This weekend’s project is inspired by Margaret’s heart collage (just right for Valentine’s Day) and Australian artist Catherine Swan’s beautiful paper butterflies (read more of her story + see the size of her art here). I originally discovered Catherine’s work through Oh Joy.
Repetition is one of my most favorite principles in design and punches are one of my favorite products. I use punches to create repetition all the time when creating scrapbook layouts + minibooks (especially using that square Giga punch ). This new little collage will be replacing my holiday collage that has been above my sink since November (will be storing the collage with my holiday stuff + will pull it out and stick it back in the frame for next year).
This collage was created using a Martha Stewart butterfly punch and a variety of different scraps of paper: junk mail, scrapbook paper, pages from old books, etc. My white sheet of background cardstock was cut to 10×8 to fit into the mat of the black frame. I used tiny foam dots as adhesive. There’s no real method to choosing which papers to use – I tend to go for a balance between text, lines, dots, etc.
The basic prompt: create a collage (or a scrapbook page) using two things (1) a punch of some sort and (2) the principle of repetition to bring it all together. Here’s some additional punch shapes if you are looking for something to add to your collection: heart, star, postage stamp.
Have a great weekend!
![Two Peas](http://www.avantlink.com/gbi/10513/24901/21775/26723/image.jpg"width="120"height="240"style="border:0px;"alt=)
Great idea, plan on going down to my scrap book room right now and doing something like this…..Thanks
Butterflies are such a perfect symbol of my journey of artistic “transformation”. You always inspire!
Oh I totally LOVE this! And what a great way to reuse papers you’d otherwise recycle!
beautiful…my boys and I may have to make some for their playroom!
Well Done Ali. Like it a lot and trying to thing about what I will do.
Have a great weekend.
yep. loving this!
OH MY WORD!!!! ALI, I’m going to IKEA this next week and I’m going to buy a FRAME and I’m going to make on of those for my home!!! THAT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DARLING AND PREFECT FOR MY WALLS HERE!!!!! THanks for sharing that!
How did you get the butterflies so straight and even widths apart?
These are lovely. Can’t wait to try one!
Ali!
ar you going to CHA? and if you are, when we can meet you or at least see you?…
Thanks! oh…and are you going to be with CK Media booth?
What a great idea!
Thanks so much for sharing your inspiration
Have a great weekend.
What a great idea!
Thanks so much for sharing your inspiration
Have a great weekend.
Well this is just beautiful and a fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing. I am going to go grab me some punches and start creating my own collages.
ooh, i love this!
you need to sign it!
and then sell it to me
love you!
jessica
LOVE it!!
LOVE IT! This is a fantastic idea – I’m definitely making one (or four) of these this weekend. I been eyeing some new punches for a while and now I have the perfect excuse to buy some!
Thanks for sharing such wonderful inspiration, as always!
I love this. I’m totally into butterflies right now. I must do this!
Thanks, as always, for the inspiration.
Have a great weekend!
Aby
thats so beautiful!
Oh wow, it’s so neat and seems SO easy! Maybe even I can do it! Thanks for sharing!
I think I saw one very much like this in a decor catalog, maybe Pottery Barn?
terrific idea Ali, pulling out my scraps and postage punch tonight!
I know you answered this before but where did you get the frame?
I love that collage – so simple and yet so striking! I’m going to make a heart one for this month. Thanks for all the terrific things on your blog so far this year – it’s speaking to my heart bigtime!
beautiful work.
i love the idea of using junk mail — perfect recycling/reuse idea!
That is so cool! Love the look of all those butterflies on one paper.
Oh I love this idea!! Putting this on my to do list for the weekend
Thanks for the link to Margarets blog too, love her work!!
That it absolutely beautiful and so simple, love it.
That is so cool and even better it is “do-able.” Thanks for the wonderful insporation!
Michele
I LOVE this idea-here is a link to my version that i made today-I used a paper shaper punch-the size is about 6X8.
http://morningsunstudio.typepad.com/morning_sun_studio/
thanks for the inspiration!!
mary
morning sun studio
So pretty! I did a smaller version about 2 years ago for one of the CK Magazines!
super cute and fun, yet classy and simple. I love it!!!
ali, i am in love with this!! so much fun!! something i must do!!
gorgeous! Gotta make one! I’m thinking this would be a GREAT holiday idea too…I”m picturing little christmas trees, stars….hmmmmm
How beutiful isn’t that? Very inspiring!!
I absolutely love the butterflies! Amazing collage. The colors, everything.
I decided to do a large collage for my wall today. Thanks for the inspiration.
I posted pictures here:
http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/2008/02/making-me-happy-today.html
Thanks again for the prompt!!
That collage is absolutely beautiful!!! I love that butterfly!
This project is awesome! I ran to Michaels tonight to pick up the punch and frame, and the whole thing only took me about 90 minutes. You can see my finished look on my blog:
http://erintaylor718.blogspot.com
Thanks for the inspiration!
love it! truly inspiring. Off to make a valentines one
have a great weekend Ali xx
That butterfly punch is on my shopping list and I love that project so much! I’m needing something to remind me that spring will be coming and this might just be the thing!
Sue
I just have to say: You get pretty junk mail. I don’t think any junk that comes through these doors would be cute enough for the butterfly punch
The butterflies appear to “hover” – there is a drop shadow. Did you just use the pop dots to elevate them or did you also gently bend the butterflies to give them more depth?
Thanks for sharing this idea! It’s going to go right along with my word (change) and will visually encourage transformation!!
I did this!
I used the Martha Stewart punch that is round with points around circumference. Loved it! I also punched my kids’ faces out of some extra pics and their four faces appear with the other patterns – hanging in my kitchen this very minute.
This girl loves a completed project!
Thanks, again, Ali
-Susan
So inspiring. Here are my punch collage creations:
http://ingeniousinkling.typepad.com/ingenious_inkling/2008/02/punch-collage.html
This is beautiful Ali! Thanks for sharing!
I l–o–v–e butterflies and I l–o–v–e that collage. Awesome.
I love the butterflies! Perfect to make with a martha craft punch. May have to make one with all my scraps! Thanks for sharing!
This…
is freakin’
GORGEOUS!
This one rocked — thanks for sharing it! It was a crafting Saturday in my house — I made one and my 4.5 year old twins made one — Too cool! Pics are posted on my blog:
http://lynlepre.typepad.com/lifeinpajamas
I’m already looking foward to next week!
hello – love the punch butterfly idea as a collage. I don’t own a single punch (more of a money, than a principle thing), but I might just have to change that
Anyway, I’m mostly commenting because I loved a post you had a week or two ago about the felt book. I was planning to make one, but had some computer challenges over the last several days and haven’t been able to get to the instructions.
Now it’s been too long and it’s not on the main page. I don’t see any archives and I actually don’t even see an email or contact information.
I apologize for my incompetence, but is there any way to view that post again? Please help me!
Thanks!
~Jessica
Okay… I have a five month old babe today.. but I didnt back THEN…
LOL! I will likely get it done soooooooon 
http://rebeccageach.blogspot.com/2006/12/art-inspirations.html
AND I STILL havent done it… thanks for the FURTHER inspiration Ali
You are the MOST inspiring person I have ever had the priviledge and delight to meet.
Thanks for sharing your passion and enthusiasm, you really are a world treasure!
Bek ~Aussie Chick~
Woo HOO I am post #100. Cute idea Ali…I wondered why I needed a butterfly punch! Thanks for the inspiration chick!