When a friend loses a loved one or when a family member has fallen ill, a card is simply a vessel for a sincere, hand-written message. Sometimes it is necessary to make a simple card – not flashy or fussy. The face of the card only needs to say “I care about you” instead of “Hey! Look at how many pearls I can fit onto a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of card stock.” Here’s a simple card I made with this need in mind:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders:
- Building a Frame. To create the black frame around the bird silhouette, I simply nested two framelits together, secured them to the paper with a sticky note and ran them through the Big Shot. Done. If you enjoy running paper through the Big Shot and want to crank the handle as many times as possible (do I know you, or what?), then I suggest you run the smaller frame through first and then position the larger one around it for the second pass through. Then, run it all back through the Big Shot with no framelits – I’m just giving you another opportunity to crank the handle (I’m THAT nice)!
- Layering the Frame. My original idea was to have the bird attached to the Bashful Blue base of the card and to pop up the frame with dimensionals. After I played around with it a bit, I decided to crop a Bashful Blue shape with the larger framelit and glue the frame to the cropped shape. Easy. Put tiny, tiny drops of Multipurpose Liquid Glue (in the green container) around the frame and glue it down. Before the glue dries, you have time to slide it around a little bit to perfectly align it with the other image. I then raised the entire image with dimensionals.
Stamp sets: You are Loved Paper: Basic Black, Bashful Blue Inks: Basic Black Accessories: Window Frames Framelits, Bird Builder punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Brian
I don’t want to pressure you, but I think I’ll apply pressure now. I know you’ve been holding out on me. We just need one more person to sign up for the ribbon share, and I can place the order. Don’t wait any longer. Won’t you sign up? Please. Click here to find out more, or email me at stampwithbrian@gmail.com if you have questions.
Handsome, love the smart Black & White
Wow, that is simple and lovely. Happy Thanksgiving!
Simpathy cards are hard to make, you really don’t want to end up with a flashy card. In this instances, less is definitely more. I love the Bird Punch, it’s so versatile.
Thank you for a really beautiful card idea.
Just looking at your creation brings a feeling of peace and relaxation to ones mind. Brian, you’ve done once again.
Who wouldn`t love this card? I have this little bird punch and have used the heck out of it ….but not just the sillouette(sp) . Your comment about pearls on a card is a hoot and don`t you get a rush cranking that lever!!! I have a Vagabond and there`s just something missing if you can`t crank . It`s kind of like Clogging without shoes on!!! One more thing before I go …aren`t you the same fella that doesn`t like birds ??? Just wondering….maybe you are like me …I don`t like ones with feet…(real birds excused of course) Later….
Ha! Ha! Sonny, I am not a big “I love birds!!!!!!” person but I certainly don’t want to remove the feets from birds. I know two people who love anything that has birds on it, and that’s just not me. This bird, though, is so peaceful, just nesting on a branch that hangs in the middle of nowhere. Kinda magical.
Very funny!
Brian you said this perfectly! After the recent loss of my mom I received several sympathy cards and did not spent time looking out the outside and how ‘pretty’ the card was … it was the sentiment and the inside message. I love the KISS theme and will enjoy revisiting this when I seem to lose site of the cards purpose! TFS!! Happy Thanksgiving
The card is absolutely striking. I love cards that reflect simplicity rather than cards that are so crammed with “stuff” they make you dizzy. What a fantastic sympathy card. You’re the best Brian!
You are on a roll this week with “Pam” cards. I just love this. What a great card for a stamp a stack! Hope you and Mom are enjoying tour time together.
Brian, I’m later this morning because we changed time zones yesterday and are now in the Midwest. Such a simply elegant card which I agree is one of the best ways to make a sympathy card. I didn’t realize at first that you had used Bashful Blue with the black. (Truth be told, I usually try to stay away from black when making a sympathy card, but the Bashful Blue stands out, not the black.) And birds and butterflies are very often part of my sympathy cards … I’ve heard many stories about people seeing birds or butterflies after the loss of a family member which made them feel that person was still looking over them. My college roommate saw a cardinal at my father’s funeral. It wasn’t until I returned home to MN that I started seeing cardinals now and then outside my kitchen window. (Honestly, they never came to our part of the neighborhood before that.) PERFECT CARD, Brian! Happy Thanksgiving!
Great card, stunning actually. I’ve never seen that bird look more serious. Birds in black take on a whole new meaning. Great job Brian! The bashful blue makes a nice combo too!
Samantha, so sorry about your mom. My heart goes out to you at this time of the year….sending you a hug! And Suzanne, I have heard that about the birds and loss of loved ones many times…too many for it to be coincidental..usually they are red birds…Cardinals.
Brian, this is a striking card! I just love it! And the sentiment says it all. Thinking of You…. it’s hard to say just the right words sometimes, and this card, with a hand written note is perfect! I love your frame…and that little bird (with no feet) is just the right tough! Love the silhouette… just love it! May I CASE this? Unfortunately, I have to send a sympathy card to a friend…. Happy Thanksgiving!
oops…. mean to say “just the right touch”…. slip of the ole’ finger. sorry!
Perfect! This card speaks comfort and caring. I think it would also be appropriate to send on the one year anniversary of loss of a loved one. Happiest of Thanksgivings to you!!
Stunningly perfect in its simplicity and execution. I’ll be making this card for sure–just don’t like to think about WHY I’ll need to make it. Great job–and Happy Thanksgiving! –Terri
Absolutely lovely card, Brian…..simple yet stunning. TFS! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
gorgeous. Clean, simple but lovely