Another Sympathy card needed & NBUS#88

 Hi,  Today I'm sharing another, Sympathy card that I had to make and get ready to send out.  It's always a hard thing to make but I hope that the recipient finds comfort in the words and knows that I cared about their loss.

Since this is my first time using this stamp and sentiment from the Unity Stamp Company (July 2024 KOM - it's all makin' sense) and also the patterned paper (Paper Studio) and my first time ever using the Misty Moonlight ink (SU) as well.  I'm going to share it with the NBUS blog#88

Here is my card:

I started with a card base that I can't quite place. - It's not Night of Navy or Misty Moonlight.  I'm thinking it might be a piece of Not Quite Navy but I can't be sure. (Sorry).

Normally I don't make square cards but the image I used is rather large so I ended up doing a 5x5 Square Card.

The image was stamped on Crumb Cake Card Stock with Misty Moonlight ink. I then rounded the corners with a Corner Punch, Splattered some white paint on it and added some Wink of Stella to the centers of the 5 main flowers.  I distressed the edges with the Misty Moonlight ink as well.

Next I cut a panel of the patterned paper, (Paper Studio) and glued it to my card base.  I embossed a strip of Vellum using the Misty Moonlight ink and the Cobalt Blue embossing powder.  I adhered it to the stamped image with Navy Brads and then used foam tape to mount the entire image onto the card.  I kept if fairly simple for mailing purposes.  

Again the inside was stamped with the same ink but stamped off once on the floral image. The sentiment was stamped normally. Also the sentiment is from (Stamp Simply) and I've used it several times.

Sympathy Cards

 Hi,  - Today I'm sharing a couple of, Sympathy cards that I recently needed. - Let's face while they are probably a crafter's least favorite card to make it's inevitable that they will at some point be needed.

Card #1:

For this card I used the other image from the July 2025 KOM

For my GIU week I had used the Dandelion image but I wanted to try using the other image as well. The sentiment is also from a Unity KOM (January 2023 Bloom and Evolve) The little splatters are from SU (Itty Bitty Backgrounds) a long since retired stamp set.

I started with a card base of Basic Beige (SU) which I might add is a color I really like now that I finally purchased some of it.

I had bought a piece of patterned paper at Hobby Lobby (Paper Studio line) that had a similar pattern on it so I based my color scheme off of that paper.

Dies used were: Unity Scallop/Rectangle.

I used Versa Mark ink and some Embossing Powder (Cobalt Tapestry) from PSE (Personal Stamp Exchange) which is sadly no longer in business to emboss the image.  I've only got a small amount left of this color and will miss it when it's gone.

Night of Navy ink was used to stamp the sentiment and it was fussy cut and glued to the image. Foam tape raised up the focal image.

This is the inside of the card.  I stamped the same image on a piece of scrap paper with Night of Navy ink and then stamped in down on a piece of Crumb Cake card stock which gave it a more muted look. The Sentiment if from Stamp Simply (Sympathy Sentiments Set 2) which I won on a blog hop a few years ago.  I love this sentiment and you will see it used on card 2 as well.

Card 2:

For this card I used a card base of Pecan Pie and a layer of Crumb Cake.  I stamped the deer image (Very old SU set, Noble Deer from 2004) I love this set so it's still in my stash.  I stamped the image with Early Espresso ink and colored it with pencils.  The pine cones are also part of that set and stamped and colored the same way then fussy cut. - The Sentiment is from the same Stamp Simple set that was used in Card #1.

I also used an old SU background stamp, (Sanded) with Versa Mark ink and stamped it down over my image trying to just get it only on the side areas and not the focal image.  You can see the faint impression it made if you enlarge the photo.  Foam tape was used to mount the sentiment.  Dies are from Unity stamps.

I kept both of these cards fairly CAS and did not add dimensional like gems or enamel dots so that they could be mailed more easily.

Thanks for stopping by. - Again if you don't receive a personal reply to your comment it's because I don't have your e-mail and blogger won't let me reply back unless I have that.

GIU Week - Day 2 - June 30, 2026

 Welcome to Day 2 of my GIU (Growing In Unity) week.

Again I am featuring this KOM:

Today I will be using the Dandelion Image for my cards. - There is another floral image in the kit to the left of it.  I did not use that image.

Click to enlarge images:

Card #1:

For this card I used the following colors of card stock:  Only Orange*-retired, Daffodil Delight,  Basic Black (SU) and Watercolor Paper.  Scallop/Rectangle Dies (Unity), Small corner punch (EK Success).

I started out by creating a mask out of printer paper that I had cut with a die and then lightly taped it down on the watercolor paper. I spritzed the paper lightly with water and then brushed water color paints in various shades over the masked area. I used a brush dipped in water and the paints.  Once that was done I let it dry and then tapped the splatter on with the Bronze Mica spray I used in yesterdays bear card.  I heat set everything and removed the mask. Then stamped the dandelion image with Versa Fine Nocturne ink in the corner.  I added punched photo corners and some enamel dots to complete the card. The sentiment was mounted with foam tape.

Card No. 2

I went a very different direction with the same stamp. - This time making strictly Black/White color scheme.

Card Base: Basic Black, Then a layer of Basic white that was embossed with Basket Weave Die (Concord and 9th).

Then I punched a strip of the black card stock with a border punch, (Daisy Scallop) from EK Success and added a strip of white grosgrain ribbon (SU) * retired. I glued that piece down over the embossed piece.  The dandelion image was cut out with a circle die from Unity and stamped with Hero Arts Unicorn Pigment ink. The sentiment was stamped with Basic Black in. Both the sentiment and focal image were mounted with foam tape and I added a tiny black heart to finish off the card.  This was a CAS (Clean and Simple) card

that looks like it took more time to make then it really did. 

That's today's cards. - Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a, $20 store credit from Unity Stamps.  If commenting anonymously please leave your name in the comment if you want a chance to win. 

Come back tomorrow to see which image from the KOM I'll be using for my next set of cards.

Sympathy Card

 One of my dear friends recently lost her husband after a 3 year battle with Multiple Myeloma  Cancer.  This is the card that I sent to her.

Mountain Scene is from Unity Stamps. - Sentiment is from Stamp Simply.  Background Stamp - retired SU, DP is from Catherine Pooler.

Card Stock: Old Olive, More Mustard and Crumb Cake.  Ink, Crumb Cake & Memento Tuxedo Black.

BC227 Tic-Tac-Toe

Happy Friday! - My heart goes out to those back East who've gone through quite a week with the recent Earthquake and those facing issues with Hurricane Irene. I pray you will all be safe and sound and come through these situations with no harm to those you hold near and dear.

As promised here is a picture of Coleen on her First day of School this year. She started 1st Grade on Tuesday.

If you have time and want a good laugh check out this link:
- There is music that plays on the blog so scroll down and mute it so you can hear the video.

For this weeks, Blogger Challenge Lisa (Splendiferous Creations) gave us a fun Tic-Tac-Toe board to work with. Here is a picture of the board:

The object is to pick any row (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) and use the items listed in that row to create your card.

Today I have 2 cards to share. My first card was actually made last Saturday when my friend, Teresa from Spokane was down again for another visit. We spent the day stamping, visiting, laughing and eating. I realized that this card hadn't been posted yet and then figured out that it worked in perfectly as part of the Tic-Tac-Toe board.

The items I used on this card are: Embossing, Pattern Paper and Ribbon/Seam Binding. - Diagonal Row

Card #2 - I made this card to send to a woman who recently lost her mother. I used a sketch found in the new (Card Ideas for Paper Crafters) magazine (Pg.60 and did a "case" of the card on the page by Latisha Yoast).

I used colors from this weeks Color Throwdown Challenge. These are not colors I would normally pick out to use together but I think they worked out pretty well.
For this card I used: Embossing, Lace, Bling/Gems (Top Vertical Row) but it could also cover: Lace, Pattern Paper and Die Cuts (Middle Horizontal Row).

Now it's your turn to play this fun game of Tic-Tac-Toe. Just use the Mr. Linky feature so we can see what you came up with.


Supplies: Card 1 - All Stamps/Papers Amuse Studio with the exception of the Grosgrain Ribbon (SU) and the Spiderweb Punch (MS) Colors: Wasabi, Pumpkin, Pebble and Spooky Hollow DP. Stamps: Spooky Boo Day-Sentiment and Too Cute to Spook.
Spiderweb Textured Embossing Plate, Onxy/White Baker's Twine,
Tag Die, Sparkle Gems colored with Orange Copic Marker, Onyx Glitter

Supplies: Card 2- Card Stock: Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake, So Saffron-SU
Sentiment-Amuse Studio
Textile Cuttlebug Embossing Folder,
Butterfly Die - Amuse Studio
Gems colored with Copic Markers
Eyelet Lace
Nestabilitie Dies

3CT36 - A Sketch and A Heartfelt Prayer

Today is Three Clover Thursday and this week our challenge was a "sketch" challenge. These are always fun because they give you a great starting point. This weeks card is one that no one wants to have to make but is also a part of life. I have a dear friend, Sue that I've known since 1980 when we became pen-pals through the mail. In early September her husband of 24 years was diagnosed with the advanced stages of liver disease and sadly he passed away this past Saturday (Oct.17th). When I talked with my friend she told me how she was able to be with him at the end to tell him how much she loved him and would miss him. She said his passing was peaceful and that she knew he was no longer in pain but that she had lost her best friend, her buddy and that it hurt so much. I want so much to be there for her but due to the fact she lives in Florida and we cannot afford an Airline Ticket I can only send her my sincere and heartfelt prayers that God will be with her through this difficult time and as she adjusts to life without her mate.

I'm not going into great detail about this card today as I want to get it off to her in the mail as soon as possible. If you have questions feel free to email me.

Be sure to stop by the other DT members blogs and check out their take on this wonderful sketch and then give it a try yourself.

Sunset Sympathy

Here is another Sympathy card that I recently made.  I based it off of a card made by Beth Silaika found here.   I wanted to try my own take on a Zindorf styled card.  If you haven't visited Michelle's blog Freedom in Creating be sure to stop by and check it out.  She has some "Awesome" art work and tutorials on her blog.

For my card I used the new Tangerine Tango  for my card base.  I love how rich and vibrant it is.  I layered that to a piece of Apricot Appeal.  Then I took a piece of So Saffron and masked a circle using a PostIt Note and sponged on, Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango and Pumpkin Pie Ink and removed my mask. Then I stamped my tree branch (Hero Arts - Trees, Birds and Messages) with Basic Black ink.  I colored in the leaves with Old Olive and the Flowers with Tangerine Tango ink using my AquaPainter.  I highlighted some of the flowers with a Clear Spica Glitter Pen.  Then I lightly stamped the Canvas Background (SU Retired) in Apricot Appeal Ink and stamped my sentiment Brighter Tomorrow (SU Retired) with Basic Black ink. I pierced holes along the bottom using my Crafter's Tool Kit.  I added Apricot Appeal Grosgrain ribbon, Prima Flowers and Orange Brads from Queen and Co. and then Photo Corners punched in Tangerine Tango to complete the card.  I really liked how this turned out.

Soft Sympathy

Here is another Sympathy card that I sent recently to a fellow church member who just lost her brother. I started with a base of Perfect Plum layered with Pale Plum.  I added a layer of Pink Pirouette (it's such a soft dainty pink) that I ran through my Cuttlebug using the Textile Embossing Folder.  I added strips of Perfect Plum and Shimmery White that I used my new SU Scallop punch on and 3 Pretty in Pink brads. 

For the focal image I used (Live Your Dream) and colored directly on the stamp with markers, (Pale Plum, Mellow Moss, and rocked it onto my Perfect Plum pad for some highlights.  I misted the stamp before stamping it onto the Shimmery White card stock.  The butterflies were stamped with Pink Pirouette ink.  This was mounted on a Scalloped Rectangle of Perfect Plum that I cut using Nestabilities Dies.  The main image was mounted with foam mounting tape.  I computer genrated the sentiment.

With Remembrance

This post is one of those that you wish you never had to post due to it's nature.  However death is a part of life and so it becomes necessary at times to post these kinds of cards.  Friday I attended the Funeral Mass of a man that I had worked with many years ago.  In fact it's been about 23 years since we worked together.  He was a great supervisor and one that challenged me to do things that I would have never done on my own.  He forced me to become more out going instead of being scared of my own shadow and for that I will always be grateful.  He was fun to work with and always had some great stories to tell and he made me laugh.  It's rare that one finds a co-worker that they can feel that comfortable with but I did.  So this post is dedicated to, David M. Deccio who died July 25th at the age of 61.  May his spirit rest in the arms of the Lord and may his legacy live on in the lives of those he touched.

  I sent this card to his wife and son.  I wanted something that was more Masculine and yet serene.  I was browsing through my stamping magazines looking for something that fit that criteria when I happened upon this card,  by Debbie Olson (Thinking Inking) on page 66 of the August/September issue of Paper Crafts magazine.  I just loved her card sample and thought that I could recreate the look using stamps that I own.  I think it turned out really well.  So Debbie if you are reading this a big, "Thank You!" for your inspiration.

Stamps:  Coast to Coast (SU - Retired), Sentiment from PTI (Paper Tray)  Card Stock:  Shimmery White, Basic Gray, Basic Black.

Ink: Palette Noir Black

Other:  Textile Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Circle Punch, Black Mini Brads (Queen and Company), Foam mounting Tape