Posted by camille – May 5, 2008 10:11 AM

Guest Blogger: Melissa Phillips of Lilybean Paperie

There are certain signs of nature that always remind me of my mom. For some reason the beauty of a butterfly and the perfect formation of flowers always bring mothers to my mind. So, in celebration of Mother’s Day, I thought I'd add these images to a card and create a little something for my mom.

Necessary Supplies:
light green cardstock
cream cardstock
small floral print patterned paper in pink
medium floral-print patterned paper in green
glue dots, white glue or glue stick
cream velvet ric-rac
rub-on sentiment or print your own from your computer
medium green button
natural hemp
butterfly die cut or draw then cut out your own
embossing folder for butterfly
small blossoms
off-white acrylic paint and foam brush
distressing ink
sewing machine

Steps:
1. Cut green cardstock 7-1/2" x 5” and fold in half. Round right corners using a corner rounding punch.

2. Use light ivory acrylic paint and a foam brush to lightly edge the front of this card and create a weathered look.

3. Cut pink floral paper slightly smaller than the card front and round right corners. Ink edges and adhere to center of card lining up the left edge with fold.

4. Cut a 1-inch strip of green floral paper, edge with acrylic paint and adhere to bottom of pink floral paper. Using sewing machine, straight-stitch down left edge twice.

5. Attach velvet trim to the bottom of card just under bottom edge of green floral paper.

6. Apply rub-on sentiment to cream cardstock, cut out and adhere just below center of card.

7. Wrap hemp around card, thread through button and tie in a knot on right.

8. Using a die-cut machine, cut 2 butterflies from coordinating paper. My first butterfly is cut from the same paper as the base of this card, and my second butterfly is cut from a floral to help it stand out from the background a bit.

9. Emboss each butterfly if desired to help create more dimension.

10. Attach butterflies to the center of card just above the quote and bend wings up slightly to make the butterfly stand out.

11. Finish off by attaching 2 small flowers to the center of the butterfly to create that sweet, delicate feel of a mother and baby.

12. Lastly, I like to go over the areas of the card that I have applied acrylic paint to with a cotton swab rubbed in ink. This way everything takes on the weathered look and seems to blend.

I hope you enjoy creating a little something for someone special in your life as much as I do. -Melissa

* Note from Camille -- Melissa is a FANTASTIC crafter who makes the most exquisite handmade cards and paper crafts. To see more of her original designs, be sure to check out her blog, Lilybean Paperie.

For more Mother's Day inspiration, check out our Mother's Day feature on HGTV.com. We have 10 creative handmade gift ideas as well as a gift guide to help you make this year's Mother's Day memorable.