Agapanthus Sympathy

Sympathy cards are never easy to make.  Especially if you have to make them with a heavy heart.  I try to have a few sympathy cards on hand, so when I need one I don't have to stamp through tears.  

This card is an easy one to make and is a great one to mass produce.  It goes together really quickly and before you know it, you have a few cards for your stash.  First I masked off the top and bottom of the white panel with large Post-it Notes and then lightly sponged on Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky.  Once I removed the masks, I stamped the Agapanthus Long flower image and the sentiment from the Encouraging Words clear stamp set.  A simple black mat frames the panel before it's mounted on a blue card base.  

When you are mass-producing these, you could leave off the sentiment and wait until it's time to send this card to stamp the greeting.  This card could be used for a variety of occasions, and if the card was basically done, all you would have to do was stamp the appropriate greeting and pop it in an envelope.  Easy peasy, as my boys say.

All of the supplies used to make this card are available at Michaels.  If you haven't been to Michaels lately, you really should check it out.  I was in my local Michaels last week and was surprised to see all of the new paper crafting supplies.  Including all of the new, wonderful Stampendous products!  How fun!  I spent so much time looking at everything, I'm sure the manager thought I was getting ready to move in!

Hope all is well with you and that you'll take time to get inky today!

Ruffled Blooms

This was one of my submissions for the Stampendous! BlogStars Guest Design Team.  This card was difficult for two reasons....I find it tough to make "clean and simple" cards since I like to layer on the ribbon and buttons and patterned paper and bling.  Plus, it's always hard to make sympathy cards, especially when you're making them for a specific person.  This one was for my friend, Larry, who recently lost his Mom.  Larry was a really close childhood friend of mine and his Mom was a really special lady, who always had great advice to share.  They live in Texas, so this was my version of "The Yellow Rose of Texas". 

Inside I stamped "Comfort", "Strength" and "Peace" from the Encouraging Words stamp set.  The flower is Ruffled Bloom - I love this flower and reach for it often.  Here's another version of the same card made for a friend of the family that is battling breast cancer.

I'll have more to share with you next week, I've been brainstorming and sketching today, and have a few ideas to get inky.  I also went to JoAnn's and Archiver's today and got a few new stamps to get inky.  Can't wait to play with my new goodies!

It's raining here, I hope it's brighter in your corner of the world.  Take time this weekend to get inky!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous Ruffled Bloom,  Stampendous Encouraging Words;  paper: The Paper Co.; Prismascolor Pencils, Goo Gone, Tortillons; ink:  Tsukineko Tuxedo Black; Crystal Stickles

Stampendous Comfort

Sympathy cards are always hard to make.  Probably because I only make them when I need them, and then it's hard to create with a heavy heart.  One of these I will get organized, and make a bunch of sympathy cards to have on hand for whenever I need them.  It's nice to be prepared for those situations, a card means so much to a grieving family. 

The leaves and vines in this Stampendous Encouraging Words set are so graceful and elegant and the sentiments are perfect for many occasions. 

Take time to get inky today and create a few cards to have on hand when those around you need comfort and support - it means so much.

recipe: stamps:  Stampendous Encouraging Words; paper: The Paper Co, CM designer paper; JoAnn's sheer ribbon; Tsukineko Sand, Pesto inks

Wishing you Comfort

I finally finished the sympathy card I've been working on for a couple of days. I always have such a hard time making these, and it seems that I'm never really happy with the results. Until today! I really like this card. In fact, I think I'll make a few more to add to my stash "just in case". I find it so hard to make sympathy cards when I have a heavy heart, so it will be nice to have one ready when I need it next time.

I'm so glad I bought this Stampendous Ruffled Bloom set. I kept seeing it at the store, and always stopped to look at it, but it never "spoke" to me. (do you know what I mean? am I the only one who has stamps "speak" to me? please say no!) Finally I went ahead and got it, and I've used it twice in a week already. It's a winner!

I'll be back in the morning with Day 4 of Teacher's Appreciation Week.

There's still time to get inky tonight.....

recipe: stamps: Stampendous Ruffled Bloom set, Encouraging Words; paper: DCWV La Creme Mat Stack & Cardstock Mat Stack; Tsukineko Tuxedo Black; Crystal Stickles; Prismacolor Pencils, Goo-Gone, Tortillons; ribbon unknown

Butterfly Sympathy

Like many other stampers, I have a hard time making sympathy cards. It's so hard to make them with a heavy heart. I should make a few one of these days just to have on hand when needed. Think I'll wait for a bright sunny day to work on them.

This card is for my friend, Patti's, husband. Though I've never met him, I wanted to extend my condolences on the loss of his mother. I didn't want the flowers to stand out too much, instead I wanted the butterflies to be prominent.

recipe: paper: The Paper Co; stamps Hero Arts Friends, Stampendous Encouraging Words; ink: Stazon Opaque White, VersaMagic Midnight Blue; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch; adhesive pearls, Michael's ribbon