Sympathy Card & The April CCC Reveal

** two posts today - if you are looking for Stinkin' Inkers, click here**

This April's Card Chain Challenge is a sad one.  My receiving partner had a loss in her family, so I wanted to make her a sweet and simple condolence card.  To do that, this month I followed the sketch:

The CCC Sketch I Used

And here is the card I created for her:

I hope my card brings her some comfort. At the very least, she knows I am thinking of her.  

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Black Card Panel
White Cardstock
Unity Stamp Peace, Courage & Memories sentiment, GKD-004A
Darice Embossing Folder, Vine Pattern, #1219-136
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Forty-One (on sale for $4.49!!)
Simon Says Stamp Detail White Embossing Powder
Embossing Fluid
Die-Versions Whispers Stitched Nesting Squares, #DV-572 (for fishtail)
White Resin Flowers (from stash)
Pop Dots

First thing I did was find a nice embossing folder.  I think the Vine Pattern embossing folder can be used for many occasions.  I cut a panel (which, in my case is typically 1/4" smaller than the card base) out of black card and ran it through my Big Shot to emboss it.  I also ran some scrap white card through,

Some Dimension

matching the pattern, but you can barely see it (tip: die cut your cardstock before you dry emboss it!)  Once the cardstock was embossed, I set the black panel aside to figure out how I was going to make the fishtail I needed to coordinate with the sketch.  I envy the people who can cut evenly using hand held scissors, or who can figure out how to turn cardstock the correct way and then use their cutter; I can do neither.  But, a light bulb went off in my head; if I could find a square that matched up with the width of the piece of paper I wished to fishtail, I could do it with the die cut.  Lucky for me I had just purchased the Stitched Nesting Squares, so I set about lining the card and the square up and it worked! I have taken pictures of the process:

Step One: Align the square with the ends of your paper.  The ends of the die should go over the ends just a little bit to accommodate the space around the die cut.  I use temporary tape to keep my dies in place; I did this long before washi tape came out and it's cheaper.  If you look closely you can still see a bit of the dry embossing.

And there you go! A perfect fishtail! Also, note that the stitches in the die aren't a problem; they appear on the cut out, not the base. Now, just peel off the tape and put your die away.  I hope, between my explanation and the pictures, the process makes sense.


After I handled the fishtail (I am SO proud, can you tell?) I moved on to the sentiment of the card.  I embossed "So Sorry" using detail white embossing powder.  I die cut it, attached the 2 white resin flowers, and pop dotted it onto the banner.  I then attached the banner onto the embossed panel of black cardstock.  There you have it.  A simple sympathy card.  Before I go I wanted to share the card I received from Lucille: 

How cute is that! She had known of my love of cats and I adore the card! Just click her name and it will take you to her blog.  Also, today is Reveal Day - don't forget to go to the Card Chain Challenge website to see all the glorious cards

Another Peek

that were sent all around the world!

I hope you have a great day and will come back to see me soon ~ Fondly, Christi 


I am entering my Sympathy Cards in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Crafting When we Can - #43, C A S
Brown Sugar - #248, No Image, Just a Sentiment
Crafty Catz - #368, Anything Goes
Deep Ocean - #154, Anything Goes