Five Cards (Catching up on posting!)

I've continued to work on sympathy and anniversary cards this last week, and just realized that I haven't been posting them -- so now it's catch-up time!

Card 1
Here's a simple sympathy card that I think looks very elegant...



Stamp Sets: Because I Care, Small Sayings (inside)
Colors: Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, retired mystery DSP
Punches: Extra Large Scalloped Oval, Large Oval
And: Stampin' Pastels, 5/8" satin ribbon, Basic Pearls, sponge, Stampin' Dimensionals

Card 2
I struggled with this card, but I think it turned out to be, well, "interesting"...



Stamp Sets: By Definition (taken from My Digital Studio), Word Play (inside)
Colors: Basic Grey, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, retired mystery DSP
Punches: Boho Blossoms, Decorative Label, non-SU! border punch
And: Sponge, Gelly Roll shimmer pen (non-SU!)

Cards 3 and 4
I saw this design somewhere awhile back and it stuck in my head, so I just HAD to CASE (Copy and Selectively Edit) it! Unfortunately, my CRS is acting up and I can't remember now who the original designer is. If it's you, speak up so that I can give you credit for this wonderful card design that works for any occasion!


Stamp Set: Warmest Regards
Colors: Shimmer White (card base), Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy
Big Shot: Scallop Rectangle Clearlit, Beautiful Wings Embosslit


Stamp Set: Warmest Regards, A Word for You (inside the anniversary card)
Colors: Shimmer White (card base), Real Red, Night of Navy, Crushed Curry
Big Shot: Scallop Rectangle Clearlit, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Card 5
Look, ma! No stamps! I did this card using the My Digital Studio software! The "DSP" is from Summertime Splendor, and the sentiment is just something I typed and applied a font to. I printed the DSP twice along with the sentiment on my home printer, and then I punched the sentiment and background to it with the Wide Oval punch. The ribbon is the real deal -- 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon in Concord Crush. The card base is real cardstock, too, also Concord Crush, to which I applied panels of the DSP. (I have since learned how to resize and better use DSP in My Digital Studio.)



I have three more anniversary cards to do to complete this order, and I hope to have them done before Saturday so I can give them to my friend then. So, as ever, stay tuned...

Warmly,
Joyce Spear a.k.a. StamperJoyce

Three More Sympathy Cards

I made three more sympathy cards for my friend this week, and I have to say I'm pretty pleased with this batch.

DCBD #175
For one of my cards I used the sketch challenge over at Diva Coffee Break Designs. (Click if you'd like to see the sketch.)




Stamp set: Close as a Memory
Colors: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, So Saffron, Whisper White
DSP: Lovely Flowers (current Level 3 hostess bundle)
Big Shot: Beautiful Wings embosslit, Nestibilities
And: Old Olive and So Saffron grosgrain ribbon

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Two-Step Bird Punch
I usually stick to Stampin' Up! products, but I couldn't resist experimenting with my Nestibilities dies in two of today's projects. The real highlight of this card, though, is the bird on a branch made with SU!'s Two-Step Bird Punch which I absolutely LOVE!






Stamp sets: Warmest Regards, Close as a Memory, Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel
Colors: So Saffron, Ballet Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White
Big Shot: Nestibilities
Punches: Two-Step Bird, Flower Trio, hand-held 1/8" circle punch
And: Old Olive Taffeta ribbon (I think)

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A "CASE"
What's a CASE? Well, it stands for "Copy and Selectively Edit" -- which is exactly what I did for this card. Some time ago I saved to my computer a card that I really like in hopes this day would come. Unfortunately, I am unable to read the watermark on the original picture, so all I can do is credit "Laura" with the basic design and color combination. I did use a different stamp set for the main image, though.






Stamp sets: Upsy Daisy, Brighter Tomorrow
Colors: Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Big Shot: SU! Perfect Details embossing plate, SU! Perfect Polka Dots Texture Impressions embossing folder
Punch: Eyelet border
And: Polka-dotted Grosgrain ribbon (reverse side), Antique Gold brads, Stampin' Dimensionals

Not bad for a day's work, is it? :)

Sympathy Card - First of Batch 2

... and I have hopes this second batch of five cards will come together fairly quickly, as I've had so long to think about them!

Today I decide to try making a sympathy card using Stampin' Up!'s Sweet Pea stitched felt available in the current Occasions mini catalog. I think it turned out pretty well. I was going for something simple and heartfelt, and I think I hit the mark. The corners and edging are done with SU!'s Scallop Trim corner and border punches. The pink panel on both the front and inside was run through my Big Shot using one of the Texturz plates from the SU! Backgrounds 1 set. Colors are Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, and Chocolate Chip; and a bit of Rose Red in the felt. The sentiment on the front is from the Warmest Regards stamp set, and the inside sentiment is from Brighter Tomorrow. I used Tombow Mono Multi glue to adhere the felt, and I love that there's a strong bond without any paper buckling.




My goal is to finish this group of cards by the end of the week, maybe even sooner, so watch for more frequent posts! :)

Peace,
Joyce Spear, a.k.a. StamperJoyce
Stamper Joyce's Creative Corner

Sympathy Cards - Batch 1

Here is half the order of sympathy cards for my friend, which I delivered last month. I'll be giving her the remaining five cards soon... ummm, which means I better make them! *grin*

Given how much time has elapsed since I made these cards, I'm just going to post the cards and trust that you'll let me know if you have any questions about them. I remembered to take pictures of the insides of the cards this time around, so that's why the photos are in groups of twos.




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The One That Got Away

I was commissioned to make another pet sympathy card this week, and I must say I did a fine job! ... well, until it was time to remember to take a photo before sticking the card in an envelope and sending it on its merry way. They say the memory is the first thing to go, but -- what was I saying?

I used a piece of Shimmery White cardstock as the base, which made for a really classy looking card. The Elegant Bouquet embossing folder offset a picture of a dog dish with some roses in it, which I had layered on Handsome Hunter. I put the "With Sympathy" sentiment from Warmest Regards on the Modern Label punch and then layered that over a slightly larger Modern Label which I cut out using my Big Shot. Inside was a verse, computer printed on Shimmery White and layered on Handsome Hunter, to complete the card.

Here's wishing all my USA readers a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Peace,
Joyce Spear, a.k.a. StamperJoyce

Sympathy Cards

I had a request this week to make some sympathy cards. Here's what I came up with yesterday afternoon.

This first one is my favorite -- but then I tend to be partial to purples. I used a piece of handpainted paper for the daisy background and the sentiment.


Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Canvas background
Colors: Lavendar Lace, Basic Black
And: Black Craft ink, clear embossing powder, brads
Handpainted paper: Reinkers, iridescent medium

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I struggled with the following card, but finally it came together once I added the Chocolate Chip panel and figured out what to do with the sentiment.


Stamps: Branch Out, Warmest Regards
Colors: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Lovely Flowers DSP
And: Modern Label punch, brads

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Here's a simple one. It was my first card of the afternoon, so I think of it as a warm-up card. :)


Stamps: Flower Lines, Warmest Regards
Colors: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
And: Ticket corner punch, Wide Oval punch, Slot punch, Whisper White Taffeta ribbon

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Here's another simple card, made with the sympathy set Close as a Memory. I'm not sure why the photo's wonky, but you get the idea.


Stamps: Close as a Memory
Colors: Pixie Pink, Garden Green
And: Big Shot, Texturz plate

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I used the Manhatten Flower embossing folder and my Big Shot to create this last card for the day.


Stamp: Warmest Regards
Colors: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White Craft ink
And: White wide organdy ribbon (retired), Flower brad

Wild Birthday Card

My friend and stamping buddy Christina is having a birthday this week, (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTINA!), so that naturally calls for the making of a birthday card!



This is one of those cards that took on a mind of its own in the making. I started out with some paper from a DCWV Glitter Stack, and the card just sort of evolved into a multi-layered, colorful "thing." Although it's wilder than my usual style, I really like how it turned out.

Pet Sympathy Cards

I was called on to make some pet sympathy cards recently. It's never fun, but I do my best to honor the pets and console their parents.



This first one is for the brother of one of my BFFs who had to say goodbye to his German Shepherd companion. I googled and found this picture online, printed it in black and white and colored it with chalks. The photo doesn't capture the rich colors you'd see in person.






The next two cards were made in honor of Steve the cat, and since I know and love Steve these cards were more difficult than usual.

More Autumn Days

I recently stamped and markered a bunch of pheasants from SU!'s Autumn Days set which I was borrowing. I'll eventually get this wonderful set for myself, but today I was content to assemble the pieces I created while my NC friends were visiting.



Stamps: Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Warmest Regards

Colors: Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Ruby Red

Punches: Modern Label, Designer Label, Word Window, Ticket Corner, 1" Circle

And: Stampin' Dimensionals, Color Spritzer, In Color markers, grosgrain ribbon

Cat Sympathy Card

A friend called me last night to request a sympathy card for a friend of hers whose cat just passed away. Here's what I came up with...



Main image stamp by Stampola

Paws by Zimprints

SU! stamps: Brighter Tomorrow, Warmest Regards

Colors: Baja Breeze, Pirouette Pink, Whisper White

And: Craft Basic Black Ink + Detail Clear EP; Parisian Summer DSP; Scallop Edge punch; sponge; Flower Fusion felt flowers

A Sad Day for Stamping

Today I had to make a sympathy card I never dreamed I'd have to make, at least not for several decades. My best friend/bosum buddy from college, Cindy, was killed in an accident as the family was traveling home from spring break last Friday. I've been pretty messed up since I heard the news, but decided I had better pull myself together today and at least make a card for the family since I won't be able to attend the memorial service in northern Illinois on Saturday. While I was at it, I wrote a letter to her husband and kids letting them know how much Cindy meant to me and what an impact she made on my life. There was some healing in writing that letter, but I still feel like someone's ripped my heart right out of my chest.

Anyway, my brain's not in a very creative place at the moment, so I decided I would CASE a card by Julie Buhler over at Paper Pleasing Ideas. I mis-measured the image panel, though, so my card ended up looking different from hers. Simpler, even. Which works just fine for where I'm at.

Stamps: Branch Out, Brighter Tomorrow, Warmest Regards
Colors: Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
And: Scallop Edge punch, sponge

Polka Dot Punches Anniversary Cards

I've been plugging away at my friend's anniversary cards for the last couple of days, and I got so engrossed in the stamping that I forgot to post! I promised to not make unwieldy blog posts anymore, so I'm grouping the photos and making several entries.



These two cards are made with the FREE Sale-a-bration set Polka Dot Punches, the FREE designer series paper that coordinates with it, and the FREE Certainly Celery ribbon which came as part of a bundle. Gotta love it!



Also used: Full Heart Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Colors: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip