Krafty Chicks challenge #748 - All Occasions

Good morning lovely friends. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day and were spoiled by Santa; maybe you were even lucky enough to have some crafty goodies.  We had a lovely time with all the family; had a gorgeous dinner cooked by my wonderful mother, and had a fun time with my sister and her family.  We raised a glass to my dad (it was the fifth Christmas without him) and reminisced about the good times.  I know not everyone is lucky enough to spend this time of year with family (or anyone for that matter) so I am sending my love and thoughts to you.  

It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 4.  The theme as always is 'all occasions' and Lori is our hostess. We don't mind what you make this week, it can be birthday, new home, baby, sympathy whatever creations you like. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

It was my niece's birthday just before Christmas so I used this opportunity to make a card for her.  It was such a gloomy day when I made it that I wanted to make a bright and colourful card.  The photo's are a bit rubbish again but you get the gist.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the butterflies:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I had some spare butterflies so decorated the envelope too:

As it was a card for a family member I went for a 5" x 7" card base.  I cut my largest white panel to 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and adhered it to a slightly larger black mat with double sided tape.  I cut the next white panel to 4" x 6" and ink blended pink, orange and yellow inks before using a swiss dots embossing folder for some texture.  I again adhered this to a slightly larger black mat with double sided tape.  I added the larger panel to my card base with double sided tape and the smaller colourful panel was added with foam tape.  I stamped 3 butterflies onto matching coloured card using black ink and also stamped 3 butterflies onto white card with black ink and used the matching die to cut them out.  Initially I wasn't sure if I was going to use the white butterflies on the front on my card but they looked a little lost against the white background so I used the coloured ones.  They were added to the card base with foam squares.  I stamped the happy birthday sentiment onto white card and die cut it out with a circle die and stamped the niece word onto white card and die cut it out with a rounded banner die.  I added both the sentiments with double sided tape.  As a finishing touch I added a sequin to each of the butterfly bodies and a few onto the background.  For the inside I stamped a sentiment with black ink onto the centre of my panel (again cut to 4 1/2" x 6 1/2") and used a tiny strip of offcut from the front panel as a landing area for one of my white butterflies.  These were added with liquid glue.  The panel was matted onto a slightly larger black panel and added to card base with double sided tape.  As I had two butterflies left over I decided to add them to my envelope for some extra interest and to tie them all together.  A bright and colourful card on a dreary day.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More challenge - birthdays

Allsorts challenge - use your dies

CRAFT challenge - new/ATG (the butterfly stamps are new to me)

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - anything but square

PINspirational challenge - ATG

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - use dies for Diecember 

Triple B challenge - use birds, blooms and/or butterflies

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'all occasions' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori.

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card ingredients:

Prickly Pear - butterfly 1 & die (and matching die) - no longer available

MFT - blueprints 13 (for circle and rounded banner die) - retired

Stampin' Up! - family party clear stamp - retired

Gina K Designs - ink pads - bubblegum pink, tangerine twist, wild dandelion

Gina K Designs - swiss dot embossing folder

Spellbinders - gold smooth discs color essentials sequins

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - currently oos but this is available as an alternative

Hobbycraft - A4 black card

Versafine - onyx black ink pad