Sympathy Cards in Purple

Birthday and Sympathy cards 

are two types of cards that I never seem to have enough of...

whether it be for my own use...

or to offer via my ETSY shop.

and...

right now...

my "stash, for both, is almost nil.

So, I am taking a short break from making Valentine cards

and I'm turning my attention to Birthday and Sympathy cards.

Stampin Up's Gift of Love 

is a stamp set that is always out on my studio desk.

The main floral stamp  is a very nice image...

It can be used as a 2 step stamp...

or...

it can be colored.

(I prefer coloring this image)

I have used the main stamp...a floral...

countless times...for an assortment of cards....

and I've used it again, now...to create a few sympathy cards.

I am also being mindful of my 2017 promise to myself....to use prints on my cards....more often.

So...I colored the image with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers...

I hand cut and created a sentiment banner...

(The sentiment stamp is by Papertrey ink)

I added some background color to the image and banner with Clarity Stencil brushes and ink pads...

chose some prints... and metallic card stock for matting

and also, some vellum (for one of the cards)

and ...

this is what I came up with!

I chose to add a small amount of background color...behind the floral image only...

to give the illusion of light coming from behind the flowers.

I used the same ink color on the sentiment banner.

On this card...I chose to add a layer of vellum over the print

which gives a nice softened look.

The image mat is a deep purple metallic card stock.

After matting the image layer...I positioned it with foam..for added dimension.

I'm happy with my choice of placing the vellum layer over the print

It allowed me to get the softened look that I was going for. 

The second card is very similar...as far as the sketch goes...

No vellum on this card, though ...because I wanted the beautiful background print to be fully visible.

The coloring...background coloring...sentiment and banner 

were all created as described above...for the first card

I chose to position the image layer to the right...

to reveal more of the print on the left.

I really like the small gold accents on the print...and wanted them to be visible.

I really love this floral image...

It's simple...but yet has a lot of detail.

I like that although it's one stem...that it has multiple blooms and buds in varied sizes.

So my "stash" now has 2 sympathy cards...

I'll create more of this card soon...but for now...2 of this design/image is an okay start...

Once again...this stamp set has served me well...

ad it will continue to be left out on my studio desk...

because I know that I'll be using it again....soon.

Thanks for visiting, my crafty friends...

I hope that you'll leave my blog today with a little bit of inspiration...

and that you'll find time to create a card or two of your own.

As for me...I've still got a few sympathy cards to create...

because...a "stash" of 2...isn't much of a stash! 

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle.