Sympathy Card for Paper Players #131

The Paper Players challenge this week was to make a sympathy card. 

I find sympathy cards very difficult to make, especially when I need one.  It's going to be quite helpful to have a card on hand that I can simply pull out and write a message in and address, rather than struggling to create a card in the midst of my sadness for my friend.

I knew I wanted to create something soft and subtle so I began pulling out my sets that had leaves, trees and flowers.  I loved the negative space in this leaf and knew it would be lovely heat embossed in gold. 

My next challenge was finding a color to work with the gold that wouldn't be jarring or too bright.  I tried a couple of neutral colors, but found I needed the darker contrast of the Always Artichoke to compliment the gold. 

I also knew I wanted quite a bit of white space, but wanted it textured.  I pulled out a Cuttlebug embossing folder that mirrored the organic quality of the leaf and it worked. :o)

Finally, I stamped the sentiment from "Thoughts and Prayers" on a piece of vellum and adhered it using two glue dots. 

I have found this is a fall-to layout for me of late--I seem stuck in a rut.  Oops!

And, the inside.  I stamped the same leaf in the center using VersaMark Dazzle in Champagne and then stamped the sentiment over that in Always Artichoke. 

I sincerely hope I don't have any cause to use this card anytime soon, but it's comforting to know I'll have it on hand if I do need it.


--Rach


This card uses:


*Stamp Sets: "Autumn" (retired), "Thoughts and Prayers"
*Papers: Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Vellum
*Inks: VersaMark Dazzle Champagne, Always Artichoke
*Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder

Grandfather's Birthday Card

I have NO idea why I didn't post this Saturday, or even yesterday. I guess I took a weekend vacation.

I've been puttering around with autumn-y cards and pulled out "Thoughts and Prayers" the other day to ink up the tree with some fall foliage. I pulled the sentiment from "Watercolor Trio"--it just seemed to fit. :o)

I struggled with this one. I needed something to balance out the bottom, but ribbon wasn't cutting it, and buttons were too big. I had three brads originally, but managed to get them off-center so had to add the fourth. Ah, well, I don't think GF will mind. ;o)


This card uses:
Stamp Sets: "Thoughts and Prayers", "Watercolor Trio"
Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Early Espresso
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Early Espresso (anyone else love love loving the deep, intense hue of this paper?)
Accessories: Neutrals brads


And, just because I can, I wanted to share my workspace with you. I'm already sharing it with a four year old girl, see? :oP

--Rach

In Sorrow

I found out two days ago, one of Brien's friends and former coworkers had suffered a devastating loss--her youngest brother was killed in Afghanistan. I knew I had to make sympathy cards for her and her parents as soon as I got home.

Then, yesterday, more awful news, a coworker lost a life partner. It's a season of sadness right now. :o(



I had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my "Just Believe" stamp set, and it came while I was away. Looking at it, I knew it would be perfect for the cards I had to create. It's such an elegant stamp set and lends itself to clean and simple cards.

This card uses:
Stamp Sets: "Just Believe", "Teeny Tiny Wishes", "Thoughts and Prayers"
Inks: Marina Mist, Certainly Celery
Papers: Very Vanilla (Whisper White just looked too harsh), Marina Mist, Certainly Celery
Accessories: scallop boarder punch, small pearls, dimensionals


Then, because you know how I am, I had to make the card in another color combination as well. Also, when I make a card, I make TWO of them, that way I can have one on hand if I need it. Or, I will have it on hand as a model for later.


The only difference between this card and the other is I used Rose Red in place of the Marina Mist.

The only thing left to do is include a personal note of condolence and get them mailed.

--Rach

Bright and Cheerfully Fabulous

That's how this card makes me feel, bright and cheerful. :o) When I saw the new "Sunny Garden" DSP, I knew at once I loved it. I quickly realized it was "Cottage Wall" with new colors, and as much as I adore "Cottage Wall" my new obsession made sense. :oP

I was finally able to delve into the paper last night and put this together whilst Audrey Hepburn and Bogey played out the story of "Sabrina". Ahhh, I do so enjoy old movies. :o)

But, as is typical, I digress...

The sketch was provided by Lesley at Always Playing with Paper for this week's challenge. I couldn't wait to play around with it, but something always got in my way until last night. Let me tell you how much I'm LOVING Poppy Parade! What a rich, BOLD red-orange. It is absolutely fabulous. :o)


And, here's the inside. I've come to love doing a little something on the inside--it makes them just that much more special. I created the layers in here to match the image layers on the outside. Stamped with the corresponding sentiment makes it perfect. :o)

This card uses:

Inks: Poppy Parade, Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait (A note: I have yet to purchase the In Color stamp pads and so far the markers have worked just fine for me.)
Paper: Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight
Stamp Sets: "Thoughts and Prayers", "Absolutely Fabulous"
Ribbon: 5/8" satin Daffodil Delight, 1/4" striped taffeta Daffodil Delight
Embellishments/Accessories: Beautiful Wings embosslit

I hope the person who receives this finds the card as fabulous as I. :oP

--Rach