Saturday, August 22, 2009

BUTTERFLY FINALE - #104!!!!

Okay, my friends . . . after a two-year-long journey, this is it . . . the LAST card that I am sending to my son in Germany . . . butterfly #104 (that's 52 cards a year - two years running!!)!! HOLY COW!!! I DID IT!!! (As my dear friend JanTink would say, "YILM!!" - which is super-secret-spy-code for "Yes I Love Myself!!!") Smiley from millan.net

Oh....my....gosh!! I honestly can't believe that two years have already passed . . . and the most EXCITING part is, my husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law (AND ME, of course!!) are all leaving in just over a week to fly to Germany to pick him up!!! I am sooooo excited I can hardly stand myself!! I OWN A PASSPORT, BABY!! I've never been ANYwhere (okay, well . . . I HAVE been to Hawaii . . . but that was B.C. - Before Children - which was like, 100 years ago . . . and I have been to Washington, DC about four times - long story - but that's pretty much it!)!!! We will spend about 2 1/2 glorious weeks traveling all over Germany and Austria! This is going to be AWESOME!!

Remember the "swing card"?? Here is a link for instructions over on SCS:

Swing Card Tutorial

I changed things up from the basic tutorial, however . . . the middle "swinging" panel is a butterfly instead of a rectangle (thanks for giving me the idea, Kathy!). I now know WHY no one uses a shape instead of the rectangle, though!!! First, it is pretty dang tricky getting it lined up and scored in all the proper places. And second, you create yourself a bunch of interesting holes to look through when the card is closed!!

I created the butterfly using my Cricut (yeah, yeah, yeah . . . I KNOW I have been using that a LOT lately . . . but, since I have invested about a GAZILLION dollars in cartridges, I figure I need to start justifying the investment!!). I added the texture using the Finial Press embossing folder from SU. It is MUI-MUI lovely, that embossing folder!!

I think I have also decided that, although my son is returning home and I will no longer be sending him butterflies, that I AM going to continue to "Follow the Butterflies" . . . I have had so much fun creating these cards over the past two years (and I STILL have a TON of butterflies in my aresenal), that I am just going to keep on going! I will be adding more butterflies to the challenge, albeit perhaps not EVERY week (or maybe I will???) . . .

Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you to all my dear crafty friends for all of your support throughout my "Follow the Butterflies" journey . . . I am sure you are all part of the reason why it has gone by so quickly . . . your support throughout the past two years has been overwhelming! I have received butterfly stamps, butterfly doo-dahs, butterfly ribbon . . . your generosity has been so heartwarming. And not just because many of you have sent me lovely things, but also because you have been so supportive from beginning to end. BIG hugs to all of you!! Smiley from millan.net

Stamps: Tres Chic, Polka Dot, So Many Sayings
Ink: Soft Suede
Paper: Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, YoYo Yellow (yeah, yeah, yeah . . . I honestly USED this!), deep dark brown from Provo Craft, Whisper White
Accessories: Cricut Indie Art Cartridge (butterfly), 5-petal flower punch, word window punch, 3/4" circle punch, Finial Press embossing folder (SU), deep chocolate satin ribbon (PTI), paper piercing tool/mat, exacto knife, Scor-Pal

10 comments:

Judy Rozema said...

Oh my gosh, Wendy, this one just brought tears to my eyes to know how much time you spent on this particular card (which is TOTALLY STUNNING and a definite FINALE!) and how much time you have spent in the last year making each one so special. I can't believe the time has flown like that!

I know you will have such a memorable trip and I can hardly wait to see the pictures!!!

Simply amazing, my friend!

Lola G. said...

Enjoy the wonderful adventures ahead!

Terry Molineux said...

Wendy OMGosh two years wow. I have only been around six months. Love your butterfly cards and son must have been so proud of you showing them around...

Wow! 2 1/2 weeks in Germany lucky you. Enjoy and take tons of pics to share with us!

I have to ask this question again because I haven't gotten a response from you yet. You use tons of Ek Success border punches and I have purchased them all BECAUSE OF YOU! That's right it's all your fault! Well that's at least what I have to tell my husband every time I try to use a new one! LOL Anyhow I find them very hard to punch....do you have a secret? Please email me your response at Krazy4Bears@yahoo.com

Thanks....and enjoy your wonderful vacation and seeing your son after all this time!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful card. Love how you made him a card each week. Certainly something to look forward to coming in the mail. Our son returned from his mission last week. He is still getting used to being home again.

Jean said...

Congratulations on the Butterfly cards! Have a great trip! 2 years seemed like a long time at frist but now it must seem like it has flown by. Enjoy seeing your son! I know I did.

Charlene Merrick (LilLuvsStampin) said...

Congratulations on reaching your butterfly cards goal, Wendy! Beautiful card. I can only imagine your extreme excitement about your trip and bringing your son home.

Anonymous said...

God Bless you Wendy! I know you are so very excited! Have a safe wonderful blessed trip!
~Pam
http://stampsinc.blogspot.com/

Connie M. said...

Oh my, and quite a grand finale it is, Wendy! Love your flip flop butterfly! How fun!!

104...hard to believe he left two years ago!! That is when we first "met", which means we have known each other for two years now too!! CRAZY!! I am sure it has not flow by for you as it has for me...I am sure you are excited to go pick him up!! I am excited for you! Enjoy!!

JanTink said...

DON'T GOOOOOOO...WHO IS GOING TO CALL ME UP AND TALK TO ME?!?!?! I WILL BE SOOOOO LONELY WAAAAHHHHH!

In fact the only thing that can possibly console me, as you might guess, is some really gooood German or Swiss...or Austrian...or Viennese chocolate! Have fun and bring back a suitcasefull!

Susan said...

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