The Butterfly Brilliance bundle is so versatile.  I have made many cards using the stamps and dies but this is the first sympathy card.  It is always hard to  make and to send  sympathy cards but all I can hope is that it brings some comfort to the recipient.  

I stamped the butterflies on Vellum Cardstock using Versamark ink and heat embossed it using white embossing powder.  Here is another card using the white embossed butterflies.   The butterfly was attached to a stitched square and then a black scalloped square.  I also attached an Elegant Faceted Gem to the butterfly.   The simple sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set.  This stamp set is another great basic to have in your stamping stash.  It has sentiments that cover all kinds of different occasions.  Whenever I need a small greeting I know to look at this stamp set.

I used the Parisian Flourish 3D embossing folder to create the beautiful texture.  This is an elegant embossing folder and just seemed to go with that elegant butterfly.  Inside of the card I attached another embossed vellum butterfly.  You can kind of see the shadow of it in the picture above.  

Thank you for stopping by and I have linked all the products I used to make this card below.

Product List

Butterfly Brilliance Bundle [155821]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101856]	Stitched Shapes Dies [152323]	Layering Squares Dies [151772]
Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder [151474]	Elegant Faceted Gems [152464]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]

Are there stamp sets you shy away from?  For me, it is the collagey type sets.  Don't get me wrong I love them and usually end up buying them, it is just that I do not feel comfortable creating with them.  This is how I felt about the Positive Thoughts stamp set.  Loved the images and the sentiments but I wasn't sure if  I could put them all together.  Enter the Coordination Product Release.  Once I saw that there were coordinating dies (Nature's Thoughts dies) for the set, I could no longer resist.  Honestly, once I saw the die for the fern I was sold.

I made this card for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #CCMC599.  Love this color combination!  The center flower is inked in Flirty Flamingo ink and then gently sponged around the edges with Real Red ink.  

Because I was so focused on the fern die I sort of overlooked what else was in the set.  There are dies that cut out the feather, butterfly, flower, and fern images.  In addition there is an awesome frame, small butterfly, border, 2 more foliage (1 small, 1 large), a larger feather that has embossed details, and 1 other die that maybe is for the center of the flower.

Here's a peek of the inside of the card and the border die.  It is a perfect border for Valentine cards, can you see the OXO?

The only other die I used was the Stitched Rectangle die.  It is slight too short and doesn't make a perfect layer but  the flowers and foliage hide the gap .  Love the detail around the Basic Gray frame!  This die is going to be used a lot! 

I had an extra flower so it was also added to the inside of the card.  

Love the products in the  Coordination Product Release!  I have spent some time using the Birthday Dies that coordinate with the Sale-A-Bration set, Happy Birthday to You.  You can see samples here and here.  You will be seeing more samples using the Coordination Product Release soon.  What is your favorite from the Coordination Product Release?

Thanks so much for stopping by today! All of the products I used on this card are listed below. You can click on any of the photos to go directly to my Stampin’ Up!® online store. 

The Host Code for February is VRH7HE4C.  When you place a Stampin' Up!®  order using this code I will send you a project tutorial.  If your order is $50 or more I will also send you 2 card kits with a tutorial and a completed sample as a thank you gift.

Please do NOT use the host code if your order is over $150 (before tax and shipping). You will earn host rewards from Stampin’ Up! AND you'll also receive a project tutorial and a gift from me. 

Product List

Positive Thoughts Cling Stamp Set [151490] $21.00	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165] $7.50	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084] $7.50	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad [147052] $7.50
Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482] $8.75	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121044] $8.75	Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141416] $8.75	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75
Nature's Thoughts Dies [153586] $29.00	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $35.00	Metallic Pearls [146282] $7.00

Sympathy cards are difficult cards to make but they are so important.    

I wanted very softly colored blossoms so I used part of a Stamping Sponge scrunched up and lightly sponged on Petal Pink ink on the flowers.  I did the same thing to color the leaves except using Pear Pizzaz ink.  I wanted to keep everything soft so I inked the the sentiment in VersaMark ink, then in  the Petal Pink ink pad and then sprinkled it with Clear embossing powder.  This little trick is so helpful when you want a color embossed look but do not have the right color of embossing powder. 

The front of the card was embossed using the Parisian Flourish 3-D Embossing folder, which is BEAUTIFUL!  The folder creates a very elegant backdrop.

The frame was created by using the largest scalloped rectangle from the Stitched So Sweetly dies and a Stitched Rectangle die.  After I attached the frame blossoms to the card I felt it was a little bare so I added another flower and leaf.  Can you tell where it is?  To finish off the card I added a little bow made from the Petal Pink Striped Organdy ribbon.  This ribbon is so easy to tie and is one of my favorites.

Well, it is time for me to get this card in the mail.  Thank you for stopping by.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! All of the products I used on this card are listed below. You can click on any of the photos to go directly to my Stampin’ Up!® online store. 

The Host Code for January is FTCKVA4N.  When you place a Stampin' Up!®  order using this code I will send you a project tutorial.  If your order is $60 or more I will also send you a package of Champagne Rhinestones as a thank you gift.  This gift will be sent in early February. 

Please do NOT use the host code if your order is over $150 (before tax and shipping). You will earn host rewards from Stampin’ Up! AND you'll also receive a project tutorial and a gift from me. 

Product List

Forever Blossoms Bundle (English) [153781] $53.00	Peaceful Moments Cling Stamp Set (English) [151595] $21.00	Kindness & Compassion Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146729] $20.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $9.50
Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147108] $7.50	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [147104] $7.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $8.25	Stitched So Sweetly Dies [151690] $32.00
Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $35.00	Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder [151474] $10.00	Petal Pink 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Organdy Striped Ribbon [149441] $8.00	Stamping Sponges [141337] $4.00

These are the hardest cards to make but I think they may be some of the most appreciated cards.  

Product List

Remarkable You Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139894] $33.00	Rose Wonder Photopolymer Stamp Set [140697] $27.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $7.50	Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126954] $6.50	Rose Red Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [102109] $3.25
Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [111843] $3.25	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [100531] $3.25	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Rose Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102544] $7.00	Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101910] $8.00
Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits [135707] $25.00	Rose Red 1/2 Inch Seam Binding Ribbon [121884] $6.95	Gold Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141898] $8.00	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $5.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00

Do you keep a supply of sympathy cards?  I don't.  I know it would make  sense to have some on hand but I just don't.  Today I needed to make one and while I was making the card I was thinking about the person who we were sending it to.  I hope she finds some comfort knowing that so many people care about her and are thinking about her.

Stamps: Backyard Basics, Sweet Essentials and Thoughts and Prayers(inside)
Ink: Black Stazon,  Pistachio Pudding, Blushing Bride, Strawberry Slush
Paper: Very Vanilla, Shimmery White , Pistachio Pudding
Big Shot: Backyard Basics framelits, Pretty Print folder (Holiday catalog), Envelope Liner Framelits(holiday catalog)
Extras: Very Vanilla Seam Binding ribbon, Aqua Painter, Dazzling Details

I also lined the Very Vanilla envelope with a liner.  I love how it looks, just raises it up a notch.  Thanks for stopping by and hope to stamp with you soon.

SharonB

No one likes to make sympathy cards and  I never seem to have any on hand.  When I saw the set   Thanks for Caring in the Occasions mini catalog I knew it would be a great and necessary addition to my stamp collection. 

 
All images copyright Stampin'UP!

The card above was stamped by Jan Cramer.  Jan added a lot of  little details to make this great card.   She used the Elegant Bouquet TIEF and she brayered the folder with Certainly Celery ink and embossed her Whisper White cardstock.  Isn't that a great technique?  The floral embossed design remains white and the parts not embossed get colored with the Certainly Celery ink.  I also liked how she used the Decorative label punch to frame the sentiment.  She punched out 2 labels and cut them in half to frame the oval sentiment.    Nice idea! 

 
This lovely card was stamped by Mary Ammar.    Mary definitely has a great eye and creates clean, simple and beautiful cards.  Here she used the Framed Tulips embossing folder and then layered in the middle River Rock cardstock embossed with the Perfect Polka Dot TIEF.  I like how she brought the River Rock back in the sentiment.   Really a handsome card.  Thanks Mary!

 
This lovely card was stamped by Kimberly Allen.  She combined the Thanks for Caring set and the Baby Blossoms set from the Occasions mini catalog.  Here she used River Rock and Basic Black.  River Rock is definitely a chameleon and seems to change and coordinate with lots of different colors.   She used Whisper White Craft ink and River Rock ink along the edge and carried through the white with white embossing powder in the label pieces.  I know you are wondering and the answer is yes she cut the black label layer freehand!

I know you will agree with me that these 3 cards are great examples of why you need to add the Thanks for Caring stamp set to your stamping stash.