Ed108 Butterfly BorderCompleted by Pamela Horton The whispering Platypus

I have made this beautiful butterfly frame style stitching card by Emy, twice. The first time I printed it off, and pricked it and almost completed the stitching when I realized the coils which represent the cacoons were too small to stitch accurately.

This completed version I printed the stitching frame area at 13.25 x 12.25, and found this fitted perfectly onto the purple card, I had cut at 20cm x 13 cm.

This allowed for the fold back section which measures 8cm wide and 13 cm high. I folded it at the 8cm mark and again at 4cm. I pricked the design close to the 8 cm mark allowing no more than 1cm space at the closest point.

I used three different shades of cotton sewing threads. A very pale pink for the larger swirls, a pink 3 shades darker for the smaller swirls and the cacoons, and the mauve thread for the butterflies.

I followed the stitching guide to complete the stitching, and then used a very fine black permanent pen to draw the feelers on the butterflies.

I coloured in the butterflies with a mauve glitter metallic pen. I noticed after photographing the card front, I had missed the feelers and the colouring in on one of the butterflies, which I have now rectified.

I used a previous purchase, cup482564_466 Butterfly cut outs 5, by Aisne Smith, to attach using padded D.S. tiny squares and then draw the feelers.

I used pale mauve peel off strips around the edge of the front of the card and made panels with the same strips on the fold back section.

I attached the card to a 200gsm card in a very pale mauve with white spots.

This helped to make the card firm enough to stand alone, using the insert and the fold back section. This has made a beautiful finish to a beautiful design. I have some of the butterflies left over so I am able to make this same card again, using the more autumn tones with the butterflies, threads and backing sheet.

Pamela Horton