I wanted to rate this card as a FIVE on the challenging scale because it was so personally challenging to me, but probably easier for others lol.
Iâm even more in awe of Ardyth now that I attempted to CASE one of her simple-looking cardsâ¦I almost pulled out hair trying to imitate, I canât imagine what goes into creating these ideas!
I changed colors for the ink blending and used a birthday sentiment, but the change that got me into trouble was choosing that dadgum butterfly die!
I made a card base and cut a slightly smaller rectangle of white cardstock for the top front layer. I cut the butterfly 3 times across the front to provide the silhouette. Hereâs where things started going wrong: I forget that this is one of my first dies, purchased in a huge haul of cheap dies from China on EBay right after I finally got my Big Shot. Most worked out well but a few are a little too sharp or too deep or too something, and getting the cutout out of the die is always a challenge. I rendered the actual butterflies cut from the outline unuseable in trying to get them out.
But thatâs okay because it looks like Ardyth did some ink blending and then cut out her leaves on her card, so I got another piece of white cardstock and did my ink blending (something I am still pretty new at but I like how these turned out). Then it was time to attempt to cut them out. I went slowly and carefully but still was cussing under my breath and had to repair at least one tear before I got all three of my butterflies.
Nowâ¦how the heck do those leaves stay put with nothing behind them? Oh, tape at the edges. Maybe I should have picked an image that had edges wider than a bitten down fingernail. Well letâs try!
After some rasselin and cussin and attempts with several kinds of adhesive, I gave up and cut another white panel to go behind the top panel and kind of sandwich the die cuts. I think I ended up using 4 different adhesives back there! So thatâs another change from Ardythâs lovely designâ¦
I added the card front to the card base with foam tape, stamped the sentiment in Barn door distress inkâ¦and noticed a dark smudge on my middle butterflyâs body! After doing my impersonation of Munichâs famous painting (but silently as housemate is on Zoom with clients downstairs) I improvised butterfly bodies with some stick-on jewels from my Dollar Tree stash and called it finished!
Oh Ardyth you make it look so easy! I bow down before you and bid you enjoy your Featured Stamper week!
Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 GMT Views: 422
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Registered: February 19, 2011 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 8672
Wed, Jan 26, 2022 @ 3:46 PM
Well, you didn't sweat or cry or leave any watermarks on your card and it looks wonderful on my screen. So, well done {{clap}}. And, I apologize because I did laugh (even a bit out loud) as I read your description. I think we have all been there, done that at some time so I also commiserated with you. But, it does look wonderful and I love the tear drop stone for the butterfly bodies. I thought that was intentional so that worked out great. I know there are tons of tricks for getting the die cuts out of dies. I just don't know them. But I hope someone else posts them for you. That can be quite frustrating. And, I hope yo try the again because it does look great. Hugs.
Registered: November 20, 2007 Location: Northumberland, UK Posts: 13226
Thu, Jan 27, 2022 @ 3:50 AM
You ended up with something clean and crisp, no sign of all the struggles behind it! The gem bodies look great too, even if they did stem from an “embellishment opportunity”.
This is a great case of Ardyth's card. Clean and simple cards look so easy but they certainly aren't. I love your butterflies and especially your addition of the gems. Beautiful!
Registered: April 25, 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 9707
Fri, Jan 28, 2022 @ 6:27 AM
Oh my word! I'm sorry you had so much trouble and I have been there at every step that went wrong for you. Your results are beautiful and definitely worth the effort. And keep making cards - because you are very talented and because everything gets easier with practice! lol! Thanks for playing along!
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Registered: January 24, 2006 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas Posts: 7853
Mon, Jan 31, 2022 @ 5:13 AM
Colleen, your card is fabulous and I learned that simple cards are indeed the most difficult to replicate. Not sure which machine you use, but the BigShot has a metal plate intended for detailed dies. I rarely use mine because someone shared a tip about using the green Olfa rotary mats (6x8 inches) as a layer for dies AND embossing folders, so I stopped buying the clear plastic plates because now they last forever. I took a while to memorize the proper sandwich layers, and detailed dies take 6 or 8 passes through. But seriously, my clear plastic plates are at least 4 years old and have NO CUTS on them and stay flat. I believe the embossing is what curls them!
------------------------------ Do or do not - there is no try! (Yoda)
