Love, Prayers and Caring

When life happens, sometimes kind words of sympathy (and hugs) can provide a smidge of comfort to our loved ones in need. I try to keep sympathy cards on hand, but when I needed two cards recently, I couldn’t stop thinking of this Sympathy Card design I found on Pinterest.

I love the powerful simplicity of it.

Sadly, I needed two Sympathy cards recently and I needed them done in a hurry. This design was up to the task. I dug around in my Stampin’ Up! stash and found the Swirls and Curls Embossing Folder, this beautiful Sympathy sentiment from Peaceful Moments Stamp Set and some Gray Granite Ink. I realize I forgot to add the scoring lines, but I think the Basic Black Scalloped Edge Ribbon from the ‘ 19 Holiday Catalog, completed the look. I used the ‘Know that love, prayers and caring surround you today’ sentiment from the Well Said stamp set for the inside message.

I made several cards in just about 15 minutes one morning before work.

I’d enjoy walking you through how to make this card. Give me a call, text or email today to discuss your card making goals.

Catching Snowflakes

This little snowman is SO cute! I actually made two designs, a Real Red one and a Tempting Turquoise one, but I gave all but this one away.

I have four U.S. Navy pen pals deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln. These Sailors left port thinking they’d be gone for 6 months and would be home in time for the holidays at their new home port in San Diego. Their tour has been extended 4 more months! The longest deployment for an Aircraft Carrier in a long time or maybe ever. I’m not good with those kind of details, but I do know it is a big deal. Their extension means they missed ALL of the holidays and spirits are pretty low.

I wanted to send them a little seasonal cheer.

I just L-O-V-E snowmen, and I couldn’t resist Stampin’ Up!‘s adorable Snowman Season stamp set from the 2019 Holiday Catalog. I used the Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper for the background. The Real Red sheet with random white dots looks like snowflakes to me and this little guy is ready to catch them. Vellum mutes the pattern just like a Northeast winter snowstorm with poor visibility. A twist of Cherry Cobbler Diagonal Stripe ribbon and some red rhinestones finishes this little guy.

Being a New Hampshire girl, I am now living in Florida for a reason. I do NOT like winter. At. All. These cute little snowmen are the closest I hope to get to snow any time soon. Hopefully they lift the spirits of these Sailors as much as they did mine when I made them.

Awesome at Any Age

Typically the cards I’m asked to send through my Pen Pal groups are for active duty military personnel. For them I have a Patriotic Happiest of Birthdays card that the Hacienda Heights Ladies Group and I kind of mass produce. Each year I will change the design to keep it fresh, but it’s new to a different set of recipients each month.

Each month I also get a requests for Birthday Wishes for our Veteran’s. This is the most recent request I’ve received for a Veteran:

WW II US Army Nurse Corps (Served in Germany, England, France) Her 100th birthday is March 27, 2020.

I mean really!!? This woman is a legend! She is getting a special birthday card. For her and the many other Vets I send birthday cards to, I make a special card using the Awesome at Any Age stamp from the Itty Bitty Birthdays stamp set. I like to make them feel special with their own Patriotic individual “card cupcake” from the retired Hello Cupcake stamp set.

I’m terrible at history. I will be the first to admit it, but one thing is for sure –  Freedom isn’t free. Honor our Veteran’s for their service and sacrifice to this great nation.