The Flight Continues

I really find it interesting knowing the story behind projects. Inspiration comes from many sources: our surroundings, personal experiences, favorite colors, images or designs, and even favorite products. These are but a few of the many things that can inspire a project. This card creation was designed to thank so many people who thoughtfully and generously reached out to our family during the loss of my mother-in-law, Jackie.

Mom’s favorite color was cobalt blue, but she just loved blue in general, so that is what I made it the main color used on this thank you note. I wanted to include some symbolism of her transition from her life here to a life in heaven. I believe this montage of butterflies does just that.

Supplies: (Stampin’ Up!®) Asstd. Blue Cardstock; Sizzlits Beautiful Wings Die; Thanks So Much verse; Finial Press Texture Embossing Plate; (Offray) Blue Satin ribbon; (Glue Arts) Extreme Adhesive Squares and Glue Glider™ Pro with high tac adhesive cartridge.

Butterflies also are a visual symbol for me of the life/death/after life transition since my uncle’s death in 2000. I would often get butterfly visits on my walks and have many other tales of this connection, too. Using a monochromatic color palette (different shades of the same color) creates a very elegant look that you can use in all your card designs. The cascading size of the butterflies adds movement and interest. This also serves to remind us that even though a loved one’s presence fades, the memories remain even though their flight continues.

I wanted to share another butterfly card created by fellow card designer, Diane Bove. She created these 3-D butterflies using a brush from my Stylish Butterflies set combined with patterned background.

Here is a preview of that set art which contains, editable eps, jpeg, png and abr (brush files).

The set contains 3 butterflies: one solid, one with transparent swirls to use over color or patterned backgrounds digitally and one butterfly with white swirls. If you use the photoshop brush file you can change the black to a color or patterned background. I will be creating some tutorials to show you how you can use digital brushes and png art in Photoshop. So check back to my blog for updates!

Let your creativity take flight with using a butterfly on your next card creation.

Project 365 Challenge/Days 45-47 Photos & Flowery Sympathy

Some more daily doses of inspiration... I am getting caught up on photographing and posting some of my daily project challenges. Day 45 was a struggle in trying to get good digital photos at a volleyball tournament with very low lighting and no tripod or use of my flash. I just eye spied in a magazine a new gizmo...a tripod that fits onto a water bottle. That may just be an investment for an upcoming tournament. So, as it sometimes goes...you take a whole lotta shots just to get a couple good ones. In this case, this was my only real favorite from the bunch...of one of my daughter's friends (aka, one of my adopted daughters) right before she was ready to serve.

Day 46 - Flowery Sympathy Card

It is funny  how in life God brings you different people and different experiences that forever change your life. We have been going to the same Life Teen mass for several years and have shared the same pew with this sweet elderly couple. As time passed we got to know them a little better. Ginny was suffering for throat cancer and has been gradually losing her battle for the past year. They are a couple who remind Dan and I of one another in height and stature. Walter is real tall and slim and Virginia is short like me and petite. They don’t have any children or local family so we bring them soup and other meals when I make them up. We also invited them for Christmas dinner, but they both came down sick and weren't able to attend. Well sadly, the day after Valentine’s Day, Ginny slipped away from Walter’s caring hands in to those of the Lord. Our hearts are saddened however we know she is at peace now. I made this card to send to Walter to let him know that we are here for him and our friendship will continue. Her services are being held in Indiana so we have no way to formally say our goodbyes. Making this card with Ginny in mind made me feel just a little better, as creating always does!

inside view...

Day 47/ Sweet Floral Sympathy

It seems that death comes in pairs or trios. Just as I finished making one sympathy card, I found the need to make one to comfort another friend who was dealing with the surprising loss of her stepdad, Jim. 

I really liked the color combinations I used on the other card, so I introduced a deeper linen CS with embossing to make this card for her. Check out my Picasa gallery for supplies.

inside view...

Although I don't have formal sketches for these cards, you can use these basic layouts 

mixed with your favorite ribbons, CS, papers, stamps and embellishments to create

lots and lots of cards for any occasion. Hope this weekend, you live life creatively!

Hybrid Cards & 25% off sale!

Today marks my one month anniversary at MyGraficO, so I am celebrating with a sale, starting today and running through the end of Sunday...save 25% on all the products in my shop. Click on the ticket above to go to my digi store. I just uploaded a new mini scrapbook set! Be sure to take advantage of my freebie set by signing up as one of my groupies in the community!

Here are my two latest sets...

Here are a couple card inspirations created with my Elegant Frames set. These were some quick and easy sympathy cards made before leaving for my grandfather’s funeral.

And here are a couple of Get Well Cards made for family.

This Twist of Pink card uses flower digi stamps from my Mod Twist Garden set.

On this card, I hand-colored one of Judy Sangunetti’s digi stamps, called Birthday Kitty.

May God Bless You...

I first bought this set with the intention to use it for making cards for my small Confirmation group at Church. Since then, I have discovered it can be used for so many other wonderful greetings besides the Catholic sacraments, i.e. Get Well, Thinking of You, Loss of Job, Sympathy. Since this In Color cardstock and ink will soon be retiring, I wanted to share this with you. It, too, follows the rule of my last post, White plus one color. Stamps, ribbon, embossing powder and inks from Stampin' Up! The stamp set is called Special Blessings. I used white taffeta ribbon and embossing powder. My scoring blade on my trimmer enabled me to make a smooth fold to the left of the bird stamp. I drug the edge over a VersaMark pad and embossed in white to add color and texture. I used my rectangle punch to add ribbon prior to mounting it on white layer. I used Glue Arts High Tac adhesive and a strip of ribbon adhesive for the foldover flap. The wheel is Always in Bloom. Since there is no Baja Breeze ink cartridge, I simply ran the wheel over my Baja Breeze ink pad and rolled onto card edge. Tip: Make sure you ink well so it appears evenly, and as always, begin off edge of CS and continue off top edge. I am sure you know someone who could use God's blessing today!