You might not think of a butterfly shaped card blank as fugly, or even moderately ugly, but I've had this pack of them for around 20 years and never yet managed to use one successfully. Everything I've tried to make with them has turned out to be a total mess, and I've been trying to use them up by feeding them to the grandkids. Not as meals, you understand, but as fodder for their insatiable crafting appetites. But with just a couple left, even they have started to groan "Oh not again Grandma!" and grab a plain rectangular card instead.
So, the card base is my Fugly element, and I decided this time to stop trying to pretty it up and go down the messy route. First I sponged various distress inks on it and spritzed with water, then when it was dry, lightly inked a large script stamp with the same inks at random and stamped all over the card. I added veins and stippled edges using the wonderful stamps from Gentleman Crafter (it looks as if they are still out of stock, pity as they are brilliant stamps) and went around the edge with a yellow Wink of Stella pen. I added the very faint circles you can see in places by inking a piece of bubble wrap with Antique Linen DI, dabbing it on the card here and there, and embossing it with matching Distress Powder before brushing most of it off.
I added some dragonflies stamped on white card and fussy cut, with green Wink of Stella for the bodies, then made the butterfly's body using a metal key, with raffia tape looped through for the antennae.
You know, I think I've changed something very fugly into something rather fab, a bit like the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. And I can't remember when I last had quite so much fun making something!
8 comments:
Fabulous use of card stock that didn't live up to it's promise. XOXO
You've turned it into a beautiful butterfly Jane. Really pretty colours and the body and antennae are inspirational. Barbxx
Ohhhhhhhhhhh your end product is lovely!! I love the colours, the keys, the pretty dragonflies.
LOL you know it's not a good sign when the grandkids say "oh no Grandma, not again" lol that made me giggle.
Thanks for joining the sisterhood of snarky stampers (again) for F is for Fugly!
I've got some cracker shaped cards that have the same problem! Well, apart from the grandkids that is! Love how this turned out, that ugly caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly. Cara x
This is totally gorgeous! Funny, I used to use butterflies a lot, and now hardly ever. So I too would have likely bought these once upon a time, then not known what to do with them as they fell out of my favour. Your inking and fussy-cut dragonflies are beautiful. Thanks for joining the fun — again! — at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers!
Looks great, Jane! This looks fab rather than fugly and I love it. Thanks for sharing your creativity with the Sisterhood again, Jo x
This is a beautiful creation and not fugly at all :) Thanks for joining us at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers for the F is for *Fugly* challenge.
Majo - DT ♥
This post made me giggle, the bit about the grandkids GROANING! (I can totally relate)... Not sure if this qualifies as FUGLY any longer, although I love the backstory!! Thanks for joining us Jane over at the Sisterhood for the F is for Fugly Challenge... LOVE YOUR STUFF!
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