Heartfelt Wishes Card and a Little Football

"Avonlea again?" you ask. "But of course!" I reply.  I love Avonlea and can't get enough of it.  Not only do I love the colors and patterns of this kit, but I love the name. When I was a little girl (and okay, even as an adult) I loved the Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea books.  This paper pack just makes me think of those wonderful stories.

This little 4" x 4" card is full of more Avonlea goodness.  I used 2 of the patterned papers from this kit (see the mind colored paper on the far left and the larger floral on the far right?) and then created my own pattern in the middle by embossing the doily from the new Pirouette stamp set with my Versamark Pad and White Daisy Embossing Powder on the beautiful Avonlea Teal Cardstock that comes only in the Avonlea paper pack. I finished it off by embossing the "heartfelt wishes" sentiment (from the Card Chatter Sympathy stamp set) with Cocoa Embossing Powder on a piece of Avonlea White Cardstock and mounting that on some Chocolate Cardstock and mounted it with 3D Foam Tape. Chocolate Cardstock is not included in this kit, but I use  it with it all the time. I think it blends perfectly. For the finishing touches I added a Chocolate Ribbon (on clearance for $4 right now!) knot and a few Pearl Opaques.

Here is a quick detail shot for you as well:

For your convenience I have linked you to the products I used on this card in the wording above. You can order these and dozens of other wonderful Close To My Heart products on my website, 24/7!

Are you sick of my football pics yet? If so, click out of this post now because I'm about to share a few more of Dawson (#10) from the past couple of weeks.  You had fair warning...  (Thanks to Mark Spencer Pics for taking the most awesome photos of Springville High School sports.  He does such a great job!)

vs. Maple Mountain, 9/7/12

vs. Maple Mountain, 9/7/12

vs. Timpanogos, 9/14/12

vs. Timpanogos, 9/14/12

vs. Timpanogos, 9/14/12

 Have a great day! 

Sympathy Card - You Are In My Prayers

This little 5" x 5" sympathy card was made with love. About a month ago, three of my friends (Hi, Kelle, Tina and Dawn) lost a parent...all in one week. I wanted something beautiful to share with each of them to let them know that my thoughts and prayers were with them.  This is what I came up with.

I used some pretty cool techniques on this card that you might want to try.  I'll just give you a step-by-step written tutorial here:

1. Start with a 5" x 10" piece of Chocolate Cardstock folded in half to make the 5" x 5" card base.
2. Next, cut a 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" piece of Colonial White Cardstock.  Sponge the edges with a Round Sponge and your Chocolate Stamp Pad.  
3. You can either stitch around the edges with a dark brown thread or stamp with a stitching stamp. I did the latter. I used a Versamark Pad and Cocoa Embossing Powder to emboss both the stitching and the sentiment (which came from the Card Chatter-Sympathy stamp set).
4. Cut a 3" x 3" and 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" squares of Colonial White Cardstock and a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece of Chocolate Cardstock.
5. On the 3" x 3" piece, you will want to use the doily stamp from the Pirouette stamp set (my current fave!) to stamp your image with a Versamark Pad.  I let mine go over the edges of the piece and be off center. I liked the look.  Sprinkle with Clear Detail Embossing Powder and heat that puppy up with your heat gun.  I realize that you can't really see it very well. That's the whole point!
6. Fill a Spray Pen up to the first fill line with Chocolate Reinker and then add enough water to make it reach the third fill line.   Spray the doily embossed piece heavily until all of the colonial white is covered.  Your doily will now peak through.  Rub off the extra spray ink with a paper towel.  Cool beans!  Let this dry, or help it along by drying it with your heat gun.
7. Next, using a Round Sponge and your Cocoa Pad rub the doilie in a circular motion. This will create the darker brown you see poking out from behind the doilie.
8. Using the excess Chocolate Reinker and water ink in your spray pen, lightly mist the 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" piece.
9. Lastly, fill to about 1/2 the way to the first fill line of a Spray Pen with Black Reinker and then to line 2 or 3 with water.  Shake it up and lightly mist the 3" x 3" square. Let it all dry and assemble as you see so your card looks like my photo.

Here is a detail shot that might help you see the details (which is why I called it a detail shot. Ha!) better.

 Have a wonderful weekend!