A note card using Strength and Hope

One of the things I like about crafting is that I feel a part of a truly caring community. Card makers all over the world have been using their craft to raise money for good causes for many years and whether they're selling cards, donating cards to sell, getting involved in craftathons or whatever - it's all good news. I was so pleased when Stampin' Up brought out their Strength and Hope set to support breast cancer research. If you are thinking of getting a new set, please consider this set as the company are donating £1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for every set sold. The set costs £15.95 in wood mount or £12.95 in clear mount - and you can order your set or get more information by clicking here to email me.

Yesterday I showed you a masculine card made with this beautifully designed set and today I've made a more feminine card.

This card show-cases the incredible butterfly (or is it a moth?) which is so detailed it gives an instant wow to projects! Stampin' Up stamps are made with very deeply etched rubber, so you get a really crisp impression.

Look - here it is in close-up. Can you see how I've stamped it onto the background then layered another cut-out version over the top? One advantage of this is that the antennae show on the bottom stamped image so there's no need to cut out that intricate part!

The background is stamped using the H stamp and my stamp-a-majig. I used Baja Breeze ink but stamped it off onto my scratch pad before adding it to the card stock. This gives a paler version of the colour. The background is layered onto some of the exquisite Springtime Vintage designer paper - but have you seen what I've done to it?

If I zoom in you can just about see the texture - I ran it through the Big Shot with my Square Lattice embossing folder and I love the quilted effect it gives!

Here's how to make this card:

• Take a piece of A5 Very Vanilla card stock. Score and fold in half to create a card base and set aside.
• Cut an 8cm x 7.5cm piece of Very Vanilla card stock.
• Ink the H image up with Baja Breeze ink and stamp a background with it. TIP: Stamping off once on scratch paper will make a paler background. Use a stamp-a-majig to line the Hs up accurately.
• Sponge the edges of the card stock gently with Baja Breeze ink - using a sponge dauber makes this easy.
• Stamp the butterfly onto the background using Not Quite Navy ink. Stamp it again on a scrap piece of Very Vanilla card stock and cut it out - no need to cut out the antennae. Layer the cut-out butterfly on top of the stamped one using a thin piece of Sticky Strip. 
• Stamp a sentiment in Not Quite Navy ink using your stamp-a-majig to make sure it's straight.
• Cut a 9cm x 11cm piece of designer paper. Tuck it into the Square Lattice embossing folder and run through the Big Shot. Attach the butterfly panel to this using dimensionals, then glue it to the card front.
• Finish the card by gently easing the butterfly wings up and adding self-adhesive pearls.

Supplies
Stamps: Strength and Hope, Trendy Trees (sentiment)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Card stock: Very Vanilla
Other: Springtime Vintage designer paper, Square Lattice embossing folder, self-adhesive pearls

Thank you for dropping in to have a look at my Strength and Hope projects. I'll be back with a 3D project tomorrow so I'd love it if you can join me then. Meanwhile, all my children have gone back to school today so it's time for me to roll my sleeves up and get this house back into some kind of order!

Have a lovely day!