I played with some of my new Papertrey Ink dies today and I tried the line frame technique shown in the Make It Monday #12 video. I like the way my frame turned out, even though it isn’t perfect, but I’m not really satisfied with the way the butterfly looks. It’s been about six months since I last used a twine body (see my Embellish win on the sidebar) so I did that here but added knots at the top of the antennae. I tried several different versions of the layered butterfly: two layers, no stamping, etc. but it still didn’t look right so I left it. When I photographed it, it looked like it was missing something so I added the bling. Now I’m not even sure that looks right. Well, creating is all about experimenting, right? This is a good reminder that not everything has to be perfect. I’m sure one of my girlfriends (maybe one of you?) will love the bling regardless!
2nd Blogoversary Recap
Wow, so my blogoversary month has come to an end. I can’t believe I’ve been blogging for two years! All I can say is that it’s been an amazing run, especially the second year. I looked back at some of my statistics and here’s what I found. After one year of blogging, I only had a dozen followers. After two years of blogging, I have more than 245 followers. That is astounding!!! After one year of blogging, I’d yet to discover my cardmaking style. After two years, I know I love the clean and simple style. That is my strength but I’m happy to try new styles even if I can’t get it right! In the past year, I’ve added three incredible design teams to my resume and in the past two months, I’ve had publication acceptances from Paper Crafts Magazine and CARDS Magazine. I am so lucky and thankful for all of these accomplishments because they’ve given me so much exposure and I’ve made incredible friendships as a result. I’m really excited to see what the next creative year brings!!
I had six prizes hidden in my blog posts this month and I’m going to show you a seventh prize, as well as recap the rules for winning. I will draw all the winners on Monday, May 2nd, randomly from all April posts, regardless of whether you commented directly on the post that had the prize. You must be a follower to win. I will announce the winners sometime this week and if you are one of the lucky winners, you will have three days to contact me. If I don’t hear from the winners, I will redraw but hopefully I won’t have to. This last prize is the Melody Ross set One of a Kind. When I ordered this, it came with two defective stamps (portions of them are cut off). Unity was ever so kind to immediately replace my defective set so I have this extra one with fantastic spares and you know I have to share my love for Unity! I crossed out the defective ones in red but I’m including them in the package in case the winner can find a way to use them. Best of luck to all of you!
Thank you all so much for being a part of my creative world!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Sources: Gina K Designs pure luxury black & kraft cardstock; SU Certainly Celery cardstock; Papertrey Ink Butterfly Dreams; Memories Black ink; Copic 0.3mm Multi-Liner; Tim Holtz Antique Linen & Walnut Stain Distress Inks; Ranger Blending Tool; Papertrey Ink Signature Series: Butterfly, Butterfly & Love Lives Here Collection dies; Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz & Harvest Gold felt; QuicKutz Epic Six; The Twinery Charcoal baker’s twine
Well you may see flaws, but I think it's fabulous! The twine body on the butterfly is so cool!! BTW, your blog stats are amazing–wow what a difference a year makes! 🙂
That butterfly is GORGEOUS!!! LOVE the twine, bling, and felt! And I also love that stamp set – even with the defective ones!!! Thanks for the chance!
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What flaws?? Awesome butterflies! love how you layered them, so cute!
Great take on the Make It Monday challenge, and what fun to use twine for the body!
love your card, the double frame is really nice, and I LOVE the twine tied in knots for the butterfly antenna, great job!!
Oh wow i love the butterfly very pretty…
Tina
I love the look of the layered butterflies! You rocked it. I do like the addition of bling down either side.
I am so glad to have met you and congratulations on all of your well deserved accomplishments!
{hugs}
p.s. we won our game tonight, but man can my best friend ever hip check! she sent me flying!! Hope you're having a great weekend. 🙂
Love the card Emily, the double frame especially. Congrats again on your 2nd blogoversary. You have achieved so much and I know that this next year for you will be filled with more wonderful accomplishments. I just love your card!
Love this card!!!! tfs!!
Just back from a lovely long vacation and starting to blog hop. Congrats on your wonderful achievements and 2nd blog anniversary. You're the queen of clean and simple in my book… always an inspiration.
Great card Emily! The black is the perfect frame for the butterfly. Love those PTI butterfly dies!! (=
I've been so impressed with the growth of your blog! Awesome! Congrats on all your accomplishments!!! (=
BTW, the yellow gingham is from Crate Paper Emma's shoppe collection! (=
Love the card, flaws in something as pretty as this card can only be seen by the creator! The rest of us look at it with admiration.
Love that you have developed your style to CAS, it constantly inspires me to take the brave step to apply the principle of less is more!
I love it anyways, Emily and don't really see any fault with the butterfly.
It so nice to read your reflections on the past years of blogging and with your distinctive style you have a long way to go 🙂
Bling is always good my friend..its always good…I keep saying to my friends, if I could, I would bling everything!!
I love those butterflies..always have loved them..getting my first PTI butterfly die soon!!
Yummie felt :heart: love how you used the twine! Its not that often that u are using a dark cardstock as the base, I like it!! Have a lovely day, best Emily in the world 🙂 Janna
Congrats on your second year, Emily! Wonderful card, love the butterfly!
Congrats on your second blog anniversary and thank you for your generosity! I love your CAS style and that you did a double frame on your card…I personally loe the layers on your butterfly…I have always loved your twine bodies!!
Gorgeous card Emily. Love the touch of twine and bling. Congrats on your 2nd. Blogoversary. I would so love to win this set…so I can participate in the challenges at Unity. Thanks for giving a chance to win…
Such a beautiful card–love the line frame technique! Your butterfly looks awesome, too! The antennae is so clever. Happy 2nd Blogaversary!
You are astounding Emily and you very much deserve your success. Congratulations on all your achievements and I wish you all the best for the future. I shall read your 3rd blogiversary update with great interest! Vx
It is quite impressive to see the changes from year 1 to year 2! You have racked up quite a few achievements and should be really proud Emily! Well done! As for todays card, I LOVE your butterfly, it's so pretty with the two layers of felt and I love the unique body, great idea! Nothing wrong with the bling either! Have an awesome Sunday!
Hello Emily, It's been an absolute pleasure watching you blossom in your art. I've loved visiting your inspirational blog and been rewarded by your wonderful supportive comments. I warmly congratulate you on your second year, Bravo, Well done!
I think your card is beautiful and the butterflies are stunning and I'm looking forward to many more years of seeing you creating. Big Hugs:0) xxx
Hi Emily!
Wow, your stats are unbelievable, but yet also not unbelievable, because you always show us sooo much beauty here on your blog! I love coming here always and it's just wonderful how your number of followers grew!! Love that! Congrats my dear and hope to be following you and be your friend for a looooong time to come!!!
Love this MIM card with you, you even did double frame! Wihoe! Love the triple butterflies and the bling goes well with them!
Hugs, Wendy
Congrats to you on all your accomplishments this past year as well as reaching your publishing goal! It's fun to look back and really see how far one has come 🙂 We are our own worst critics when it comes to cards and I think the butterfly looks great. I love the frame too…It has been on my wishlist for awhile, this might push me over the edge 🙂 HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!
Wahoo for butterflies and blog birthdays 🙂
LOVE the double frame…makes me want to actually WATCH that video now. Oh boy. Oh, and yeah, the butterfly? Not a thing wrong with it!
Your card is CAS perfection! Love the double lines…off to watch that video. I love the effect of the outline! Your bloggie celebration was terrific!
Beautiful butterfly! I'm glad you had a chance to play with some of your new PTI goodies. 🙂 I'll have to go watch the frame vidoe, too, and maybe pick up a few tips.
Love the twine body and that it's all mounted on black card – it really makes it pop! And I'm not sure what isn't perfect about the frame – it's looks pretty darn good to me! 🙂
Happy bloggy birthday! I started following this month and only wish I had so many followers after two years! Isn't it neat to look back and see how our styles develop over time?
WOOOOOOOOW! What a fabulous card–love the layered butterfly–those gems are a great addition next to the twine!! FUN!
Great stats on your 2nd year of blogging:) LOVE how many followers you added this last year–and congrats on being picked up for publication!! YOU ROCK:)
Woo hoo!!! Congrats on 2 years, Emily!
The card is adorable and I love that sweet butterfly!
Em, Your cards are never wrong…. *smile* This one looks great as is …. I'm curious about that frame technique (you know I'm a sucker for a new technique, so that link is where I'm going now….). Congrats on the two year anniversary! Your jump in followers from one year to the next gives me hope. Lol.
Cindy:-)
How wonderful that you've been able to look back at your two years of blogging and recognize how far you've come!! Discovery and growth are such an important part of the artistic journey. Once again, a huge congratulations on 2 successful years of blogging, Emily!
Una tarjeta muy simple y muy bella!!! Felicitaciones.
Just beautiful, the layered butterfly is gorgeous, and I love the black with yell and kraft, a stunning design!
Congrats on stepping into your 2nd year, hooray!
This is so pretty, I love that sweet butterfly, especially the used of twine, so creative!
oh, i love how you've done the b-fly, emily! makes a beautiful jewel for your card!
Oooohhh! I love your butterfly! Great way to use baker's twine. I is a beautiful accent to your CAS design.
I'm so glad I discovered your blog… And YOU! Thanks to Sunghee. 🙂 long life to your blog and your creativity!!!
I think the butterfly is pretty! 🙂 Happy blogoversary – I'm not surprised by your stats! Your work is always gorgeous. 🙂
You know what I really like the butterfly. It's different and I like the way you did the twine! This past year has been a great y ear of blogging for you and I hope your next year is better!
Add another thing to the list of ideas I need to try from you :>) Fab frame and butterfly!
I love how the frame turned out, too. And the butterfly is so gorgeous with that twine tie. WOW!
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