designs Blog challenge. Gail DT xx

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  53. Your Hope series is beautiful I love this layered butterfly! Thanks for a beautiful submission to our challenge at 613 Avenue Create!
    Hugz,
    Chana Malkah, Owner

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  54. My favourite colour so I would like this card.
    Thank you for coming to play at IKEsWORLD Challenges.
    Stay safe.

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  55. So beautiful! Thank you so much for entering our ATG challenge at Arty Divas this week. Looking forward to seeing you again next challenge.

    Hugs, Zowie xx

    Arty Divas DT

    Crafts from the Fairy Den {My Blog}

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  56. I love the colours of this card and the butterflies are fantastic.
    Great picture of the visiting hawk. It's really quiet here too and I really like how Nature is taking back over. It's a pity it might not stay that way :-)
    Thank you for coming to play at IKEsWORLD Challenges.
    Hugz
    IKE x

    My Challenge Blog
    My Shop
    My Blog
    FB Fan Page
    Cat Lovers Challenge Blog

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  57. A gorgeous card, Mandy! Loving the colors!
    Thank you so much for joining in at my Crafty Wednesday challenge!
    Ellibelle's Corner

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  58. Thank you for sharing with us over here at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge. Your project is lovely and wishing you all the best with your entry.

    Jodie DT for  World Wide Open Design Team Challenge

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  59. A lovely card!
    Thank you soo much for taking part in our "anything goes + optional marble background” challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
    Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well…

    Hugs,
    Melanie
    (DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)

    (DT Crafty Friends)

    (DT The Sketchy Challenges)

    (DT Simply Create Too)

    (DT Kreativtanten)

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