Sharing my love for The Swapp Family

Last week when I was having lunch with my co-worker, I learned from many places that the second oldest child of Heidi Swapp, Cory, died unexpectedly.  I also saw that there are many kind folks at Persnickety and Becky Higgins LLC that are organizing card/letter drive for the Swapp family. 

"I'm going to send one to her," I told my co-worker.  She looked at me with a face full of puzzles and asked me why.  She also asked, "Do you know her?"  I paused for a while then thought to myself:  I do not know her, I have not even taken a class with her but I have watched her videos on YouTube and seen and used many of her products bought at craft store.  It's the "I know her but she doesn't know who I am" that kind of situation.

I explained that to my co-worker and I feel so compelled to make a card for her and her family.  That is perhaps a quality that we crafters, or cardmakers possess while others don't (or such quality is not fully expressed).  We care about others and we show that we care by sending something made from our heart.  My card alone is not going to bring her comfort, but I know for sure that when we crafters send her letters and cards she and her family will feel supported, loved, and cared.  Isn't that what we cardmakers want to do?  To show our love and care and support through a small piece of canvas made from our heart.

This is the card I made for the Swapp family:

It is an extremely clean and simple card - I simple cut the frame of wreaths using my Cricut and Artfully Sent Cartridge (image on p. 16 of handbook).  I used the Contour function to remove the word "hope" inside the frame and instead stamped "Thinking of You" in the center of it.  I lined it with some Olive cardstock and it's finished.

It is a standard A2 size card so I'll sending it to Persnickety Prints.  You can see the details here if you want to participate.  Alternatively you can send your card to Becky Higgins LLC and please read the details here.  If you'd like to donate money to a non-profit organization to raise awareness and prevention of teen suicide, please read the information here.

I hope you'll join me to send a card/letter to the Swapp family.  I hate making sympathy cards but they are the ones that are most in need and probably the ones that have the greatest impact to the receiver. 

My card is linking to:
Amusing - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
The Paper Players - CAS featuring frames

Thanks for stopping by!

Goodbye R~

My office is a pet-friendly office.  Even though I do not own a pet, it's so nice to be surrounded by my co-worker's pets all the time.  They are all well-behaved and usually stay close to their owner's cubicle or office.
My supervisor's dog R became very sick and went to doggy heaven.  R was an older dog when he was adopted and my supervisor said R was the sweetest dog on earth.  My supervisor grew up with dogs and he has had many many dogs in his life.  That he said R was the sweetest dog carries a lot of weight.

My supervisor was sad and missed him very dearly.  I've made this card for him:

I've developed the pictures of R on my cell phone and made a small album for my supervisor as well. I hope they help him go through this difficult time.

My card is entering the following challenges:
Crafty Catz - CAS
My time to craft - Sympathy
Scrap-Creations - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Watercolor stamping

I have to make a Sympathy card for my co-worker.  Sympathy cards are always difficult.  I tend to stick with something related to nature, darker colors and sometimes even monochromatic.  This card has many shades of green: 

I used the sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge:

When I first saw this sketch I had no clue what I could do but after digging through my stash and found this fern stamp and using the "watercolor stamping" technique with distress inks (Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss), this card was put together without too much pain (This is my second try and it's acceptable, right?)

I'm linking my card to the following:
Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge
Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
Crafting at the weekend - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

A super quick post

I can't explain why my eyes can't stay open.  The eyelids are as heavy as lead.  I have to rush through this post so I could get some sleep.  Sorry.

I am sharing a sympathy card today: 

I got the sketch from Deconstructed Sketch:

I'm in love with this sketch and I know I'll use it over and over again.  Please click the link above to see the sample card by Jen.  It is such a gorgeous piece.

My card is entering the following challenges:
1.  The Perfect Sentiment - Ribbon, Twin and/or Seam Binding (I've used the organdy ribbon)
2.  Tammy Scrapin Corner - Anything Goes
3.  Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes
4.  Addicted to Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes
5.  Fluttery By Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

A Sympathy Card

I failed to stay focus on Christmas cards!  I meant to make one last night when I first sat at the craft table.  Then I flipped through some magazines, tried to re-locate my ink pads to my new drawer, and the next thing I knew was that my ink pads were in a total mess (sometimes organization does not result in organized supplies, bummer). 

At times like this I feel really bad - I've allocated some time for "crafting" but there was zero productivity.  I also know that if I force myself to get something done it won't be nice.  So I stepped out and came back and made a simple sympathy card:

I got my inspiration from CAS(e) this Sketch:

and the color combo from 4 Crafty Chicks - Black and White.

I also meant to share a Fall card, but you could tell that I didn't get it done.  Perhaps I will finish it up later today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of You

I am always low on masculine cards.  Another kind that always runs low is sympathy cards.  I find sympathy cards more difficult to make, especially when I'm making it to meet an immediate need.  It is much easier to prepare some ahead of time.

When I saw this sketch from CAS(e) this sketch, I was inspired to make a sympathy card:

I usually tend to stay away from bright colors but I'd like to try them this time:

I thought the simplicity of the card and the gray background could neutralize the bright colors so it is not inappropriate.  How did I get to this color combo?  From other challenges like Pals Paper Arts:

and Dynamic Duos:

I have used Blush and Buttercup from the Close to My Heart palette to replace the pink and yellow.  This card adds to my sympathy card stash and I'm hoping to make more.  Do you also find it difficult to make sympathy cards?  How do you overcome that challenge?

Thanks for stopping by!

I am back!

I had a wonderful mini-vacation in San Diego!  After I'm back, work is crazy, laundry and unpacking undone and camera not working. 

Things are slowly getting back to where they should be and I'm happy to be sharing cards again!

I'm using the sketch from CAS(e) this sketch:

I'll first share my entry for the challenge:

Next up is a pair of cards using the same sketch - the one on the right is more masculine:

 

I almost always struggle with making masculine cards.  But this time by using the same paper pack (Sonoma from Close to My Heart), same sketch and same sentiment I am able to make one for a man.  Sympathy cards are difficult to make when I need them, especially if it is for a man.  I'll continue to build up my stash of sympathy cards.

Thanks for stopping by!