Message Keeper: February 2011

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Sympathy Card

Sympathy card - Front

This is my first attempt making a sympathy card. This sympathy card is dedicated to one of my Malay manager and his family whose his father was passed away on Thursday.

Card Patterns Sketch 103

This card layout is inspirational from Card Patterns Sketch 103 sketch/challenge as shown above. From the design team members card inspirations, I decided to make a one layer card. This is my another first attempt as well.

Close-up : Flower in the square and black teardrop gem on the left

Using cream cardstock as the base of the card, flower in the square from Hero Arts CL266 Mix and Match Elements are stamped on the left and right side of the card using Jumbo Java ink. In the middle of the flower in the square images, message "Feel Better Soon" from Hero Arts CL394 Message Bubbles is stamped using Jumbo Java ink as well.

Close-up : Flower in the square and black teardrop gem on the right

Some may find it weird that message "Feel Better Soon" is used instead of "With Sympathy" and so on. But, I do not feels that message "Feel Better Soon" is meant for those who are sick only. Instead, I feels that people who someone close passed away need to recover from sadness just like sick people recover from illness. Thus, I find it message "Feel Better Soon" is more 'friendliness' compare to "With Sympathy".

Close-up : Message "Feel Better Soon" and blacks gems

The flower in the message bubble is colored using marker with light toned colors (avoiding red and pink). Black teardrop gems is attached at the bottom of the flower in the square images. While two mini black gems are attached inside the message bubble.

Sympathy card - Inside

Inside the card, a white cardstock is used to stamp message "Wishing you strength for today and hope for tomorrow" from Kaiser Craft CS924 Sympathy. Flower from Hero Arts CL266 Mix and Match Elements is stamped at the starting and ending of the message. It is then colored using marker with light toned color (avoiding red and pink).

Close-up : Inside (bottom)

Close-up : Message "Wishing you strength for today and hope for tomorrow" and flowers

Theme : Cream

Title : Feel Better Soon

Dimension : 10.16cm x 15.24cm or 4" x 6"

Type : Horizontal fold

Inlay : Attached inlay with stamped message and image

If you would like to have a similar design of these items or individual item, please e-mail us at msgkeeper@gmail.com for order. Please do include the color or theme you prefer, purpose of the item(s) (farewell, retirement, birthday and etc) and message (if any).

This card is entering the challenge(s) organized by :

1) Card Patterns - Sketch 103

2) Wee Memories - Challenge #44 - Source of Inspiration

3) Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Coffee and Cream

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Kaisercraft Sympathy Clear Stamp

I browsed Craft Haven shop few days ago and saw some new mini clear stamps from Kaisercraft. Most of them are sentiment based clear stamps which I did not put much interest into since I have Hero Arts CL272 All Occasion Messages that can cover almost any occasion.

However, this morning I got to know that one of my Malay manager's father was passed away. Thus, I would like to make a sympathy card for him and his family. The first thing crossed my mind was the Kaisercraft CS924 Sympathy mini clear stamp I saw few days earlier in Craft Haven which is perfect for the card (as well as some excuses for me to purchase a new stamp).

Kaiser CS924 Sympathy

Thus, during lunch break, I head over to Craft Haven and purchase the Kaisercraft CS924 Sympathy mini clear stamp.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Finally Found It - Hero Arts CL144 Baby Boy!

I must admit that I really got lucky. First, I got some monetary reward from my manager as my work appreciation. Due to that, I would like to celebrate by buying one stamp set to reward myself.

Coincidentally, my husband wanted to go to IKEA for some shopping - usually window shopping but most of the time end up buying one or two small items. :) Thus, we headed to IKEA as planned after work. After registered my daughter to the IKEA Småland, we headed to the Curve.

I went into Papier and look around the store. This is my second time here as Papier is not that convenient compare to Craft Haven which is located in 1 Utama that is beside my office. Indeed there are a lot of Hero Arts 2011 Catalogue new stamps but the price is a bit pricey compare to the online store, Crafty Heart that I used to shop. I browse around the store and they indeed have a lot of different brands stamps even Penny Black but only for wooden stamps. I am actually hoping to see some of the stamps that I want like Hero Arts CL144 Baby Boy, Hero Arts CL145 Baby Girl or some travel related stamps.

Finally, I settled down to browse thru the clearance dump whereby they offer like up to 30% discount. Some of the products or items are on bundle sale as well. As I go through the clearance dump items one by one, suddenly, I picked up an old Hero Arts stamp. At first, it looks familiar but I did not think that it is Hero Arts CL144 Baby Boy as my mind was predetermined that I am not so lucky.

Hero Arts CL144 Baby Boy

Well, indeed, I am so lucky! It is the Hero Arts CL144 Baby Boy I been looking for! I am so happy and guess what. The price is stated as RM76.90 but there is a 30% on top of the price label. I suspects there is further 30% discount since I found this stamp at the clearance dump. So, I eagerly bring up the stamp (I am squatting at the clearance dump) to the store assistant at the cashier and ask her if the price has been discounted. She says there is another 30% discount on top of the price stated in the price label! I am really happy when I heard that as after 30% discount, it is only RM53.83! It is cheaper than I normally buy from Crafty Heart!

I tell the store assistant that I want this stamp and happily tell her that I been looking for this stamp for a while since it has been discontinued. I quickly paid the said amount and walk out of the store happily.

Initially, I do not plan to buy anything and only window shopping as the price in Papier is quite expensive compare to buying online. Guess I am really lucky that :

1) I got some monetary reward as my work appreciation

2) I found Hero Arts CL144 Baby Boy that I been searching for a while

3) the price of Hero Arts CL144 Baby Boy is cheaper by 30% of normal price

I cannot wait to get the stamp inky and there are some projects on my mind on how to use this stamp!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Bee My Love, Sweetheart!

Bee My Valentine, Sweetheart! card - Front

Made this mini Valentine's Day card for my younger brother in last minute.

Card Patterns Sketch 102

I want to keep thing simple and easy to make but hidden meaning. Thus, this card layout is inspirational from Card Patterns Sketch 102 sketch/challenge as shown above.

Valentine's Day is all about red, pink and some white to show pureness. Thus, this card is no exceptional while there are some challenges that challenge us to use these colors only. A red textured cardstock is trimmed rectangular to use as the base.

Close-up : The bee representing 'Bee'

The first white strip is stamped with the bee from Hero Arts CL413 Bugs and Kisses on the left of the strip. Then, the bee is colored moderately. The bee line is drawn using black ink pen. Bee is used to represent 'Bee'.

Close-up : The hearts representing 'Love'

The second pink strip is stamped with the row of hearts from Studio G Series 42 VC0022 Mother is the Heart of the Home repeatedly. The hearts are colored with pink marker interval in between hearts. It is then trimmed zig zag on the edges. Heart is used to represent, 'Love'.

Close-up : Chocolate representing 'Sweetheart'

Another white strip is stamped with the chocolate image from Hero Arts CL413 Bugs and Kisses as well. Then, the three (3) chocolates are colored accordingly. Chocolate is used to represent, 'Sweetheart'.

Three (3) of the strips are attached onto the red rectangular card accordingly starting with white strip with bee follow by pink strip with hearts and finally white strip with chocolates. This brings a indirect meaning of 'Bee My Love, Sweetheart!"

Close-up : 'L♥VE'

The layout is completed with a circle stamped with 'L♥VE' from Hero Arts CL266 Mix and Match Elements which placed overlap in between the first white strip and the pink strip. At the bottom left corner, two (2) yellow heart gems are attached.

Close-up : Two (2) heart yellow gems

Theme : Love and Red

Title : L♥ve

Dimension : 8.89cm x 11.43cm or 3.5" x 4.5"

Type : Vertical

This card is entering the challenge(s) organized by :

1) Hero Arts February 2011 Challenge - Love and Friendship

2) Card Patterns - Sketch 102

3) Wee Memories - Challenge #43 - Live, Laugh, Love

4) Lawnscaping Challenge - Challenge #3 - All About Love

5) Crafty Sentiments - Valentine/Love

6) Craft Your Days Away (CYDA) - CYDA Challenge #13 - Photo Inspiration

7) The Crafty Pad - Challenge 108 - Hearts

Monday, February 14, 2011

Lots of Love on Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day card - Front

Made this Valentine's Day card for my best friend who is also my daughter godmother. My daughter keeps asking me if I am going to snail mail her godmother soon. Thus, I made her (my daughter) this card so that she can shows her godmother how much she loves her.

Sketch Saturday Week #142

This card layout is inspirational from Sketch Saturday Week #142 sketch/challenge as shown above.

Close-up : White oval with 'L♥VE'

A white cardstock is used to stamp 'L♥VE' from Hero Arts CL266 Mix and Match Elements all over using opera pink ink. In order to make the message significant, one of the 'L♥VE' is stamped in gold ink. There is no images used in this card and it is purposely done so. The stamped white cardstock is then trimmed into oval. A yellow heart gem is attached onto the ♥ of 'L♥VE'.

Close-up : Yellow heart gem on the gold inked ♥

Close-up : Hearts scalloped strips

A pink cardstock is used to stamp a row of hearts from Studio G Series 42 VC0022 Mother is the Heart of the Home repeatedly. The hearts are colored with pink marker interval in between hearts. It is then scalloped on both end and trimmed into 1" and 0.5" width strips. Both the strips are arranged according to the layout on the textured red cardstock. The white oval is attached onto the strips as shown in the layout.

Close-up : The ribbons arrangement

Pink ribbon with hearts are secured to the far left side of the red cardstock. Another red ribbon with scalloped at both ends is secured beside the pink ribbon.

Close-up : First part message, 'Happy'

Close-up : Second part message, 'Valentine's'

Message of Happy Valentine's Day is printed on the pink cardstock and trimmed into three (3) parts. It is then distressed with opera pink ink to bring up the wording. These cut apart messages are attached onto the pink and red ribbon interval between the pink hearts.