Thoughts on Sympathy Cards and Grief

Wow. I want to thank everyone who commented on or emailed regarding the two very different sympathy cards on this post. The replies are very perceptive and reveal one great truth about grief.

Everyone does it differently.

My two cards on that post both felt "grieving" to me, but some of you found the movement and energy of the many butterflies on the first card off-putting and too cheery. Others preferred that first card because it made them think their loved one had joined others who had gone before or that they weren't grieving alone.

Most of you preferred the second card, with just one butterfly (my personal favorite as well). Some of you thought that card would make you feel alone in your grief...it was too cold, perhaps, or barren.

Other readers wanted something in-between the many butterflies and the one. If that describes you, today's card might suit you.

This card started life as a one-layer card, but the placement was too low. Instead of starting over, I created this layered card. Butterflies represent transition and metamorphosis...life from death and resurrection. The upward movement of the three butterflies is nicely symbolic, but isn't it grand how the mat surrounds the stamped panel, anchoring it and giving a feeling of stability to the design? I find that tension comforting.

The color here is wonderfully neutral: Hero Arts' wet cement. It matches well with StampinUp's sahara sand cardstock. It has a completely different feel from the black of the first two cards. There's a drama and starkness to the black that (to me) seems to acknowledge the pain of grief honestly, but the softness of the wet cement is soothing to me.

There really are no "right" answers, are there? Everyone grieves differently. How lovely it is that we can make different cards for different people to share our sympathy and love with them in difficult times.

Blessings to you all!

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts Antique Engravings, Gina K Elegant Florals
paper: Papertrey white, StampinUp sahara sand
ink: Hero Arts wet cement, Memento Luxe rich cocoa
accessories: none

Crowdsourcing Success and Two Cool Christmas Card

If you missed my very wordy post about "fast-dry" pigment inks that aren't drying for me, it's here. Two readers made suggestions that have proven to be extremely helpful, and I recommend you give them a try.

Solution #1

Julia's solution is hairspray. Donna warns that some hairspray can turn the card yellow in a short period of time, but Julia has never had that happen. I suggest experimenting with aerosol cans of cheap hairspray. Joan shared that she has used Aqua Net and Tresemme with success.

I had a pump bottle of Suave hairspray and tried it just to see. The bottle (of course) spat blotches of spray on the card, but once it dried, the ink didn't move. YAY! An aerosol can will spray a fine enough mist to avoid blotches and will be much less likely to warp the card than a standard spray bottle.

My conclusion is that, essentially, hairspray works like the fixative, only without the toxicity and need to go outside where there are kamikaze bugs intent on destroying your work.


Solution #2

Bev sent me an email suggesting that I use an Embossing Buddy to pre-treat the paper before stamping, with the idea that the chalk would pull the moisture from the ink and dry it. For those who don't know, an Embossing Buddy is a fabric bag filled with chalk. It's marketed to be used to prepare paper before heat embossing. You pounce or rub the bag on the paper before stamping, and the embossing powder will stick only to the ink, not the surrounding paper. It works great for that, by the way.

Sadly, pouncing before stamping didn't work to dry the ink, but when I pounced the Embossing Buddy over the image after stamping, it worked GREAT!!!!

Embossing Buddy helps ink dry!

Instead of rubbing, I did lightly pounce, with the suspicion that rubbing would cause the ink to smear before it had a chance to dry. After pouncing, I blew the dust off and then wiped gently with a tissue to remove any residual dust.  I've tried this on a number of cards, and it worked every single time. What a relief!

And for those of you who use these inks in scrapbooks, chalk is used to neutralize acid, so I suspect it's perfectly safe. It's certainly not acidic. But I'm no expert on archival matters, so you might want to consult one.



Many, many thanks to Bev and Julia for giving us two workable solutions to this pesky problem. But please remember, individual results will vary. Donna's experience proves that hairspray isn't always a workable option, so definitely experiment before using hairspray on anything important. And my experience with the Embossing Buddy may also not work under all circumstances.

Now for the Christmas cards. The problematic pigment inks used on both were successfully dried with the Embossing Buddy.

Fresh Ink Sicilian Blue and Island; Memento Luxe Teal Zeal
and Tuxedo Black

Avery Elle Sea Glass; Hero Arts Mint Julip; VersaMagic Turquoise Gem;
Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black

How lovely to have a problem solved!


Supplies
stamps: StampinUp Endless Wishes, Hero Arts Holly Days
ink: listed in captions
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: craft foam, glue, silver metallic marker

Sympathy Butterflies Poll

Note: I've already started on a follow-up post about the ink issues discussed HERE. There may be several solutions, folks! Thanks to those who have weighed in on the problem.

As we've discussed before, making sympathy cards before they are needed is preferable to trying to whip one up at the last minute. So I made this card after seeing this pin.

I really like how the white space surrounds the sentiment, with the black border (which mimics mourning cards from Victorian times, which were always edged in black). The sentiment becomes a very strong focal point in that broad strip of white. The black-and-white color scheme reflects how colorless grief can feel. And butterflies...transformation and new life.

Y'all know that I prefer a minimalist style, and while I love this card, all those butterflies started to make me feel twitchy.

So I made this card, which will, no doubt, make some of you twitchy.

I can easily imagine people to whom I would send one or the other. The unique vibe of each makes them both useful to have in my stash.

Which of the two would you personally prefer to receive? I ask in the interests of market research. Karen's Card Shop (the one at my church) had a request for sympathy cards, and I'm wondering which sort the majority of people might prefer, the abundant butterflies or the single one, or something between.


Supplies
stamps: Gina K Elegant Florals (sentiment), Hero Arts Antique Engravings
ink: Hero Arts intense black
paper: Papertrey
accessories: black Sharpie

Super-CAS Saturday and Digression on the Bard

If you've followed Simplicity for a while, you know how autumn speaks to my soul.

Oh, me.

Oh, my.

Oh, autumn!

And it's not just because I love pumpkin spice lattes immoderately.

We're not quite there yet officially, but when the calendar flipped over to September, our weather in southwest Ohio became much more pleasant...still summery, but no longer reminiscent of satan's humid furnace. The pleasant weather makes me anticipate autumn all that much more.

Here are three small, very clean, very simple note cards that speak to my autumn-loving Renaissance soul.

All three cards are 3 3/8" x 4 7/8". They fit
purchased envelopes.

This delightful trefoil vine evokes medieval book illumination and Renaissance ornament as well, which explains why combining it with autumnal shades makes my heart go pitter-patter. The inks are Kaleidacolor, and I used an aqua painter to fill in the color...so easy to add variations in the colors to make the image more interesting.

The stamp is from Hero Arts' new set called Shakespearean Poetry. *happy sigh* There should be an add-on with additional quotations from the Bard. "Out, damned spot!" "If music be the food of love, play on." "Better a witty fool than a foolish wit." "There is nothing either good or bad but thinking made it so." "No." Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1 (although properly, this should have an ellipsis, since Hamlet does continue after the no, but let's not quibble). "With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come." "Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge." "Get thee to a nunnery."

Maybe multiple add-on sets. Will had a great way with words, words, words. There could be a set for making cards for enemies with Shakespearean insults, one for lovers, one for parents and children, one for the meaning of life, one for pure comedy, one for politics, one for lyrical beauty, one for nature, one for Halloween (mostly Macbeth, of course).... So many possibilities!

The next logical question, though, is this: when will Hero come out with Chaucer's Poetry, which would need a pear image in it for sure, or Wordsworth's Poetry with daffodils and Tintern Abbey ruins?  What about Blake's Poetry with a lion, a lamb, and a spectacularly scary image of Satan? Oh, my.

What Shakespearean quote would you like to see in a stamp? What other poet deserves Hero's attention, in your opinion? Let's get literary today.

And if brevity is the soul of wit, I'm witless.

Farewell.

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts Shakespearean Poetry
ink: Kaleidacolor
paper: Papertrey vintage cream
accessories: aqua painter

When All Else Fails...

Y'all, there have been hours of effort expending trying to create a video post on ink issues, and truly, the frustration level is off the charts. I really want to get this figured out, but things are getting busy with Ironman Wisconsin approaching. So we're stuck with the old-fashioned written post with pictures to illustrate my point, which will end up taking a fifth of the time I've spent trying to get the video together. I'm just not good, people.

*sigh*

Anyway, here's the problem: light shades of fast-drying pigment inks simply won't dry. A reader had this problem with one of the Impress Fresh Inks last year and never was able to get a satisfactory resolution (that I know of). I wasn't having a problem then, but when I purchased a bunch of light shades earlier this year, boy, howdy did I have the same experience she had.

If two of us are having issues, then it's likely more of you are as well. So let's crowdsource this problem, and perhaps those of us having problems will have solutions instead! Thanks in advance to anyone who can help us!

Please note that OTHER colors in all three lines of ink (Avery Elle, Mama Elephant, and Impress Fresh Ink) dry just fine for me, and I actually love them immoderately. But here are the colors that don't. 

Aren't these colors AWESOME! I thought so, too, until they started giving me fits.

These images were stamped three days ago, and as you can see in the photo of my finger, they are not dry. A chalky residue comes off with even the slightest touch on all the inks. Every. Single. One. The lightest colors smear faintly on the paper, but the pool, island, pixie smear obviously.

Know that I tried heat-setting these inks, with a 20-second blast from the heat gun on each image, and that made absolutely no difference. There are pieces I stamped with these inks over six weeks ago that are still. not. dry.

The only solution I've found that works is to spray a finished piece with Krylon Matte Finish fixative. I dislike this for several reasons. First, it's toxic and must be sprayed in a well-ventilated area. I took my card outside and sprayed it, but a bug flew across the spray, stuck to the card, and left bug residue on the front, ruining it. Ugh. I'm sure the bug wasn't happy, either.

Second, spraying cardstock, even with a very fine spray, will warp the paper. This isn't a deal-killer, but the toxicity and bug residue sure are.

The manufacturers suggested that I was over-inking the stamps, but I disagree. The other colors of the inks dry just fine the way I ink them, and when I experimented with inking less than I usually do, poor quality images resulted...and also never dried.

The manufacturers also suggested that the paper was to blame. I disagree here as well, although with qualifications. My paper-of-choice is Papertrey Ink's stampers select white, which is a porous, uncoated card stock with great absorbency and drying time for every other ink I've ever used on it. If I were using a coated cardstock, I'd agree with the manufacturer; in my experience, inks dry slowly and sometimes not at all on coated card stock. But Papertrey white isn't coated. Neither, to my knowledge, is Neenah solar white, which I also tried, with exactly the same messy results as the Papertrey.

The manufacturers also suggested heat embossing, which I tried, and it worked. Unfortunately, the quality of embossing was disappointing. The ink is chalky but not very sticky, which means the powder didn't stick evenly, and results were blotchy and unpleasant. It's hard to see in the picture, but trust me.

So let's recap.
1. These inks don't dry for me on Papertrey's cardstock or the Neenah solar white.
2. They don't dry for me when heat-set on porous cardstock.
3. I'm not over-inking the stamps.
4. Heat embossing doesn't work well for me.
5. Sealing with a fixative does work, but it's a pain in the patootie and toxic to boot.  

What might be going on here?

To my mind, there are several variables that could be at work here. First, it could be chemistry. The lighter pigments might require formulas that affect drying. This seems possible to me because, as I stated above, other colors of inks in all three lines work great for me without chalky residue.

Second, and less likely, is that these six ink pads are defective. If it were only one or two pads, I'd say this is a possibility, but six pads from three different manufacturers? Not likely.

Third, there might be something environmental at work, perhaps humidity. This summer has been oddly humid here in southwest Ohio. Furthermore, my stamp area is in my walk-out basement. I do run a large dehumidifier nonstop in the basement, but it's not powerful enough to work over the whole large space. Basements are just naturally more humid. Perhaps when winter chill sets in and humidity drops with forced-air heat, matters will improve. But I don't want to wait. I want answers NOW!

*petulant toddler stomping her feet*

There has to be a solution.

If I'm having this problem, perhaps you are as well. And if you're using these inks and NOT having problems, those of us who are having problems would LOVE to hear from you!

What are you doing? What is the climate where you live? What brand and weight of paper are you using? How much ink are you putting on the stamps compared to other colors?

If you are able, please make some suggestions to help us poor, lost souls who just want to make subtle-colored cards! I would be willing to buy a new cardstock or move to the desert. This summer's humidity has been just awful.

And seriously, thank you in advance for your help.

Inspired by Soap Packaging, Part 2

Note: Yesterday's post was for the September One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #31, Back in Time. I hope you'll play along this month. It was so much fun!

Back to soap packaging. This photo on Pinterest was so inspiring!

Source

Today's card takes advantage of the layout in the butterfly package on the top right.

One thing we based the OLS Challenge on is the notion that clean-and-simple cardmaking is in the details. When you pay attention to the little things, good design happens. In this case, a very simple design gets elevated by adding two gold elements: the centers of the poinsettias and the gold border.

This card was okay without the gold, but adding those touches really makes me happy. The poinsettia centers were added with a metallic gold gel pen, and the edging with my handy Prismacolor gold metallic broad-tip pen.

Whenever your design seems a tad blah, start looking around in your stash for supplies to add a touch of wonderful!

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts
ink: Impress mojito, Memento Luxe love letter
paper: Papertrey
accessories: gold gel pen, Prismacolor metallic gold marker, craft foam, glue

One-Layer Simplicity #31: Back in Time

We interrupt my two-part soap-packaging inspiration post with something that has me so excited!

Welcome to September and the new OLS Challenge! This month our host is the always amazing Ardyth, and she's asking us to go back in time...either with a retro or vintage card or by using clocks or time as a theme.

So many fun ways to play!

I went vintage with a new Hero Arts Christmas set called Holly Days, and I made a postcard rather than a card...which says vintage to me.

While this is clearly my CAS style, there are a number of things that say vintage to me. First, the holly stamp has a realistic look, but I colored it in vintage turquoise, olive, and an orange-y red using an aqua brush. To paint the leaves, I used SU tempting turquoise, and before that dried, I added SU old olive. The effect makes me so happy!

Second, the fact that it's a postcard takes me back in time. Do people even send many postcards anymore? I've only received two in the past ten years or so. But my grandparents' scrapbooks are FULL of postcards. And many of them have deckle edges and antique gold borders. Deckle scissors? Check. Antique gold ink? Not so much. Delicata is a very shiny yellow gold...but I got close. It's gold.

Third, a lot of vintage cards have white glitter on them. With my yellow-gold border, white glitter seemed odd, but I wanted to incorporate something glittery on the berries. Well, Jasleen made a card for the OLS30 challenge, and she used a Wink of Stella clear pen to blend her watercolors. That gave me the idea of picking up some gold Delicata ink with the Wink of Stella pen and put it on the berries.

Oh, my! Perfect! Thanks to Jasleen, the gold sentiment, berries, and border create a lovely, unified card.

Or postcard.

Ardyth's OLS challenge is so much fun! Give it a try. Remember that the InLinkz button will be good through September 24th at midnight, and multiple entries are allowed.

Join us!


Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts, unknown postcard
ink: Hero Arts cup o' joe, Delicata gold, Kaleidacolor (orange-red), StampinUp old olive and turquoise
paper: watercolor paper
accessories: deckle scissors, Wink of Stella clear pen, aqua brush, sponge