Pat McCleary, please email me at susanraihala at roadrunner dot com.
Now, for my new resolution, starting now and not on New Year's Day, because we all know that no one sticks with New Year's resolutions.
Often, I make cards "just because." Sometimes, though, as with birthday cards for my family and close friends, I make a card for a specific person, with their preferences and interests and age and gender identity in mind.
Anyway, when making a card for a specific person, I'd like to do more than just make the card. I'd like to follow through with a coordinating envelope to give them the full Monty.
So to speak.
Anyway, (again), today's card is for a very specific person so I followed through.
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| Card Size 3.75" x 7.25" |
The person receiving this card loves all things lizard. The spiral gecko stamp has a copyright date of 2002 on it. I've had it about that long. It's adorable, and mustard, teal, and sienna were picked with the recipient in mind. The three squares needed a little something. Hence, the bling.
Because (let's say it together) "BLING MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER."
Well, almost everything.
My first instinct was to put tiny rhinestones on the geckos' eyes, but they would have lined up too neatly across the card. Bling arranged in a visual triangle keeps the human eye moving around the card and adds a dynamic quality I like. The geckos' eyes don't move because that would be creepy.
By the way, the grammar checker in Blogger doesn't like my plural possessives. Don't trust grammar checker. It's a conspiracy.
The envelope was stamped with lines and a saying from Simon Says Stamp's Envelope Sentiments set, which is very versatile, but I've noticed the tiny words break easily. Pieces of the letters have broken off the stamps, probably because I clean my stamps on damp washcloths a bit too vigorously. So be careful if you buy the set.
And that's my new resolution: follow through on the little details...like envelopes. I'm also stamping the back of cards with a "Hand stamped by" stamp and signing them. On this card, I stamped a happy birthday sentiment inside since there wasn't room for it on the outside.
Do you embellish your envelopes? Do you decorate them all the time, sometimes, never? How? Do you sign the backs of your cards? Curious minds and all that.
Supplies
stamps: Rubber Stampede spiral gecko (c. 2002!), Simon Says Stamp Envelope Sentiments
ink: Archival saffron, paradise teal, sienna
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: rhinestones, dimensionals, square punch
When I became a demo for SU in 2003 we used to get little stamps as incentives to keep or give away to customers. I have one that is a small sheep which I usually stamp on the back of my cards then I write my initials next to it. I think for this year's Christmas cards I might switch to a "handmade by" stamp.
ReplyDeleteI have only ever bothered to decorate envelopes at Christmas and so far it's only been snowflakes.
I've been trying to be more consistent with adding a little stamped image to a corner of the inside of the card this year.
So fun. I love these lizards and the one turned square is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI have embellished envelopes for several years now. The front usually has a stamp that compliments the theme of the card and love putting the flap in an embossing folder. Have occasionally embossed the whole envelope also. I have an initial stamp for the back and add a small butterfly. On my Christmas cards I write the year under my stamping on the back.
ReplyDeleteLove the color of the geckos !
Lu C
I like the idea of going the distance and making a matching envelope, but (*sigh*) don't do it often enough. I, too, have a friend who loves lizards ... but I don't! There are too many in my house making mess.
ReplyDeleteFun gecko. Loving the bright colours. It's so dreary here.
ReplyDeleteI decorate an envelope if I am making a card for a specific someone that will be used in the immediate future. Otherwise, tend to get excited about the next card.
I had a stamp made up with my name, my email address and my blog address. It cost me $11 taxes in and that was with a nice ergonomic handle. It really gives a nice polished look. I wish I had done it years ago. I now will often have them made up and given with crafty friends info because they make inexpensive but really useful gifts.
I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts & prayers are with you & your congregation.
ReplyDeleteI've always stamped the back of my cards with some variation of a "made by" or "hand stamped by". I made my own name stamp using an alphabet stamp from Michael's.
Now, coordinating envelopes are a different story. I'm kinda hit or miss on that. I've started making my own envelopes out of patterned paper that I've had forever but never used. I try to find a paper that "goes" with the card.
Thank you for sharing your time & talent.
Once upon a time a few months back I made a few Christmas cards and I had a lot of fun doing it so much so that I didn't want to stop, but time was limited, So instead I decorated the insides of the cards I just made. Since I am now addressing Christmas cards I ran across them again and realized that it gives your cards and extra punch so I am going to try to do it more often. I often put stickers or washi tape on the envelope flaps too and have done that forever.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, just because autocorrect says so, does not make it so. Recently on Google it insisted that "a lot" should be "alot" and I was very perturbed by that. Just because many people make that mistake does not make it so!
Christine--please share your source!
ReplyDeleteCute card! Takes me back to my southwest decor days…snakes and lizards, oh my!!
ReplyDeleteMy dad is an artist and he always made sure I signed any artwork I created. So yes, I sign the back of every card with a hand drawn heart, my initials, and the year. That says it all…made with love by me!
I always stamp the back of my cards with my "handmade especially for you" stamp and I don't really decorate the envelopes but I do try and make custom envelopes out of a design paper that will coordinate with the colour or theme of the card. I love, love, love my envelope punch board.
ReplyDeleteI put at least my initials and the year on the back of cards I make. I have a little collection of Hand made by, made with love etc stamps which I use sometimes. A woman at church whom I make cards for wants the formal stamp. I tend to be more reclusive, from the example of one of my calligraphy teachers, who only signed the back and modestly of her pieces, attributing the glory to the Giver of the talent.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences on the death of your fellow minister and friend, and prayers for his family.