Best of Butterflies Blog Tour

Welcome to the Best of Butterflies Blog Tour hosted by RemARKable Stampers.

I love this time of year at Stampin' Up! While it is sad to say goodbye to some old favorites that are retiring, I love seeing the new things coming our way. I also enjoy mixing and matching retiring items with new products to see what works well together and, hopefully, convince you to buy some retiring items before they disappear for good! Enjoy!

My first card gives you a sneak peek at the delicious new Crisp Cantaloupe In Color and the redesigned Designer Series Paper Stacks while also using a couple of retiring items.

Uses Best of Butterflies Clear-Mount Set and Word Play Clear-Mount Set plus Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad, Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad, 2011-2013 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Calypso Coral), Crisp Cantaloupe Card Stock, Calypso Coral Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, 2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack, Calypso Coral 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Clear-Mount Block C, and Clear-Mount Block H.

This next card used the retiring Pretty in Pink color and the Color Spritzer Tool, which I'm going to miss. It's got some shimmer in person thanks to Smooch Spritz, but the Smooch Spritz doesn't scan well. I used the "thumping" technique to create the butterfly. You could easily make this a one-layer card by just stamping on the front of a folded piece of Whisper White Card Stock.

Uses Best of Butterflies Clear-Mount Set and So Sorry Clear-Mount Set plus Raspberry Ripple Classic Stampin' Pad, Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad, Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pad, 2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Raspberry Ripple), Brights Collection Stampin' Write Markers (Melon Mambo), Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write Marker, Melon Mambo Card Stock, Pretty in Pink Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, SNAIL Adhesive, Color Spritzer Tool, Stampin' Trimmer, Clear-Mount Block C, Clear-Mount Block G, Clear-Mount Block H, and Stamp-a-ma-jig.

After creating the previous card which could have been a one-layer card, I deliberately decided to make this next one a one-layer card. It turned out even simpler than I thought it would, but I love it! It's pretty, but to the point! It also uses a couple of new products with a couple of retiring ones.

Uses Best of Butterflies Clear-Mount Set and Sassy Salutations Clear-Mount Set plus Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad, Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad, Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Whisper White Card Stock, Regals Designer Buttons, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, Glue Dots, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, and Clear-Mount Block B.

Here are several sneak peeks for you to enjoy! I did use a retiring color Marker, Not Quite Navy, but it's hard to tell it from the Island Indigo Marker. The butterfly was created by using the "thumping" technique on the stamp and stamping it on Whisper White Card Stock. I then colored in the open areas using the Pool Party Marker. I only "thumped" with the Island Indigo and Not Quite Navy Markers, but when I colored over the So Saffron lines with the Pool Party Marker, I got the pretty green color too! After all, yellow and blue make green!

Uses Best of Butterflies Clear-Mount Set, Kind & Cozy Clear-Mount Set, and Wildflower Meadow Clear-Mount Set plus So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad, 2011-2013 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Island Indigo and Pool Party), Subtles Collection Stampin' Write Markers (So Saffron and Wild Wasabi), Regals Collection Stampin' Write Markers (Not Quite Navy), Soft Sky Card Stock, Wild Wasabi Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Wild Wasabi 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Wildflower Meadow Embossing Folder, Clear-Mount Block D, Clear-Mount Block F, and Clear-Mount Block H.

My final card for you does not use any retiring products, but does use several sneak peeks! The sentiment was created using the "rock and roll" technique. I love how the swirls in the butterflies mimic the swirls in the designer paper!

Uses Best of Butterflies Clear-Mount Set and Really Good Greetings Clear-Mount Set plus Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad, Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad, Soft Suede Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Soho Subway Designer Series Paper, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Soft Suede 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block C, and Post-It Notes (for masking).

The stamp sets highlighted in blue are retiring and are available through June 3, 2013. The accessories highlighted in red are retiring and are only available while supplies last or until June 3, whichever comes first! New items will be available for purchase on May 31!

Here's a look at the images in the Best of Butterflies Set:

I hope you liked the projects I created. If you did, please let me know by leaving a comment. Feel free to Pin, Like, or Tweet any of my creations as well!

To go on to the next blog, Sharon Tisdale at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog, and more lovely ideas, please click on the link above.

In case any of the links aren't working anywhere along the way, here's a complete list of all the blogs participating:

Nancy Amato http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Linda Bartolucci http://www.inkstampandscrap.com/
Ingrid Blackburn http://TheCreativeGrove.com
Melissa Bolinger www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com

Tamra Davis www.thecardladies.com

Sherri Eddleblute http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/

Lynn Embrey http://www.possibilitiestamperstudio.com/
Becky Evans www.alwayshappystampin.com
Kathy Hamrick http://www.countryroads.typepad.com/

Crystal Kondo www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh http://thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Debbie Lever www.debbiescreativespot.blogspot.com
Anne Matasci -www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Andi Potler http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com You Are Here!
Sharon Tisdale http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland http http://remarkablycreated.com/

There is a bonus post from Jeannette Swain at http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com/ with a lovely card if you'd like to check it out. Somehow, Jeannette got left off the list of participating blogs when the tour was planned, but she made a pretty card and posted it anyway!