For The Love of Butterflies and True Crime

I'm having such an exciting week! I just finished up my first CrimeCon in New Orleans today! I've been dying to attend one and meet all my favorite podcasters, the Dateline people and go to do all the forensics workshops and all the TRUE CRIME THINGS. I'm writing this before I leave, so I'll have to fill you in on the details when I get back, but I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I didn't think I'd be able to go on this trip so it's doubly exciting.

And I have some beautiful new stamps and dies for you today!

But first, let me announce my winner of my $100 Picket Fence Studios gift certificate! The winner is Susie Moore! Susie please email me using the contact in my sidebar to get your prize!

I remember one time I saw a comment online about what kind of stamps you need to ALWAYS buy, no matter how many xyz images you already owned. I have several categories like this -florals for sure, cats, and one of my largest stamp collections - BUTTERFLIES.

Today's release is all about summer and very heavy on the butterflies, so I'm STOKED.

First up - this stunning butterfly pop up die, that cuts a large butterfly, with a pop-up strip that you can use on the inside of the card for a 3D butterfly whose wings open when you open the card. It's AMAZING, and the pop-up mechanism is so simple and brilliant. But I think it's also incredibly beautiful on the front of the card, so I cut the base layer out of watercolor paper and painted it with Daniel Smith watercolor. Then I cut the detail wing sections and body from black cardstock and layered them. 

The new Herringbone Background is STUNNING in watercolor - you will see what I mean on a full card below, but I couldn't throw the strip I trimmed off away, so I used it under the butterfly. The stamp set that matches these dies is here, and that's where I got the sentiment.

But let's get back to that background stamp, shall we? It just so happens that the rectangles that make up the herringbone pattern are the perfect size for my 1/4" Silver Black Velvet Flat Brush. So I stamped the image in Fadeout Ink on watercolor paper. I used five pigments to randomly paint this amazing background: Terra Verte, Fuchsite, Prussian Green, Amazonite, Ultramarine Turquoise. (All but Prussian Green are included in my curated split from my split group.)

I cut two hellos from these dies that match this cute set - one in white and one in black, and glued them together. I added those and some of these gorgeous sequins to keep it simple and focus on the watercolor.

They really stole my heart with this month's butterfly turnabout! It's a bunch of overlapping solid and outline butterflies that make the cutest backgrounds!! I did mine all in Morning Mist for this card because I wanted my larger butterfly from this set to pop. The new jigs they send make everything so easy. If you haven't tried a Turnabout yet, now is the time, because you get everything you need in the package! You put the clear jig that's included with every set in the corner of your MISTI. Then line up the stamp on the printed image on the jig. Pick up the stamp with the lid of the MISTI. Tape any size or shape of cardstock to the jig, and then stamp, turn, stamp turn! It's so fun and easy. I saw a comment the other day that your paper had to be square to use a turnabout and it doesn't! The jig is square, but your cardstock can literally be anything. Just adhere it to the jig. They sell a great temporary adhesive for this. I use that adhesive to hold my cards closed and flat when I'm photographing them too. Anyway, I love turnabouts! :)

For the butterfly, I inked it up first in Mustard Seed Distress Oxide Ink and stamped it. Then I inked just the edges of the wings in Carved Pumpkin Oxide Ink, and blended out the edge of the ink with a paper towel to make it blend out on top of the yellow. I repeated that step once, and then cut it out with the matching die. The cute little die cut sentiment is actually their free with purchase die set this month and it's adorable! My cheat for getting long die cut sentiments straight when I glue them down - it's hard to see here - is to score the white strip. I just do one score line. It's better than a pencil line because I wouldn't be able to erase around the die cut after it was glued down. So the scored line becomes both a guide and a design element. What's cool about this turnabout is this free standing butterfly comes with the set along with other images and sentiments that aren't part of the turnabout.

Here's what the pop-up butterfly looks like opening its wings when you open the card.

They have two other adorable sets out today that I didn't have a chance to use before I left.

And FINALLY, a multi-functional die release tool! It has a little spatula on one end that's great for lifting the edge of die cuts, and a pick on the other end to poke out little cut pieces from the die or your intricate die cuts. This has become so essential that it's moved into my Hobby Holster, which is a place of honor in my craft room. Only my daily essentials go in there. 

As usual, if you're like me, they have a discounted bundle with all the new products here. 

Tell me what your favorite image category is that you feel compelled to collect like I collect butterflies!

I'll repay you with all my true crime knowledge when I get back! The podcasts that I love and their hosts have changed my life in many ways. I'm much more careful when I'm on my walks thanks to this podcast. I found the vitamins I've been taking for a year thanks to this podcast. They've gotten me through many stressful days over the last few years when I've needed a distraction and not to have to talk to anyone, so I'm grateful for everyone who puts their time and energy into great free content, like the crafty community does. 

You can see a list of all my favorite podcasts here. The hosts of many of my faves will be there and it's going to be unbelievable to meet them in person. 

Hope you have a great weekend too! All products I used today are listed below.

Loveyameanitbye.

Little Thoughts [ C&9 ] Beautiful Butterfly [ C&9 ] Beautiful Butterfly Pop Up Dies [ C&9 ] Herringbone Background [ C&9 ] Butterfly Love Turnabout [ C&9 ] Butterfly Love Dies [ C&9 ] Rooting For You [ C&9 ] Rooting For Dies [ C&9 ] Sweet Strawberries [ C&9 ] Sweet Strawberries [ C&9 ] Die Release Tool [ C&9 ] Fadeout No Line coloring Detail Ink [ INK ] Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Carved... [ ELH | SSS ] Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad,... [ ELH | SSS ] Tsukineko VersaFine Clair MORNING... [ SSS ] VersaFine Clair Ink Pad, Nocturne -... [ ELH | SSS ] Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors [ BLIC ] 1/4" Square Wash Brush [ BLIC ] Escoda Versatil Brushes, Travel Round... [ UTR | BLIC | INK ] CH300 Ombré Ocean Sequins - Hero Arts [ HA ] Fabriano Extra White Cold Press... [ BLIC ] MISTI Stamping Tool [ MSP | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ] Holster Brands HOBBY TURQUOISE... [ SSS ] Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 [ SSS | ELH | CST | ART ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] Nesting Porcelain Bowls - BLICK art... [ BLIC ] Repositionable Adhesive Dots -... [ C&9 ] Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two... [ SSS | MFT ] LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for... [ BRG ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White [ GNK ] Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding... [ AMZUS ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH | SSS ] Crafter's Companion GEMINI... [ SSS ] Essentials by Ellen Storage... [ ELH ] Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets... [ CHC ] XL Stamp Storage Pockets [ ELH ] June 2019 Release Bundle [ C&9 ]