Pop Goes the Butterfly

My first attempt at pop-up art. I used some card-stock paper and cut two diagonal cuts into the white paper. Next, I folded the paper so that the middle section popped forward but the rest remained back.

I cut two wing sections that I also fold to 'rest' on top of the pop out section. I have to say I love stick glue! That stuff dries so fast. The tricky part was folding and gluing down the wings to the card. They were too long and stuck out. I had to play around with the creases (that's why it looks a little wrinkled) until I found the right mark.

I could see doing something like this for a home-made birthday card!

Sponge Painting

I've always liked the textured look from sponge painting. I used acrylic paints, a sponge and crumpled up napkin. Not very realistic colors but it's what appealed to me! Enjoy.

Beaded butterfly

This one just flew right by me and landed on this perch. I took a quick snap and here she is for all to see.

Geometry Anyone?

I wanted to see if I could make a butterfly out of just triangles.  The body didn't quite come out right so I changed it to any geometric shape.    It seems sort of Japanese inspired to me.  I  probably should have drawn the cherry blossom instead but that wouldn't have been very triangular!

I used Sharpie markers to get the lines thick (and sort of straight!).

Butterfly for Amanda

With five back to back snow storms we definitely had enough snow for making anything. My niece suggested that I make one in the snow - no problem.

I found some nice snow banks at the edge of our yard that had to be 4 or 5 feet high. I carved it right into the snow bank and then had Megan and Evan sit next to it so you could get a feel for the height and depth.

Bouncing Baby Butterfly

These are from my son's super ball collection; he has somewhere around 100.   He was gracious enough to lone them to me for a wee bit.   This project was unbelievably easier than the Post-It notes from yesterday.  Even though they are round and you would think they would roll away, they stayed put really nice.  Once again, it required patience but I'm beginning to think that will be the norm.  I'm wondering if I should start each project with a deep breath and a little mediation. Certainly couldn't hurt!

I had a hard time deciding which ones to use for the buds at the end of the antenna.  He had these little miniature balls but they sort of got lost in the picture.  I thought these added a comical touch.

Two Creations

Today's little dude isn't so little.  He's covering one of my basement walls right now.  I put a chair next to him so you could get a perspective on his size.

My kids came up with this idea --- Post-It notes.   The kids use them all the time; at school, to make a little flip note movie and today to make a butterfly.   This one was particularily challenging since the Post-It notes do not stick to walls very well.  They were falling down almost as fast as I could put them up. The other thing that presented a challenge was that I had to build this one from the bottom up, not a normal activity (at least for me anyway).  I had to imagine where the wing would end, then start working my way up.

On a side note, did you know that the color on the wings of a butterfly come from individual scales, each with its own color?   They truly amaze me.  I felt a little bit like I was mimicing the scales but on a much larger scale!!  I might be able to draw a butterfly but that doesn't mean I can tell a joke.

My son Evan wanted to share his creation today -- I think we shall name it "Happy Food".

Mmm Mmm Good

Totally edible... it was made with M&Ms. I had lots of help with this butterfly. Adam helped pulled out the colors that I needed and Amy volunteered to shake the plate after I was all done. She insisted that the be messed up after I was finished. Fortunately I was able to get a picture of it before they helped me eat them! Enjoy!

Bubblefly

Yes, it's a bar of soap.  I've had an interest in trying to carve so I decided to start with something soft to carve - hence the soap.

I can see why people used carving and whittling to pass the time. You really need to be patient with this craft. I of course wasn't being patient (it doesn't come naturally to me) and I just about chopped off his head!  To carve a small space or a very smooth surface you have to go slow, very slow.  I think I'd like to move up to some wood next time! I'll probably buy a couple of pieces, I'm sure I'll have a do over!

This bubblefly is on his way to my kids bathroom!

Blue Morpho on Steroids

This is what happens when you let your butterflies nibble on steroids.  Megan and I made objects from paper mâché today. It was roll your sleeves up and put on a smock messy but sooo much fun!

Every time I looked at this guy I knew I had the wing proportions off so it made me think of the muscle head dudes that take steroids to bulk up.

Megan started with a ball that turned into a house.  We had a blast together!

Denim Dude

What a day... our second snow storm for the week!   Kids are home and I decided to try my hand at an embroidery butterfly.  I did some embroidery when I was younger but haven't touched it in a long time.  My mother just sent me a box of knitting needles, crochet needles and embroidery hoops, so I had everything that I needed.  

I've been wanted to try fringing denim just to see how it looks.  I was trying for the worn out look around the edge.  Not sure if I achieved it but it was fun none the less.

I've been playing around the orientation of my little butterflies -- what do you like the side view or the full open wing view?

Yellow Lady

I tried  my hand at a "paper only" craft (and my hands, of course). This yellow lady is made from construction paper only.  No glue, scissors or anything else.

I can't believe that I've made butterflies for a week already. It is so much fun trying to let my creative side decide what to do for the day instead of letting my planning side schedule everything out!  My kids ask me every morning --- "what are you making today mom?"   It really gets me dreaming about what could be.

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Scrappy little butterfly

Monarch Leaves His Cocoon

Sketch Me A Butterfly

Today's butterfly is called the Weidemeyer's Admiral. They are known for the broad white band that cross the wings.

This butterfly was sketched with a graphite pencil on sketch paper.

So how do you tell a moth from a butterfly?
 
By the antenna.... the butterfly has a thickened area at the tip that makes it look like a club, whereas the moth's antenna are either thread like to the tip, feathery or fringed along the edge.

Camo Butterfly for David

Today's butterfly is in honor of my nephew who will be going to Afghanistan for his second tour of duty.
God bless him and all who serve our country.

This one is an oil painting on a 6" x 8" canvas board.  

Fruit Salad For Megan!

Day Two

Today's butterfly is mirrored from the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. They are large butterflies that have tails on their hind wings.   I did a craft called quilling.  Its an art form that uses small strips of paper that are rolled, folded, plaited to create shapes.

I took a large eyed sewing needle, placed a little bit of shredded paper (found as cushioning in a package) and wound them up.  Some I glued shut (for the body) and the rest I let unwind. 

Did you know that a lepidopterists is someone who studies or collects butterflies?

For those that want to know..... yesterday's butterfly was Blue Morpho that I painted with watercolor on a small square of Bristol paper.

Day One

So my kids think that I'll never be able to do this.  Create one butterfly every day for a year, no way.   They think I'm nuts.  Maybe I am, but why not give it a try? 

I'm starting on this journey because I just read an awesome book 365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life! by Noah Scalin.  Noah is the author of the Skull A Day blog and a creative genius.  His idea is that with practice our creative energy will become second nature.  Forcing yourself to create something every day for an extended period of time will encourage creativeness to come instinctively.

So I'm taking my love of nature to the extreme.  I will create a butterfly every day for a whole year, yes that means until January 12, 2012 (maybe I should have started in December than it would be 12/12/12 --- cool).
I'm going to try to learn about and work with new media.  Actually my kids have been supplying me with all kinds of ideas, in case I run out!  At least I know that I have an audience.

So, here it is butterfly #1.