I'm quite Pleased With myself....

I have been wanting to make one of these collages for AGES, since I saw one on Ali Edward's blog, but couldn't find a suitable frame. Until now.

I found an 8x8 inch box frame at Spotlight, and using the gorgeous Bella Rose double sided papers from Stampin' Up! and a butterfly die that I got with my Cuttlebug a long time ago (before I discovered Stampin' Up!) I made this:

Recipe: Frame - Spotlight (Franchville 8x8)

Paper: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Bella Rose DSP

Ink: Close to Cocoa

Stamps: En Francais

Other: Cuttlebug, Provocraft Butterfly Die and embossing folders

If you look closely (click to enlarge) you'll notice I sponged the edges of the butterflies with Close to Cocoa ink, and I also used ink in the embossing folders, a nifty trick! I bent the wings a bit to get some texture and dimension and attached the butterflies with glue dots onto a sheet of whisper white cardstock.

As a dear friend of ours just had a baby girl, I decided it would make a lovely thing to hang in a little girl's room. My daughter got upset about that, so I made one for her room as well!

Then I made a card, linking the butterfly theme, and a bag topper (idea from Linda Craven) for the plain boring white paper bag I used as wrapping. (I also stamped white tissue paper with the butterfly from Dreams Du Jour, but I didn't photograph that.

Recipe: (All Materials Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated)

Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Bella Rose DSP, White Paper Bag (unknown),

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Punches Three

Ink: close to cocoa, riding hood red

Other: Chocolate Chip Stain Ribbon (retired from last year's Mini), Riding Hood Red taffeta, Wide Oval punch, Word Window punch, Butterfly Die and Cuttlebug from Provocraft, gold brads

All in all a fun and productive few hours on a rainy day!

I think this collage idea has endless possibilities - you could use chipboard, die cut shapes, punched out stars would look good in a boy's room.........