The Card That's Hard to Send

Sometimes it's hard to put a card in the mail, because I know it is one of a kind and I won't see it again. These tend to be the cards with lots of details. They sit on display on my desk for a couple of weeks, then I put them in a basket and wait for just the right person and just the right time to let go of each one.

Other times it's difficult because of the reason for which it was made. Sympathy cards pull at my heart in two ways. I want my friend to know that she is in my thoughts and prayers, but I put off the actual writing, because I can't summon the words to express myself. I am afraid I will say the wrong thing, or perhaps, I won't say enough.  

Many years ago I disappointed a dear friend by not reaching out to her after the death of her father.  She was right to be mad, and I love her for telling me how she felt and even more for the fact that she remained my friend.  Last week I mailed out this card to a friend, because, right words or not, silence is not an option.  


Card Details: Folded card is 5 1/2 X 5 1/2 white card stock.  I stamped the flower (Stampin' Up) with black ink; hand colored the image with Prismacolor colored pencils: lilac, violet, metallic silver, burnt ochre, and tuscan red; cut out flower; used mounting tape to secure and raise image. I used dark grey ink with the word stamp (Stampin' Up) and edged the paper with the same ink. I embossed plum colored paper with the Flourish embossing pad by Sizzix for Stampin' Up and rounded the top corners.  I used the Rose Bush 2-in-1 Edger Punch by EK Tools to punch out the border from lilac paper and silver metallic paper. 

The Little Card That Would

Trees are some of my favorite things in nature, and they are for my younger daughter, too.  I made this card for her to mark a special day. Now I am using it again to introduce my paper crafts to the blogging world.  I'm going out on a limb here...

Sometimes I think I am terribly original with my designs, but mostly I am inspired by samples I see in crafting publications. I see this spotlight technique used in a variety of ways on cards, and I really like its simplicity. When you highlight one detail of a design, it brings the eye right where you want it first, and then you look at the entire image. 

I hope to share my hobby a card or two at a time. I have been stamping and making cards for almost 16 years. I love these tactile, mini, artistic endeavors. When I am making cards or "playing with my stamps" I get lost in the details of paper texture, ink colors, and layout design. I tend to forget about everything else, except the person who will receive my card, and that's why I call them my hand made prayers.  

Card details:  Folded card is 5 1/2 X 4 1/4; white card stock.  I stamped the tree image (©Holly Berry House) first on green card stock with dark green ink, stamped it a second time with dark brown ink on light brown paper; cut out only the trunk; pasted it over the green image. I stamped the image one more time with dark green ink on white card stock; colored it with Prismacolor colored pencils; used a circle punch to cut out the bird and leaves; trimmed one segment to be flush with the green card stock.