Butterflies in Blues

 Welcome to my blog today! I'm back with the second sympathy card that I've needed this month. I've used my latest favorite, the Butterfly Escapade Embossing Folder and Cutting Die. 

I've loved using this folder to provide beautiful texture and having the die is a great option for cutting one or two of the largest butterflies to use as a focal point. Using a pale blue card stock, I added the embossing and then used the coordinating stencil to add colors in blues and green. This is so easy!

I die cut the butterfly from this panel and then placed it over a white card base, curling the butterfly wings to let a bit of the white show through. Although there is a die to use for the butterfly's body, I accented it instead with pearls. 

The prayers is made up of three die cut layers, and the sentiment is stamped in blue. It's a rainy day and the photos don't begin to show how pretty the real life details are. I love this card so much and thoroughly enjoyed making it. This will be a go-to next time I need a sympathy card. I'm thinking of how to decorate the envelope and the inside; but wanted to get this posted today.  It's going out in the mail soon! 

Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks so much for your visit, it always brings a smile and brightens my day! 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Other supplies:

More with the Butterfly Escapade HERE
Altenew inks - Deep Blue Seas and Green Meadows
SSS and Hero Arts - Prayers Die and Clear Set . This is an oldie but a big favorite of mine.

Challenges:
SSS Wednesday Challenge  Make It Feminine
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Triple B  Birds, Butterflies and Blooms
The Neglected Stuff Challenge 
Can You Handle the Pressure?

Honeybell Floral WIth Sympathy

Just a note to say hello. 

I know none of us really like to make sympathy cards, but there comes a time to send them. I don't usually like to keep them on hand. It seems more meaningful to me to make one that can be personalized and made special for the recipient when I get the sad news.  Now today, I need to send two! Here's the first one. 

I prefer light colors and simple layouts for sympathy cards. 

Choosing three shades of rose/pink I used the Honeybell Floral Wafer Die, cutting the images twice, and adding inking to the edges of the pieces. 

I found a fence die that's been camped out in my stash for a few years. It holds the flowers nicely!

I debated inking a cloud-filled sky versus keeping a white background. I decided to go very very light with the sponging, and I'm glad I did. Altenew Blue Horizon ink is my new favorite for clouds. 

A very light swipe of yellow for the butterfly completes the scene. 

I will wish you a happy weekend, enjoy sunshine and special times with the ones you love! See you next week. 

Be yourself

         Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Playing at:
NBUS  Never-been-used-stuff 

Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, and Blooms 

Supplies: 

from my stash - sentiment, MFT prairie fence, MFT cloud stencil

New - first time use - Honeybell Floral Die - SSS

Butterfly is from Butterfly Escapade EF, dies, and stencils - SSS

Butterfly Blossoms

 There's something new in the house! I've been so excited to get my April card kit from Simon Says Stamp. Many of you made the cutest cards with last month's kit that I was inspired to give this month's kit a try. It includes stamps called Butterfly Blossoms and the prettiest of papers! 

I made four cards with the supplies today, and here's a look at two of them. For my cards, I used some of the dies I've purchased recently to add unique details. 

For the first card, the patterned paper is the star. I highlighted the flowers with Nuvo drops, and added gems to butterflies fussy cut from the paper. I made paper with strips of washi tapes included along the bottom of the card. 

I really like the neutrals and soft green shades. Soothing for a sympathy card, I think. 

The second card uses collage paper which I adhered to a panel and then die cut to make the background. I love the texture, it's like tissue paper.

I used the stamps for the floral images and butterfly, which I also fussy cut. Pearls, ribbon and sparkle paste (on the butterfly!) add the finishing touches. I hope you've enjoyed my post today! It feels good to me to be back for a visit. I'll share more tomorrow! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

I'm adding this to challenges: 
One of my favorites is with Darnell, at NBUS where we use our      never been used stuff!
Addicted to Stamps & more is asking for die cuts.
                                                 

Sending Prayers

 Hello, I'm especially happy that you've come back to my blog today. I'm sharing a sympathy card for a friend. It's always sad to need one of these. I don't usually have a stash of them but I may fix that now that I've made this one. 

I used a stamp from Penny Black from my stash ( 40-744 Garden Variety) and tried a new layout idea which has been shared often by a fabulous artist. I've been watching amazing videos by Micheline Jourdain and I gave one of her techniques a try. 

It worked well for a sympathy card. I can't wait to try it again using more of my stamps. 

Beginning with masking and a watercolor wash, I inked the stamp with Distress inks and stamped onto watercolor paper. Removing the mask, I added some bits of the image outside of the masked area, adding details and shading. 

The sentiment was partially heat embossed with gold and the smaller text in gold ink. I like the way the sentiment is the focal point. Spatters in orange and gold were the last touch. I may have added a bit too much - but I was having fun! And motivated to get on my way to other tasks, lol! 

I know this post is pretty long already but I want to let you know what I've been up to. I've had need to go to physical therapy for the last months, and you know, that takes time but my sciatica and medial epicondylitis (called golfers' or tennis elbow, but I might add, crafters get it too!) are improving. 

I also spent the last month doing a HUGE down-size to my craft supplies. I have been long overwhelmed with TOO MANY CHOICES and not finding where things were in the craft room -- so getting rid of MANY older  and some current stamps, inks, dies, and some even much older STUFF, has helped immensely. I also regrouped many of my stamps by theme instead of by companies, thinking this will make it easier for me to combine supplies from various companies and use what I have. How will this affect you? 

I'm going to stop listing all my supplies except the stamps or dies that are current. If you really want to know a certain supply, please just shoot me a reply to the post. I am also trying to keep my cards more simple.

I hope to be enjoying my streamlined space more often and kudos to you for sticking with me through this long post! I will end it here and send you a quick hug!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Challenges: 

4 seasons - Anything goes Spring

Krafty Chicks - All Occasions 

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - Florals

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 

With Sympathy for Color Hues

 Greetings to you on this day! We have a new challenge at Color Hues where Hannelie has chosen Yellow and Kraft for our creations for the next two weeks. I needed a sympathy card,  deciding that these colors are soothing and just right for this season too. 

I began with a white card base, and added a kraft panel. Stampin' Up! provided the lovely stamped images, die cuts, and sentiment. I've had this set for a long time but this is my first time using it. Now I won't wait so long until next time! 

We hope you will join us and add your projects to our gallery. We can't wait to see what you will make! Thanks so much for your visit! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

FIVE easy-to-make MINI Slim cards!

 Hi there crafty friends, 

I always say if you don't know what to make because you're in a slump or just overwhelmed with too many choices, just go back to the basics! For me that means case-ing one of my own cards, limiting my supplies, finding an idea and rolling with it! 

I did just that today. Vicky Papaioannou shared a fabulous video (find it HERE)  a few days ago, sharing how she made mini slim cards using her 6X6 Paper Pads. Her cards are fabulous and I was smitten with this idea, just had to give it a try! 

Of course, I began with the papers I love, Mintay by Karola, but let me tell you these are very difficult to use because they are so busy. Plus, the vintage style really limited my choices of focal images. I will definitely be trying this again with some clean and simple papers! 

With all that being said, I am really loving how these turned out.

The  first three  were made using the Lovely Day papers. The papers are my limited supplies. I didn't limit stamps or ink, lol!

Here's a rundown of each card and the supplies used. 

Each card begins by scoring the 6x6 paper in half. All the papers used contain small images or tags to cut out and use as ephemera. That's all I needed for this card, plus the sentiment from TE Sketchbook Bouquet. 

Card number 2 features the same set. I added the lines and sentiment in gray ink. The bouquet was painted with distress inks.

For card number 3, I used a flower stamped and cut with Budding Beauties Summer and a sentiment from The Greetery. This was conveniently already stamped and in my stash.

The last two cards use the Birdsongs paper packs. 

I absolutely love these colors! One of the last two would have to be my favorite.

For this card, number 4, I added vintage images to the card base and a greeting. The rest are assembled cut outs from the paper. 

Lastly, card number 5.  I stamped a rose image and used sentiments from The Greetery Sketchbook Roses stamps and dies.  I love that the papers are double sided so the inside complements the outside. I will add a panel inside each card for my message.

If you've hung with me through this long post, I applaud you! Do you have a favorite? Would you let me know which it is? Thanks for visiting with me today! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

God Our Refuge

Hello, crafty friends! 

 A week or so ago I needed a sympathy card. It was not fun making one under pressure. Isn't it always that way? I decided to make a couple others so I could have them ready in my stash when needed.

I pulled out the stamps from The Greetery that I had bought just for this purpose and made two cards. They are just what I think a sympathy card should be: simple in design, light and airy, with peaceful soft colors and a meaningful sentiment.

I began with a partial inking of the Windowpane Plaid on the white panel, using the Caring Cross stamps, stencil and dies for the focal point. On the left, I sponged using the cross stencil, added stamped images and die cut the whole piece. On the right I included the die cut cross and greenery and a die cut palm branch.  A flower was added on each using a bloom from Fleur Impressions. 

I don't always like "with sympathy" for the sentiment,  I  prefer something more unique for the recipient. I chose this scripture verse from Papertrey Ink (called Inspired: God) and the coordinating die. Don't know if the picture shows it but the word was cut from Metallic gold card stock.

All my inking was done with Distress Oxides. 

It's the end of a week! I can't believe how fast the days are rolling by! I hope that you are staying warm and well, and that you've been inspired!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

The Greetery - Cotton Comfort

Hello friends! I hope your day is going very well.  I've not felt well the past few days but time in the craft room sure helps. So do new stamps and I'll bet you've noticed the fun I'm having with my new sets. The "Cotton Comfort" set is one of my favorites. Here's my first card made with it.

I blended a background with DOX inks in Aged Mahogany and Tea Dye, adding a bit of Melon Berry (PTI) and a few spatters. I love the softness of these colors to add subtle contrast to the pale grays and browns in the cotton stems. They were stamped in layers and die cut. Keeping the card simple in style I added one frame and a sentiment on white card stock. Both are on foam pieces for added dimension.

The sentiments in this set are perfect for many occasions. I especially love this one for a sympathy card. 
I also found a new challenge that inspired my card at Inspire.Create.










Hope you're glad you came by! I sure am. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Cotton Comforts and the dies

Paper: Strathmore Bristol Smooth 

INK: SU - Early Expresso (sentiment); for the cotton - WPlus9 - Warm Wool, Fairy Dust, Coconut Husk and (SU) - Smoky Slate

Accessories: PTI - Pierced Feature Frame Dies: Rectangles; 

Beside Still Waters

Welcome back, I'm so glad to have you visit my blog today! 

Sometimes when you have an idea you just have to get creative with it when it first hits you! That's what happened with today's card. 

I love the idea that Dawn shared at MIM to use panels made with brushstrokes from paint. You can see her gorgeous cards and the amazing challenge samples HERE for more inspiration. 

I got excited about making panels using Nuvo Mousse as I have a quite a few colors of that product. After I made the panels and let them dry, it was too late for me to enter the challenge. 

I also realized that I didn't want to use my panels as a card front or frame, or for foliage since the Mousse colors are soft pastels. 

As I was cleaning off my desk for another project, the idea hit me to use these satiny papers as elements for a Psalm 23 scene.  Instead of setting them aside,  I made this card right then.

I only wish the photo captured the subtle colors and shimmer. The Year of Psalms June set from Papertrey is so beautiful and uses one of my favorite Scriptures. I embossed it in gold. The trees were die cut with Fresh Pine Trio (Memory Box) and the deer die cut is from the first PTI set that I bought - Winter Wonderland.

That's it for me today! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: PTI - Year of Psalms June

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Baked Brown Sugar

INK: Versamark

Accessories: Gold EP, Nuvo Mousse - Mother of Pearl, Aquamarine, Spring Green, Indian Gold; other dies - PTI Stitch In Time Borders Die

Papertrey Ink September 2018 Blog Hop

It's blog hop day at PTI and I am jumping in with a card to share. 

I've needed a sympathy card and thought the fall images and colors would be a refreshing theme. Here's the photo  depicting a gorgeous autumn table scene. 

I was inspired by the plaid, formal place settings and the textures of the cascading leaves and gourds. 
I chose the Stitched Flowers set because of the striped lines and textures, layering the die cut stamped images over the gingham paper. 
I used black ink and clear embossing for the sentiment stamped directly on the designer paper. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to have a look. I appreciate you sharing your time and comments with me! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps:  Stitching Garden Stamp Set  and coordinating dies, 

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Tangerine Tango

INK: PTI - New Leaf, WPlus9 - Wild Mango, Flamingo, Siren Song

Accessories: Coverplate - Pretty Frame Die