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Thursday, February 26, 2015

Growing in Unity Day 4

I'm back with for Day 4 of my Growing In Unity week with some card inspiration. I don't think anyone likes to make sympathy cards. They're hard, you want them to be just perfect with the perfect "feel" to them. You want them to be more than a card, you want them to be hug sent across the miles. Luckily Unity Stamp Company has some perfect kits for those tough-to-create cards with beautiful images and heartfelt sentiments to help us card-makers out. Thankfully I don't need this card now (I can NEVER create them under pressure), but I do need to replenish my stash so here is just a simple little card that will hopefully be a "hug" to help someone during their grief.

I used the ...Beautiful Life, Blessed Memories kit for this card and stamped that pretty floral heart in Versamark ink onto a non-textured white cardstock. Then I got out my pearlescent chalks and used a small cotton ball applicator (q-tip size) to color in the stamp. It can be hard to see the details of the image in the clear ink but if you go a little off, don't worry. You can color over it again with a different color chalk and it still sticks. When you have the chalk where you want it you can brush any excess off with a dry Swiffer sheet. This technique also works really well on black cardstock with a completely different look.
 
For the sentiment I stamped it on clear vellum with a black Staz-on ink and let it dry for a moment and then colored the vellum with the pearlescent chalk. This sentiment actually has a small error on it which Unity was kind enough to make note of in the kit. It's really easy to "fix" though. The word in is repeated twice in a row so I simply put a small piece of tape over the second one at the beginning of the next line, inked the sentiment and then removed the tape before stamping. After I adhered the vellum I added a few small pearls and popped it up on a lavender piece of cardstock.
I tried getting a picture of some of the pretty shimmer of the card from the pearlescent chalks. I'm not sure how well it photographed.
I also made a quick matching envelope using Unity's Insightful Meadows kit and the same technique with the Versamark and chalk.

GIVEAWAY:
I will be posting a new project each day this week (Monday-Friday) on my blog using Unity stamps and when the week is over I get to pick 2 winners from all of the comments during the week who will each get a grab bag of 25 Unity Stamps! I will also be having a small giveaway of my own with 2 winners so there will be 4 winners total!!! I will post the winners on Monday, March 2nd.

Thank you all for visiting all week and leaving such kind comments! I love learning new techniques and so I try to share the techniques I'm using when I remember because we are all on a different place in our crafting journey and it's fun to evolve and see where new techniques may lead us!

Hugs,

Crystal

55 comments:

Denise Bryant said...

Beautiful card! Love that gorgeous heart design and the sentiment! Lovely coloring!

Beth F. said...

What a beautiful card! I have never tried that chalk technique, but I have all the supplies I need for it, so I plan on doing that soon. I have had to make 2 sympathy cards just this week, so I know exactly what you are saying in that it is never easy to make these.

Kris B said...

Beautiful! Love the soft colors you got using the chalk! I have chalk, but it hasn't been out for a while! Love how you made a matching envelope!

ionabunny said...

Lovely card for a difficult occasion. Unity has such great sentiments. Hugz

Sweet April said...

Beautiful project,thanks for teaching the chalk technique.I also loved the envelope very tender!

Becca Yahrling said...

Your card is lovely! Anyone would be touched to receive it in a time of grief. Thought the way you covered up a mistake in the stamp very interesting.

Unknown said...

Great instructions, per usual. How long do you need to let the chalk, "set", before it's smear-proof. I could see trying this & then, finding chalk over everything but the card. (Since, my kiddo, would want to be "helping", that may happen, anyway. :) Thanks, for covering the topic of card-making, no one wants to have to think about/do. (I like how you said, "you want them to be a hug sent across miles..." Thanks!

Unknown said...

Another "Wow" creation! Gorgeous and heartfelt!

Lucinde | Lucilight said...

Just beautiful...

Iris said...

Such a beautiful card - love the soft colors.
isoscia at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

This did so sweet and pretty!!

Teresa Godines #6857 said...

Very pretty. I love you soft colors. TFS

Ruby said...

Very pretty card. Love the soft colours that you used.

Gaylynn said...

This is pretty with the pastels and matching envelope.

Donna K said...

I love what you said about the cards being a "hug sent across the miles"...so true. The result of your technique and the pastels on this card is amazing. Such a heart felt sentiment and of course you created an envelope as well. Cause you're awesome like that! Have a happy day Crystal!

Debra Davison said...

What a lovely,sweet card.. The colors are simply perfect.. Have loved reading all of your posts this week !! Amazing creations !!

sharon g said...

I like how you added the stamping to the envelope. What a nice idea. I like to make sympathy cards because they really help the recipient to know that they are loved and thought of...

Brandi R said...

Gorgeous card and envelope! Love the soft colors. Just a stunning card ♥

Alyson Esposito said...

Beautiful work! I love your colors and ideas. I have this stamp set and it is great!!

Jean said...

Such a pretty card!

Janis said...

Very soft and beautiful. What lovely colors and a very meaningful and heartfelt sentiment. This will be a welcomed hug to someone whose heart is grieving.
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Card! And the decorated envelope is a special touch. I also have a question about the chalk technique: Does that work with any dry swiffer product or is there a certain type that works best? I have swiffer dusters so I was wondering if that would work... Thanks!

Dawn Fields said...

Beautiful card and envelope!

Katherine said...

Beautiful colors! Thanks for reminding me of the Versamark and chalk technique. It's lovely.

Lagene said...

Lovely card! I love the soft soothing colors!

Ruby said...

Very pretty card.

D.Ann C said...

Lovely colors! Thx for the reminder to do something with the envelope, too. I often forget!

Sue D said...

Lovely sympathy card and envelope. I like how you colored the image.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Katie said...

Beautiful card! This is my favorite card I have seen using this heart stamp. Loving the envelope too! Thanks for sharing.

Katie B.

Unknown said...

Lovely. Very sweet.

Kim
Craftisan Studios
Design Team Showcase

Crystal said...

Thank you for all of the sweet comments all week! The chalk really doesn't need to set at all. I'm using craft chalk, not a super powdery chalk. It will leave a little sparkle behind on your hands if you touch it. You could always try spraying with a workable fixative if you don't mind the fumes, I usually don't bother setting any of my stuff though cause I hate the smell.

Crystal said...

Thank you Lucy! I use the swiffer sweepers so I'm not sure if the dusters have the same texture. They're both designed for picking up dust though so probably would be my guess.

Crystal said...

Thank you Katie!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you! Very sorry that you've needed to make some.

Crystal said...

Thank you! I often find myself getting absorbed in a technique and then rotating through until I am enchanted by it again!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...
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Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you and you are very welcome!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you Donna! I do have fun with my envelopes!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you Debra!

Crystal said...

Thank you Sharon!

Crystal said...

Thank you Janis!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you!

Crystal said...

Thank you!