Starlit Strip

I think it would be hard to find a better sentiment than this one for a Sympathy card . . .

 

Tina was a gem – both as a manager in our store and as a very dear friend of more than two decades.  She will long be missed . . . but as the sentiment implies, our reunion will be wonderful.  

 

Cardstock:   Handmade Paper with plant inclusions, Scrap Sage

Green

Stamps:       Wordsworth “Christ has made…”

Inks:             Gina K Charcoal Brown

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, TEMU Flowers

Doo Dads:    TEMU Raindrops       

Comfort

My card for the family of Eleanor, my friend of 43 years who has gone Home to her Creator . . .

 

She was an extraordinary woman who spent a lifetime in dedicated and loving service to anyone who needed extra help.  The damaged souls she helped achieve strong and sturdy lives are too many to count. 

Rest in peace, Eleanor . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore #140 Watercolor

Stamps:       Stampendous Encouraging Words: “Peace”

Inks:             Distress Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Wild Honey, 

Sea Shells Ocean Aqua, ColorBox Moss Green, Nuvo 

Glitter Gloss, Gelly Roll Clear Star

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Waffle Flower Butterfly Blossom Collection, Lacy 

                     Layers                    

Loving Memories

While I love putting lots of embellishments on my cards, I think Sympathy cards are best when the layouts are on the more subdued side . . .

 Green is a lovely serene color, so I like using it for condolence cards. 

Carole was a lovely soul and will be missed for years to come.  Rest in peace, dear friend . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Pear      

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up “Praying for friends…”

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Encore Honeydew, Pilot marker Gold

Emb Pwdr:  B’Muse Ebony

Dies:            EK Success Corner Adorner Interlaced

Emb Fldr:    Crafts Too Leafy Tree       

Sympathy

I fell in love with smooshing the very first time I saw it being done over two decades ago.  But I had blah results until I realized I was supposed to use the heat gun to dry each layer before smooshing the next one.  Once I did that, results were good . . .

 

However, I just learned a game-changing variation.  Instead of smooshing the ink pad on your craft sheet, smoosh on a piece of acetate instead.  About 7” x 9” is a good, workable size.  After pressing your ink pad onto the acetate, mist it once or twice and then turn it over and press onto your cardstock. 

The main advantage is that you can see exactly what you’re doing!  This is very useful if you’re using more than one color – you can see where you might want to add more of a certain color.  Also, the acetate is flexible so you can do a partial pressing if you like, such as in corners and on edges.  LOVE the results!

On this top layer, the colors were darker than I wanted for a Sympathy card, so I used double-sided sticky tape to invisibly adhere a sheet of vellum to the layer before die cutting.  That toned things down and I got the softer look I wanted.

HEADS UP: 

At the time of this posting, the NJ State Fair will open in three days.  I submitted nine entries and as always, will be posting them during all of September.  My competition is very stiff this year so it will be interesting to see if any blue ribbons will be coming my way.  Fingers crossed!

Cardstock:   Unknown Textured Brown, Strathmore #140 Watercolor, 

Stampin Up Vellum 

Inks:            Distress Speckled Egg, Distress Oxide Scorched Timber,

Stormy Sky, Wink of Stella Clear

Dies:            Mama Elephant Peek A Frame, DieNamics Single

Stitched Line Rectangle Frame, Memory Box Gerber

Stems, Impression Obsession Banners & Tails,

Dragonfly Set, Tattered Lace Everyday Sentiments:

“Sympathy”           

With Sympathy

Given the somber subject, I usually like to keep colors on the soft side . . .

 

  . . . so I chose textured Kraft paired with a few gently colored flowers.  I used Prisma colored pencils with Gamsol to delete the wax and help with blending.  A bit of shimmer to add interest and I think we’re done.

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute 

Stamps:       Mama Elephant Stems and Sprigs

Inks:             Gina K Amalgam Black, Gelly Roll Clear Star

Colorants:    Prisma True Blue, Muted Turquoise, Parma Violet,

Walnut Hollow Blue Violet, Schwan Aquarellable

8043 Dark Green

Dies:            Mama Elephant Stems and Sprigs, Impression

Obsession Mid-size Frame, Elizabeth Craft With

Sympathy   

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Weathered

Doo Dads:    Gamsol, Judikins Microglaze       

Memories

 Alcohol inks always provide the most deliciously intense colors . . .

  . . . rich, saturated, vibrant colors.  Pastels certainly have their beautiful uses, but my heart always responds to hues that aren’t afraid to stand up and say something!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Kachina, Yupo, Hanko Momi Washi

Champagne Gold  

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Bottle, Stream, Tim Holtz Alloy

Gilded, Mixitive Snow Cap

Dies:            Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, Memory Box Single

Rose Stem, Cascadia Butterfly Trio, YPP Craft “Memories”             

With Sympathy

Am having a good time playing with alcohol inks and Yupo cardstock . . . 

After heat embossing with gold powder, I dropped on some Rust alcohol ink and spread it around with Tim Holtz’s alcohol ink blower.  It muted the embossing somewhat which is a reaction I normally don’t like.  But this time, I thought it suited the layout very well.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Saltillo, Yupo, Strathmore Ultimate White,

Scrap Gold  

Stamps:       MJ Barber Chevron Open

Inks:             Adirondack Rust

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, Elizabeth Craft

With Sympathy, DieNamics Leafy Flourish               

With Sympathy

My friend Jeff recently had to say a very painful goodbye to two of his four deeply loved cats.  And a third is also evidently on his way out.  Hard to imagine so much loss in such a short period of time.  It is at times like these that I am most grateful for card making . . . 

Because there is so little that one can really do to help the bereaved, the chance to sit down and invest time and heart to give something tangible can really help the maker in dealing with a friend’s loss.   

Most of all, I hope that Jeff can feel some of its comfort . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Bazzill Raven, Canson Mixed Media #98

Stamps:        Our Daily Bread Paw Prints

Inks:              Superior India Ink Black

Emb Pwdr:    Stamp-n-Stuff

Dies:              Arich Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles, Rambling 

                       Poppies               

Emb Fldr:      Darice Paw Print Background

With You

While interviewing Joyce Kurtz, owner of The Peddler’s Pack, for an article to be published in the Holiday issue of RubberStampMadness, she very kindly sent me a handful of her delightful stamps to play with.  One of them was perfectly suited for the Sympathy card below . . .

The coloring was done with watercolor pencils softened with a waterbrush, and the flower centers are a non-metallic chunky glitter.  The background seemed a little bare, so I added a glimmer of texture by stenciling clear paste through a speckled stencil.  I went for glimmer rather than sparkle as toning things down a bit seemed right for a Sympathy card . . .

 

Cardstock:   Canson Montval Watercolor #140, Bazzill Evening Surf        

Stamps:        The Peddler’s Pack Delightful Daisies, Wordsworth

“My thoughts are with you”

Inks:               ColorBox Black

Colorants:    Inktense Pencils Iris Blue, Spring Green, Golden Yellow

Waterclrs:     Clean Color Light Green

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Kat Scrappiness Never Ending, Mini Slimline Double

Stitched, DieNamics Wonky Stitch Rectangle Stax                   

Stencil:          Tim Holtz Speckles

Doo Dads:    Dreamweaver Embossing Paste Translucent,

                      American Crafts Jute Green, Yellow glitter         

In My Prayers

This one was a struggle and did not put a smile on my face when I finally put it to bed . . .

 I was having fun with translucent texture paste and a text stamp I embedded into it while it was still wet.  But the text was barely visible and the colors I used over it when dry seemed a little lurid for a Sympathy card, so I covered the whole thing with a die cut background and called it a day.  Back to the drawing board . . .

 

Cardstock:   Stamper’s Emporium Marina Teal, Fabriano #140 Artistico   

Stamps:       Stampendous Encouraging Words: “You’re in my prayers”

Inks:            Distress Peacock Feathers

Waterclrs:    Ken Oliver Color Burst Ultramarine Blue, Pthalo Green

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Memory Box Butterflies Vivienne, Darla, Hero Flower Garden, 

                     Cottage Cutz Nested Stitched Scallop Squares

Doo Dads:    Dreamweaver Embossing Paste Translucent   

Sweet Cali Girl

Losing a beloved pet is one of the hardest of events to endure . . .

Cali Girl belonged to my dear friends and neighbors and was originally from the West Coast.  She was named for her sandy coloring as a nod to California’s sunny beaches.

Cali Girl was a sweetie and will be very much missed . . .

Cardstock:   Handmade paper Ivory, Marcos Antique Linen,

Scrap Dark Green  

Stamps:        Kaiser Marble, Little Yellow Bicycle Baby Girl: “Sweet”,

           “Girl”

Inks:             ColorBox Gold, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:             Impression Obsession Ten Fun Felines, Hero Palm

Fancy Die, InLoveArtShop Flowers In Vase set, English

Letters: “Cali”, DieVersions font Hint of Lime: Numbers

With Sympathy

 I tried out a new watercolor paint over the leaves on this one . . .

 . . . instead of a glittery effect, it has a lovely and subtle  gold shimmer to it which works well on a Sympathy card.  Hope the camera picks up at least some of the sheen . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Strathmore #100 Bristol, Hanko

Echizen Gold           

Stamps:        StacyStamps Fern, All Night Media “With Sympathy”

Inks:               ColorBox Black

Waterclrs:     Emooqi Fruit Green

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Gina Marie Stitched Rounded Squares              

Doo Dads:    Gold fiber      

In My Prayers

 My friend Carol recently sent me a gorgeous card she'd done with Pan Pastel chalks and stencils.  She inspired me and I realized that it had been awhile since I'd used my own chalks, so out they came . . .

 I used a slightly rough textured watercolor paper so that the chalks would be unevenly applied and take on a little texture of their own.  I'm happy with the results and think I'll keep my chalks on the worktable a little bit longer . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ivy, Canson #90 Aquarelle watercolor   

Stamps:       Stampendous Encouraging Words

Inks:             ColorBox Cream White

Colorants:    Pan Pastel Bright Yellow Green, Chromium Oxide Green

Emb Pwdr:  Stamp’n Stuff Ivory Pearl

Dies:            Mama Elephant Femme Frames, We-Buys Cute Ovals,

                     Mimgo Leaves, White Lotus Flower           

Stencil:        A Colorful Life Orderly Leaves

Doo Dads:    Queen & Co pearls

Deepest Sympathy

 Inspired by a painting in my dentist's office, the following layout emerged . . .

 

It doesn't look anything like the painting, but I had fun anyway.

The die cut is the result of excellent design by Pink Fresh.  The leafy part of the spray is from one stamp, while the flowers are another.  This allows you to use two different colors.  The stamps are clear so they're easy to line up, after which the coordinating die cuts out the whole image.  Easy peasy!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Juneberry, Canson #90 Aquarelle White          

Stamps:       Stampers Anonymous Distressed Shadow Background,

                     Kaisercraft Marble, Stampington Button Mums, Pink Fresh

                     Curvy Floral Vine

Inks:             Distress Aged Mahogany, Crushed Olive, Old Paper

Emb Pwdr:  Vippies Transcendence, Ranger Gold

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Gina Marie Stitched

                     Rounded Squares, Pink Fresh Curvy Floral Vine                

Doo Dads:    Viva Paper Pen Gold, Perfect Pearls Mist Gold

With Deepest Sympathy

 I tried a little something I hadn't thought of doing before . . .

 

 . . . the spray of flowers on the right needed some attention, but instead of coloring the flowers, I decided to do the stems instead.  I liked the effect and then double stacked the flower heads to get a more realistic look.  For me, added dimension seems to be the answer to just about everything.  It sure worked in this case - what do you think?

 

 

Cardstock:   Unknown Sage, Beckett Candlelight      

Stamps:       Alias Smith & Rowe “With Deepest Sympathy”

Inks:             ColorBox Gold

Waterclr:      FineTec Tibet Gold

Emb Pwdr:  Ranger Gold

Dies:            Tim Holtz Wildflowers, Memory Box Bamboo Shoots,

                     Arich Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles, Impression

                     Obsession Medium Butterflies               

Emb Fldr:    Taylored Expressions Burlap

Doo Dads:    VIVA Paper Pen Gold        

Come to Me

This card is for my cousin in the mutual loss of her father - my uncle - just one month shy of his 102nd birthday . . .

To the very end of his days, Uncle Mac was an inveterate walker who gloried in the joys of nature in all its forms.  So I thought a tall and sunlit golden tree over a gold-tinged leafy background would speak to one of his favorite activities.

He led a full and honorable life and was an inspiration to us all in so many ways.  Memory Eternal, Uncle Mac . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Strathmore Ultimate White, Hanko

                     Echizen Gold  

Stamps:       Rubbernecker “I will give you rest”

Inks:             VersaFine Olympia Green, Ancient Page Sage,

                     ColorBox Black

Colorants:    Jacquard Pinata Brass

Emb Pwdr:  Distress Black Soot, Ranger Gold

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Tropical Leaves Card Panel, Memory

                     Box Tall Birch, Arich “Rounded Corners Stitched 

                    Rectangles”          

Doo Dads:    Viva paper Pen Gold          

The Life

For Sympathy cards, I gravitate towards softer colors than I normally use . . .

One of the easiest and quickest ways to achieve that is with Distress Stains.  Here, I white-embossed an overall floral pattern and then daubed on three colors in loose rows.  I misted with water a couple of times to keep it soft, and finished with a mist of Perfect Pearls overall.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Jacaranda, Strathmore #100 Bristol     

Stamps:       Judikins Origami Background, Wordsworth The Life Given

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White

Waterclrs:    Distress Stain Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger White

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Squares, Rectangles               

Doo Dads:   Morex Ribbon Light Blue, Perfect Pearls Mist Pearl