Norma is 90 - Step card with Kanban papers

I recently purchased a fairly large pack of papers by Kanban.  They are elegant -  black, gold, cream, white, and I am enjoying finding ways to use them.  I am also trying to discover ways to make step cards, using purchased pre-cut card bases.  (Next, I need to learn how to upload pictures rather than scans!).  For this card, I used a 4.25 x 5.5 piece.  I cut the edge strip on either side, and used for the edge of this card.  The remaining center section provides a background for the butterfly, and is the card that is raised when the step card is displayed.  There were 2 left over 1x1 pieces, and they are on the part that folds under.  I used letter dies for the special greeting at the bottom.  The large butterfly is a part of the Kanban collection.    For the inside - I used a coordinating piece and cut it to fit the inner part.  I used shimmery  cs for the computer generated sentiment. I distressed with Tim Holtz distress ink.  I hope you will let me know what you think.
CHALLENGES:
Winged things:    Fabnfunky
Generations:        Sisterhood of Crafters
Pattern Paper:     Southern Girls
Fancy Folds:         ABC-challenge
Any:                      Word Art     
                               DLart   
                               Inspiration Destination

Inside

Paper Piecing

Paper pieced - top, shorts, hat; Stamp - Art impressions;  NEW - DP by Lily of the Valley, red cs;  OLD - Martha  Stewart border punch,  embossalicious birthday folder, Washi tape, Nesties circle
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:          Tuesday Morning Sketches
"D" (drink): Pile it on  
Piecing:         Art Impressions
TicTacToe (diagonal - embossing, red, die cut):  Incy Wincy
Girly:             FanTastic Tuesday
Inspired by color, pattern:   Pinspirational Challenges
New/old:        The Sisterhood of Crafters
Use DP:          Caftyhazelnuts Patterned Paper
Any:               Not just cards
                        Craft Your Passion 

Silver anniversary

This is a card for a silver anniversary - I had intended to add the "25" but I decided that would be too much - unless I decide to replace the hearts.  What do you think?  I have a lot of "stuff", but not many numbers!  The mats are a dark grey cs, and the embossed pieces are Recollections shimmer silver - it is a very light silver dolor, but looks great with dry embossing.  I heated the ribbon to make it frizzy - I need to learn to control that better, as it got a little overdone!  Hearts, Congratulatins, and Victoria by Cuttlebug;  butterflies by Darice.
Sketch:    http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
For a couple:  http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/challenge-93-for-couple.html
Anniversary:        http://diesruschallenge.blogspot.com/
Monochromatic:   http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ 
Any, w/ ribbon:     http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Sentiment:             http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Wings:            http://www.fashionablestampingchallenges.com/

April showers and a flower

For this card I used a few more pieces from the Lovely in Lace kit from Kanban, with shimmery aubergine cs for backing.  If you look closely you can see the two preprinted umbrellas in white, at the top of the card.  I added a bow of shiny twine to the tag, and a couple of matching gems.  FYI, the main image and tag are also pre printed and pre-cut  pieces from the kit.
Sketch (also twine):   http://joannamunster.com/2015/03/16/ibsic-92/
April showers (umbrellas):  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
                                             http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/
Showers:   http://www.dreamweaverstencils.blogspot.com/           
Birthday:   http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Any:          http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/
                   http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com.au/
                   http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
                   http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/04/dlart-april-linky-challenge.html    

Naomi - wishes for a speedy recovery

I just heard about Naomi's surgery, so I needed a quick card.  I used pieces from the Kanban kit I ordered from Create and Craft.  The umbrella is on cs - all I did was use a die cut circle for the shape I wanted.  The lacy strip and bg are from the same kit.  I added ribbon, scalloped Spellbinder die cuts and a sentiment from 7Gypsies.  I do not know the color of the bg for the umbrella, and for the mats - kind of a dark teal with a brownish cast.
Sketch:   http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/
Spring:   http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/
April shower: http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/
Any:        http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
                http://simplypapercraftsforalloccassions.blogspot.co.uk/
                http://www.scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/

Lots of glitter

This is a first for me - until now I have only used sprinkles of glitter.  However, I saw this technique today and had to try it.  I have become addicted to a new series of shows - Create and Craft is on 5 hours a day on our DirectTV.  Many of the shows feature paper crafting - kind of a Home Shopping show with demos.  Now I have even more ideas and even less time to try them!  At any rate, a demo today showed placing a layer of liberal amounts of glitter beneath a die cut.  I did not have the same tools, of course, but I think I like the result with what I had.  This is a new to me Tattered Lace panel die.  I cut the die, then at the end placed the cut out back in the opening.  Meantime, I measured the opening.  I used some sticker paper cut to that size, and adhered it to the base in the right location, sticky side up. I alternated patches of gold, lavender, and red glitter on the sticky paper.  In retrospect I think I should have had a bit less gold and more of the others.  I added the sizzix sentiment and punched butterflies - with sprinkles of glitter.   I would really appreciate any suggestions.
May all of you have a most blessed Easter, rejoicing in the knowledge of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Birthday:      http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Something that flies:  http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/
Sentiment:    http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Any, with glitter: http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges.blogspot.com/http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges.blogspot.com/
In the garden:      http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.com/2015/04/in-garden.html
Any:     http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/2015/03/ptt196-anything-goes-and-februarys.html#gpluscomments
Die cut:   http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com.au/
               http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/

Karla Yungwirth

Karla Yungwirth

Shimmer and butterflies

The HB background (Cuttlebug) is on silver shimmer cs - it looks more like metallic here than it really is.  This stamp by ODB is one I use a lot - I do  not really have just one "go to" stamp.  I tried using a variety of colors for the butterflies - I now realize I prefer a subtler result!  What do you think?  I used a Darice butterfly embossing folder for the smaller panel, and a Cuttlebug border die.  The flower is Petaloo, and the leaves are from a Sizzix die.  The mat is a medium purple.
Sketch #1:   http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Any ODB:   http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
"Go to" stamp:   http://www.fashionablestampingchallenges.com/
Inspiration colors:   http://giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.ca/
Spring:         http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
                     http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/
Pastels:         http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Something that flies:   http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/
For the girls:    http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/