Today, sadly, I do not have a Christmas card to share. Or even a Halloween or Thanksgiving card. Today, I had to delve into my Thoughts & Prayers stamp set to make a special request card. A friend of a friend lost their 14 year old lab this past week. So, after seeing the Pink and Black card I made with the black lab stamp, she asked me to make a card for her to give.
All of us who share our lives with 4-legged fur-kids know that this is the greatest downside…they never stay with us long enough. It’s just part of the deal. The sucky part. I hear all the words….he had a great life….he knew you loved him. Yada yada yada. It still sucks and it still hurts something fierce.
But – I hope this card will bring some comfort and a smile. Take a look-see:
I’d seen a card on Pinterest that used a similar technique with a feather die-cut, and I’d wanted to try a rif on it with the Vintage Leaves. Well, the Leaflets framelits to be more precise! And, I also wanted to try cutting the leaf from the Corrugated Paper. AND I wanted to use my Woodland TIEF.
And so I did.
I started by cutting the oak leaf from the Kraft Corrugated Paper panel and then embossed it with the Woodland TIEF (making darned sure my embossing was going to be on the correct side!).
Then I used a couple of sponge daubers and lightly sponged Crushed Curry and Cajun Craze ink around the opening, and also on the die cut itself. I also edged the panel (using a sponge dauber) in Cajun Craze and lightly sponged the edges with Crushed Curry.
I laid the panel over a scrap piece of Very Vanilla card stock, and pulled out my Happy Scenes image – I picked the fall one with the punpkins. I inked my image up with Soft Suede and stamped it so it would be within the leaf opening. I colored the leaves with my Stampin’ Write Markers – in Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie. Then I lightly sponged the sky with Soft Sky and a little Pumpkin Pie and a touch of Crushed Curry. The ground is sponged with Pear Pizzazz and Soft Suede. It’s not rocket science – as Mr. Bob Ross used to say: “It’s your grass and sky….make it how you want it!” Well, that wasn’t EXACTLY what he said, but…you get the drift! 😉
Once I was happy with my Happy Scene, I SNAILd and Multi-Purpose Liquid Glued the embossed panel to the piece of Very Vanilla and then to a Cajun Craze mat.
The sentiment is a piece of Very Vanilla, cut with the round die in the Seasonal Frame die set (new in the Holiday Catalog and available in a great bundle!), on a mat of Cajun Craze that I’d cut with my 2 1/2″ Circle Punch. Just SNAILd together. I stamped the two sentiments from Thoughts & Prayers, using my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to get them lined up where I wanted them, in Cajun Craze. I also added some faux stitching on the mat with my Cajun Craze Stampin’ Write Marker. Then I SNAILd that to the card front.
I adhered the leaf with Stampin’ Dimensionals (to which I added a little bit of Multi-Purpos Liquid Glue, just in case!) and then I tied another triple-bow with linen thread (1 strand) and Gold Metallic Thread (2 strands), which I adhered with a little dot of the Liquid Glue. A few Pearl Basic Jewels (which, OBTW, are on special this week!) finished off the front.
I popped the card front onto my Basic Black card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals and moved inside.
I used a liner of Very Vanilla, and stamped the sentiment in Cajun Craze to start with. Then I used my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to line up and stamp the non-Stampin’ Up! paw print, in Tuxedo Black. I also used the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to put the Black Lab in the corner exactly where I wanted him!
I wanted another little touch, so I used a gold gel pen to draw a little halo over the dog’s head. We all know our fur-kids are angels – even before they go to the Rainbow Bridge, don’t we?
I added a linen/gold metallic thread (only one strand of each this time – no need to show off) to his neck with a dot of Liquid Glue.
Et Voila! A sweet card for a sweet dog.
I did use my new Envelope Liner Framelits and cut a liner from my Into the Woods DSP. I only SNAILd the flap to the flap – did that make sense? And I also ran the envelope thru my Paper Trimmer using the score tool to make it easier to fold the flap over. Love how the liner just finishes the whole thing!
Before I give the card to Jan, I may try to get the Rainbow Bridge story printed on some parchment and adhere it to the inside left flap. Not sure I’ll be able to get that done as nicely as I want it, so…may not happen! We’ll see.
But, I think this will answer the request even if I can’t get that done.
Hope you like! 🙂
Here’s a little foreshadowing….I’m revamping my Punkin’ Head Rewards program and it’s going to be even easier to earn Peppermints! Stay tuned for a special posting to tell you all about it!
TTFN and see you tomorrow!
Mary
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Oh my goodness Mary, this card is just beautiful! I love the leaf die cut with the fall image peeking out and the colors are perfect. Fantastic card!
Thanks, Amy. I’m ridiculously happy with how it turned out! 🙂
Perfect. For a time we all know and hate and yet accept over and again because we can’t help ourselves.
Indeed. It’s like a sickness! Thanks, Mom! 🙂
Great job wth the leaves, I want to try that paper, too. You have inspired me I know your friend will be happy with it-sorry that it is a sad occasion, though.
Thanks, Jari. This is my favorite paper of them all!! 🙂
what a beautiful combination of textures and colors you have combined for this card for your dear friend.
I lost my LUCKY cat last year and I was so devastated. I cried for months. My Husband and I recently adopted two black cats and we named them Boris and Natasha! Yet, I still and always will miss my Lucky! I know your friend will appreciate your card!
FabYOUlous! Love that you stamped on the die cut leaf. The texture is amazing and has a really neat effect! Just a fabulous layout and color too!!! Thanks for sharing with us!
I still cry if I think about my Toe-cat, my horse Mug or our brown dog Buck. They never really leave our hearts! Thanks for the nice words, Lynn. I really did like how it turned out! 🙂
What a beautiful and meaningful card, inside and out. I like the sentiment and the stamping on the leaf. The little halo over the dogs head and the bow on the collar, just personalize the message even more. It’s been two long years since we lost our faithful little guy Murphy, but he’s always beside me and in my thoughts. One of the things that really helped me during the days following his death, were the beautiful cards and thoughts I received from friends.
Thank you for that, Penny. I hoped that they card would be special to help bring comfort in a time that, as a pet lover, you know is just awful! I’m surely sorry about the loss of your little friend Murphy. They leave such a hole in our hearts! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and share! 🙂