SFYTT June - Dog Sympathy

Well, Monday was a sad day...........one of our CSL's had to put her dog Rudi to sleep. He lived a wonderful long 14 years, but I know his parents were still quite devastated.   Of course, I made a card for them and based it on the Sketch For You To Try (it's back!!) - June layout.

I created my own background papers using Hero Arts hearts, and There She Goes pawprints and bones.  I also used TSG stamps for my main image colored with Inktense pencils.

Here's the sketch:

Now, before I leave you on a sad note..............I have to share the INCREDIBLE thing that happen after Rudi crossed rainbow bridge.............

This picture was taken by a my CSL's neighbor one street over from her house:

I mean seriously????????  I get goosebumps every time I look at it!

Rudi was surely telling them he was running free in heaven!

RIP Rudi!!

Thanks for your visit!

Dogwood Sympathy Card

Happy Saturday & Happy June to you!  It's been HOT HOT HOT in CT the past few days! But really, I'm not complaining - I like the heat!

Today I'm sharing a sympathy card I had to make using this beautiful dogwood stamp by Hero Arts and Inktense watercolor pencils.

I didn't have a layout design in mind after I finished my coloring - so I decided to put the image behind the top layer and then add the sentiment.  I created scorelines under the sentiment, but the heat must of gotten to me because they were not scored straight - so I needed to cover that boo boo up! (and yes - in real life that strip matches the flowers!)

I'm really pleased with the image - but not in total love with the layout. 

Oh well!

Thanks for your visit!

RS49 - Sorry for your loss

My friend asked for a doggy sympathy card and without knowing if it was a boy or girl dog - I made two cards using the Retro Sketches #49 layout:

I used a combo of Inkadinkado, There She Goes and Skipping Stones stamps.

Here's the sketch - but the challenge closes at 11:59pm CST today:

Have a great Friday!!!


Thanks for your visit!

Sorry for your loss

Sadly, I was in need of a sympathy card - so I decided to do a little more pencil over pencil on Kraft coloring.

I used my PTI Lily of the Valley stamp and some MME paper.

I even stamped some script on the button!  Lastly I used a Hero Arts sentiment and dots that came with that set.

Are you getting ready for New Year's Eve?

Thanks for your visit!

Thinking of You

My friend lost her dad just before Christmas - so I created this sympathy card for her.

Have I mentioned that I'm having SO MUCH FUN coloring pencil over pencil on kraft cardstock? (I think so, right?)
And yes..........I used this Hero Arts stamp again (because it is just so PRETTY!)

I colored this up while watching The Sound of Music a few days before Christmas.  It definitely put me in a good mood while making a 'sympathy' card.   I have to say - I did pat myself on the back after finishing it. I just LOVE IT!!!  I do hope my friend can feel the love I put into the card too!



Thanks for your visit!

FTL#221 - Doggy Sympathy

Sadly, I made another doggy sympathy card (hopefully it's gotten to it's recipient by now) last week for a blogging friend who lost her senior doggy too.  I used the Clean and Simple Sketch#221 for my layout.

The minute I saw the sketch - I knew I wanted to use an 'xxoo' theme and the layout was perfect.
So, I die cut my "x" and "o" from my Sizzix dies and laid them out on the card front.  I hand cut my sentiment banner using a MFT cocker spaniel stamp colored with my pencils and a Skipping Stones sentiment embossed in white.  I felt the card was still too stark - so I drew border lines around the card with my Sharpie.

Here's the sketch I followed:

Thanks for your visit!

I'm so sorry

Hiya Friends!  Hope you are well today.  I made this card last week for a friend who had to put her dog Brandy down.  She was 14 years old, which is quite old for her breed, but even still - it is a tough loss for them.

When I saw the Mojo#270 sketch - which was two week's ago - I kept it unread in my Google Reader because I liked the sketch and knew I wanted to use it even if I missed the deadline.

I used papers from My Mind's Eye pack, which I just love the pink/brown combo.
I die cut hearts from a Verve die and the heart border is Memory Box die.
The sentiment is Studio G and I forget who makes the pawprints.

I hope this gave some comfort to my friend.  Have a great day!


Thanks for your visit!

SSS79 - Thinking of You

Sadly, I was in need of a sympathy this week for a friend's dad who passed away. I was looking through some sketch challenges to give me a boost and came across Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge#79 and decided to use that layout.

I created the background using two different Verve stamps and two different Memento Inks.  I used two Hero Arts sentiments as well.  I didn't want to overwhelm the card, although the flowers might be a bit too much anyway.

Here's the sketch if you want to try it:

Hope you have some fun plans for today!  TGIF!

Thanks for your visit!

SFYTT July - Sympathy

Happy Hump Day!  I've had a hard time getting the time to write this post up!  I was also running out of time to get my card done for the Sketch For You To Try July Challenge - but I made it!

I actually had the main image done for about two weeks, but it sat on my desk, sat and sat some more until I decided to cut part of the image off to match the sketch.  I also came across the Catered Crop "Washi's Up" challenge to use washi tape and thank goodness that Cheryl enabled me to get some so I could play along!

I embossed the Penny Black image in white powder, then used some Distress Inks to color the background.  I added a Hero Arts plaid stamp over that image and then used my Nestie to cut it out and added a scalloped Nestie behind that.

My washi tape is the chevron patterned that I laid on top of navy cardstock and then embossed a panel w/ my Cuttlebug folder. I finished off the card with a PTI sentiment.  And - yes - I tried sewing again! Not TOO bad, but I REALLY need to practice more!!!

Here's the sketch - you still have a few more days to enter!!

Have a great day!!
Thanks for your visit!

Doggy Sympathy

Good Morning!  Thanks for coming to take a look today.  Sadly, it's not a happy card today.  One of my co-volunteers at the CT Humane Society suddenly lost her dog last week.  Tyson was at our shelter for a while after coming in as a neglect case (along with his sister, Hanna, who Cindy adopted).  Tyson was probably 30lbs and should of been 65-70 lbs.  But, with great care, he filled out and was adopted by our husband-wife volunteer team.

Tyson had some separation issues and ended up doing quite a bit of damage to their home, but they stuck by him through good and bad times. Unbeknownst to them, Tyson had cancer and it all came to a head last week and they had to put him to sleep.  We all loved Tyson and feel their pain.

I used my Skipping Stones sentiment and pawprints along with American Crafts paper and a PTI bloom die. (sorry - I had to take picture with my iPhone).

Here are a few of my favorite shots of Tyson from the shelter:

Here's Taz and Tyson after a fun run-a-round.  Can you say exhausted??

RIP Sweet Boy!

Thanks for your visit!

SRC120/Moxie Fab - Thinking of You

(My posts aren't publishing automatically. Is anyone else having that problem?)

Happy Saturday!  Hope you have some fun plans for the weekend!  Ours is actually going to be quiet! WOW!

Here is the first of two cards I made for the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Watercolor Butterfly challenge.

I also followed the Stampin Royalty Sketch#120.  I heat embossed my There She Goes butterflies on watercolor paper and then randomly colored them in with Distress Inks.  With the extra ink on my acrylic block, I dipped a PTI smaller butterfly and added a few more to fill the white space.

Sadly, a friend's grandfather just passed, so I'll end up sending this to her. I thought the butterflies were soothing.

Here is the Tuesday Trigger inspiration:

And here's the Stampin Royalty sketch:

Tomorrow I'll be posting my second Tuesday Trigger card!  Have a great weekend!

Thanks for your visit!

FTL185 - Thinking of You

Oooooh, it's Friday the 13th!!!!  Are you nervous? Does this date bother you? Not me........(let's hope I didn't jinx myself) - ha ha.

I was in need of a sympathy card, so I turned to the Clean and Simple FTL 185 sketch:

I went back and forth with a bunch of different patterned papers, but in the end, 

decided to just stamp away!

I used my Papertrey Ink set for my main image and then used the small flowers to stamp the top and bottom border.  I used a Hero Arts sentiment and a PTI butterfly.

Here's the sketch if you want to play along:

Have a fantastic weekend!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

HSS106 - Thinking of You

The challenge on the Hand Stamped Sentiments blog this week is Color Blocking.  I was in need of a sympathy card (actually two - boo hoo) and I thought this challenge would be a perfect opportunity to make them.

I didn't have any solid block stamps and I thought about actually using my acrylic block to make my 'color blocking' but instead, I punched out a scallop circle from my Eclipse masking tape and made a reverse mask.  I used two colors of Distress Inks to color in the mask.  Next I took my There She Goes buttercup stamp and stamped within the colored scallop.  Finished it off with a Hero Arts sentiment and this challenge is in the books!

This challenge runs to February 27th if you want to come and play:

Thanks for your visit!

Hero Arts Sympathy

Two weeks ago I found myself in my LSS and out from the shelves called a Hero Arts background stamp.  Somehow........it fell into my basket........so I guess it meant it was looking for a new home!   I put it to use right away because sadly, a neighbor lost her dad suddenly and I wanted to send over a card.  I know I'll be using this stamp A LOT!

I embossed the stamp with clear powder and then used my Distress Inks and daubers to color it in.  Afterwards, I put Perfect Pearls powder on my craft sheet and spritz it with water (Thank You Jennifer McGuire!).  Then I brushed that mixture over the flowers.  You can see that beautiful sheen!

I finished off the card with a PTI sentiment and some pearls. 

Prior to finishing this card, I noticed I left my camera on, so the battery was dead. Thankfully I could use my cell phone, but it's less than a quality picture! Oh well!!!  Hope you liked it anyway :)

Thanks for your visit!

Lucy's Card Sketches!

First off - Thank you for all your kind comments on the two explosion boxes I posted!!

I'm so excited, because Lucy Abrams is holding her Sketch Week again (like last year) - so I will be showing cards this week following her sketches.

First up for Day One is a card I made for a friend who lost her dog (doesn't it seem like I send these out far too often!!)

I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to align the footprint stamp so I would have an even balance on all sides.  

I added a few punched hearts and a Hero Arts sentiment.  

Here is the sketch below and scroll a little farther down to read about the dog I used on the card!

A few weeks ago, I went to Home Goods and found these cute dog themed cupcake liners and toppers.  Since I have FOUR jars of Nutella in my pantry, I knew it was was time to make some Nutella cupcakes!

So........that's what I did!!!

I had a few toppers left over.....so I cut off the toothpick portion of the topper and used glossy accents to adhere the doggy to the front of the card!

See you tomorrow for Sketch 2!

Thanks for your visit!

With Sympathy.....

I had to send out a sympathy card this week.  I watched this Penny Black video where Jill Foster stamped the image with a light colored ink first and then colored over the entire image in pencils.  I thought it was interesting, so I tried the technique for my card below:

I liked how it came out......just wish my picture was better. It was very overcast so I didn't have any natural sunlight.  I'm sure you can get the gist of it!


Thanks for your visit!

Thinking of You

Happy Monday to you!!!  First I want to wish my friends John and Julie a Happy ONE YEAR (or 52 week) Anniversary!  I'm not sure if you remember THIS POST from last year, but Cindy and I made their wedding invitations.  Ever since they got married, they've been counting their weekly anniversary - so thank the good heavens 52 weeks is upon us!!  :)

On to today's card.........It uses one of my favorite Memory Box stamps.........these poppies!!

I started off by stamping the image in Versamark and embossing in black powder.  Then I took my Distress Inks and colored in the image.  I did a lot of distressing of the edges and then layered that on another distressed panel.

Since the Memory Box stamps come with a bold written word on the stamp, I had to cover it with a strip of my own sentiment of choice - this Hero Arts sentiment.   I covered the base of the card with tone on tone leaf patterned paper and finished it with two black brads.

I made the poppies nice and happy by covering them with glossy accents. Wow - do they shine!!!

Hope you have a great Monday!!!

Thanks for your visit!

SFYTT-September - pet sympathy

Wow - I almost forgot to post these cards and I'm getting it in just under the wire for the Sketch For You To Try - September sketch.


My friend Beth and fellow dog walker asked for sympathy cards for pet owners who lost their beloved family members.

The first card was for someone who lost their yellow lab.  I grabbed my My Favorite Things Labrador stamp and colored him in with my prisma pencils.  I used Distress Inks for the background and DCWV pet  paper pack.  I finished it off with a Hero Arts sentiment and a dog bone paper clip.

Here's the SFYTT sketch if you want to get your card in by September 30th!

The second card Beth needed was for a cat that passed.  I used a Mark's Finest Papers cat stamp that the wonderful Cheryl @ She Stamps sent me!!  I kept this card a bit simpler because the background paper was pretty busy itself.  I used a MFT sentiment and some black gems.

OK - it's Sunday and ALL NEXT WEEK I'll be showing items that Cindy and I are bringing to our craft fairs this season.  We're still working on a bunch of stuff, but have enough done to give you something to look at!!!

See you soon!!

Thanks for your visit!