More Sympathy Cards

I'm sharing some encouraging sympathy cards that I made using my Concord and 9th You Are Enough bloom and my Year of Psalms stamps.  I stamped the flower image in Distress Ink (Peeled Paint and Wilted Violet) and then used the ink to watercolor in the image.  The sentiments are all stamped in Archival black ink.

I also used a glitter pen to add some sparkle to the flower.  In person, this sparkle is very subtle.  I meant these cards to encourage while the family is suffering and also as a sympathy card.  I think this technique provides a nice, subtle finish for both occasions.

The inside sentiments come from various sets, mixed and match to send a variety of sentiments.  My grandma has already used one of these cards.  I'm hoping the rest stay in the stash for a while as well.

Today marks the end of May.  I'm right in the middle of a site audit at work - long days with lots of brainpower being expended.  I pre-wrote this post last weekend so I didn't have a lapse in posts.  Proof that crafting is a stress reliever - I was lost in posting instead of working.  Here's hoping your May was colorful and your June is delightful.

A Pinky Flamingo

Back today with a card from Brandy.  She stamped the flamingo and background in a light ink using a Stampendous flamingo stamp to give structure to the painting and then used her Mission Gold  to color the image.  This gives the card a very handpainted look.  I think the result is stunning and I couldn't be more enamored of Brandy's talent.  Join me in a Yay! moment at this lovely card.

Andie for

Using Up a Card Kit

Earlier this year Brandy and I attended the Embellish It Play All Day in Mesa, Arizona.  It was a fun day of crafting and socializing.  Brandy and I participated in the card swap where a prize was given for the top two cards in the swap.  The competition was so tough that Shelby gave away three prizes and Brandy and I both walked away with a card kit.  These cards are my take on the kit which was intended to be either cards and/or pocket scrapbook embellishments.  I decided to modify a bit and ended up with extra cards for my efforts. 

All of the embellishments, including die cuts, patterned papers and sequins were a part of the kit.  I added a couple of sentiment die cuts to finish the extra cards and the card bases.  Otherwise, everything was in the kit.

I'll put this together in a nice, handmade package to give as a gift when the need arises.  This projects was one of those that I did during my very busy days last month.  Easy to pick up and lay down when there are only a few small minutes to relax and craft.

A Sympathy Card

I made this sympathy card a while ago now.  I'm realizing that these photos are sub-par, but I don't have others at this point since it took so long to edit and post.  I stamped the image in a light colored ink and then colored with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  After the coloring was completed, I stamped the image again (I left it in my MISTI stamping tool) with black Archival ink.  The sentiment was stamped over the image to create a one layer card.  There is a little glitter pen on the iris'.

I made this card before I had a need because it can be tough to make these kinds of cards when the need arises.  I'm hoping it stays in the stash for a while.

Peony Blooms for a Graduation Card

I'm stopping in to share a card I made for a graduate.  I used my new-to-me Polychromos pencils to color the flower and then die cut the flower to mount on the card.  The Bible verse is a Papertrey Ink Year of Psalms stamp.  I think this turned out very eloquent.  Just the look I was going for this young lady graduate of a friend.

Note - I've included my "readers" glasses in the picture which I now need to make sure my coloring is precise.  I'm not sure if that is a good thing - meaning I have precision in my coloring - or a bad thing - meaning I've reached the age where I now need readers.  I'm going with it's a good thing.

I'm linking this card up with the following challenges:

City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 413 Graduation since this is a graduation card

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Simon Says Use More Than One Stamp since I used about 6 different stamps (big flower, little flower, leaves, sentiment, hearts, etc.)

Unicorns in My dreams

Brandy picked up the Spellbinders Die-d-Lites Unicorn Fantasy etched dies.  She then set out to create this beautiful set of cards using her Mission Gold watercolors, the wonky stitched rectangle die and some gold embossing.  Those unicorns are edged, like the clouds, with the gold embossing powder as well - ever so cleverly added I might include.  This first one is Brandy's favorite and I thought it was might at first as well.  I've changed my mind while writing this blog!

I think this last one is my favorite - a clearly placed coloring, some strong colors on that rainbow and a plethora of sequins.  Beautiful!

Tell me this isn't a simply stunning set of cards.  So hopeful, colorful and full of joy!

Andie for

Celebrating 45 Years of Marriage

 Whew!  That was a strong month long break in the blogging.  I wish I could say that it was a planned break to refresh and renew or that I was off on some exotic adventure.  Nope - just plain busy life got the better of me.  Between work and home life challenges, I have been consumed.  What I found this week is that I've sacrificed some of the things that keep me whole, energized and renewed.  Crafting and blogging are some of those things and so I'm here today to share with you the card that I made for my mom and dad's 45th wedding anniversary.  We celebrated last night - their actual anniversary - with a simple, causal dinner at my home.  My grandparents (my mom's parents) were able to join us along with her brother (who lives with my grandparents) and my sister, including both her kid and my kids.

It was special and this card was a strong mark for the day.  The 45th wedding anniversary is a sapphire celebration so I used some sapphire colored cardstock and my Heartfelt Creations Botanical Rose stamps and dies to create these flowers.  The frame die cuts were made using my Heartfelt Creations Leafy Borders dies. 

On the inside, a sentiment using my Concord and 9th Happy Day stamp set so that it was specific to the occasion.  My husband and I have our own milestone anniversary later this year and we're grateful for the stunning example of perseverance and love that is my parents marriage.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!