Bermuda Bay Butterfly

Hi everyone.  I made this card to go to a fellow crafter that is going through a very difficult time.  I thought I'd use a few challenges as my starting point.  First, I used the layout and design from CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge #70 :)

I used the butterfly motif from the current Time Out Challenge #2 that is run by fellow design team member Sandie (ATCAS) ... and a former design team member Nonni (ATS&M).  Check out the challenge and join in ... lots of fun! :)

Ane I used stenciling on my card so am entering it into Challenge #2 at Virginia's View.  I have been madly cutting out lots of stencils with my Cameo and have a great supply on hand.  This particular design has a lot going on, so in order to keep it in the CAS style that I love ... I added a simple frame and plain butterfly so the pattern shows through.

I placed my stencil over a piece of Whisper White card stock from Stampin' Up!  I have mostly SU! inks and find that they blend really well on the Whisper White card stock.  The only problem is the WW is very lightweight, so I always cut a piece of heavy card stock and glue it to the back to make it sturdy.

I taped my stencil overtop and used a large sponge dauber to add the Bermuda Bay ink.  At first, I was going to add several shades of blue, but decided to make this card monochromatic.  I cut out a frame from white and then glued the stencil piece in-behind.  I also cut a strip from the stenciled panel and placed it on the inside for interest.

The butterfly is die-cut twice from Bermuda Bay card stock ... a little hard to see in the photo, but there are two layers.  I glued them together at the center only and then added a large dot of Crystal Effects to either side of the body ... when it dries, it holds the wings apart, even when it goes through the mail.  I did the same thing when I mounted the butterfly to the stenciled panel.  A simple sentiment and the card was finished.

Another beautiful day here.  Hubby and I went out in the back yard and cut down about half the lilac tree that was damaged in a wind storm a month or so ago.  It was overgrown and one of the large branches had died off.  We were planning on taking it down this year anyways ... Mother Nature gave us a head start. :)  With it being the first time out in the garden since sitting around for the winter, we decided that cutting down half the tree was enough for today ... need to work into a gardening routine gradually. :)  It was so nice to be out in the sun and fresh air --- ahhhh, I do LOVE Spring!

Edited to add:  Going to enter this into the ATS&M Challenge #89 - CAS - perfect! :)

Stamps:  Thoughts of You (Rubber-Art Stamps)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Whisper White (SU!)
Ink:  Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Silhouette Cameo, clear plastic sheets (Grafix), Starburst Shift Lace cutting file, Big Shot, Moonlight Butterfly die (Memory Box), Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Sponges, Crystal Effects

Challenges:
Time Out #2
Virginia's View #2
CAS(E) this Sketch! #70
ATS&M #89 - CAS