Papercrafting with Polly

Sympathy Cards

Hello friends.  Today's post includes several sympathy cards using different supplies and techniques.  Please  click on the photos to see more detail on the cards.

For my first card I sponged Memento inks in the corner of a white panel die cut with the Lacy Layers die from Waffle Flower.  I finished the card with Memory Box butterfly dies which are so handy because they come in 2 sets of 3 -- the outlines and the backgrounds -- in 3 graduated sizes.  I die cut the sentiment three times and glued them on top of each other to give the sentiment more dimension. 

For the inside the card I used the piece of cardstock leftover from die cutting the Lacy Layers panel and the outlines cut with the butterflies.  Easy! Avery Elle Pink – Avery Elle stamp and matching die With Sympathy; Waffle Flower die Lacy Layers; Memory Box die Cascadia and Leavenworth Butterflies; design inspired by Melania Deasy

The next card is really fast and easy.  Be sure to double click this card to see the background embossed with cherry blossoms and accented with crystals. Avery Elle Black and White – Avery Elle stamp and matching die With Sympathy; Taylored Expressions embossing folder Cherry Blossom

For this card a Penny Black flower stamp and edger die are the stars.  Avery Elle Blue and White – Avery Elle stamp and matching die With Sympathy; Penny Black die Edger; Penny Black clear stamp set Flowers Sweet; design inspired by Penny Ward

For the pet sympathy card, I die cut a heart window in a white panel that I had die cut with the Memory Box Pierced Rectangles.  I stamped the sentiment below the heart window and suspended the sympathy die cut over the window.  Next I stamped the word "with" and the dog paw on the gray card and mounted the white panel on the gray card with foam tape to give it dimension.  The Avery Elle set is small but packed with sentiments for both people and pets. Avery Elle Pet Sympathy – Avery Elle stamp and matching die With Sympathy; Taylored Expressions die Stitched Hearts Stacklets; Memory Box die Pierced Rectangles; Avery Elle clear stamp set with matching dies More Furry Friends; Impression Obsession stamp From Your Heart; design inspired by Karolyn Loncon

The Poppystamps Dogwood Blossom dies have been very popular because they make beautiful cards. Dogwood Corner 2 – Poppystamps die Dogwood Corner; Elizabeth Crafts die With Sympathy; Taylored Expressions embossing folders Dotted Lattice and Leafy Vines

Dogwood Corner 3 – Poppystamps die Dogwood Corner; Impression Obsession die With Sympathy; Memory Box dies Cascadia and Leavenworth Butterflies; Taylored Expressions embossing folder Dotted Lattice

With Sympathy – Poppystamps die Falling Dogwood Blossoms; Elizabeth Crafts die With Sympathy; design inspired by Lezlye Lauterbach Corner Sympathy – Poppystamps die Falling Dogwood Blossoms; Memory Box dies Butterflies Cascadia and Leavenworth; Taylored Expressions stamp set Flowers for a Year; design inspired by Pam Going Postal

From the Archives

Two very popular cards from the archives follow.  The first card features a kraft panel embossed with the Prairie embossing folder from Taylored Expressions then colored with colored pencils. Prairie – Taylored Expressions embossing folder Prairie; Penny Black clear stamp set Heartfelt; Prismacolor pencils; design inspired by Jami Sibley

This card is so pretty with soft colors behind a neutral gray tree. Tree-Sympathy – Taylored Expressions die Beauty Lies Within 2; TE embossing folder Dotted Lattice; Spellbinders dies Circles; sentiment by Rubbermoon; design inspired by Kim Singdahlsen

I hope you don't need sympathy cards any time soon, but please stop in The Stamp Act for all your papercrafting needs.  Thanks!

Store Closed

The Stamp Act will be closed Saturday, July 1 for the 4th of July holiday.  Have a wonderful weekend and happy birthday to America!

Thoughtful Cards for Easter and Other Occasions

Hello friends.  Today I am sharing with you some cards I have called "thoughtful" because they use more spiritual icons and words.  This first card is almost regal in its purple hues.  It's hard to tell by looking at this photo, but I cut TE's new Ornate Frame from silver metallic cardstock and glued it to a vellum panel.  Then I turned the vellum over and colored the frame's border with a Copic marker (V06).  I glued this frame to a top folding lavender card that I had previously cut with a rectangle die so the center was open.  To finish the card I cut another Ornate Frame and glued it on the inside.  I stamped and die cut the cross, colored it (Copics V01, V04, V05 and V06) and mounted it with foam tape in the center of the frame.  I hid the foam tape that shows on the inside of the card by gluing another cross (die cut from lavender cardstock) over the the "front" cross.  I hope that makes sense!  I finished with some flowers and a sympathy sentiment.  Change the sentiment to Happy Easter for a stunning Easter card.Sympathy Cross – Taylored Expressions stamp set My Redeemer Lives; TE dies My Redeemer Lives, Ornate Frame Bloomers 2, Bloomers Greenery, Stitched Banner Stacklets and Arbor Accessories; senimtnet from Paper Smooches clear stamp set Salutations; design inspired by Jen Shults

I made two more cards using TE's My Redeemer products.  For the first card I embossed the background with the Redeemer embossing folder then stamped and embossed a cross in gold and mounted it with foam tape over the background.  It fits perfectly!  The sentiment is part of the Redeemer stamp set.
Alleluia – Taylored Expressions stamp set My Redeemer Lives; TE dies My Redeemer Lives; TE embossing folder Redeemer; design inspired by Michele Boyer

Similar to the card above, for the next card I embossed the gray background and the die cut oval with the Redeemer embossing folder.  Before mounting the gold embossed cross I punched a circle in a scratch piece of cardstock and sponged a soft blue circle in the center of the background.  To highlight the sentiment, I stamped it in black and die cut it with a stitched circle die.  I left it in the circle die and sponged the background with yellow ink. He Is Risen – Taylored Expressions stamp set My Redeemer Lives; TE dies My Redeemer Lives, Stitched Ovals Stacklets and Stitched Frame Stacklets; TE embossing folder Redeemer; Memory Box die Stitched Circles; design inspired by Kerri Michaud

TE's "You're in My Prayers" stamp set and matching Prayers Script die have been very popular -- I think because they send the perfect sentiment to friends and family.  This card uses the Ornate Frame set against a sponged background and decorated with pretty flowers.  The prayer sentiment is three die cuts glued together to give it dimension.In My Prayers Frame – Taylored Expressions stamp sets You’re in my Prayers and Spring Florals; TE dies Spring Florals, Prayers Script and Ornate Frame; design inspired by Melody Rupple

Remember that you can always use your dies to make a stencil.  I cut one of the smaller crosses from scratch cardstock to form what's called a "mortise mask" which masks the surrounding area while you sponge the blue cross in the center of the background.

In My Prayers – Taylored Expressions stamp set You’re in my Prayers; TE dies My Redeemer Lives,  Stitched Frame Stacklets and Stitched Banner Stacklets; design inspired by Kerri Michaud

Pretty flowers and a thoughtful sentiment make a lovely card.  I gave the vase some texture using TE's Kaleidoscope embossing folder.Thoughts and Prayers Vase – Taylored Expressions stamp sets You’re in my Prayers and Spring Florals with coordinating dies Prayers Script and Spring Florals; TE dies Various Vases and Bloomin’ Birthday combo set; TE embossing folder Kaleidoscope; design inspired by Jean Manis

Super easy and so elegant, this card is perfect for any occasion.  I cut two of the Budding Peony and glued them togther.  Then noting the placement of the flower buds and leaf, I sponged on some pink and green inks.  Add a sentiment and a few sequins and the card is done.Budding Peony – Memory Box die Bubbing Peony; Poppystamps die Eyelet Stitches; Hero Arts sentiment; design inspired by Lindsay Amrhein

Be sure to stop in soon and see these samples and many more in person!  Thanks!