Water wash

Making sympathy cards is difficult, more so when you knew the person quite well.  But never really any easier when you don't know the person passing, but you have a friend hurting.  So this week I needed both sorts of cards and when the kids and husband were sleeping, I used some quiet time at my desk to do some creating.

I was inspired by watercolouring after spending an afternoon with my friend last week.  I tried and tried to get a good watercolour effect by using my markers directly onto an acrylic block, spritz with water and then stamping onto watercolour paper, but..... I just couldn't get the effect I was after.

In the end, I pulled out my watercolour pencils, coloured directly onto the watercolour paper and used my Aqua painter brush to apply the water.  The colours were muted but pretty.  This is what I ended up with (after several attempts!):

It was a rainy and windy day at home, so I took the photos indoors.  The colours aren't a 100% true to the card but the best I could get.  But you can see the muted colours of blues, pinks, yellows with a touch of orange through.  Just to replicate the colours of the setting sun.

I stamped the reeds/plant image using the Asian Artistry stamp set directly onto the paper with Soft Suede ink and stamping a sentiment as well.

I've tied some white twine around the entire card, just for simplicity and effect.  Rather pretty it turned out to be.

I made a couple of these cards, and hope I don't need to use the stash cards any time soon xx

Flower Garden

Today's share uses the Flower Garden Embossing Folder which I bought a little while ago but put it in the back of my Embossing Folder box and forgot all about it.  So when I needed to make some Sympathy cards recently, I thought they would work well for a card that needed to be elegant but simple.

I've used the Flower Garden embossing folder to emboss a Whisper White matt that I've sponged lightly with Coastal Cabana and Lucky Limeade ink.  I've added a punched scallop border as it just needed something extra!  I've then used a background of Coastal Cabana.  Gosh I love that colour.

I've made a second card using Melon Mambo as the feature colour, adding sponging with Melon Mambo and Lucky Limeade ink.  Both cards have a teeny sentiment stapped and I've added white ribbon to both, just to add a touch of elegance.

I love both colour combinations and they're not too over the top for sympathy cards.  Both cards have used a Whisper White card base which is so pretty and tones down the bright colours.

So I've used:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiment
Inks: Coastal Cabana, Basic Black, Melon Mambo & Lucky Limeade
Papers: Lucky Limeade, Whisper White & Melon Mambo CS
Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Scallop Border punch & various ribbon
Big Shot: Flower Garden Embossing Folder

Pinterest inspiration found here.

Chloe Stem

I know I've said it before, but I'm sure I'll keep saying it.  It's always hard to make Sympathy cards.  For many reasons, we struggle.  Usually as it's a card for a sad reason.  I promise myself to have a stash ready but it never seems to happen.  So when a dear friend needed a card sent to her for the loss of a loved one, well I used the tried and true formula of classic but simple, elegant but not fussy.

So I decided on a very muted colour combination of Whisper White & Crumb Cake.  They work well together when you need classic, elegant and simple!

I used my honeycomb embossing folder for interest to the background and used my Oval framelits to cut the Whisper White card front. I die cut the Chloe Stem also from Whisper White CS and adhered just inside the oval cut out.

 I've added a little bit of interest with the little butterfly and a few little pearls. I coloured in the butterfly with my blender pens and Peach Parfait ink.  All in all, it's what I think a very elegant card that is definitely not too fussy.

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Papillion Potpourri & Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Inks: Early Espresso & Peach Parfait
Papers: Whisper White & Crumb Cake
Big Shot: Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Chloe Stem die & Oval Framelits
Accessories: Butterfly punch, pearls & blender pen