Saturday, August 21, 2010

Crackled Butterflies

I just love the yummy, refreshing colour combination for this week's challenge at The Play Date Cafe.



So I decided to make a card using them which would also fit with the Hero Arts Keeping in Touch and Back to School challenge.

Crackled Butterflies
originally uploaded by heather maria.

Stamps used (Hero Arts):- Antique Engravings, Wild Flowers & Messages

I stamped the Wild Flowers on a scrap of speckled fabric (linen I think) with shabby shutters and broken china distress inks. The butterflies are coloured with Promarkers and I had to try out a recent purchase on them – Ranger Crackle Accents.

Crackled Butterflies close up

Nothing will be safe from me crackling it now – I was the same with Glossy Accents! I added some thread for the butterflies’ antennae, gems on some of the flowers and a bit of machine stitching. The patterned paper, Heart and Home (Melissa Frances - Amanda), was bought about a year ago and I'm only getting around to using it now.

Hope you are all having a brilliant weekend!
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36 comments:

  1. PiaAugust 21, 2010 at 4:37 PM

    Love your crackled butterflies - so gorgeous! Looking forward to seeing some more crackles from your side :-)

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  2. LinAugust 21, 2010 at 4:38 PM

    I was taken with these colors, too! I adore your take on the challenge - stamping on the linen is wonderful - must try this! Just gorgeous, my friend!

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  3. PatriciaAugust 21, 2010 at 4:42 PM

    Amazing card love your crackled butterflies =P

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  4. Suzanne CAugust 21, 2010 at 4:55 PM

    Gorgeous!! love those crackled butterflies. I can never get the crackle effect like that and yours are beautiful! Glad you decided to join us at the PDCC!

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  5. RosemaryAugust 21, 2010 at 7:21 PM

    just beautiful heather! i'm going to have to try crackling, too.

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  6. Sarah J MoermanAugust 21, 2010 at 7:35 PM

    Wow! Stunning! Love you use of fabric and the crackle butterflies are fabulous!

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  7. donna mikasaAugust 21, 2010 at 10:04 PM

    Beautiful, Heather! I love your crackled butterflies and the texture from the canvas.

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  8. HannahAugust 22, 2010 at 2:14 AM

    Hey Heather! That's a super cool and techniqy-card!! love the crackled textures. linking :)

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  9. Lisa SomervilleAugust 22, 2010 at 2:51 AM

    The wildflowers look wonderful stamped on the linen, and the butterflies are just beautiful with the Crackled accents! Thanks for playing at the PDCC.

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  10. jintyoo7August 22, 2010 at 5:21 AM

    Crackle away, Heather. Card itself is beautiful, the butterflies are divine!

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  11. NatAugust 22, 2010 at 6:00 AM

    ohhhh wow!! Stunning elements. I can see trying this crackle gloss on everything!! Just a beauty!! :)

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  12. JessAugust 22, 2010 at 6:04 AM

    I love the crackles Heather! Is that sticky-backed canvas? How did you go about cutting it in your machine?

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  13. stampingandstitchingAugust 22, 2010 at 9:08 AM

    Thanks everyone for the lovely comments - I really appreciate them!

    Jess, it's not sticky backed canvas but just an ordinary piece of fabric. I have lots of scraps of fabric but I think this piece is linen. When I'm cutting fabric this way I just run it through the machine a few times to make sure it cuts through all the threads. Sometimes there's just an odd thread here and there that has to be snipped. In this case the fabric is quite thick so it worked fine. If I'm using a lighter fabric, I'll either cut out a few layers of fabric at the same time or add in a layer of card for a bit of body.

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  14. JillAugust 22, 2010 at 2:35 PM

    The canvas, the cracked glass, the awesome colors... you've thought of it ALL!!! Such a lovely natural card with so many awesome textures!

    Sorry I haven't been able to comment much this week, but I have been popping in and enjoying all of your FAB creations!

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  15. DustyPenny (Joy Ott)August 22, 2010 at 2:37 PM

    Beautiful card, Heather! Hope you are doing well. Hugs.

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  16. CinnamonSallyAugust 22, 2010 at 6:59 PM

    This is stunning Heather, how do you stop the fabric from fraying? I love those crackled butterflies!!

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  17. Monika ReeckAugust 22, 2010 at 7:01 PM

    Oh my Heather I love your crackled butterflies sooo adorable.....GREAT TO GREAT CARD!!

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  18. stampingandstitchingAugust 22, 2010 at 8:17 PM

    Thanks so much again for all the much appreciated, lovely comments!

    Sally, this particular fabric doesn't really seem to fray so once I stuck it on the card at the back there was no chance of any fraying. For fabrics that fray, I will use either Bondaweb or a bonding powder and bond the fabric to another piece of backing fabric before cutting out. This way it won't fray. Another way to do it (if I'm not using the Cuttlebug)is to stick the fabric onto card first. This method doesn't work very well with the Cuttlebug as the fabric can come away from the card as it goes through the machine and then it tends to bubble up in some areas. Hope this all makes sense - let me know if it doesn't!

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  19. RubyAugust 22, 2010 at 9:53 PM

    SO pretty! I LOVE your crackle, can see how that could be addictive, must look that out! Such a lovely card, the fabric works so well with it, beautiful! Thanks for joining us this week at the PDCC!

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  20. Tiffany ErvinAugust 23, 2010 at 1:44 AM

    So very beautiful and elegant! I will have to give that crackle paint a try someday!

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  21. AnonymousAugust 23, 2010 at 5:14 AM

    Heather this is gorgeous! Love the crackle on the butterflies. Beautiful card :)

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  22. Moccavanila by Vera RhuhayAugust 23, 2010 at 10:17 AM

    OMG...love the butterfly..Heather!!! You always amazed me!!! hmm...I'm curious what's your next project :)

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  23. Jean Franks BeckAugust 23, 2010 at 12:40 PM

    Beautiful! *Love* your butterflies, and also the subtle stamping on the canvas background. So pretty!

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  24. Bumbles and Fairy-TalesAugust 23, 2010 at 3:30 PM

    Wow! This is all so stunning! Love your canvas stamping! and those butterflies are gorgeous! Amazing card!
    hugs, margie

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  25. DeirdreAugust 23, 2010 at 6:10 PM

    Heather, this is just STUNNING..... love it. Spent the weekend on the river shannon so only just catching up with everything now... the last hurrah before the kids go back to school next Tuesday. Hope you are enjoying the last of the summer days!

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  26. Rina DamayAugust 23, 2010 at 9:51 PM

    This card is fab! Anyway thank your for sweet coment on my bog. Have a nice day

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  27. Savannah O'GwynnAugust 24, 2010 at 5:51 AM

    Get out--that crackle painting is FAB! I love it--I love your canvas and stamping on it--just beautiful all around! This is AMAZING! Thanks so much for playing along and joining in the fun at the PDCC:)

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  28. AnonymousAugust 25, 2010 at 1:38 AM

    Gorgeous, Heather! Love the texture added by the linen and the crackled butterflies are fabulous.. Thanks for playing with the Play Date Cafe!

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  29. Anita RexAugust 26, 2010 at 8:48 AM

    Love that crackled butterfly! So lovely! And the canvas adds so much!

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  30. JennyAugust 27, 2010 at 4:32 AM

    So pretty love the crackling... great design!! :D

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  31. sheilaAugust 27, 2010 at 4:07 PM

    this is an amazingly beautiful card!!! I just love it to pieces!

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  32. Virginia L.August 27, 2010 at 6:12 PM

    Wow! You rock with the design and that Crackle paint!! Congrats on the HA Tweet! I almost miss this BEAUTY!! xoxox

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  33. TrinhSeptember 3, 2010 at 7:14 PM

    Congrats on your very well-deserved win, Heather! This is gorgeous; your cards are always inspiring to me.

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  34. KathySeptember 4, 2010 at 8:41 PM

    OMG Heather...this card is AMAZING!!!!!!!! YOU are so talented and I am sorry I don't stop by as often as I would like. Hugs,kathy

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  35. Whimsical WendySeptember 5, 2010 at 8:19 PM

    This is stunning. I have to get me some Crackle Accents!! TFS

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  36. scrapsnsuch@gmail.comSeptember 6, 2010 at 1:43 PM

    Seeing the closeups makes this card even more wonderful. I know I have material like that in my attic - I guess that means I know where I am going today :>)
    The butterflies are amazing too! Just love it all :>)

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