Retiring stamp: Accented Blooms

Ok, it’s time to start showcasing some retiring stamp sets because a) if I don’t show you the projects now, I never will and b) you need to see what you’ll be missing if you don’t buy now!

This set is called Accented Blooms and it goes perfectly with the Tailored Tag punch. I’ve used it here with Peaceful Moments (not retiring) to create a simple sympathy card. It was quick, too, as the main image came out of my UFO box (unfinished objects). I just hope I don’t need to use the card any time soon.

Any image which fits the Tailored Tag punch works well with this stamped image, giving the set even more versatility. 
 

Peaceful Place sympathy card

The problem with sympathy cards is that when you need them, you need them in a hurry. And I prefer to keep them simple rather than put the focus on the card. So I made this quickly from my UFO (unfinished objects) box, where I have a stash of these beautiful images already watercoloured. A bit of layering, a quick greeting and it was ready to go.

I do love this image from Peaceful Place; it’s very soothing to colour in and I think it looks fab. You can make it easier to colour, as I’ve done here but you can’t see from the photo, by embossing in black.

Sneak Peek: Sympathy, masculine, birthday... Rooted In Nature does it all

To me, this card really evokes a woodland glade on a summer day, with rays of sunshine filtering through the tree canopy. A bit fanciful, perhaps, it IS just a card, after all.

In fact, it is one of the first cards I made for my display at OnStage Telford, when I received my box of goodies back in February. I really love this Rooted in Nature stamp set, and the wooden elements which continue the leafy theme. The ribbon is Granny Apple Green, one of my favourite new colours – it’s so vibrant and happy and, here, adds a touch of zing to an otherwise relatively subdued project.

Waterfront - simple scenes for all occasions

I thought I’d end a week of Waterfront projects with lots of simple cards made using this fabulous stamp set. As you can see, it’s suitable for all occasions, including get well cards, sympathy, birthdays, masculine cards... 

We’ll be using this fabulous set at my upcoming Hygge Night – please book here and join me for a relaxing evening. 

By the way, that's the last time I make a sympathy card “just in case”... sadly, I needed it within two days.

Sheltering Tree get well card

UPDATE: Virtual Hostess Club is now full - hurrah!

Another “awkward card” from last weekend’s workshop. This time it’s a get well card but you don’t always want to put “get well soon”, especially if the prognosis is not good or unknown. So we went for a simple “thinking of you” and kept the colours pretty cheery.

The stamped bottom portion is done with the leaves from Sheltering Tree. Just keep stamping until the whole area is covered.

I’ll have some Sneak Peeks for you next week I hope, and news of my Catalogue Launch Party!

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Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Bloom With Hope sympathy cards

Sorry, I miscounted... there are TWO PLACES left in my Virtual Hostess Club. This will be a Stampers’ 10 club and I will email everyone who has secured a place in the next few days. 

Now to today’s cards; they are sympathy cards made at my Awkward Cards workshop - unfortunately, I needed both straight away. So at least I was prepared, I suppose, which was the whole point of the workshop. The idea was to make one masculine and one feminine card, because you don’t always want a sympathy card with flowers.

The ribbon/trim on both cards are now unavailable, but you can substitute anything in a co-ordinating colour. To create the woodgrain panel, I’m sure you’ve worked it out, but we punched a circle out of a sheet of scrap paper and used that to stamp through. 

We stamped the images on top, inking them with markers, and then coloured them with blender pens. 

These cards see the surprise use of Always Artichoke! I went to the cupboard to fetch the ink pad and was staggered to see that it was still in its wrapper! I have had this since SU switched to the Firm Foam pads and never used it. At least now it no longer feels unloved. 

Finally, it’s election day, so don’t forget to vote! You may not get the result you want, but at least you’ll know your voice has been heard. 

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Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Sheltering Tree sympathy card

This project is at the other end of the stamping spectrum, using minimal products and keeping things very, very simple. Despite this, and despite CASEing the project (from Eva Bussom) it was the hardest card I have ever had to make. It’s a sympathy card for a friend across The Pond who has suffered the most unbearable loss.  My card is a measly offering in the circumstances but at least she will know I am thinking of her and her family.

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Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Bloom With Hope sympathy card

One type of card that many people struggle with is sympathy cards – not least because they’re made in unhappy circumstances, and usually in a hurry. I prefer to keep my sympathy cards simple as I feel the sentiment is more important than showing off my skills! This one is actually pretty elaborate for me, but it was for a cardmaking friend so I felt I could include a little more detail. 

To create the randomised spotty background, I used my polka dot embossing folder as a stamp - inking the raised dots and pressing them onto my cardstock. As the first attempt was even more patchy than I intended, I did it again, which gave it an even more random appearance. 

The Core’dinations cardstock I used is retired but you could replace it with smooth cardstock… you could even emboss it if you want more texture. 

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Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com