Butterfly Background Tutorial- Friendship card

Hello Crafty Friends!  Kathy Jo here sharing a bright and cheerful butterfly friendship card using Quietfire Design's butterflies from the Butterflies/Dragonflies stamp set:

and the beautiful Friendship Isn't a Big Thing stamped sentiment:

The card background is so much fun to make and too easy to do.  So grab a cup of tea and enjoy the background instructions!  Please note: all items (especially your lovely stamps) should be washed immediately after use to ensure the paint does not dry and ruin your stamps, brushes, etc.

Cut a piece of white card stock larger than your card base.  Place a small amount of Distress Paint (Scattered Straw and Antique Linen) on a craft mat.  Take a toothbrush (not one you or another family member are using- LOL) and press gently in the Scattered Straw paint.  Lightly swipe toothbrush up card stock.  Re-dip into paint and swipe down.  Continue until you are satisfied with the coverage.  Air or heat dry.  Repeat with Antique Linen.  Rinse toothbrush and set aside.

Place a small amount of white acrylic paint onto craft mat.  Take a very flexible paint brush and dip the tips of the fibers in the paint.  Point the paintbrush towards the paper and run a finger along the edges of the fibers.  The paint will randomly spray on the background.  Rinse brush and set aside.  Allow background to dry or dry using heat tool.  Below is a close-up of the paint flicks:

Next are the butterflies!

Place two small amounts of Distress Paint in Blueprint Sketch onto craft mat.  Add white paint to one of the Blueprint Sketch amounts and mix to create a light blue color.  Either dip or lightly paint the small butterfly stamp into the light blue.  Practice stamping butterfly on scrap paper.  After you are satisfied with your stamped image, stamp butterfly randomly on background.  Repeat using the larger butterfly stamp and the Blueprint Sketch paint.  Wash stamps thoroughly.  Do not clean up light blue or Blueprint Sketch paint...you will need both colors one more time.

Cut background to size and mount onto white paper and then a tent fold dark blue card base.  (My card base was 5.5" x 5.5", the white mat was 5.25" x 5.25" and the background was 5" x 5".)

Stamp the Friendship sentiment onto white card stock using Blueprint Sketch paint.  Wash stamp immediately.  Air or heat dry completely.  Die cut and emboss using Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares.  Using toothbrush, apply light blue paint along edges.

Dye ribbon- Two methods can be used to dye the ribbon: Using a craft pad, "stamp" Distress Inks in Scattered Straw and Antique Linen on a couple of spots near each other. Spritz with water. Crinkle up the ribbon and place in watered ink.  

Or- dab Distress Stains in Scattered Straw and Antique Linen onto craft mat.  Crinkle ribbon and place in stains.  Air or gently heat dry.  

Below are the results for each dyeing method.  I used the Distress Stain method for a lighter colored ribbon.

Cut dry die cut sentiment as shown.  Use foam dots or foam tape to elevate.  Create crinkle bow and tie with twine.  Adhere as shown.  Optional: add pearls.

Isn't the sentiment just gorgeous?  And the butterfly background is too happy.  This could be a bright card for a dear friend.  :)

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I do hope you enjoyed the tutorial!

Have a happy crafty day!

Big Hugs,

Kathy Jo