For quite some time now I have been lusting after a butterfly shadow box in a famous UK retailer that is 'never knowingly undersold' but I did not want to pay the price. So I challenged myself to make one from an 8" square blank shadow frame that I had in my stash along with a Martha Stewart around the page butterfly punch.
The frame was base coated with Fresco Finish in Mermaid as a base, covered with a crackle medium and then over painted with Fresco Finish Vintage Lace. (click on the photo for a closer look)
I took a piece of white card and worked out where I wanted the butterflies to be and then punched them out (not easy to get it mathematically correct but I was happy with the result). To create a background for the cut out butterflies I took some Bo Bunny paper from the Country Garden Almanac collection and placed this behind the punched areas. I stamped over the parts of the paper not already covered in script, with a Hero Arts Newsprint background stamp, using Ranger Black Archival Ink. I then took the cut butterflies, raised the wings and then glued down the body only, back onto the cut out shapes. I coloured some pearls with Broken China Distress Marker and placed three on each body.
To finish off I added some ready made flowers and twisted the stems to add some interest.
I would like to enter this frame into the following challenges:
Sunday Stampers - Show some depth
Ali-Craft - butterflies
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - a little stamping (behind the butterfly wings)
As ever, thank you for looking and a special thank you if you take the time to comment. Big hugs, Anne xx
Oh that's so pretty.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
A x
Oh wow Anne that is amazing! I love it your so very creative hun huggles Sue xx
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, Anne - and how wonderful to have something you created yourself over something shop-bought. Ethereal, delicate and oh so lovely, with wonderful crackle on the frame - a brilliant make!
ReplyDeleteAlison x
Hi Anne, this is lovely, much prettier than the ones in the shops. I love the added interest of the crackle frame and background colour behind the butterflies, complimented also by the flowers. Just beautiful. Hugs Mo x
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful Anne. I think it is far nice than any I have seen in the shops. I love the delicate butterflies and the crackle frame looks gorgeous
ReplyDeletehugs Sue xx
Oh Anne this is so stunning and I bet it is at least as beautiful as the one you saw in the shop and so much more satisfying to have made it yourself. Love everything about this, - wonderful crackle, gorgeous with the white on white, elegant and classy and the flower just finish it of perfectly!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning creation Anne. It must surely give you a lot of satisfaction knowing it was all your own work. Hope your enjoying this fabulous weather. Hugs Rita xxxxx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous project Anne, love the crackle frame with the hint of blue and the flowers set it off beautifully. Fantastic idea, Cathy x
ReplyDeleteThis is stunning Anne. Fabulous crackled frame and very cleverly done butterflies with the gorgeous paper behind all finished off perfectly with the flowers. Who wouldn't wish to have this beautiful creation on their wall.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Lesley Xx
wow Anne your butterfly creation is stunning...love the crackled frame and all those fluttering butterflies...a wonderful piece of art...hugs kath xxx
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely Anne,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing it with us on the Ali-Craft challenge
I need a new picture for the bedroom wall, you have inspired me to make omething crafty
Ali x
Anne - this is so pretty and such a great idea. I might have a go at something similar as it is really effective. I love the crackle effect. Hugs, Jacky
ReplyDelete...oh Anne this is lush!! simple effective and beautiful, love it...Mel:)xx
ReplyDeleteWOW...Anne I Love this...The butterflies are Gorgeous...What a fabulous idea for home decor...Maybe for your new room perhaps!!Love the crackled frame & the colours... Simply Beautiful work.... Hugs May x x x
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic butterfly box Anne, I love the crackle effect you have achieved on the frame and I marvel at how you managed to line up the butterflies so perfectly. You did a fantastic job with it.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
hugs {brenda} x0x
Lovely box Anne, you have given me an idea for a friends birthday present, although I don't have the all over punch which works so well on your piece! Great idea for behind the butterfly wings! Xx
ReplyDeleteLove this Ann....Perhaps you should sell it for £40 or so. It's better than those you see in the shops for the same price. Love how you've kept the butterflies white with patterned paper behind!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shadow box Anne, so chic . I love the colours you have used with amazing crackle. Hugs Annie x
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful and so much better than 'the other one' because you made it yourself.
ReplyDeleteIt may not have cost you as much but it is no doubt far lovelier than the one in that store...... it is also worth far more in many ways and you certainly should not be undersold!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend......
Jo x
absolutely beautiful anne - really a fabulous gift to yourself and so cleverly put together too! I bet you has fun making that. great idea to colour the pearls with yor distress markers - fabulous!!!! Hope you're feeling a little better now! Big Hugs rachel xx
ReplyDeleteThis is just gorgeous,love it.xxx
ReplyDeleteAnne this is so elegant! You have done a wonderful job! Understated and delightful!
ReplyDeleteIt turned out fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to something similar as well!
Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThis is going to look so lovely in your home...good for you for creeating your own. And I bet your own take is much niocer too!
ReplyDeleteThe DP you used behind the butterflies is perfect!
Absolutely gorgeous Anne! I love that crackle finish and the butterflies are so very pretty backed by the script paper. Clever you! :0) Mo x
ReplyDeleteHi Anne, what a gorgeous butterfly frame and lovely idea to make your own instead of purchasing one, you will treasure this I am sure. Love the subtlety of the painting and colours and the butterflies are so delicate , perfect for the frame. Love it. Thanks so much for joining in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. Tracy x
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful Anne, and unique! It is also probably better than the one you saw! Where else would you find a frame so creatively crackled? Chrisx
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous piece of home decor Anne and surely much more satisfying knowing you created such beautiful yourself compared to paying money to a well known store.
ReplyDeleteLove the colour choice, in fact everything about it is perfection.
Have a lovely weekend.
Wishes
Lynne
My word Anne, this is so beautiful! I have seen the one in the shop & I would hang yours on my wall rather than that one any day! You will definitely treasure this one more as well ..beautiful, big hug Carole X
ReplyDeleteI am blown away that you challenged yourself to make the version of the pricey one....BRAVO!!! This is soGORGEOUS!!! I love the crackle and tiny stamping behind the butterflies! A super FANTASTIC!!!! Thank you for stamping a little with us this week here at Simon Says Stamp & Show!!!
ReplyDeleteMethinks I am going to be making a couple of these as Christmas presents for family - thank you Anne! I will, of course, link back to you if I do copy your idea Anne. I would love one of these for myself too - I just need to find the square blank frames next. Fabulous piece of work Anne, I think you will inspire a lot of us crafters with this. Have a fab weekend Karen x
ReplyDeleteThis is just fabulous, great make.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining our challenge at Altered Eclectics.
Moira DT.
Now, see, that's one of the things I love about you, Annie, you rock the "Can Do" attitude! Your shadow box is nothing short of magnificent and I wager that it is even more beautiful than the one on sale! I also wager that you'll win the challenges! You're awe-mazing!! xxoo Darnell
ReplyDeleteI love this Anne and how much more satisfying to know you made it yourself! Gorgeous colours and the design is so elegant. Love, Margie x
ReplyDeleteYou've done a fantastic job Anne it's wonderful xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Anne for checking up on the toad. Oddly enough there is a large colony of protected Natterjacks on the coast North of here so maybe you are right I had wondered if they could change colour too.
ReplyDeleteLove those butterflies, nice having another peek!
jo x
Hi Anne, your butterfly shadow box is B E A utiful.I love everything about it, your hand crafted piece of art is worth so much more than anything that has been mass produced. Hope you have a sunny place for it to hang and be admired.
ReplyDeleteHugs Lottie x
Wow Anne, so much better than a shop bought piece, love the fresco paints on the frame and the half pearl bodies. x
ReplyDeleteHi Anne! Wow that really is stunning!! I know exactly which shop you mean too but yours is so much nicer as its totally unique! Claire xx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love it... have seen the one you are on about and I think yours knocks spots off theirs... loving the floral arrangement too, nice touch... Thanks for joining in with the Sunday Stamper x
ReplyDeleteI think yours is so much better too Anne, it's really beautiful and I bet it'll look gorgeous when it's up on the wall. Amazing how you got it all worked out with the punching too! Chris xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and elegant make....this will look beautiful onthe wall....hope things are improving for you, thanks for all your kindness hugs trace x
ReplyDeletebeautiful project. Thanks for sharing with of of us your creation!
ReplyDeletekeep in touch!
Bibiana
Personally I love your version far better. What a fantastic display. Hugs, Jenny x
ReplyDeleteYours Anne is much much prettier and should cost far more if retailed! Precision perfect punching - dont know how you managed to get it so wonderfully aligned. I love the crackled frame colours and the lovely balancing flowers. Very very pretty! Sorry I'm late visiting - I've been availing of the sunshine! Nicola x
ReplyDeleteWell Miss Anne, I haven't seen the one you have lusting after, but it CAN'T be a beautiful as the one you created, it's just stunning,loooove the frame with all that crackle the white on white is stunning with the peek behind and the lovely script what a stunning make my dear, thanks so much for sharing and inspiring us to try to it :O), have a wonderful day...
ReplyDeleteThis butterfly box is on my long list of things I want to make. Love how elegant and clean yours is, just perfect. I love the crackled frame too, compliments the butterflies.
ReplyDeleteHugs Kelly
Anne this is absolutely gorgeous! Although i apreciate there is loads of work in this fabulous piece, the simplicity of the design is beautiful. I love it ! X
ReplyDeleteHad to smile at your 'lusting' comment. I guess that is what we really do, just never thought of it that way :-) Your butterfly box was just lovely, and thanks for showing the crackling too. So very pretty. Looked to me like your b/flies were aligned quite perfectly too. You have your desired butterfly box, at the price you wanted...I'd say that was a well done job, well done! And as always, done with your usual style. TFS
ReplyDeleteI am more than sure that your box is better made. It is stunning Anne.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely stunning! Thank you so much for sharing, and for joining us this week at Simon Says Stamp & Show!
ReplyDeleteMay
How lovely! I love the butterflies. Thanks for entering the Altered Eclectics Challenge this month. Hope to see you again and again!
ReplyDeleteBev Cole
AE DT
ooh this is amazing! The painted frame is awesome and those butterflies look gorgeous! I am sure yours is much better than the one in the shop! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning project, Anne. I love the simplicity of it's appearance...although I know it was not a "simple" make. :) It's beautiful! <3 Candy
ReplyDeleteBeautiful project! Thanks for joining in over at Ali-Craft this month, Heidi x
ReplyDeleteNo wonder this post generated so many comments - that is truly fantastic! Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Neet xx
So elegant! Love your frame, and the peek through under the butterflies.
ReplyDeleteI love this, it has a beautiful clean finish and looks so pretty.
ReplyDeleteAngela x