the hardest card to make

We never run out of ideas and we are so happy when we are creating  birthday, baby or wedding cards. It is much more difficult when we have to sit down and make a sympathy card, especially for someone we care deeply about. 

I never have a stash of sympathy cards, because it is cathartic to sit down and make a special card to help with someone's loss. I will give you a tip though, keep it simple with soft soothing colors.

My older brother's wife's dad just passed. He was well into into his 90's and lived life to the fullest. He was a happy guy with a great smile and laugh.

My card design was based on this sketch at  As you see it, another new challenge site I discovered.

today. 

I used the stamp set "turning a new leaf" from PTI. This is an oldie but goodie and is perfect for CAS card.

The saying and die cut is from Simon Says Stamp. I don't usually do anything fancy inside my cards, but it just felt right to carry the branch to the inside also. If you are wondering about the ombre, I don't have enough space to collect the HA ombre inks, but used my Marvy blending blox. Compared with the HA inks, I think they work just as well and I have every color.

Please check out this great sketch challenge at As You See It.

Birthday loot!

As I said in my last post, it was my birthday last weekend and I received a load of stamping stuff!! Woohoo!!!! The first set I got inky was this very cool set from Clearly Besotted- Dandelion Dreams.

It is a few months old but new to me. It is the perfect stamp to use with CAS designs as well as thinking outside the box.

To test drive this stamp set, I went traditional with this set. CAS on Sunday is having a color challenge- "Black and White with a Pop of White. This card just miraculously happened- very different from what I normally do. That is the great things about challenges- they make you stretch yourself.

I stamped everything with versamark ink and embossed with white and pink embossing powders. Added a few sequins and i think this is so elegant and whimisical. Is that even possible or is that an oxymoron?

Here is a close up:

As I was writing this post, I thought of a great twist for this card. I need to finish up and see if i can get it done and photographed before I leave for work!!

OK OK!!! I couldn't wait I just finished that card I was thinking!!

It is just the reverse of what I created first!! So cool!! Gotta try this thought process again!!

Check out what the DT and others are doing over at CAS on Sunday!!

Yay for the red, white and blue!!

 

If you are living in the States, you will be celebrating our country's independence. My birthday is on the 2nd, so I plan a 3 day celebration that goes right into July 4th. When I was a kid I always told people I was born on the 4th. I wanted to be a little firecracker. Well all I can say I may not have been born on the 4th but I am still a firecracker!!

I took this weekend off from all things school and decided to do what ever I wanted which is stamping!! My hubby and bestie both got me lots of new stamping stuff including all of the Altenew inks, which are fabulous. For my card today I used Altenew's ruby red and sapphire inks.

It has been a month since I last blogged!!! Yikes, where does the time go?!!? I decided to check out some of my fav challenges to inspire me. Several were hosting red, white and blue challenges and since it is the 4th, I decide to join in with a patriotic card.

I am entering this card at CAS-ual Friday and Curtain Call for their red, white and blue challenges.

CASology's theme is the word "row". I went rather expected with my card. No surprises.

A new challenge for me is Cards in Envy. They want cards that can be sent through the mail!! Love that idea. Today's challenge is "stripes"

Sometimes the most simple card takes awhile, today's card was no exception. Getting the rows of stripes straight and not smudged and then adding the stars evenly. It took 4 tries.

So check back again this week, I hope to share other cards I have been working on over this holiday weekend.