Crepe paper butterflies and more!

I've got a few projects ready to share! Don't get TOO excited lol...it's a new scrapbook layout and a couple other projects.
I'm fairly pleased with my level of crafty productivity this summer and hopefully I can keep the momentum flowing even when school starts again.

First up, I'll share my latest layout finished up last night. As usual, it looks nothing like I had it planned in my head but that's just typical and I've learned to accept that. But, even though it isn't how I envisioned it, I am still happy with it. I put a lot of time into it and made most of the embellishments myself. Obviously, the gems, brads and sequins were not made by me--I'm crafty but not that crafty lol.  I try to be as frugal as possible with embellishments because come ON...they're expensive and I'd rather spend my scrapbook money on tools and materials that give somewhat of a return. I'll try to put a list at the end of the post stating what materials were used just in case anyone is interested. I can't promise that it will be a perfect list though.

And next up is a large chipboard letter I bought at Hobby Lobby for my living room. I had seen several on Pinterest that I loved and wanted to replicate so I got the letter and the yarn and got busy. I admit this wasn't as simple as I'd anticipated. Not meaning it was difficult, but it was somewhat tedious getting the yarn wrapped just right. And, as with most of my projects, it isn't perfect but I'm quite pleased with it nonetheless. I also used the same material I used in the hallway furnace project to make a fabric flower--my very first.
I still need to take some paint and touch up the bottom of the letter where I wasn't able to figure out how to get it wrapped...but really and truly it is barely noticeable when looking at the letter in person.

And the final project I want to share with you are a couple of butterflies I made using a butterfly punch, some plain cardstock, white crepe paper and a few odds and ends. I saw some Prima butterflies in the scrapbook.com superstore and loved them but holy moly those things are pricey! And if I can make something similar then I usually do.

I'm not sure if you can truly see the lovely texture carried over from the crepe paper (basically white party streamer) but I was very careful when adhering the crepe paper onto the cardstock punch out not to smooth out the texture. I was extremely pleased with the result.  Also hard to tell from this photo but the butterflies are double layered and very dimensional.

For the purple I didn't use a stamp because I was rushing just to see how it would turn out but any stamped image would look great on these--especially swirls or flourishes. For the green, I used a musical stamp and it turned out wonderful.
Isn't it truly amazing what can be made just from things we have in our stash or purchased very cheaply? I picked up a large roll of the crepe/streamer at Hobby Lobby for no more than $2 and I only used a few inches making these butterflies. I intend to make lots more!

Here are the basics of how I made them and I'd be happy to do a tutorial later on if anyone was interested.

SUPPLIES:
I used an EK Success large butterfly punch
white smooth cardstock
hot glue gun
YES glue (purchased from sb.com and LOVE it)
Glimmer mist
inks
stamps
fake snow I've had for AGES (like literally years)
misc. flower stamen used as the antennae

Punch two butterfly shapes to make one butterfly
cut off a few inches of the crepe paper...enough to cover your butterfly and spray it with Glimmer Mist or whichever spray or medium you perfer.
I dried mine with my heat guy but you can also just leave it to air dry.
Use YES glue to cover the cardstock and then gently smooth the crepe paper onto the butterfly.
Once it's dry you can basically embellish your top butterfly however you like.
Be sure and glue your antennae of choice between the two butterflies.

Gosh, was that clear as mud?? LOL...hopefully you can understand and if not please don't hesitate to shoot me a message and I'll try to explain more thoroughly.


Hope you've enjoyed today's post and please check back soon!!

Rhonda