Swallowtail

Today is Wednesday, and you know what that means!  It’s Keep It Simple Wednesday!  OK, so that’s not really a thing, but it sounds nice, huh?  Most of my projects are clean and classy, but today’s project is particularly clean and particularly classy.

When the Spring Catalog was released in January, I had a visceral reaction to the ginormous Swallowtail.  Who in the world would ever buy that thing?!  Then, I started seeing projects I liked.  Then, my attitude toward the stamp began to change.  Then, it arrived in the mail – I don’t even remember ordering this fluttery beast, but it lives with me now, so I should learn to love it, right?  Well, I have.  Here’s my card:20130317-180645.jpg

Tips, Tricks and Reminders:

  • Go Monochromatic.  This card features only two colors – Sahara Sand and Whisper White.  Is there a classier way to congratulate a new couple than with this crisp image and simple banner?  I’ve added a small border around the Sahara Sand card front before it’s mounted on the Sahara Sand card base to highlight the white embossing.
  • Embossing Buddy-less?  I cleaned the static and moisture off the surface of this card front with my Embossing Buddy before embossing the swallowtail – it’s a must for a clean, crisp embossed image.  Don’t have an Embossing Buddy?  Well, don’t let that stop you from rushing to your fungeon (or whatever you call your craft space) to emboss this swallowtail.  The messier, the better with this stamp, I think.  With this image, it’s fine to let the strays get embossed.  Let the strays be free.
  • Reverse banner.  I added this simple banner with a simple phrase.  To balance the image (it overlaps the card front in all corners except the bottom, right), I added a banner that originates on the right and extends to the left (instead of the usual left to right).  I played around with various brads and buttons but decided to leave it as is.

Stamp sets:  Swallowtail, Loving Thoughts  Inks:  Versamark, Sahara Sand  Papers:  Sahara Sand, Whisper White  Accessories:  White Stampin’ Emboss Powder

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Brian

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32 Comments

  1. Hi Brian,
    Beautiful! I am waiting for my stamp to arrive any day! I had the same reaction to this stamp when I first saw it.
    I love that you kept clean and sophisticated!
    Thank you as always for sharing your talent with us!

  2. 🙂 love this card

  3. whoop whoop I get my Swallowtail stamp any day now – ordered it last week at a friends stampin up party! Can’t wait to get going with it 🙂

  4. Beautifully done Brian, you just needed to give this beauty a chance to grow on you. This stamp is very versatile, it looks great just embossed like yours or colored with water colors or markers or pencils, etc.

  5. I too had the same reaction to that Huge Butterfly! I just wanted to swat it off the page it truly grossed me out! But like you, there’s not an image out there with this Gorgeous Swallowtail that I don’t like, Including your lovely Wedding Card! Love the reverse banner!

  6. Classy lookin. Hope you’re feeling better!

  7. Stunning card!! I like the two colours you chose to make it with!

  8. Great card! I love the way the tiny white border balances out the large stamp. I learn something from you every day. Have a great day!

  9. I have this beautiful winged thing …wasn`t sure I wanted to get it but, I felt that if I didn`t I would regret it . It has a wide range of possibilities as Maria said . I really like what you did with it and I agree with Sylvia the white border makes a big difference …thank you for that tip and the banner idea … enjoy your back to normal day !!

  10. Brian, I’m with you on how this huge butterfly has taken over my space and left it’s mark.Your choice of Sahara Sand is a lovely one and I’m sure it would look equally lovely in any other monochromatic scheme. Thanks for sharing! Joni

  11. OMG!! I love this card. The colors you chose were perfect for this monster stamp. I could never have imagined it being this beautiful just seeing it in the catalogue. Thanks for your tips and hope you are on the mend.

  12. Great card Brian (as always). Several people I know that stamp have kind of left the embossing with embossing powder behind and are just using embossing plates. To me that doesn’t make sense. This card proves that so I’m going to show it off if you don’t mind! I love working with embossing powder, it still seems like magic to me when you heat it and it melts.

  13. Beautiful, clean and classy, just like you said! (I added beautiful)

  14. I wondered if you had one of these beauties flying around there or not and you sure did! Love the colors and how you make things look classy!

  15. Fabulous, Brian…yes, very classy color combo and I agree, have only seen one or two versions I don’t like…most are beautiful and the embossing and matting really pop this gorgeous creature…TFS!!!

  16. Okay. I want that stamp now! This is gorgeous.

  17. Oh My, I thought I was the only one that had that reaction to the GIGANTIC butterly. I have changed my mind now that I see all the classy cards using the stamp. Thinking about a purchase. Reminds me of the Medallion stamp, although I bought that one right away. I just had a difficult time figuring out how to use it. When I finally did, it became one of my mosted inked stamps, ever. Thanks Brian, for the ideas and encouragement.

  18. I just had to remark on what Edie said in regard to the Medallion stamp …I loved it but, I kept putting it off because I was a little overwhelmed with it`s size .Therefore I never got it and I regretted it . That`s another reason I bought this big rascal and I am glad I did ….I don`t believe there is another stamp out there like it …I have even seen people frame it (so pretty) Thank you Brian for using Sahara Sand also …I like it better than the Crumb Cake that I have seen used for this fella ! I just stopped by for lunch …

  19. Brian, I fell in love with the Swallowtail at first sight…just didn’t know what to do with his big self! This is the perfect use. Definitely classy! What size is the card … Standard 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 ?

  20. I am so glad someone else felt the same way about this stamp at first, 2nd, 3rd….. sight. Until I realized I didn’t have to be an expert and produce a Monarch butterfly with it. Now i really do like it. Love the way you used it, as a main focal point; and I also love is as a background stamp.
    BEAUTIFUL, once again, Brian!!

  21. On a whim, I did a quick Google search of “Swallowtail” to see what others have done with it. I don’t look at a lot of blogs because I don’t want to accidentally copy someone else’s work (or see something I want to CASE but then not be able to find it to give them proper credit). Well, horror of horrors – my layout is EXACTLY like one Mary Fish did on February 12 (http://www.stampinpretty.com/2013/02/pals-february-blog-hop.html), and she used the same stamp. Ooops! It was totally unintentional, and I was going for a different overall look. Regardless, this layout obviously stuck in my head – OR Mary copied MY card and then time traveled back to February to post it before me. Dangit!

    • She’s a time traveler. Anyway, I like your card better because it’s monochromatic. I didn’t like this stamp at all when I first saw it, but now I’m liking it more and more. (Still not sure if I want to get it for myself, though!)

  22. Beautiful!! I love your style, Brian. Always classy!!

  23. Arg!!! I didn’t want this obnoxious butterfly, either…then you go and do this to me! Now I’ve gotta get it, too!

  24. Really like this card. So clean and simple, my type of card.

    I finally got my first demonstrator order. I’ve created some cards and my first 3D Project. Very excited! Ha.

    I look forward to your next project!

  25. Your card is nice but this ginormous moth freaks me out.

  26. Love your card, Brian!
    Now I will have to order the Butterfly too!!

  27. I love your card, too, Brian. Just don’t think I’d use such a huge image to warrant the purchase but I do LOVE butterflies!

  28. I’m so proud of you for using embossing powder two days in a row, cuz it is a cousin to that glitter you hate. I love the look of heat embossing even if it is easy to make a mess.

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