Sending Big Hugs

I created this card to send to a child affected by the devastating Camp Fire that happened in California late last year. I learned on Jennifer McGuire's blog that Christina Brashears is collecting interactive cards for these children through January 31, 2019. The idea is that teachers can then distribute these playful creations to children in grades K-5 to help lift their spirits when life gets overwhelming--or any other time, for that matter. To that end, I made this butterfly penny slider card, inspired by the challenge photo for Fusion's 5th Anniversary Challenge:

I have not done many penny slider cards in my time. Mostly because (possibly due to my Scottish ancestry) the idea of using a penny in a card--where it will not be used financially--bothers me. LOL I even tried washers (think hardware, not clothes or dishes)--which do work--but realized that they cost even more than a penny apiece! So much for frugality. LOL But for such a special cause, I made the sacrifice with this card! ;)

I began with my main butterfly, which comes from the "Elegant Butterflies" set  by Clearly Besotted (apparently discontinued). I stamped it in Versamark ink onto a scrap of Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper, and heat embossed with Stampendous Marcasite powder. This particular embossing powder melts to a dark grey/pewter finish, with bits of glitter. I figured it's perfect for a butterfly! I colored it with a few pink & purple Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, and die cut it with the coordinating die.

For the background, I cut a piece of 140 lb. watercolor paper to 4.25x5.5". I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep it a full A2 size or have it be smaller. But, I figured I could always cut it down later if I wanted to--you can't add to as easily as take from. I stamped some more of the butterflies from "Elegant Butterflies" in Mermaid Lagoon & Candied Apple Distress Oxide inks, creating an overall pattern. After I felt I had stamped enough butterflies, I inked over the panel with Picked Raspberry & Peacock Feathers Oxide inks. I liked the teal & purple tones in the inspiration graphic, and figured these particular colors would be perfect. It also allowed the stamped butterflies to show through a bit darker to add interest, but still be a subtle overall background. After I finished inking, I did trim the panel slightly to 4x5.25", since I knew then I would be adding lots of foam tape, and didn't want it to be too hard to get the card in & out of an envelope.

To create the slider channel, I used a die to trace out the general path on the back of my panel. I then widened & strengthened my lines with a flexible ruler & pencil. I used an old Basic Grey Notch & Die tool to punch the rounded ends, and cut between those notches with a craft knife. Then I stamped my greeting, from Simon Says Stamp's "Jumbo Stripes" set, in Versamark, and heat embossed with Ranger Super Fine Detail White embossing powder.

I added 3 layers of foam tape to the back of my panel, making sure to leave the area around my slider channel free of tape so the penny could move. I got the 3-layer tip from Kelly Marie Alvarez (owner of Lawn Fawn), since it helps the penny move even more freely. I added 3 layers of foam tape to my penny, slipped it under the track, and adhered my butterfly on top. Unfortunately, I had made the track a little too wide (despite measuring against the penny to begin with), and the penny tended to fall out. :( So I ended up cutting a 1" diameter circle from some lightweight clear plastic, and adhered the penny to that with a little Scor Tape. I also replaced the foam tape strips on the penny (which kept getting hung up on the track & just weren't working) with 2 layers of small foam squares. I reinserted my penny into the track, and reattached my butterfly. Now it works!

I'm also entering this card in Pile It On's Challenge #150: "Land and/or Sea Animals."