Sympathy

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another challenge at The House That Stamps Built.  this week is a Designer's Choice Challenge and Shirley has chose the theme of Sympathy cards.  They are one of those things that you need unexpectedly so it's a good idea to have a few in your stash.  Here is my card:

I started by stamping my image in versamark and heat embossing it with white embossing powder.  Then I cut it out with the die cut before I did the inking so I would be able to keep the edges of the die cut clean.  I used a light aqua ink to sponge over the embossed image to really bring out the design, but in a subtle way, and also inked very lightly around the inside of the die cut.  I wanted to add interest to the background while keeping it uncluttered, so I layered a panel of kraft card stock which I had swiped the edges of with some white craft ink from SU!  I also distressed the edges a little bit to help it stand out from the kraft base.  For the sentiment, I didn't want the black to be so stark, so I stamped it off on a piece of scrap paper first to soften it up a bit.  I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this week.  Sympathy cards can be hard to make, but I like how elegant they can be.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Warm Memories" and "Dandelion Breeze"
Dies: Spellbinders "Floral Ovals"; MFT "Stitched Scalloped Borders"

Challenges:
Craft-Dee Bow Z--anything goes with handmade bow
Tuesday Throwdown #395--dies and/or punches
Simons Says Stamp Monday--stamp it
A Gem of a Challenge #202--use kraft card stock
Sweet Stampin'--heat embossing
Creative Sketchy Girls #152--ribbon, rope, lace or pearls (I used ribbon and pearls)
Card Mania #96--shabby chic or rustic
Cards Galore--anything goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #51--anything goes
Cardz TV #11--anything goes
Brown Sugar #266--anything goes
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #120--sketch and the optional twist of love, romance and pearls

Word Art Wednesday--anything goes with uplifting sentiment