Sending Love and Sympathy with a Fab Friday sketch

I love when an idea comes to mind the moment I first see a sketch, but I also welcome the challenge of sorting through thousands of possibilities when a sketch is super-simple.  Both are very different challenges that spark my mind in different ways.  This week’s FabFriday sketch is super-simple – a band and a shape.  I was inspired to make this card:

Love & Sympathy, Everything Eleanor, World of Dreams, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, FabFri45

And here’s the Fab Friday sketch that inspired by card:

Tips, Tricks and Reminders

  • Color Selection.  Sympathy cards shouldn’t be filled with lots of colors.  One, OK.  Two, sure.  For my taste, I think sympathy cards should be soothing or uplifting so neutrals work best.  What do you think?  I reached for Crumb Cake but forced myself to use Sahara Sand.  The combination of Sahara Sand and Early Espresso works well for me.  I fought my urge to add Very Vanilla or Whisper White.  Stuck with those two and happier for it.
  • No Ink.  I would like to point out (in case you aren’t alert enough to notice – maybe it’s too early in the morning, or maybe it’s too late in the afternon.  Whatever the reason, I don’t want you to be alertless.) that no ink was used in the creation of this cardfront.  All images are heat embossed with Early Espresso Stampin’ Emboss Powder.
  • Expiration Date?  Does embossing powder have an expiration date?  I think it generally has a shelf-life of about one or two years, but it can last longer if it’s stored properly (airtight container).  It doesn’t spoil or start to smell bad – it just loses a little bit of its embossing ease.  This powder is almost three years old – I really had to work the heat gun to get it to heat up.  I guess I’ll add some more to my next order…  Here’s how I store my powders:storing embossing powders in airtight sandwich containers, Brian King

Stamp Sets:  Love & Sympathy, Everything Eleanor, World of Dreams  Papers:  Sahara Sand, Early Espresso  Accessories:  Early Espresso Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Neutrals Candy Dots (Sahara Sand), Stampin’ Dimensionals

I hope you will pop over to the FabFriday site to see the other cards by the other designers.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

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25 Comments

  1. i love how much thought and detailing goes into your cards…very inspirational. This one is “simple” yet speaks volumes.

  2. I LOVE to emboss…this is a great card,

  3. Maria Rodriguez

    This is an absolutely lovely Sympathy card, the colors are just right for it and the embossing is perfect as always Brian.
    This card surely will send a loving message to the recipient.
    Thank you for sharing.

  4. Great card. It is so soothing . . . It whispers : peace.

  5. Two soothing colors of cardstock + embossing = the perfect sympathy card! Excellent formula, Brian.

  6. You always come up with a recipe for success Brian!
    Happy 4th.

  7. This is a great design especially for a sympathy card. I like soothing quiet type of cards to send while encouraging with good taste. You’ve addressed all the issues I have with most sympathy cards. I like your style!

  8. Hi Brian:

    I really have a difficult time making sympathy cards. It’s emotionally draining. Your card though shows me that sympathy cards can be simple but effective. It’s an absolutely lovely and thoughtful card which sends a caring message before it’s even opened. Thank you for that.

  9. This is beautiful! Everything Eleanor is such a classy stamp set. Last year you made another gorgeous card using this set which inspired me to buy it.

  10. A very lovely and elegant card, Brian.

  11. Lovely card and thanks for info about embossing powder. I did not know that.

  12. What a lovely elegant card! 🙂

  13. Cindie McDuffee

    The left panel really make this card spectacular. What a great idea.

  14. Happy 4th of July….from Canada. Hope you have a super day. Beautiful and classy, peaceful card. Very appropriate for that type of event.
    You are so organized!!! I read somewhere (where?) that you can put something (what??) with the embossing powder to ‘extent’ its life. I know I have this somewhere in my notes (LOL). Thank you , again and again, for sharing all those great tips!

  15. Wonderful elegant card Brian.
    I agree – two colours are best.

  16. Beautiful!

  17. Love it. Beautiful and subtle with the perfect tone.

  18. Your card is just perfect! I’ve needed to make a few sympathy cards to have on hand and this is perfect. Thank you for the inspiration Brian.

  19. Sympathy cards are the only ones I can’t have sitting in my stash of cards. When the time comes, as Grace said, it is emotional and draining. This card format is simple yet elegant and meaningful. Thank you for the inspiration. Love how the powders have their own little organized place in the fungeon.

  20. Lovely CAS sympathy card Brian! Those neutrals are just right! TFS!

  21. Very nice card!! Very subtle and soothing!! Nice job with Sahara Sand, I hardly ever use that color.

  22. Mary Alice Bellis

    Such a beautiful serene card. You never cease to amaze me.
    I love your info about embossing powder. I had no idea that it had a shelf life, and that may be part of my problem with embossing. I have practically given up on embossing because I am frustrated with the results. Some of my embossing powders could be up to 10 years old, or more!! My gold actually tarnished, so I replaced it last year. I guess it’s time for me to reinvest in new powders, and give embossing a try again.

  23. Love the card and want to CAS it, but I can’t figure out how you got the Apothecary Accents Framelits in the two sizes, one for the sentiment and one for the larger area. How did you do this?

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