Butterfly Thanks for a Cause~

A stamping friend asked if I'd be interested in donating a stamped card, altered item, etc. for a silent auction that will benefit a woman who was struck by a car while collecting her mail at the mailbox. Absolutely. Something many of us do everyday, get the mail, and to have it bring one's life to a standstill is just unimaginable.

I made this tote and coordinated cards set this morning to send off for the auction basket. I needed the tote to be able to arrive safely and not crumpled so I used a clear card box and covered it with patterned paper chipboard. Kendra posted this design some time ago and I've used it a few times since, it's a wonderful way to present 6 - 8 minimally embellished/layered cards and envelopes

For this project, one sheet of patterned paper (My Mind's Eye) was used to complete the box and cards; the pink strip (in lieu of ribbon) is the reverse side of the paper. Turquoise, Kiwi and Vanilla cardstock round out the cardstock choices.

The butterflies are punched out with the Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly punch and attached with dimensional foam. Butterfly "trails" are made free hand with a piercing tool. The butterfly on the box itself has a pink button body with turquoise wax thread antennae.

Piercing at the card bottom is done with the Tim Holtz Design Ruler - I just love that ruler - it's a centering ruler and it's so easy to make sure your pierced holes are evenly spaced across the card.

Thank you sentiments (2 variations) are from SU! and are stamped with Soft Suede before punching out with an oval punch and matted on a scalloped oval.

Ribbon handles are threaded through Cropadile holes and secured with a grosgrain knot of coordinating ribbon. Now, just a bit of bubble wrap and into a Priority Mail envelope and off it goes!

I hope that Amber gets loads of donations!

V.~