We all have those cards to make that can be a bit tricky, usually it is ‘With Sympathy’ ones or ‘Thinking of You’ as the subject matter, in those cases, is difficult. Well, it is my Husband’s Aunt’s birthday in a few days but her birthday also marks the first anniversary of her husband’s death. I needed a card that didn’t scream ‘Happy Birthday’ but wasn’t too plain to suggest that her birthday wasn’t to be celebrated. I have had a massive card making de-stash (some stamps had been used so much that I was fed up of trying to find new things to do with them!) so I was working with fewer supplies. I have tried to achieve pretty and elegant.
The manuscript background is Hero Arts Cling Stamp (currently available on Amazon UK) which I stamped with Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink (Enchanted Evening) and heat embossed with a clear embossing powder. I then ran this through my big shot with an embossing folder by Sizzix with this lovely leaf pattern. I lightly went over the embossed (raised) detail with Shaded lilac Distress Ink to highlight the detail.
The bird and flowers are from an old Kanban stamp set called ‘Birds of Paradise’ which I stamped and coloured lightly with pencils. The card with the ‘With Love’ sentiment was inked in the Shaded Lilac ink and the sentiment is from Tim Holtz, Simple Sayings set (I love this stamp set!).
This card has so much dimension and is so much ‘busier’ than I normally make but I love it. I have had a little bit of a card making break which I think has possibly done me some good as I came to this one feeling refreshed.
Hannah x
The Artisan Duck 
Its beautiful! Love the colours
Thank you 🙂 I thought the colours were so pretty.
It sure is beautiful and very thoughtfull too!
Thank you so much Ruthie 😊 Hx
Hannah, I LOVE this card!
It’s pretty, it’s detailed, it’s incredibly dimensional, and perfect for her birthday. However, it’s not over the top and it says everything you want it to say in the ‘sentiment’ on the front of the card – a simple: With Love – allows you to say that you’re thinking of her and remember the date not just for her birthday.
I think you’ve got this card perfectly right. Well done.
A truly GREAT make Hannah. Bless you for your beautiful, caring heart. I love you for it. (and for many more reasons).
Sending hugs ~ Cobs. x
Oh, thank you Cobs for such a lovely comment and I’m delighted that I have got it right. It was possibly the hardest card I’ve had to make. I just hope that hubby’s aunt likes it too. Hxx
I think you nailed the brief. Tricky, and how cruel life can be sometimes, but this is a lovely, classy card that is just celebratory enough.
Thank you. We have just spoken to the recipient and she was very pleased with it 🙂 Life can be terribly cruel. Hannah x