Today’s card really is the final one using the retiring Seaside Spray ink. It’s a beautiful blue colour that I am going to miss terribly. So it seems only fitting that my final project is a sympathy card.

DOG SYMPATHY

The Pampered Pets Stamp Set is one I’ve had for a while but not used much. It contains images of two dogs and two cats plus some great sentiments that are not specifically pet related.

Today I began with a 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Very Vanilla Card and using Early Espresso ink stamped one of the dogs in the bottom left corner. Then towards the top I stamped “Always in your heart… So sorry for your loss”.

On a second 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card I stamped the same dog in the bottom right corner. I also stamped the dog on the front of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope in the bottom right corner.

Next I stamped the dog image onto a Full-Adhesive Post-It® Note. Then I created three masks by cutting out the dog from a stack of three Post-It Notes at once using my Paper Snips. With that done I placed one of the Post-It masks on top of each of my stamped images to project them through the next phase.

Using a piece of retiring Stampin’ Sponge I lightly sponged some Soft Suede ink over the ‘ground’ around each dog. Then changing to a clean piece of Stampin’ Sponge I added some ‘sky’ just around the dog on the sentiment layer with Seaside Spray ink. Now the sponging was complete I removed the masks to reveal the stamped images underneath.

CONTRASTING COLOURS

To create contrast between the soft ink sponged background and the dog images I decided to colour them using Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. I began by adding some detail to the dog using the dark Crumb Cake marker. Then I coloured over the whole dog using the light Crumb Cake marker. Finally I coloured the collar with the light Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Blends. Once one dog was done, I moved on to the next until all three were complete. Now all I needed was to assemble the card.

First, using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored some Bermuda Bay Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create a card base.

Next, using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed the sentiment layer directly onto the front of the card base. Then with the other Very Vanilla layer attached to the inside my project was finished.

This really was a quick card to make, and cutting out more than one mask at a time really speeds up the process.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Pampered Pets Stamp Set in a bundle with the coordinating Pets Dies (not used today). This meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the same two items separately. I’ve included a link to the bundle so you can explore that option if you wish. Please be aware that although the stamp set and dies are not retiring, the discounted bundle offer will end on May 3rd.

RETIRING PRODUCTS – The Seaside Spray ink pad is retiring and now showing as low inventory so only a limited number remain. Once sold out they will be gone for good. Stampin’ Sponges are also retiring and currently available at 20% off.