Sympathy and Apology Cards

Happy Sunday Everyone!

The Hero Arts ClearDesign Everyday Sayings stamp set features a large scope of phrases. I challenged myself this weekend and tried to incorporate each of those phrases into one or more cards. Turns out the challenge was easy for me. The hard part will be spreading those cards out over my blog posts for a week or longer as I am not good at keeping secrets when I am excited about something. The good news is I have already photographed all of the cards and edited my photographs.

I feel that sympathy cards don’t need to be dark and dreary. A touch of color may be just what it takes to brighten someone’s day. I remember when our mother passed away my sister Paula insisted upon wearing a bright outfit to the funeral because our mother had bought it for her and had loved the colors in it. Sometimes something that is beautiful and elegant makes us cry. Sometimes crying helps us cope with a loss.

The paper from SEI’s chocolat stack has just the elegance that I wanted for my sympathy cards. If you study these first 2 cards you will notice that I played around with the same blueprint when I created them. I’ve decided that I prefer the one that has the patterned paper at the top, the ribbon/bow in the center and the solid paper at the bottom. I think the patterned paper at the top helps lead your eye to the message at the bottom of the card. The card with the solid paper at the top feels bottom heavy to me. I added pearls to both of the cards. Although I seldom wear mine I love pearls. When I saw my mother wearing her pearls I always thought she looked very dressed up and beautiful and that’s how I wanted my sympathy cards to look

I’m happy with his card. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to place the sentiment and had accidentally glued my patterned paper onto the blank card before I made that decision. At that point rather then run the risk of stamping a sentiment that wasn’t clear and crisp directly onto my card I stamped it onto a coordinating strip of paper and added it to my card. The lettering on many of the stamps in this set is tiny and doesn’t require much ink so I like to practice with each of those stamps before I use them on my cards. Both of the papers I used on this card are also from SEI's chocolat stack.




I love this card. I think it looks elegant and tasteful. I used my corner rounder punch on the layering paper and on the card. I used a Martha Stewart butterfly punch to create the butterfly embellishment. I fashioned some antennae for the butterfly out of thin jewelry wire. I don’t think they show up in the photograph. Both of the papers I used on this card are from SEI's chocolat stack.

The phrase "I’m sorry" is included in the Hero Arts Everyday Sayings stamp set. I had to really think about how I would use this stamp because I feel that no matter how hard it might be "I’m sorry" and all life changing messages should be delivered face to face. I actually fell into a great article the other night called "How to Apologize". I highly recommend that everyone take the time to read that article because at one time or another each of us has needed/will need to apologize to someone. Maybe an "I’m sorry" card could be the place to write out an apology which could be handed to someone as you apologize face to face.

I used the "Posey Penguin" from Memory Box stamps on this card. The paper is from SEI’s Poppy paper stack. The blank card is from

A Muse Artstamps. The card is smaller than most of the other cards I create, but I felt it worked perfectly for the card I wanted.

This card has a "Sun Days" stamp from Penny Black stamped on it. I added some gems to add a little sparkle to the card. The butterfly was punched from an EK Success small butterfly punch.

I’ll be back in a day or two to share some of the other cards I have created this weekend.
Have a nice night!
Carol

This 'n That

Good Morning Everyone!

I decided to post today’s blog before the anticipated humidity settles in on us. I’ve just skimmed through my picture files and saw some photographs of cards that I have created recently, but haven’t shared with you.

I purchased the Debbie Mumm paper and embellishments that I used on these cards a few weeks ago. You’ve seen me use that paper over and over again. Even though the paper is from small blocks that are called "Baby Boy" and "Baby Girl" , I’ve used it on all sorts of cards. The paper and embellishments were in the clearance aisle of one of the craft chain stores and I scooped it up knowing it has tons of potential. Look at the paper I have used on these cards and you will understand what I am saying.

These clean and graphic cards deliver their message immediately. They were quick and easy to create. The text is from Inkadinkado’s Baby Boy and Baby Girl clear stamp sets.

The clouds on this card were created with a

Puffy Velvet Fabric Marker from Marvy Uchida. I used the marker to draw the clouds and then I heated them up with my heating gun. The paint from the marker puffed up nicely. Don’t get the gun too close to the paint because if you do you’ll have a toasted marshmallow effect. Hmm, guess that would work if you wanted to make some toasted marshmallows on a card!

I saw a card like this one displayed at InkAbout It in Westford, MA and on the Great Impression’s web site. I loved the way the waves were created with an EK Success dotted wave paper punch and knew I had some Recollections whale stickers at home, so I purchased the "Have a Whale of a Good Time" Great Impression's wooden stamp and the EK Success punch . I created the card shortly after I came home with my "new toys". I stamped the text on a scrap of white tag and then trimmed the tag to make it look like a cloud. I inked the edges of the cloud to make it stand out.

Okay! That’s a nice variety of ideas for you to try.

Stay cool!

Carol