Bugs, Bees, and Butterflies

Welcome to another StampOff Friday! This week, we’re using bugs, bees, or butterflies. I like ladybugs, but other bugs? Not so much. And while I love saving the honeybees and let all the dandelions live that want to grow in my yard, I had a very bad experience with a yellow jacket in my youth. So I chose to use butterflies.

Details

I had an extra Whisper White card base and Blackberry Bliss Cardstock layer left from classes this month, so I used them as the base for my card.

Next, I created a banner from one of the designs in the Best Dressed 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper (DSP). I chose the Butterfly Beauty Dies that coordinate with the Beauty Abounds Stamp Set from the 2019-2020 Stampin’ Up!® Annual Catalog, and diecut them from Purple Posy and Blackberry Bliss Cardstock.

After I adhered the two layers of butterflies together (using the Fine-Tip Glue Pen), I added them to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals. I used another favorite butterfly set, Butterfly Gala, for the sentiment. I stamped on Whisper White Cardstock with Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink, then created a double banner with my Paper Snips and added it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

For a little sparkle, I colored some Basic Rhinestone Jewels with a Dark Blackberry Bliss Stampin’ Blend and added them to the card.

The Bee Story

Now for my bee story. Years ago, my brothers were in Boy Scouts. They had a picnic one afternoon at a local park (there was probably a trip somewhere fun, but I blocked everything except the bee incident from my memory). Sometime during the picnic, my younger brother saw yellow jackets flying into and out of a hole in the ground. It was obviously a nest, but he was young and thought he could stomp it and get rid of the nasty little yellow jackets.

He did not get rid of the nasty little yellow jackets; he stirred them up. Apparently, nosy little Buffy was standing close enough that one of the little buggers thought I was the one who tried to destroy their home and it stung me on the elbow. It hurt, and I cried. Back then, most first aid kits contained merthiolate, band aids, and maybe a roll of bandages and some tape. None of that was great for a bee sting, but one of the Boy Scout moms had heard that alcohol helped. She happened to have a bottle of perfume, and liberally sprayed my elbow with that. It stung, didn’t help the sting, and smelled.

Meanwhile, my little brother was screaming and stomping his foot. No one could see any bees on him, and we couldn’t understand why he was pitching such a fit. Mom pulled down his sock, and there was one more mean little bee repeatedly stinging my poor brother. Sadly, nine year-old Buffy was not as kind as the current Buffy, and I was a little mollified by the fact that he also got stung since the angry swarm was his fault in the first place. My compassion did, however, take over after my elbow stopped hurting and Mom washed off the perfume. Not only did I forgive him, but I apologized for my not-so-nice reaction when he got stung, and I really did feel sorry for him.

So that’s why I chose butterflies. Plus, I really like butterflies. They’re beautiful and when you see them, you know it’s springtime. Susan and I are going to a Stampin’ Up!® event in New Orleans in August, and I’ve heard there’s a beautiful butterfly garden. I’m sure Susan will want to go with me to see it! (Just FYI, in case you missed it – Susan has a butterfly horror story that rivals my bee story.)

Visit Jackie’s & Susan’s Blogs

So did Susan use butterflies? Is Jackie using bees? I love to guess, but I’m usually wrong. Be sure to take a peek at their blogs today before you head out for the day.

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have a lovely day!

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