Butterflies

Sorry folks, I am having a problem with a few Anonymous readers, they are at my blog daily offering us all sorts of links to strange things no one I know wants to visit.  I tried to remove a few posts they were hitting really hard, like 4685 comments per post (I know I'm not that popular lol) I thought that might deter them but they of course found a new set of favorite posts to wreak havoc on.  After much investigation otherwise known as Googling, I believe I have found an answer to the problem.  I have changed my settings in comments to only allow "Registered Users" and "Open ID Users", which means Anonymous can not comment.  If your name shows up when you comment as anyone other than Anonymous you should fall into that category,  I hope this does not inconvenience anyone.  If it does I have the option of allowing comment moderation which means you can't see your comment after it is written, it will post after I release it, so if this is a problem I can go that route.  Rest assured I will not go to Word Verification, I can not read those crazy word  scrambles myself,  it takes me at least 2 tries to get it right and that is after I have requested at least 3 better pictures which is aggravating since I am such a slow typist.  Sometimes I type out my comment and have to give up, and it was all for nothing because I can not get it to give me a readable phrase.

So to make a short story long, I had switched this post from published to drafts to deter them, when I put it back to published it published today!  All of the others published back where they belonged, where they were dated in chronological order, for some reason this one did not, so I am sorry, this is from somewhere back in 2009.  I know from experience if I deleted it or put it back to a draft anyone who had Google Reader would be able to see it in Reader but not on my blog, so I figured what the heck, and I let it stay in today's post!  Sorry this is so wordy, you don't have to bother reading through any more really.

My friend Michelle , from Extremelycrafty ( who has an awesome blog also) asked me how to make the butterflies on my spinner card. Sorry Michelle, I had to find the name of the chalks I use, the jars didn't say Pearl-Ex, once they come out of the packaging they don't have any identification. My kids bought me the set for my birthday a few years ago from JoAnns , and they last forever! The colors are so vibrant.

I found this site that sells the Jacquard Pearl Ex chalks (actually mica powders).
I used these to color in my butterflies. I included the product description, so you can get an idea of why they have a pearly look to them. The picture below is of set #2 which is the set I have with the pink flamingo. I use the pink, blue, yellow and green and I apply them with a sponge tip eyeshadow applicator.

Versatile mica pigments can be incorporated into any media for application on any surface. Mix with artist colors for a metallic look that will not tarnish or fade. Transform plain clay into luminous art. Use in or on handmade papers. Swirl into melted wax to create metallic candles. Great for faux finishes on furniture and walls. Use on fabric and glass. Add to embossing powders for rubber stamping and scrapbook pages. Pearl Ex particles are flat platelets with two surfaces, therefore it lays down beautifully like a thin coating of metal. The different particle sizes produce different looks from a fine, smooth, pearly luster to a highly metallic sheen.

This is what the jars look like.

I stamp the butterflies (Wonderful Wings from Stampin Up) with Stazon white opaque ink because it dries fast on plastic surfaces. Here is the problem, the frosted vellum I stamp on is industrial grade .004 drafting vellum frosted one side. It is fairly thick for vellum, but it is stiff enough that I can crease it and the wings will stay up for me. I don't know if they sell it anywhere, I was fortunate that when we closed up our print and sample shop at work I was able to take the samples. Hold the presses! You are in luck, through the magic of the internet I just found some and beleive it or not I found it at Dick Blicks, the same place that sells the Pearl-Ex. That is so wierd, I have never shopped there, I searched drafting film and they popped up again. Looks like they have a .003 or .005 either one would work fine in this application. Actually the prices are quite reasonable too, I know where I will go when I run out now. I will have to save the site to my favorites, looks like they have a lot of nice crafting stuff too. How's that for a plug Dick Blick?

Ok so I stamp them , then I cut them out by hand, do the edges in an 18kt gold leafing pen by Krylon, crease them into shape, and then I add the Pearl Ex. On some of the butterflies I dotted them with my Uniball Signo white opaque pen I bought from StampinUp. I add jewels or some kind of bling and I am done. Hope this helps~Diane