With Sympathy

Sympathy cards are the hardest cards to make and the most important thing to send.  Making them means that someone I care about has lost someone that they love.  It's heartbeaking, but it is good for them to know that we care.  

Often I make sympathy cards with flowers in pastel shades.  For this card i went a bit more masculine with an oak tree in a late summer sunset.  My friend's father passed away last week.  Her mom past away recently as well.   The poor thing has lost both of her parents this summer.   The least I can do is send her a card and pray that she finds comfort and peace in her memories.

This card is similar to one I made at a Stamp Camp last Spring.  Today's card has the added addition of burlap ribbon, pearls and sunset colors.  If you would like to see the card I made last Spring CLICKY.  If you would like to see the masking technique I used you can watch the video below from that card.

***Note*** If you are unable to view video above, please click on the post title (With Sympathy) to go to my blog and watch the video.

For all of you who have lost a loved one recently, please know my thoughts and prayers are with you.   If you know someone who has recently lost a loved one, please take some time this week to send them a card letting them know you care.  You never know if it might just come at a time when they feel most alone.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Word Play (Retired)
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, Baked Brown Sugar
Misc.: Bronze Button (Retired), Burlap Ribbon, Basic Pearls

Earth Day ~ Masking & A Video

To celebrate earth day I made a One Layer Card (OLC).  Shocking, I know.  It's okay though.  I made a second card with extra dimension just to even things out.  ;)   It was fun thinking about the earth, and making the most of our resources.  As paper crafters we often recycle, re-use, and upcycle.  Our stamps, inks and tools can be used over and over again.  We tend to save and use every little scrap of paper.  Today we can celebrate that!

To make this card even better, I filmed a video for you.  I kept the camera rolling after I made the first card and caught my second card on film too.  If you are reading this post in your email, be sure to click on the post title above, "Earth Day",  to visit my blog and watch the video.

It is so much fun to create your own background with just a little ink. 

Don't you just love the little details on the bottom of my stepped up card?  I know I do.

Give this technique a try with a new color combo and see what you can come up with.  If you want to use River Rock, you better hurry.  The color has just retired and is only available While Supplies Last. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Paper: River Rock (retiring-WSL), Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Ink: Always Artichoke, Marina Mist, River Rock (retiring-WSL)
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Word Play
Misc.: Natural Trim, Neutral Buttons, Linen Thread, Sponge, Two Way Glue Pen




Lovely As A Tree




2 Way Glue Pen




Stampin' Sponges



Color Refresh

Music to my Heart

Sorry for the late post today.  I was really hoping I would get to film a video for you today, but time got away from me.  When I finally got a moment to film I realized I needed to do some cleaning first because my video corner is... well... ummm....  you can see for yourself.

My friend, Louise, came over and said it's a sign that I have been having fun creating.  :)  I'll go with that!    I HAVE been having fun.  So many ideas, and not enough time. 

Today's card "was" my favorite card of mine from the Winter Wonderland Challenge at StampNation.  I say "was" because when I got to my day 7 card I created one I like even better!  (I'll save that for another day though, because I promised Sale-A-Bration cards all week.)

The satin Island Indigo ribbon in the Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack (SAB) adds the perfect finishing touch to this card.  I like the size of it, the silky smooth center and almost matte edges.   It's also easy to tie in a knot, which is a plus.

My favorite part of this card though are the musical collage blocks.  That is what I was going to show you in the video, but it will have to wait for another time.   Sorry.

 

I liked the blocks so much that I made another card with them.  I had a small strip of paper left over so I used the smallest circle punch to punch it out.  Then I adhered it to my new brads and put one of the bubbles on top.  

 

 

It's hard to see in the picture, but it is so pretty in person. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North


Word Play



Music Notes Builder Wheel



Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack (SAB)



Designer Builder Brad



Northern Flurries Textured Embossing Folder



Remember When

Today I am blessed to be in California spending the weekend with my parents and extended family.  Here are some cards I sent them a few weeks ago.

The images on this card are from one of the oldest stamp sets I bought.  They remind me of my childhood vacations to the beach.  If you look through my parent's old photo albums I'm sure you would find pictures just like this of my brother and I.

The little girl card I sent to my mom. 

The little boy card I sent to my dad.

Looking at this little boy card makes me miss my boys.  They aren't so little anymore. :)  But, I bet if we took them to the beach they would build sandcastles just like they used to. 


Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Remember When




Fancy Fan Embossing Folder




1/4" Wild Wasabi Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon



Fab Friday

To be honest, I'm not feeling so hot today.  I was going to show you a video of my DH's birthday card, but somehow I managed to get sick.  (Bronchitis and an ear infection)  I'm on antibiotics though, so I should be feeling all better soon.

In the meantime I'll show you another masculine card I made before I got sick.   I found a new challenge blog called Fab Friday, and I was able to use their sketch to make this card.

Here is the sketch if you want to play along.  The challenges run for two weeks, so I might just be able to join in more of these ones.  There is still one week left for this one.

Fab Friday 05

I used aluminum foil to create the shiny background.  If you would like to see how I emboss on foil, check out the video in THIS POST. 

This card is being sent to my Uncle Rod who is going through cancer treatment, so I stamped the inside with a sentiment from Word Play.  Even though I made it before I got sick, I'm going to wait until I feel better to address and send it.  Don't want to accidentally send him my germs too. 

What I really wish is that I had a stamp that said "Wishing you a Speedy Recovery".  We need to make that suggestion to SU!   The envelope is stamped with 2 of the images from Affection Collection.

Not sure if you can see it in the pictures, but I used Crystal Affects on the car after I colored it to give it a glossy look.   There is lots of texture and dimension on this card, but I think it will still ship with regular postage.   

Creative Blessings,
Heather North


Argyle Embossing Folder




Need for Speed



Word Play



Festival of Prints DSP Stack




You Mean the World 2 Me

Don't you just love it when you go to create something and it comes together easily?  That's what happened with this card.  My dad is going in for surgery soon and I wanted to send him a couple of cards while he recovers.  This will be one of them.

The sketch at Mojo Monday this week is one of the reasons it came together so easily.  Whoever creates those sketches is a genius.  Each week is so different and yet so wonderful.  Have I mentioned lately how much I love sketches? 

Even though you probably know by now that I love banners, my favorite part of the card is the "world".   First I stamped the globe map from Open Sea in Bashful Blue, then I inked up the sentiment from Word Play with Early Espresso and Island Indigo and stamped over the map image.  I LOVE the results!

To add a little more texture to the card I curled the edges of my banners a bit and added ribbon and a mini library clip.  Are those little darlings still available?  I don't think so.  I've been kind-of hoarding them.  They are so super cute and I don't want to run out.  lol  But, my dad is worth it!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  There are only a couple more days left to enter a chance to win some BLOG CANDY.  Make sure you CLICK HERE and scroll down to find out how easy it is to enter.   I'll be picking a winner on Monday.  :)

Card Recipe: (Stampin' UP!)
Stamps: The Open Sea, Word Play
Paper: Festival of Prints DSP Stack, Very Vanilla, Island Indigo
Ink: Bashful Blue, Early Espresso, Island Indigo
Misc.: EE Stitched Grograin Ribbon, Mini Library Clips, Punches

Word Play-Single Stamp-You Mean the World to Me



Word Play





The Open Sea



I Remember

My son had an assignment due today asking 2 questions:

1) Where were you when you first heard about the attacks on 9-11-01?

2) What do you remember about 9-11-01?

It stunned me at first to hear my son say he doesn't really remember that day.  Don't get me wrong, he knows what happened, he just doesn't remember living through it.  Of course, he was just starting Kindergarten when our nation was attacked.  It's no surprise that he barely has any memory of that day.  I held him close, but I also tried to protect him from the fear I felt 12 years ago today.

His assignment was to also ask someone in their 20's and someone else in their 30's what they remember.   Personally I don't think I will ever forget where I was, how I heard, the sight of the second plane flying into the twin towers, the tears & fears of those in the midst of the rubble nor the heroes at ground zero.   Today my card is a remembrance card for all those who were affected on 9-11

 

It's important to never forget and also to continue to live.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: Loving Thoughts, Word Play, Fresh Vintage (SAB~Retired)
Ink: Midnight Muse, Bashful Blue, Raspberry Ripple
Paper: Sahara Sand, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse
Misc.: Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Remember When

Don't you hate when you need to send a sympathy card?  It can be nice to have some sympathy cards on hand, but I find that I enjoy the process of praying for someone as I make them a card after they have lost a loved one.  Don't get me wrong, I hate that there is a need, but I love that I can do "something" for them, no matter how small.

As much as a sympathy card is appreciated in that first week, I think it means even more in the weeks and months that follow the loss.  In those first days everything can be a blur.  Later it seems as though everyone but you has moved on.  It is then that a sympathy card received has such a deep impact.   So if you are a procrastinator and think it is too late to send a card, you could end up sending it at the perfect moment. 

I wanted to do some tearing for this card.  For some reason it seemed appropriate.  Perhaps it is the tears, or because a heart is broken.  This card is for someone who has lost her father, so I also wanted the card to have a masculine touch.

I did add a few pearls.

The inside looks like it is on an angle because I am trying to hold it open in one hand and take a picture in the other.  It looks much straighter in person.  (at least I hope it does)

I hope you never need to send a sympathy card, but if you do then I hope this inspired you in some way.  My prayers are with each of you who have lost somebody you love.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe:  All items Stampin' UP!
Paper: Retired DSP, Very Vanilla CS, Sahara Sand CS, Soft Suede Cardstock
Ink: Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
Stamps: Word Play, En Francais, Four Frames, Blessings From Heaven, Retired Background stamp
Misc.: Brushed Bronze, Bronze Button, Linen Thread, Basic Pearls, Decorative Label Punch