In Sympathy

Inspiration

This card was made for a co-worker who lost his father to cancer recently. It's based on sketch challenge 193 at Splitcoast Stampers, using Tim Holtz techniques for coloring the tag.

Ingredients

Note: finished card size is 5" x 7"

Stamps

Tim Holtz - Flutter (Stamper's Anonymous)

Tim Holtz - Papillion (Stamper's Anonymous)

Sympathy Sentiment (Heartfelt Creations)

Paper

Soft Suede (SU!)	7" x 10", scored at 5", and 2 1/2" x 3"
Crushed Curry (SU!)	1 1/2" x 7"
Bermuda Bay (SU!)	1" x 4 1/4" (3 pieces)
Alla Prima (Prima)	3/4" x 4 1/4" (3 pieces), and 2 1/2" x 3"
#5 Manilla Tag (Ranger)

Ink

Distress Ink (Ranger)

Jet Black Archival (Ranger)

Bermuda Bay (SU!)

Accessories

Lacy Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Classic Oval - Large Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

Ink Blending Tool (Ranger)

Fiber (unknown)

3-D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives)

ATG (3M)

Scor-Pal

Cutter Bee Scissors (EK Success)

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Start with a piece of brown card stock measuring 7" x 10", score at 5" and fold. Using black ink, and holding the butterfly stamp in your hand instead of on an acrylic block, randomly stamp various butterflies over the card front.

BACKGROUND LAYERS

Cut a strip of yellow card stock to 1 1/2" x 7", and mount vertically on the card front 3/4" from the left edge. Cut 3 strips of blue paper to 1" x 4 1/4", and 3 strips of patterned paper to 3/4" x 4 1/4". Mount each strip of patterned paper onto a blue strip, then mount horizontally on the front of the card.

TAG

I made this tag using the "Spritz & Flick" technique from Tim Holtz. First, using the blending tool cover the tag with colors. I used Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint, and Wild Honey. When you have those blended the way you like them, add Brushed Corduroy around the edges of the tag. Now, spritz some water into your cupped hand, and flick droplets across the tag off your fingers. You can do a little or a lot.

When the tag is dry (you can dry them with a heat tool if you want to), stamp the image on both tags using black archival ink. Dry the image with a heat tool.

Tie fibers through the hole in the tag, then mount it on the front of the card using foam squares.

SENTIMENT

Stamp the sentiment in blue ink on patterned paper, and cut it out using a classic oval die. Cut/emboss a brown lacy oval. Mount the sentiment oval onto the brown oval, and mount on the card using foam squares.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Special Guy

Inspiration

Well, today my "special guy" card is dedicated to my "baby" brother who is turning 50!!!! (Don't ask me how old that makes me, LOL!) Happy 50th Birthday, Lee!!!

This card was made with the new Heartfelt Creations' release - the My Guy Collection. It has lots of scene builder stamps that let you create all sorts of fun, masculine cards. Don't forget to visit the Heartfelt Creations blog to leave a comment to win the entire release, and to vote for your favorite 5 designers!

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Heartfelt Creations Products

InLinkz.com

Paper

New England Ivy (CTMH)	5 1/2" x 8 1/2", and 4" x 5", and 2" x 4 1/2"
River Rock Scrap Pad (Provo Craft)	4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Stamper's Select White (Paper Trey)	5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Ink

Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)

Marina Mist (SU!)

Always Artichoke (SU!)

Accessories

Labels 9 Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Classic Oval Large Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Fancy Tags Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

Colored Pencils (Prisma Color)

Gamsol

Paper stubs

Scissors

ATG (3M)

Scor-Pal

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

Note: Splitcoast Stampers has a great tutorial by Beate for this side-step card (includes photos AND a video)!

BASE CARD

Cut a piece of green card stock measuring 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". Line up the short side of the base card at 3" in the rotary trimmer, and cut from 1" in to 6 1/2" in.

One side of the cut is 2 1/2" wide, the other is 3". On the 2 1/2" side score at 4 1/4", stopping at the cut. On the 3" side, score at 1", 2", 3 1/4", 4 1/2", and 6 1/2", stopping each time at the cut. Fold the 2 1/2" side in a "mountain" fold. Fold the 3" side accordian style, starting with the 1" score in a "mountain" fold.

MAT

Cut designer paper to cover the face of each part of the card. The measurements will be: 2 3/8" x 4 1/8", 7/8" x 2 7/8", 1 1/8" x 2 7/8", and 1 7/8" x 2 7/8". Mount the designer paper onto the card front.

HORSE IMAGE

Cut/emboss a green cardstock oval, and a white Label 9 die cut. Stamp the horse in brown ink on the Label 9 die cut, and the water splash image in blue ink at the horse's front hoof.

Stamp the horse again on another piece of white card stock, and cut it out using the matching die. Color the die cut horse using colored pencils, blended with gamsol on a paper stub. Mount the oval onto the large card front, and mount the Label 9 die cut onto the oval.

SCENERY

Stamp the images onto white card stock using green ink, and trim with scissors, color with colored pencils. Mount the tall grass on the back card panel, and the rock on the middle panel.

Using foam squares, mount the large grassy image on the front panel on the right, and the small grass clump on the left of the image panel. Mount the die cut horse over the horse image on the Label 9 die cut, using foam squares.

SENTIMENT

Cut/emboss a Fancy Tag using green card stock. Stamp the sentiment in brown ink on white card stock measuring 1 1/4" x 2 7/8". Use the corner rounder punch to round the corners on the sentiment panel. Mount the sentiment onto the fancy tag, and mount the tag behind the horse's head.

Thanks for stopping by!

May God Comfort You

Inspiration

Here's my second card for Heartfelt Creations this week.

Don't forget to visit the Heartfelt Creations blog to see the creations by all the design team members, and a sneak peek of next week's new release - the "My Guy" collection! AND, the design team call is currently underway. For the current designers, HC is taking a vote for your favorite designers. Every vote gets a chance to win a $50 gift certificate! Be sure to go to the blog and follow the instructions for voting.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size: 5" x 7"

Heartfelt Creations Products

HCPC 3450: Cross and Lilies PreCut Set

HCPC 3320: Vintage Word Background PreCut Set

HCD: 719: Cross and Lilies Die

InLinkz.com

Paper

Basic Black (SU!)	7" x 10", score at 5"
Bordering Blue (SU!)	4" x 6"
Very Vanilla (SU!)	3 3/4" x 5 1/4", and 3" x 3"

Ink

Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)

Accessories

Fleur De Lis Squares Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

Border Punch (Martha Stewart)

Sponge

Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Peg Bow Maker (Unity Stamps)

3-D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives)

ATG (3M)

Scor-Pal

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Cut a piece of black card stock measuring 7" x 10", score at 5" and fold.

MAT

Cut a piece of light blue card stock measuring 4" x 6". Punch one of the short ends using the border punch. Use a piece of vanilla card stock cut to 3 3/4" x 5 1/4", and stamp the word background using the brown ink. Mount this onto the blue mat.

Tie a double-loop bow using brown ribbon, and slide on a strip that will wrap around the mat. Use a glue dot to mount the bow on the right of the mat, and tape the ends of the strip on the back of the mat. Mount the mat onto the front of the card.

SENTIMENT

Cut/emboss a small Fleur De Lis square using vanilla card stock. with the die cut still in the die, stamp the sentiment in the middle using brown ink. Sponge brown ink around the sentiment. Remove the die cut from the die, and mount using foam squares.

Thanks for stopping by!

Heartfelt Sympathy

Inspiration

Happy Wednesday! It's time for more Heartfelt Creations designs. But first, let me put in a plug for visiting the Heartfelt Creations blog. There you will find the most beautiful cards, scrapbook pages, and other creations all created by 20 of the most talented designers you could wish for. And today's post has a sneak peek of next week's new release - the "My Guy" collection! Start thinking about all those masculine cards you need to make (birthdays, anniversaries, Father's Day...). You will LOVE this new collection!

Don't forget the design team call is currently underway. For the current designers, HC is taking a vote for your favorite designers. Every vote gets a chance to win a $50 gift certificate! Be sure to go to today's blog and follow the instructions for voting.

This week, I have 2 cards on the Heartfelt Creations blog - both are sympathy cards, using stamps from the Floral Cross Collection. Check back here tomorrow to see the second one.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size: 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Heartfelt Creations Products

HCPC 3450: Cross and Lilies PreCut Set	HCPC 3453: Malabar Clematis PreCut Set	HCPC 3454: Twining Clematis PreCut Set
HCPC 3455: Butterly & Lilies PreCut Set	HCD: 719: Cross and Lilies Die	HCD 713: Decorative Lace Border Die

InLinkz.com

Paper

Barely Banana	5 1/2" x 11", score it at 5 1/2", and 3 1/2" x 5"
Concord Crush	5 3/8" x 5 3/8"
Wisteria Wonder	5 3/8" x 5 3/8"
Delicate Dots DSP (SU!)	4" x 12"
Stamper's Select White (Paper Trey Ink)	3 1/2" x 5"

Ink

Concord Crush (SU!)

Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Accessories

Labels 4 Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Labels 4 Small (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

Paper Blossoms Tool Kit (McGill)

COPIC Markers (Imagination International)

SPICA Glitter Pens (Imagination International)

ICE Stickles (Ranger)

3-D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives)

Clear with White Vintage Swirls (Prima)

Art Institute Glue - Dries Clear

Zip Dry Paper Glue

ATG (3M)

Scor-Pal

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Start with yellow card stock cut to 5 1/2" x 11", score it at 5 1/2", and fold.

MAT LAYER

Use a piece of dark purple card stock cut to 5 3/8" x 5 3/8". Cut/emboss two Delicate Lace die cuts using light purple card stock. Trim them to 5 3/8" in length. Glue one to the dark purple mat so that the outer loops touch the edge of the card stock. Trim the second lace die cut so that it the outer loops touch the other edge of the mat layer. Glue this into place.

Adhere a strip of ribbon along the seam of the two lace layers, and tie a bow and glue it on the right end of the ribbon strip. Adhere the crystal swirls in the upper left corner, and a small piece in the lower right corner. Mount the mat on the front of the card.

SENTIMENT

Cut/emboss yellow card stock using the largest Label 4 die. Mount this just to the left of the bow, using foam squares.

Cut/emboss white card stock using the largest Label 4 Small die. Stamp the sentiment in dark purple ink on the white die cut, and stamp the twining clematis image in black ink just below the sentiment. Color the flowers with COPICS (BV31 for the blossoms, and YG03 for the stems and leaves). Mount the sentiment label on the yellow label on the card front.

Enhance the blossoms with a Lavender SPICA, and add Blueberry Ice Stickles in the center of the flowers. Stamp the butterfly on white card stock and trim closely. Color the butterfly with SPICA pens; I used Lilac, Lavender, Lemon, and Pitch Black. Crease the image just where the body and wings meet. Glue the body above the sentiment.

FLOWERS

Stamp the flowers in black ink on patterned paper (2 large, and 1 of each of the small images). Use the matching dies to cut them all out. Shape the petals with the large stylus from the Paper Blossoms tool. Use the Lavender SPICA to enhance the images. Mount the flowers to the card front using Zip Dry glue.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blue Sympathy

Inspiration

Welcome to Heartfelt Creations Wednesday and a NEW RELEASE! You've probably seen some sneak peeks from CHA of this beautiful set. This month's release is the Floral Cross Collection. This collection is as fresh as a blooming yellow lily on a sunny spring day: intricate flowers compliment the typographical, linear, and wooden crosses. There are 6 new PreCut Stamp Sets and one beautiful new exclusive Spellbinders die designed for Heartfelt Creations.

And wouldn't this be a nice Valentine's present for yourself - the entire release! Just leave a comment on the Heartfelt Creations blog by February 14 to be eligible to win the entire release valued at $125.93. The winner will be announced on February 15 on the HC Blog.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size: 5" x 7"

Heartfelt Creations Products

HCPC 3452: Pristine Lilies PreCut Set

HCPC 3450: Cross and Lilies PreCut Set

InLinkz.com

Paper

Night of Navy (SU!)	7" x 10", scored at 5", and 2" x 2 7/8"
Bashful Blue (SU!)	4 7/8" x 6 7/8", and 1 7/8" x 2 3/5"
Vellum	4" x 6"

Ink

Versamark (Tsukineko)

Night of Navy (SU!)

Accessories

White Embossing Powder (Sweet Stamps)

Heat Gun

Markers (SU!)

Paper Piercer

Brads

ATG (3M)

Scor-Pal

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Cut a piece of blue card stock measuring 7" x 10", score at 5" and fold.

MAT LAYER

Cut a piece of light blue card stock measuring 4 7/8" x 6 7/8". Stamp the large lily image in dark blue ink randomly all over the light blue mat.

IMAGE LAYER

Cut a piece of vellum measuring 4" x 6". Stamp a lily image in the lower left corner with Versamark ink, and heat emboss with white powder. Turn the vellum over, and color the lily on the back of the vellum panel using Sunshine Yellow, Bashful Blue, and Night of Navy markers.

Center the vellum panel on the mat layer, and pierce a hole in each corner. Place a light blue brad through the vellum and light blue panels. Mount the panels onto the front of the card.

SENTIMENT

Stamp the sentiment in dark blue ink on a piece of light blue card stock measuring 1 7/8" x 2 3/4". Mount this on a piece of dark blue card stock measuring 2" x 2 7/8". Mount the sentiment stack in the upper right corner of the vellum on the card front.

Thanks for stopping by!

Precious Memories

Inspiration

Heartfelt Creations has been making beautiful stamps for many years, and this Magnolia Oval is one of my favorites from a while ago. It's perfect for any sentiment. Here's a sympathy card I made for a coworker who lost her uncle this week. I needed one for lots of people to sign, so I put matching light blue card stock on both inside panels.

And, it IS Wednesday, so be sure to head over to the Heartfelt Creations blog to see a whole bunch of beautiful creations from the design team, including all our **NEW** members!

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size is 5" x 7"

Paper

Kraft (SU!)	7" x 10"; scored at 5"
Bashful Blue (SU!)	4 7/8" x 6 7/8"
Madeline designer paper (Prima)	3 3/4" x 6 1/2"
Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)	5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Inks

Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)

Bashful Blue (SU!)

Crumb Cake (SU!)

Stamps

HCPC 3377 Sympathy Sentiment PreCut Set (Heartfelt Creations)

892G: Magnolia Oval (Heartfelt Creations)

Accessories

Paper Blossoms Tool Kit

Classic Bracket Edgeabilities (Spellbinders)

Classic Triple Scallop Edgeabilities (Spellbinders)

Big Shot Pro (Sizzix)

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

COPIC Markers (Imagination International)

SPICA Marker (Imagination International)

Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Bow-Easy

Scor-Pal

3-D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives)

Zip-Dry glue

ATG (Scotch)

Scissors (Cutter Bee)

Rotary trimmer with straight & deckled blades (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Start with a piece of kraft card stock measuring 7" x 10", and score it at 5".

BLUE MAT LAYER

Cut a piece of light blue cardstock measuring 4 7/8" x 6 7/8". Line the bracket edger from the Bracket Edgeabilities set and a decorative insert die from the Scallop Edgeabilities set again one of the long edges of the mat layer, and cut/emboss in your die cut machine. Hint: I hold mine in place with removeable tape. Remove the dies from the card stock. Use a sponge to apply light blue ink on the embossed border and around the other 3 sides of the mat.

PATTERNED MAT LAYER

Using a deckled blade in your trimmer, cut patterned paper a piece of patterned paper measuring 3 3/4" x 6 1/2". Use a sponge to apply light brown ink on all 4 sides of the mat. Mount this onto the blue mat layer. Adhere a blue ribbon horizontally around the mat. Mount the mat layer onto the front of the card.

IMAGE

Stamp the Magnolia Oval in brown ink on ivory paper. Use the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to position the sentiment in the oval, and stamp it in brown ink.

Stamp the flower portion of the oval again in brown ink on ivory paper and cut out just the blossoms. Color with COPIC markers. I used these colors: Blossoms - E41, E43, 0; Leaves - YG21 & YG93 or B32 & B34. Use the paper blossoms tool on the trimmed blossoms to shape them, then adhere them to the matching blossoms on the oval image using foam squares.

Mount the oval on front of the card. Enhance the center of the blossoms with a Sand SPICA pen. Tie a multi-loop bow in the same ribbon, and adhere to the left of the oval.

Thanks for stopping by!

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.

Another Zindorf CASE

Inspiration
I made this card for a friend at work who lost her father yesterday.  I needed something I could make fairly large, so lots of people could sign the card. 

I went back to Michelle Zindorf’s work, and found beautiful inspiration – It gives a calm, gentle feeling that is so often needed in sad times.  Detailed instructions for how to create this card can be found here on her blog.  I’m headed to her class in Texas next spring and I can’t wait!

The ingredients I used are only slightly different, so I’ve listed them here.  The card dimensions are 5.5” x 8.5”, using a whole sheet of cardstock for the base.

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: (All SU!) Whisper White, Soft Sky and Blue Bayou

STAMPS: Inspired by Nature (SU!), Flying Bird (CCs Rubber Stamps)

INK: (All SU!) Soft Sky and Blue Bayou

ACCESSORIES: Not Quite Navy SU! marker; White Gel pen; Ribbon; Brayer; 1 3/8″ circle punch; Post-it Notes; Sponges; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars)

Thanks for stopping by!