With Sympathy

     Yes, I needed a Sympathy card for a co-worker.  Her father passed away very unexpectedly the other night.  It was with sadness that I sat to create this for her.  While looking for inspiration I found several card styles that appealed to me.....most cards of this nature seemed to be fairly simple.  There was one card I came across that had used the Lords Prayer in the background - then I looked through some of my old creations and some ideas began to form.  Like most cards, this ended up a little different from how it was intended to look, and that is a good thing - I liked my original ideas, but this turned out even better.
    Not owning a stamp with the words to the prayer I computer generated them, repeating them about nine or ten times.  After choosing a paper color I then coordinated the color of the ink for the words to the paper. Once they printed out I used my circle Spellbinder die to cut out the image and a background layer.  Then I inked up my Penny Black floral stamp with some Brilliance Pearlescent Jade and stamped it over the words of the prayer, Cutting off a small side of the circles I placed them on my card and created a floral design on the opposite side to balance the card with some Prima flowers, and foliage with my Martha Stewart punch, and Cheery Lynn die.  To finish this off I used some ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon and a metal die Cross from Momenta.

  The card dimensions are 5.5 by 5.5 and with the flowers would not fit into a normal envelope, so I made a small box to place it in.  There is a belly band with a fancy punched edge, with another Martha Stewart Punch, and matching ribbon from the card to go around the box, topped with a frame stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs with their matching die.  (Need to place her name on this)
     It is a very peaceful looking card - inside I computer generated the sentiment: Although its difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.  You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Supplies:  Prima Flowers, RRRibbon, MS punches, Spellbinder Die, Cheery Lynn Die, Our Daily Bread die and stamp, Brilliance Ink, Computer, The Paper Studio CS, Momenta Metal Tag. 

Challenges:  Simon Says - Anything Goes, Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes, Wednesday Creative Inspiration Challenge, A.R.T. Challenge Blog, Anything Goes

The Bunny Shake

     Yep, I have seen tooo many You Tube videos of the 'Harlem Shake' lately and just couldn't resist making a shaker card.  While shopping recently I purchased a package of Impression Obsession shaker inserts and just wanted to play - I usually don't use a bunny for an Easter card, but this little fella was just too cute to resist.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon (part of a package I won during the Hope for the Cure Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers last fall) - love this ribbon, and winning it has inspired me to keep it within sight so I can use it on more cards.  The colors went perfectly with my paper, I even used a piece of plain cardstock that I punched the edge of to layer the two ribbons over.
     My bunny looked a little plain all by himself in 'shaker land' so I stamped a row of Easter eggs, which I colored with my Copics, then stamped a second row of Easter eggs that I fussy cut out as a  mask over the first row - then I stamped the bunny and removed the mask so he looks like he is sitting in the field with them.

Supplies:  Copics, Impression Obsesion Inserts, Spellbinders Dies, Hampton Art Stamps, Flourishes Stamps, Really Reasonable Ribbon, Martha Stewart Punch, Corner rounder

Challenges:  Cute Card Thursday Spring, RRR Challenge 67 Show me the Green and Ribbon

Valentines Challenge at Dream Valley

This is for Challenge 50 over at Dream Valley for 

VALENTINES

all hearts and red with roses and pink thrown in with LOVE!!

Perfect for all those Valentine cards you need to send to love ones!

Please remember to follow our rules (in the side bar) to be eligible to win our prize! And what a prize it is for one lucky winner!

Meljen's Designs is a lovely stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical rubber and digital images inspired by her kids and family. Meljen's Designs has a new challenge every Thursday, and a Guest Designer each month at the Meljen's Designs Blog. Please visit the adorable line of Meljen's Designs stamps at our store HERE to browse all of Melissa's lovely designs! You can also see Melissa's exclusive rubber stamps at her corner of Whimsy Stamps, too!  Don't forget to join Meljen's Designs on Facebook HERE to take advantage of special sales and promotions that are just for her facebook fans!

One lucky winner will win 4 images of their choice!

     This is the image from Meljen's that I used for this weeks challenge.  Lately I have been into coloring and using 3-D effects on my cards and that is what I did with this weeks image.  I colored the base image.  Then I colored a second image and cut out the apple, and leaf.  I then used some pop ups to place that apple over the first.  But more was needed, so I colored a third image, and fussy cut out the little worm on the right and the heart.  I mounted the little worm by cutting him a little longer and inserting him into a slit I had cut on the second image so he would look like he was coming right out.  The little pink heart is also popped up.  A cute little card that I look forward to sharing with a friend.  

Supplies:  Meljen's Design Digi, Pop Ups, Copics, Scissors, Recollections Amour Cardstock, Really Reasonable Ribbon, Spellbinders Dies