Yesterday was a busy day with our cat Houdini having his annual exam and vaccinations. Sadly it left me little time to craft so I decided to put together a quick sympathy card. However I wanted to have something different for the background so I chose a subtle pattern from the Floral Charm 12” x 12” Designer Series Paper (DSP). Then with another coordinating pattern from the same pack all I needed was a sentiment. For that I pulled out the Prayers & Promises Stamp Set and I was ready to go.

Having already chosen the paper I picked out coordinating Pretty Peacock Card for the tent-fold card base. I began by cutting a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece and with the long side at the top I scored it at 4-1/4″. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the card with a Bone Folder. With that done I cut a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of the Pretty Peacock leafy patterned paper and glued that over the card front.

Next I cut a 3/4″ x 5-1/4″ strip of the same paper along with a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card. After gluing the DSP strip along the bottom edge I fixed the assembled layer inside the card base.

Finally I cut a 2-1/4″ x 6″ piece of the leafy pattern and glued it onto the flap of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then I trimmed off the excess paper with scissors, using the edge of the flap as a guide.

BEFORE THE PRAYERS & PROMISES

With the card base and envelope prepared I was now ready to work on the rest of the design. I started by cutting a 3″ x 4-1/4″ piece of DSP with pink roses and blue and green leaves. I chose Berry Burst Card for the mat layer and cut a 3-1/8″ x 4-3/8″ piece. Then I had an epiphany…

I already knew what sentiment I was going to use and had found the punches I would use for it. That meant I could save a little card by punching a 2″ circle from the centre of the main mat layer. After setting aside the punched circle I glued the DSP on top of the layer hiding the hole completely. Next I wrapped some white Baker’s Twine three times around the bottom of the layers and secured it on the back with sellotape. Having done that mounted the prepared piece onto the centre of the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Now I took out “So sorry for your loss” from the Prayers & Promises Stamp Set. Using Pretty Peacock ink I stamped it onto some Basic White Card. Then I punched out the sentiment using the 1-7/8″ Circle Punch and glued it onto the Berry Burst circle I’d punched out a few minutes earlier. All that was left for me to do was attach it to the bottom right-hand corner of the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals and my sympathy card was complete.

Using the hidden section of one layer to create a smaller layer isn’t a new idea by any means. However I often end up choosing my sentiment last, long after all my layers are glued into place. But when I do remember, this way of saving a few pennies on my material costs seems like a big win.

Check out these previous card projects featuring other sentiments from the Prayers & Promises Stamp Set:

• Prayers & Promises again
• Stone & Vine

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