SYMPATHY IN BLACK AND WHITE

What are the hardest cards to make?  In my opinion, it is a sympathy card.  Having to make a few recently,I think it is even harder when you do NOT want it to have any religious tones.  Went looking for some appropriate paper Black and White)and found some Black and Silver that I thought would work at a local big box store. 

I came across the Card Crafter's Circle challenge blog and they are having a sketch challenge similar to what I had in mind....
 
                 

 and thus the card materialized:

Finished size is 5 X 7

My old standby for a sympathy card uses a die cut bird that I call a dove, however I don't have one laying around and no die cut machine, so I found these dove brads and some floral embellishments that look like lilies to me.  Also looking in the dollar bins, I found some great black and white ribbons to add.

Dollar bin finds
 

 

 

The ribbon is sheer and I think really beautiful. It is adhered to a piece of white cardstock and layered onto black.

 

Here it is just added to the inside of the card directly onto the white cardstock.

Heartfelt Creations sentiment

 

                                                  

The brads were plain white, so a little glue was added to the wings along with some white art glitter.

                                             
While I was at it, I made a few more in A2 size.  One for a birthday and 2 more to have on hand.  I also made one into a thank you (not pictured).  I apologize for the quality of the picture--it was at night.

ABC Challenge - O for Open
Card Crafter's Circle - Challenge #78 Feeling Sketchy
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Black, white and one other color (silver)
Sentimental Sundays - Challenge #158 Metal Findings (doves)
Creative Moments - Challenge #18 Lots of Layers
The Hobby House - Challenge #1 Anything Goes
Make It Monday - MIM #144b with Nicecrane Designs (b) - Anything Goes

That's it for now.  I am a little behind getting this posted.  Worked all day in the yard yesterday and my body is really feeling it.  My hands are so stiff it is hard to type!  LOL.  Until the next time.........happy stamping!
Cheesy Sandy  

LEFTOVERS

Hello Bloggers,

As I told you last time, I do not have many supplies with me this summer so I brought some "leftovers" with me to use up.  Here is another card using some leftover pieces:

Toni's birthday
 

I had some glossy cardstock that was dry embossed with an embossing folder.  I used a brayer to roll ink from the Kaleidacolor rainbow ink pad called Spectrum.  Love this look which I learned from my former design teammate, Shona.  Cut to desired size and layered it on white paper.  After that it was simple!  I added the white ribbon with a thinner apple green ribbon to the middle, plus 3 half pearls.

The flowers??  Those are dollar store sticker finds!!!   (Thanks to my Florida friend, Gloria.) Yep, they are dimensional and really pretty.    And you get quite a few for $1.  What do you think????

Added a couple of the smaller stickers to the inside sentiment (Heartfelt Creations).  The writing uses a Sakura Glaze pen (these give a pretty color and sheen along with a little dimension).  Will probably be using these more this summer since I am without most of my stamps.  LOL.

Hope that this has given you some ideas!

Entering this card into the following challenges:

Challenges4Everybody - Challenge 21 - Anything Goes
Make My Monday - Use lace and/or ribbon
Inspire me Friday 106 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Challenge 18 - Lots of layers
Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 186 - Anything goes with flowers
TTCRD - June 4 - 10 Challenge - Anything Goes

See you next time.  It has stopped raining, so I am going to try to go and plant some of my own flowers to enjoy.

Cheesy Sandy

MORE EXCITING NEWS!

If you live in Central Florida, then you know Stampfest is an annual stamping event held in Clearwater.  I have attended it for 4 years now, and was lucky enough to work at the Sparkle N Sprinkle booth last year while I was on their design team. 

This year I will be working at the Heartfelt Creations booth.  I had worked for them at the Chicago expo this past summer at their demonstration table.  We made some awesome flowers....see?

This was done with their coordinating stamps and dies, then colored with a product called Inka Gold.

Not sure what this year's demo will be yet, but check back after Feb. 11 and I will show you!

Lots to get done so see you soon.
Sandy