I received a beautiful butterfly pin from a swap at convention last year.  I believe the Demonstrator's name was Pam Staples.  I've had several inquiries on the pin, so I thought I would make a batch.  Each of the ladies going to St. Louis with me this weekend will receive one.  ALSO, if you book a workshop with me in April, you will receive one of these beautiful pins as a Hostess Gift.  

Use the Beautiful Butterfly Bigz die to die cut one card stock butterfly and one First Edition Specialty DSP butterfly. 

I used the Everything Eleanor and Itty Bitty Bits stamp sets to stamp the images (matching the ink to the card stock).  

Punch 3 flowers using the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and two tags using the Jewelry Tag punch. I also used the "hand crafted" stamp from the Tiny Tags stamp set.  

Coat one side of the card stock butterfly with a layer of Chrystal Effects. Allow to dry, then add a second coat - make sure you don't have brush marks.  This is after the first coat was dry.  

I made 19 of these babies!

While the backs are drying, assemble the front.  I used Pearl  Basic jewels on half of the butterflies and Rhinestones on the rest.  Attach the two tags with a small brad or Vintage Trinkets button brad (used here).  I also used a bit of Sticky Strip and added a little scrunched up ribbon on each one (see photos below).

Add a pearl or rhinestone between the layers at the tip of one wing. Glue both layers together, then coat with a layer of Chrystal Effects.  Make sure to add Chrystal Effects to the area open between the layers.  

Add a second coat to the top of the butterfly.  

I used a bit of Chrystal Effects to attach a pin back.  

Here's my pile of finished butterflies! 

Beautiful Butterflies Stampin' Up! Bigz Die 114507 Price: $21.95 Let nature flit about your head and land gently on your craft projects with this Stampin' Up! exclusive die. Simultaneously cut multiple butterflies perfect for layering with easy when you use this die. ■ Use a Sizzix Big Shot machine and standard cutting pads with this die ■ 5-1/2″ x 6″ ■ Rule-based die which can cut up to 50 different materials ■ Fold paper and align with the side of the butterfly for an even bigger image ■ Stampin' Up! Exclusive die

Crystal Effects 101055 Price: $6.25 Embellish any image without embossing using Crystal Effects. It gives a high-gloss finish to any image. ■ Creates amazing 3-D effects ■ Applicator tip gives great control ■ Distributed exclusively by Stampin’ Up! ■ Water based for quick and easy cleanup ■ Dries completely within an hour depending on how thick it is applied ■ 2 oz. bottle

My blue Valentine....

Here is our last card this week featuring the Hearts a Flutter stamp set.  I've paired it with the Tiny Tags stamp set which is perfect for adding just a little extra "touch".

The front of the card was embossed with the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder then sanded - see instructions below.  

The new Designer Builder Brads add an elegant touch.  

The front of the card is the new Pool Party Core-dinations Card Stock.  The Core'dinations card stock is an 80lb. sandable card stock.  One side is textured, one is smooth and they have a lighter shade of monochromatic color on the inside.  So, when the card stock is torn, distressed or sanded, that lighter shade comes out.  Here's a quick tutorial on how to make it happen:

Cut the size piece of Core'dinations Card Stock you want.  

Run through your choice of embossing folder.

Sand the raised image lightly with our Sanding Blocks.  

Voila!  There will be a little mess, but a Swiffer cloth cleans that up quickly.  

Here's a closer look after sanding.

Supplies used for this card:

Hearts a Flutter stamp set and Framelits Dies, Tiny Tags stamp set
Very Vanilla, Primrose Petals and Pool Party Core'dinations Card Stock
Primrose Petals and Pool Party Classic Ink
Designer Builder Brads, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Jewelry Tag Punch, More Amore DSP, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Elegant Bouquet and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folders, Big Shot, Sanding Block

Designer Builder Brads	129329
Price: $6.95
If you build it . . . creativity will come. Add paper or stamped images, then enhance with an epoxy bubble on top! Try embellishing with our 8 mm rhinestones or pearls. 16 Brads: ea. 1"; 20 epoxy bubbles: ea 3/8". Coordinates with the Itty Bitties Stamp Set. POOL PARTY CORE'DINATIONS CARD STOCK Price: $6.95 PRIMROSE PETALS CORE'DINATIONS CARD STOCK Price: $6.95 REAL RED CORE'DINATIONS CARD STOCK Price: $6.95

This was one of our shoebox swap cards from Convention.  It was designed (and mostly made) by Sam Slimak.

Sam used a lot of techniques on this card.  

The images were stamped with Black StazOn ink, then a resist was used with either white crayon or Versamarker to highlight the images.  Pool Party ink was then brayered over the stamped images, then wiped off the masked areas to reveal the white underneath.  He then used 2-Way Glue and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter over the images.  The edges of the torn embossed pieced were sponged.  

Supplies used:

By the Seashore #126532, French Foliage #121166, Tiny Tags #118592
Black StazOn, Pool Party and Early Espresso Ink
Pool Party, Glossy White, Whisper White and Soft Suede card stock
Early Epresso Baker's Twine, Jewelry Tag Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Stampin' Sponges, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die	119976
Price: $7.95
Add a classic texture of richly embossed lattice work to a card or paper craft project using our Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder die. Not only will its alluring lines immediately command the eyes, but those entranced by it may not be able to resist running their fingers across its surface. Tiny Tags - Clear Mount Stamp 118592 Price: $16.95 The Tiny Tags set has 17 perfectly tiny images and sentiments that can be used with our Simply Adorned line of charms--or just to make a tiny project! Coordinates with the Medium Jewelry Tag punch. Available in both wood-mount and clear-mount. Set Quantity: 17