Soft Sympathy

I'm out of sympathy cards again, so I decided to go soft and gentle with the fabulous plant stamp from Penny Black's Happy Notes set and some light purple flock.

Here's a close-up of the flock...the color on the close-up is closer to the real color. Editing pastel-colored cards can be tough!

I love the soft, tactile quality cards with flock have, and the lighter colors are perfect for soothing, comforting cards. Lavender used to be an acceptable color for ladies in mourning to wear, so its use on sympathy cards has a historic justification as well.

The pointy corners of the sentiment strip looked harsh, so I pulled out a pair of scallop scissors and snipped the left-hand corners. It's a small touch, but it makes a difference in the overall feel of the card. I didn't snip the right-hand corners because they line up with the sharp edge of the plant image.

Remember that the design principle of UNITY requires that all the elements of a card work together to reinforce each other. If I'd used hot pink flock on this card, for example, the sentiment would have to be different...something happier to match the flashy color.

To adhere the flock to the card, use the Essential Glue Pad. Some quick tips for success: a) work quickly, b) press the flock onto the glue using your fingers (just sprinkling it won't make a nice bond), c) thump off the excess flock gently, and d) let it dry for a VERY long time before touching it.

This is my second Essential Glue Pad; the first got too dried out and too hard to use. It's important to reapply the glue to the pad before each use, especially if you haven't used it in a while. Eventually, the pad will get hard with dry glue. It will work for a while, even when it gets pretty stiff, so don't throw it away prematurely. These things are expensive. I really should use it more often, but while it works great with flock, I find that it's less grabby of glitter.

Of course, I gave away all my loose glitter in exchange for a bunch of Stickles. Less mess, stays put.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Several people have asked for the names of the sets from yesterday's shopping spree post. Here you go.

Hero Arts: Holiday Pine Branches (CL899) and Holiday Greetings (CL890)
Penny Black: Happy Notes
Simon Says Stamp: To Thine Own Shelf

I ordered all four from Simon Says Stamp.

Happy Shopping!

Supplies
stamps: Penny Black
ink: Memento Luxe black
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: dimensionals, rhinestones, scallop scissors (to round the left corners of the sentiment strip)