Candy Butterflies

Hiya friends!  So glad to be back with you today.  Thanks for letting me take a little mental holiday.  As promised, I have some blog candy for you but first I have a card to share!  I really wanted to play along with the Shabby Tea Room's Butterfly challenge last week.  Just look at this gorgeous inspiration photo:

I missed that deadline but was delighted to have another chance this week with the Stampin' Up Only (SUO) challenge in celebration of...butterflies!   Using last week's photo as inspiration, here's what I made:

Oh, I had fun with this one!  They look like candy, don't they?  Fitting for today's blog candy post.  All the butterflies were cut with the Beautiful Wings embosslit that cuts and embosses in one pass through the Big Shot!  The designer paper is all from the patterned DSP stack in the Brights & Subtles color families using Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo.

I took a sanding block to the embossed sections of the butterflies to expose the white paper core and added a trail of basic rhinestones.

 I love a basic black card base especially when using so much color but that definitely means I need to complete the inside...unless the recipient can read invisible ink!  I love how the butterfly from Bold Blossoms (available in the Summer Mini) looks inked up in all the colors from the front.  They really pop against the black.  So, what do you think of today's card?  I would love to know!

Now for the sweetest part!  It's hard to believe that Saturday will mark my second anniversary of blogging.  When I started this blog, I wasn't sure I would have anything to say much less expect anyone to visit me!  But two years later, I've found a supportive community of crafters and made some wonderful friends!  So to honor all of my friends and followers, I am throwing a little party...and it wouldn't be a party without candy! Here's what you can win:

One of the most popular stamp sets from the now-retired Spring Mini catalog....Nature Walk in clear-mount and a pot of Silver Glass Glitter!!  I will chose a random winner from all comments left on this post by my blog followers and announce the winner on Saturday May 7th.  So, join in the fun...sign up to follow and let me know what you think of today's card, or the candy or anything at all--just hearing from you makes my day!  Have a good one, friends!

the goodies:

stamps: bold blossoms; something to celebrate; bring on the cake; hope happens

ink: jet black stayzon; wild wasabi, daffodil delight, tempting turquoise, pumpkin pie, melon mambo classic ink

paper: whisper white & basic black CS; patterns designer series paper stack brights & subtles

xtras: elegant lines embossing folder; beautiful wings embosslit; basic black satin ribbon; basic rhinestones; petal cone die (banner tag)