With Sympathy

My aunt in Germany (on my mother's side) passed away a week before my dad and I'm just now getting around to a card for the cousins.  This is the English version, of course, - theirs has the German "Aufrichtige Anteilnahme" on it.  This card was inspired by a card I found on Pinterest by Monica's Passions Blog.  Hers had some green on it, but I stuck with plain black and white.  I think it's all pretty self explanatory- I had never thought of using the two step bird punch on a sympathy card - genius!
The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the buckle is from Amazon.
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #50 - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Crafts and Me #138- Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations #220 - Anything Goes + Option of Ribbon
Lia Stamps #43- Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!                                                                          
Gerlinde

Note Card Set

 I had a request for a set of note cards like I had made pre-blog days and thought I would post these because they are so quick and easy.  The cut out is made with the Silhouette and then scored around the edges.  They are layered on various colors of cardstock with dimensionals and decorated with pearls and Martha Stewart punched butterflies.  Super easy and a great gift!











 I also made a gift box out of heavy duty designer paper, complete with acetate opening:



As you can see, I'm back and have requests on order already!  Dad's service in Florida was just what he would have wanted.  We will miss him sorely. 
Gerlinde

 

In Memory of my Father......

Dear blogger friends! In case you are wondering where I've been since April, I'm afraid I'm taking a little break from crafting as I mourn the loss of my dear, sweet father. He passed away on Mother's Day at the age of 88 in Sarasota, Fla. We are fortunate that he did not have a long hospital stay and he lived a year longer than the doctors predicted. His heart simply finally gave out. He lived a long, full life and we are grateful for that. I will be going back to Sarasota next week for the memorial service on the beach at Siesta Key and so will probably not be back until end of June. May you rest in peace, my dear "Vati". Gerlinde

Anniversary Toast

Yesterday was my daughter and son-in-law's 7th anniversary and so I made this for them (finished it right before I went over to babysit so they could go out to dinner - nothing like a deadline!).   I cut the heart with my Silhouette and covered it with Stampendous Red Tinsel embossing powder.  The champagne flutes were cut with the Silhouette too - the stems were covered with Sparkle N Sprinkle's black detail embossing powder.  You can't tell in the picture, but they are shiny and look just like glass. Then the champane was done with Sparkle N Sprinkle's brushable glue and Florida Beach glitter and the flute part was then covered with Crystal Effects to look like a glass.  The Happy Anniversary was also done with the Red Tinsel glitter and cut out with Spellbinder's Fancy Tags Two and then layered onto some Really Reasonable Ribbon's black ribbon. My daughter loved it, by the way!

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:
Everybody Art Challenge #232 - Bling
Sparkles Forum Challenge #43 - Hearts
The Corrosive Challenge #172 - Life's Special Occasions
Stamping Sensations  April Challenge - Special Occasions

Thanks for visiting!
Gerlinde

Blacksmith's Get Well

 Had a request for a get well card with a horse for a friend's  blacksmith and decided to go back to an old Stampin Up set called Brushstroke Horses. I discovered that my Mojo must be coming back, because I came up with all sorts of ideas for the set.  Unfortunately, my neglected yard beckens me today so the rest of the ideas will have to wait.  I embossed the horse with an embossing powder called Bavarian Bronze (no clue what brand) and colored him with chalks and copics.  The cloud effect is done with Gray Flannel Memento Ink and Silhouette cut clouds.  The image was then cut with Spellbinder's Labels Twelve and mounted on Glitter Cardstock.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the rest just from my stash.  The hat inside the card was also done on my Silhouette out of Chocolate Chip cardstock.

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:
Brown SugarChallenge #38 - Get Well
Sisterhood of Crafters - Animal Antics
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #10 - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking!
Gerlinde

4th Birthday

My grandsons are growing up way too fast! Little Charlie chose camping as the theme for his birthday party and my daughter did an awesome job decorating - complete with tent and plastic campfire in the family room!  The camp scene on this card is a digi from Squigglefly and colored with Copics, water color pencils and chalks.  The tents and campfire are layered with dimensionals.  The little critters are from Jackie Topa's Cute Critters class and since they have no bodies, they are peeking out from behind the tents.  The lettering is done with my Silhouette, as was the sentiment inside the card. The colored cardstock is Gumball Green and Early Espresso.  Charlie even got the makings for S'mores for his plastic campfire.  Summer can't come soon enough, even for a four year old!

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments - For a Child
Dream Valley - Happy Birthday
Ruby's Rainbow - Happy Birthday
Sweet N Sassy Digis - Cute & Cuddly
That Craft Place - Animals
Crafting by Designs - Animals
Inky Impressions - For a Child

Thanks for looking!
Gerlinde

Retirement

I made this card for the challenge at Repeat Impressions' The House that Stamps Built but had to laugh when I came across Alphabet Challenge's "C is for Coveted" because you wouldn't believe the torture I went thru when I decided to use my cardstock from Stampin Up's Shimmery White.  It is truly my most coveted cardstock and because of that I'm terrified of making a mistake on it.  I swear I've had an unopened package for two years! Now the cheapo Walmart white cardstock I have no trouble wasting at all! Anyway, Repeat Impression's challenge theme is Sponging or Brayering and since I wasn't very happy with the last moon I did, I thought I'd try it again with this Pelican from Repeat Impressions.  The sponging is done with Memento Inks and the pelican is colored with Copics.  The oval die is Spellbinders and the border punch is Martha Stewart.  I think the retirement stamp is Repeat Impressions too.  A little stickles on the moon and the water and done!

I'm entering this into the following challenges!
The House that Stamps Built (Repeat Impressions) - Sponging or Brayering
Alphabet Challenge - C is for Coveted
Papercraft Star - Birds
Rhedd & Rosies - Birds
Sparkles Forum - Birds

Thanks for visiting!
Gerlinde