'Don’t Forget To Fly' 3D Art Panel for Amazing Paper Grace

Welcome to my creative space.

Summer has arrived here in Ohio bringing soaring temperatures and gorgeous fluttering butterflies. The scrolled design in this fabulous Amazing Paper Grace Half Slimline Diamond set (S4-1197) looks like iron scrollwork to me and I just couldn't resist this using amazing design as a backdrop to these watercolor butterflies layered over beautiful flowers. 

This stunning die cut is cut twice with one piece flipped and placed down in mirror image to create this amazing flourish with a diamond cut out in the center which is perfect for adding a simple sentiment or embellishing with a floral cluster as you see here. Originally I had planned this to be a delightful slimline card. However, by the time I put the finishing touches on this lovely creation, I decided to back it with chipboard to use as a home decor piece instead. 

Do you ever discover long forgotten items when organizing your creative space? While cleaning out a paper holder on my work table I rediscovered a sheet of images I had stamped out onto watercolor paper a while back including these beautiful butterflies and script filled circles. I decided it was time to use them on a project. 

Be sure to scroll down through the "Tips and Techniques" section below for close-ups and all the details on how to create this beautiful butterfly art panel with this gorgeous scrollwork background.

Thank you Amazing Paper Grace for providing the dies used in this project.

Tips and Techniques

The butterflies and script circles are stamped onto smooth watercolor paper. I started by mixing some purple watercolors to get this lovely hue which I washed across the centers of the butterflies and about half of each circle. Once completely dry, the edges of the wings and about a fourth of the circles are brushed with metallic gold watercolor to add beautiful shimmer, which unfortunately doesn't photograph well. I also added some metallic teal to finish coloring each of the circles. The metallic gold watercolor paint lightened the black ink, so I colored over the gold areas with a black marker where needed. 

I placed a piece of washi tape across the top and bottom of the scrollwork pieces to hold them together and make it easier to keep them lined up properly as I adhered them onto the patterned teal background paper. 

Little Birdie Crafts flowers are arranged down the center of the design with the butterflies layered atop the blossoms. The watercolor circles are tucked in around the cluster.

A fan brush was used  to dry brush gesso across the entire background for a shabby feel. Purple wax is randomly rubbed across the raised die cut as well to add a bit of shading. The teal paper is lightly distressed along the edges and backed with coordinating purple cardstock. A little metallic yellow PanPastel is rubbed around this purple border for a bit of shimmer. 

I just adore texture so added Mint To Be Prills around the cluster.

I've had this small metal frame in my stash for eons, and finally found the perfect use for it. The sentiment is part of a larger image with a beautiful woman that is part of the stamp set used for the butterflies. When I placed the frame over the sentiment, I found that it was a perfect paring. The grungy print around the sentiment is part of that stamp, and works well here. Teal and purple waxes are rubbed across the metal frame before adhering it to the sentiment.

For added shimmer, I've tucked in a few Finnabair Sugar Art Pebbles. 

Foam squares are used to pop up the butterflies and where I layered the two butterflies together. The watercolor butterflies and circles were fussy cut after coloring them. 

One final look.

Amazing Paper Grace Dies:

• S4-1197 Half Slimline Diamond

Paper:

• 49 and Market ~ Spectrum Sherbet: Solids, Cotton Candy
• Cardstock ~ Teal
• Arches ~ Watercolor Paper - Hot Press 140 lb

Ink:

• Versafine ~ Onyx Black 
• Ranger ~ Distress Ink: Seedless Preserves; Scattered Straw

Stamps:

• Finnabair with Prima Marketing ~ Cling Stamps: Don't Forget to Fly; Rust and Dust

Mixed Media:

• Finnabair with Prima Marketing ~ Antique Brilliance Wax: Amethyst Magic
• Finnabair with Prima Marketing ~ Metallique Wax: Peacock
• M. Graham ~ Artists' Watercolors
• Prima Marketing ~ Metallic Accents Semi-Watercolor Cake Set
• Colorfin ~ PanPastel: Light Gold

Embellishments:

• Little Birdie Crafts ~ Elsie Flowers - Ocean Mist
• Little Birdie Crafts ~ Serenade Flowers - Ocean Mist
• Little Birdie Crafts ~ Zoey - Off White
• Little Birdie Crafts ~ Beaded Blooms - Moon Light
• Little Birdie Crafts ~ Micro Jeweled Florettes - Arctic Ice
• Finnabair with Prima Marketing ~ Melange Art Pebbles: Sugar
• US ArtQuest ~ Mini Prills: Mint To Be
• Recollections: Metal Plaques

Adhesives:

Scrapbook.com ~ Clear Double Sided Adhesive Roll, 1/4"

Tombow ~ Mono MULTI Liquid Glue

Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Beacon ~ 3-IN-1 Advanced Craft Glue

Beacon ~ Fabri-Tac 

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ 3D Foam Squares - Small, White

Tools:

Spellbinders ~ Platinum 6

Tim Holtz with Tonic Studios ~ Haberdashery Scissor - 5 Inches

Ranger ~ Heat It Craft Tool

Thank you Little Birdie Crafts for providing flowers used in this project!

Little Birdie Crafts can be purchased at their online store.

Use code TRACEY05 for a 5% discount.

I receive a small commission at not cost to you.

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~ Blessings ~