Sympathy Sentiment

Inspiration

Even in the middle of such a joyous season, we often encounter sad events, too.  I found myself with the somber need for three sympathy cards all at the same time – one for a friend, one for a coworker, and one for Faith H (Markie’s Mom).  Faith makes beautiful cards, and I read her blog every day.  Inspiration was hard to come by, so I surfed Splitcoast and found a beautiful card by Deb Felts (click here).   Here’s my version.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Soft Suede (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 11”, score at 5 1/2” b) 3 3/4” x 5”
Green Tea DSP (SU!)	4” x 5 1/4”
Whisper White (SU!)	4” x 5 1/4”

Ink

Soft Suede (SU!)

Stamps

Thinking of You (JustRite Stampers); Embrace Life (SU!) 

Accessories

Soft Suede and Baja Breeze Markers (SU!); Stamp-a-ma-Jig; Deckled Oval and Plain Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Foam tape; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors; Xacto Knife 

Instructions

Sentiment

Using the markers, color the words of the sentiment in brown, and the flower in blue.  Stamp the sentiment on the white cardstock.

Align the plain oval die over the sentiment, and cut it out using the die cut machine.

Image

Use the stamp positioner to create the combined image of the leaves and flower.

First, color the flower using the blue marker, and part of the stem using brown, and stamp it on the white cardstock.
Then, stamp the leaves in brown on the clear positioner sheet.
Using the clear sheet, align the leaves over the flower, so it looks like the flower is growing from the main stem.  Put the stamp positioner in place.
Now, remove the clear sheet, and stamp the leaves in brown holding the positioner in exactly the spot.
Now you have your complete image – ready to cut out. Trim is closely, and use the knife to cut the enclosed inner areas.

Assembly

Run the smaller brown panel through the die cutter with the deckled oval die, to create the window panel.

Mount the patterned on the front panel of the base brown card. Then mount the designer paper using foam tape.  The window panel is mounted with foam tape.  Then add the sentiment oval in the center of the window using foam tape.

Glue the flower image across the bottom of the card using a clear-drying glue.

Thanks for stopping by.

Precious Gifts

Inspiration

I’m celebrating a friend’s birthday this week early, along with a late celebration for my birthday – we have the last 2 birthdays of the year in our circle of “diva'” friends - she is the youngest of my circle of girl friends and I’m the oldest!  This card celebrates our friendship.

I started with the Splitcoast “Fan Club” monthly sketch challenge, and picked stamps and Nestabilities I haven’t used much, and this is the result:

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 5” x 7”

Bravo Burgundy (SU!)	a) 7” x 10”, score at 5” b) small scrap, about 5/8” x 2 5/8”
So Saffron (SU!)	4” x 4”
Parisian Summer DSP (SU!)	4 1/4” x 7”
Very Vanilla (SU!)	a) 3” x 3” b) small scrap about 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Ink

Bravo Burgundy (SU!)

Stamps

Friendship Set (JustRite Stampers); Birthday Centers (Cornish Heritage Farms)

Accessories

Markers: Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss (SU!); SPICA Glitter pens: Garnet, Yellow, Pink (Imagination International); Nestabilities: Labels Ten, Eyelet Circles, and Plain Circles (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Bow-Easy; Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Foam tape; Glue dots; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Cheers Sentiment:  Stamp the saying in burgundy on the small scrap of vanilla paper, and mount it on the small burgundy strip.

Precious Gifts Sentiment: Stamp the image in burgundy on the larger piece of vanilla paper, then cut it out using the plain circle Nestabilities die.  Color the image with the dye markers, and accent with the glitter pens.

Friendship Sentiment: Stamp the image in burgundy on the yellow cardstock, then cut it out with the largest Eyelet Circle die.  Run it through the die cutter twice – once to cut, and once to emboss.

Assembly

Run the patterned paper through the die cutter using the largest Labels Ten die.  Mount it slightly toward the top of the front of the base card.

Mount the yellow die cut using foam tape over the bottom portion of the label die cut.  Add the image on the vanilla circle to the center using foam tape.

Mount the cheers sentiment above the yellow, then tie your bow with the yellow ribbon, and mount it near the top of the label using glue dots.  All done!

Final Notes

Inside

I cut another patterned paper large Label Ten, then the next smaller size Label Ten die out of vanilla.  I stamped a sentiment in burgundy on the vanilla and layered then in the center of the inside panel.

Just a Note

I’m posting this a little early because my schedule is changing a bit – I’ve enrolled in a “Web Master Certification” course, and my classes are Monday-Wednesday-Friday, so I’m posting this on Tuesday.  I’ll still post twice a week, and try to keep it to Sunday/Wednesday, but there may be some variations depending on homework, etc.  Hopefully, you’ll eventually see a brand new blog and website as I learn more about Web design and coding!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Gatefold # 3 - Christmas Greetings

Inspiration

Every year I make about 150 Christmas cards. I go crazy if I try to make 150 of the same one, so I usually pick 2 or 3 designs from my various “test” cards. Well, one of my Christmas cards is officially designed - the only way I know it passes muster is if Joe likes it - he reacted with a big smile for this one, and say “I LIKE THAT ONE!”, as opposed to a “that’s pretty…” reaction to the last few I’ve shown him.

And this is the third of my Gatefold series (see posts on November 17 and 21) - the design is one of my favorites - I use it a lot because it is so easy to do, and creates a very special look.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 5” x 5 1/2”

Real Red (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 11, score at 2 1/8” AND at 6 3/8” b) another small piece about 2 1/2” square
Merry Moments DSP (SU!)	2 5/8” x 4 7/8” - 2 pieces
White Gold Royal Metallic (Wassau)	4” x 4” - 2 pieces
Whisper White (SU!)	2” x 2”

Ink

Basic Black (SU!)

Stamps

Merry Little Christmas (Just Rite Stampers)

Accessories

Markers: Real Red, Garden Green (SU!); SPICA pen: Red; Fleur Di Lis Pendant Shapeabilities die (Spellbinders); Small scalloped circle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Liquid Applique (Marvy); Heat Gun; Scor-Pal; Glue dots; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the image in black on the small white cardstock square. Run it through the Cuttlebug with the 1 7/8” scalloped die. Color the hat with red, and the leaves with green, and the berries with red pen. Apply Liquid Applique on the fur trim of the hat, and heat it using the heat gun (just until it puffs up a little).

Run the small red square through the Cuttlebug using the next size larger scalloped circle, and mount the white circle on the red.

Snowflake

The snowflake is created from the white metallic paper. The Fleur Di Lis pendant fits into a 4” square, so create 2 pendant die cuts with the die and the Cuttlebug. Run them through twice - once to cut and once to emboss.

Assembly

Mount the patterned paper on the front panels of the Gatefold base card. Then mount the first pendant die cut by applying glue to half of the back, and positioning it so that one corner of the die cut is right in the middle of the opening. Mount the second pendant on the first, but rotate it so that the corners fill in the empty space between the points of the first pendant. That creates your snowflake.

Mount the image right in the center of the snowflake, and you’re done!.

Final Notes

Inside / Envelope

I cut a solid green panel (4” x 5 1/4”), stamped my sentiment on a smaller white panel (3 3/4” x 5”) and layered them on the inside.

The card, while starting out as a standard 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” card ends up being wider because of the snowflakes, so I’ll have to use an envelope for a 5” x 7” card (A7).

I hope you all have a very happy, safe Thanksgiving weekend, and remember to count the many blessings in your life!

Thanks for stopping by.