Memory Box

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The inspiration for this card is from Time Out Challenges. There is a gorgeous picture of a clock and butterflies, which I have been thinking of for a few days. When I was in a panic buying mode in Crafters Companion store yesterday – looking for my water-colour card – I came across this stunning die from Memory Box, and thought it would be ideal for CASEing this inspiration picture. (Copy and share everything)

I initially thought that the die would cut the butterflies out of paper stock completely, but when I cut it in white – as per photo – I realised it actually cut the rectangle out, and part-cut the butterflies, leaving them in the card, attached by their middle section. I started off by thinking I would cut the die and have red underneath showing through each butterfly shape, but this wouldn’t work with how the die actually cut.

On to my next idea – I cut the die out of red sparkly card, and then cut each individual little butterfly out, snipping with my fine decoupage scissors. Yes – more than 50 little, tiny, butterflies. Then used my Stampin Up fine tip glue, and stuck each of the 50 little butterflies individually down on the white card base. Each one. Singly. Stuck down. Definitely had my patient head on when I did that! And, you know, it’s really, really difficult to not put them in straight lines, and make them haphazard…..

The clock was die cut out of Tim Holtz/Sizzix BIGZ die ‘Clock, Ornate and hands’, then embossed with Spellbinders M-Bossability ‘numbers’. The hands cut out of the same red sparkly card I had used for the butterflies. I was going the leave the card as it was, then decided to add a sentiment from Stampin Up ‘Special Reason’ stamp set – just a little one, in the bottom corner.

Yep – good idea – then smudged it! Again! Will I never learn? So I added yet another little red butterfly……………catastrophe averted. Kinda.

The card I have made today is to enter the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, theme being using more than one die cut or punch and Clean and Simple on Sunday with the theme of using a sentiment, but no image. I decided to go back to my wonderful Birch Press ‘Sevilla’ layering dies, and added a sentiment I have had for a few years – the lovely ‘Thank You Extravaganza’ from Memory Box. Such a wonderfully ornate sentiment die.

I started by putting some ‘Wonder Sheet’ double sided sticky paper (Be Creative) on the back of three white pieces of card. I then cut the three layers from the Birch Press die out, and stacked them on top of each other. I still think the best way to add these layers is by using double sided sticky sheets, as I found that the Crafters Companion sticky spray wasn’t – sticky, that is. It didn’t stay stuck down on previous cards, and was so disappointing.

I then put some double sided sticky sheet on another piece of card the same size as the die cuts, and – once I added the base die cut to it – sprinkled on some Cosmic Shimmer sparkles. I am not sure whether the Sevilla die is supposed to be flowers or stars, but feel that in this case they are stars – and need a little sparkle. Just a touch…….

I then die cut the sentiment twice from black card which also had the double sided sticky tape on it – the best way to layer……but watch out for it sticking in the wrong place to the wrong thing! I did one sample and it stuck completely cock-eyed.

I wanted the sentiment to be quite bold, and for it to stand out from the layered base, which is why I cut it out in black. I didn’t think a colour would be as vivid, and didn’t want to cover the background with a tag that size. I added some glue in strategic places, to support the lacy sentiment.

Even though there are several layers, I still feel the look of the card is quite simple, and it didn’t take long to make it at all. A little bit of fun after my workday.