My Sheri Crafts Challenge #139: Non-Traditional Shaped Cards

We were asked to create non-traditional shaped cards (any shape/fold besides straight-edged standard cards allowed) and I decided to do a sympathy card. Always need to have a couple on hand, sadly. Ever since I received Spellbinders' Arched Windows die set, I felt it would be a good beginning to create this type of card. Using the Cross Collection dies also seemed fitting and my decision was to go simple in keeping with the solemn occasion.

My Papers are Bazzill and Papertrey Ink's Fine Linen and a gold metallic (source unknown) for my cross. My sentiment is from JustRite's stamp set "With Sympathy" stamped in Memento's Tuxedo Black. Decorating the inside arch is Latte tulle and ZVA Creative pearls.

I'll be anxiously watching to see your non-traditional shaped card @ My Sheri Crafts challenge soon!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #122: A Little Comfort

Our current challenge @ My Sheri Crafts is a simple (but important) one: to create a card that brings 'A Little Comfort' to it's recipient(s), either a sympathy card or simply Thinking of You!

I did a new take on my favorite simple sympathy card previously created here in black/cream, making it instead in shades of cream/light brown sugar. I started with a Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream CS base, added a DCWV light brown shade of textured CS and finished it off with PTI's Fine Linen CS. On that I stamped/embossed my BG vine stamp also from PTI's With Sympathy set) and embossed with American Crafts Brown Sugar Zing EP -- LOVE this color. I stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set onto a Petite and Scalloped Oval by first using VersaMark Ink and adding American Crafts Brown Sugar ink on top and heating with my heat gun until dry. A few pearls were added below my sentiment and cream seam binding bow at the side for an understated sympathy card. Always good to have a couple of these in our stash, so I hope to see your version of "A Little Comfort" posted soon for our challenge @ My Sheri Crafts!!!

Sympathy: JustRite Style

Sadly needing a quick sympathy card, I turned to not only some favorite Just Rite stamps, but also decided to emulate Sheri's recent sympathy card. Not only do we all need ease/simplicity when making this type of card, hers has such a fabulous focal image, why look any further? Hopefully, she won't mind my 'casing' it.

I stamped Just Rite's rose image from "With Sympathy" in VersaFine Onyx Black ink on white CS, as well as the sentiment from the same set onto vellum, heat setting it with my heat gun. I then stamped the medallion image from JR's Botanical Medallions & Banners in VersaMark ink on a dark grey Bazzill CS, heat set with Martha Stewart white embossing powder and die cut with JR's compatible Nested Medallion Label Die. LOVE the sentiment stamped on vellum placed over the rose image!!!

I used DCWV's LaCreme CS die cut along the right edge with Spellbinders' Classic Scallop Edgeailities to top my white stripe-embossed Bazzill CS that was edged with a tiny scalloped edge punch. Next, I placed a Winter White seam binding messy bow to the left and my focal image atop it to the right.  A few dark grey and white swirl pearls (Want2Scrap) finish the card. Hopefully it will bring a bit of comfort to our extended family members.

JustRite Friday Challenge #69 Entry #2: Spring Fling

I sadly need a couple of sympathy cards and since this is in memory of a sweet lady who loved flowers, I thought it would be appropriate to use pastel feminine spring colors. To me a spring's butterflies signify hope. Our hope is that the grief felt by her dear daughter will soon be replaced with precious memories of her beloved Mother.
The pastel colors and butterfly fit JustRite's current Spring Fling challenge. I absolutely LOVE the sentiments in JustRite's With Sympathy Clear set and though I didn't use it today, the rose stamp is absolutely stunning! I've used SBs' Romantic Rectangles to die cut my black and pink layers and simply sandwiched a floral rounded corner rectangle between them for contrast. My floral BG paper and hand cut butterfly are from Cosmo Cricket's Evangeline paper pad. A simple row of pearls finishes off the card.

Stamp: JustRite's With Sympathy
Ink: Memento's Tuxedo Black
Paper: Cosmo Cricket's Evangeline 6 x 6 Paper Pad; Black/Pink CS from stash
Embellishments: SB's Romantic Rectangles dies; hand-cut butterfly; pearls from stash

JustRite Friday Challenge 048: Sketch

Having just received JustRite's Sympathy Nested Sentiments and Spellbinders' Cross Collection dies, I wanted to use them for this week's Sketch Challenge. I die cut the largest of the 4 crosses from Spellbinders' Dark Blue craft foil (LOVE all the new colors!) and mounted it to rectangles in Vintage Cream and Spring Rain CS and then to a Vintage Cream card with Enchanted Evening layer. All CS is from Papertrey Ink. My sentiment and Victorian Nested Frame are stamped in Memento's Danube Blue ink and my metal corners are the "left-overs" from the inside of the cross. Dainty vintage cream lace from Hobby Lobby runs under my focal image and the sentiment block, which is mounted on foam tape. These cards are difficult to make in a hurry (for me anyway) and necessary to have on hand, so I just love all the thoughtful sympathy sentiments in this JustRite set which make a difficult job easier.

Sympathy Card: PTI CAS Style

I needed a quick, simple/easy-to-mail sympathy card today and turned to Papertrey Ink's "With Sympathy" set because it's so classy and has such perfect sentiments. Not being in a frame of mind to create an original work of art, I did what I often do: I took the easy way out and chose to "CASE" Debbie Olson's gorgeous card here. Why mess with perfection?
I changed the sentiment and positioned my pearls to better fit with it. I used cream wrinkled seam binding for my ribbon and "antiqued" just the edges with PTI's Chamomile ink, to tie in with my sentiment frame. I LOVE this ribbon and know that even after mailing, it will still look lovely!
Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream and black CS from stash
Stamps: PTI's With Sympathy
Ink: PTI's True Black and Chamomile; VersaMark
Embellishments: Queen & Co. Black Pearls; wrinkled seam binding from stash
Tools: Embossing Gun; Spellbinders' Wizard & Classic Ovals (S4-112) #4 die; WeRMemoryKeepers Corner Rounder

Be Inspired #95 With Heartfelt Sympathy

I hadn't participated in a Cuttlebug Challenge in a long time, so decided I'd do a simple card for their Heartfelt Sympathy challenge this week. It's always a good idea to have a couple of these cards on hand. I wanted to keep it fairly simple, so chose to use my Provo Craft Textile embossing folder for the BG. I then simply added a couple of decorative stamps and pearls to my sentiment tag and secured it with a decorative braid I've had in my stash for forever.
Paper: Bazzill CS; SEI's Morning Meadow DP
Stamps: PTI's Round & Round (sentiment) and Vintage Labels
Ink: PTI's Dark Chocolate Palette
Embellishments: Kaiser Craft Chocolate pearls; Braid from stash
Tools: Spellbinders Wizard & Ribbon Tags Trio Two

Taylored Expressions Dragonfly Card Drive #3-#6

I managed to get a total of six simple cards done and mailed for Taylored Expressions Dragonfly Card Drive and these are my last four. I felt they needed to be rather soft colors, so hope that these will work for her worthy cause. I ended up using the same layout on these last four, as they needed to be there by Thursday. I used the same Spellbinders' dragonfly die for each card, simply varying the colors, edgings and Nesties used.
Paper: PTI's White Shimmer CS; various DeNami Design's DPs, other from stash
Stamps: Stampendous SSC134: Encouraging Words
Ink: PTI's True Black

Tools: Spellbinders' Bugs & various Labels Dies; various Cuttlebug Embossing Folders; MS Eyelet Lace Punch

Taylored Expressions Sketch #105 & Dragonfly Card #2

This is my second card for Taylor's Dragonfly Card Drive, inspired by her Sketch #105. Just quite simply used several Nesties which are mostly borrowed from my friend, Ilene (except the one I do own -- the little swirl)! Having fun playing with her Nesties stash, which is a good way to know which sets I cannot live without -- eventually -- LOL!
Paper: PTI's White Shimmer; DeNami Design's CS (lavender & purple)
Stamp: PTI's Everyday Classics (Anniversary Set)
Ink: SU's Eggplant Envy
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders' Wizard & Dies: Bugs, Eyelet Borderabilities, Flourish Accents, Labels Ten

Taylored Expressions Dragonfly Card Drive 1

I'm really late getting started with my plan to send a few cards to Taylored Expressions for her Dragonfly Card Drive. You can read all about it here, including how you'll qualify for her drawing(s) for $50 Gift Certificate(s) for her fabulous store!!! Cards must reach Taylor in IA by Thursday, March 25th, so I'll do my very best for this worthy cause. My friend, Ilene, came over recently & we collaborated on this exact card, except that I opted to make mine the "usual" 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" size, as opposed to her square size due to my shortage of square envelopes. You need only send an envelope IF your card is different than this standard size, otherwise Taylor will supply them. Ilene had had this shiny flourescent green paper (probably wrapping paper) in her green stash forever and it made such a cute dragonfly, I just had to make a card also!

Paper: Bazzill CS; green from Ilene's stash (source unknown)

Stamp: PTI's With Sympathy Add-On: Loss of Child

Ink:PTI's True Black

Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders' Dragonfly & Labels Thirteen (my new fav!) Dies; MS Scallop 3-dot Punch

TEBBLS Challenge #11

Woo-Hoo -- my LAST challenge for TEBB #11! Really, it's been a blast & now it will be fun to see who wins each & every one! So exciting! Never done ANYTHING like this before; hope it's a hit because I just might do it again -- if there's a next time. I feel bad because I own NONE of Taylor's stamps yet, but hope that changes in the near future! I thought it appropriate to do this one last, as I KNEW I'd be DISTRESSED myself -- I only had about 4 hours sleep last night. Even though I often distress edge elements on my cards to make them "stand out", it's not something I'm very comfortable with or skilled at, that's for sure! For this final card I've used an Anna Griffin stamp, Strathmore watercolor paper and SEI's Windsor DP and EK Success punch, as well as Ranger's Antique Linen ink for distressing. Because is turned out rather subtle in color, I thought it an appropriate Sympathy card & it's always good to have one of those on hand. Whew -- I'm tired!!! LOL!

NOTE: It's after 9 PM here so I cannot get a decent photo at all; will reload a new photo in the morning light - hope that's okay?!!!

With Sympathy II

My second version (first here) of CPS Sketch 104 again using With Sympathy, but a different flower and sentiment. The unique flower, butterfly and sentiment are all part of this extremely versatile PTI With Sympathy set, fast becoming a favorite of mine! As my clever friend Gwen so accurately pointed out this particular sentiment works well for "encouragement" too. We can always use a little of that in our lives! If you get a chance try out this sketch, it's a great one!!!

Papers: PTI's Vintage Cream & Berry CS from stash

Stamps: PTI's With Sympathy

Inks: PTI's Berry Sorbet & Ripe Avocado

Emellishments: Robin's Nest Island Blossom & Grapes & Leaves Dew Drops; Pink Stickles

PTI's With Sympathy: Loss of Pet

Another fairly simple card for my 2nd try @ Guest Star Stamper on PTI's forum. This one-layer sympathy for the loss of a furry friend card is one I just wanted to make because I thought that little paw would look so cute flocked. In the creative process it occurred to me to do the same flocking on my flowers. I decided to keep the tone muted, clean and simple. Let me know if you like it!

I actually had to remake this card, once I learned the "secret" to using Palette's Stamp & Stick Gluepad with flocking -- "ink" your stamp with the gluepad & pour on your flocking BEFORE heating! Yep, that's the key to make your flocking stick and it will not hurt or change the flock at all! I heated both from underneath & from the top. I even went back and added a bit more flock to my paw & reheated a second time. Try it; you'll love it!!!

Paper: PTI's Kraft Cardstock
Stamps: PTI's With Sympaty: Loss of Pet
Ink: PTI's Dark Chocolate; Colorbox Pigment: Eggshell White; Palette's Stamp & Stick Gluepad

Embellishment: Doodlebug Designs: Flock; MS's Embossed ZigZag Punch

CPS 104 Card Sketch/PTI's With Sympathy Card

Finally got a chance today to play with my new goodies from PTI and to do a CPS sketch! I knew I was going to LOVE this set, even though it's designed for making sympathy cards. As the ingenious designers @ PTI have already demonstrated, it works so well for so many other creations too!!!
I used just part of the large vine stamp for my card here, along with a small flower and sentiment from this fabulous set. Making it even more awesome, there are two small add-on sets, one for the Loss of a Child and one for the Loss of a Pet for only $5 each!!! We all hope we'll never need the one for a child, but we know our furry friends don't share our usual longevity, so it's a great set to have on hand.
Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream and double-sided cardstock from stash
Stamps: PTI's With Sympathy
Ink: PTI's Perfect Match Palette Berry Sorbet & Ripe Avocado
Embellishment: The Robin's Nest's Dew Drops
Tools: EK Success Corner Rounder Punch
Card Size: Sidefold 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Anna Griffin Sympathy Cards

I can't seem to get a photo of this first card that will do it justice, but besides operator error, I'm blaming it on the vellum! Hee-Hee!
I'm going through some older cards as well as "card starters", my name for a stamped image that I start out with which ends up in the "pile" and may or may not become an actual card. I tend to not throw things away because it seems shortly after I do toss something, that's when I know exactly the "perfect" way I could have used it! I decided to finish off the first card by adding a sheer nylon ribbon. I then heated the ribbon briefly with my embossing gun to "curl" the ends and added the pearl. For the second card I simply added the cream ribbon and a button from my button box.
Oftentimes I forget about a really great idea to give a card just the finishing touch it needs, as in the ribbon idea here, which is one I learned years ago. I really like it and the way these cards turned out. I'm so glad I didn't throw these "starts" in the trash, as I now have two nice sympathy cards ready for a difficult time when I'll need them and might not have time or feel creative.
Papers: Blue Cardstock; Vellum
Stamps: Anna Griffin Repousse Background and phrase
Embellishments: Blue Nylon Ribbon by Europa Imports; Woven "Dancer" Ribbon by Offray; Gartner Studios Pearl brads

Sympathy Card

This card took me days to complete, partly because I had to soften the clock graphic (a Microsoft downloadable jpg) and lining up the phrase at the bottom, but mainly because these for me are such difficult cards to do. I CASed this Time Heals card by Jennifer Miller as closely as possible, again because they're so hard and this one appealed so much to me, from PaperCrafts Magazine's online projects. Because of the solemn theme, I didn't add any embellishments.

Paper: Deja Views Fresh Print: Blue Raspberry Collage & Blocks; Paisley Border from 8 x 8 Paper & Punch-Out Tablet