My Sentiments Exactly

it’s time for the October Rudolph Days Challenge hosted by Maureen and I’ve created something different this time for my design team cards.

As a bereaved parent, I searched for years for sentiments that were sensitive to people dealing with grief during the holidays. Sometimes it can be hard to hear that the holiday season is the merriest, most wonderful time of the year because we’re grieving and missing our loved one(s). It can also be hard to keep up with sentimental family traditions because they make us too sad.

I found a few stamps and one die that I felt were suitable; these Christmas cards are a great way to show extra sensitivity towards people who have experienced a loss.

Memory Box Holiday Greenery stamp set:
thinking of you at christmas greenery card copyright linda snailzpace.com

I painted this image with twinkling H2Os on hot press watercolour paper, stamped the sentiment, added a thin Burgundy linen cardstock mat and attached it to a matte gold foil yardstick that covered the white base. I spritzed with gold sheer shimmer spray.

Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Designs – Die Thinking Of You At Christmasthinking of you at christmas die cut sentiment floral paper copyright linda snailzpace.com

I used the same burgundy linen cardstock to cut the sentiment and inlaid it on the green dotted holiday paper so it’s nice and flat for mailing.

Visible Image Sentimental Christmas: did not arrive in time to use on a card for this post but I love that it has a ‘thinking of you’ sentiment for the front of a card in a lovely typeface and a verse for the inside as well.

Hero Arts HOLIDAY MESSAGES AND ICONS: also did not arrive in time but I like the ‘thinking of you this time of year’ sentiment.

if you know of any others, please let me know.

visit maureen’s blog for the simple rules to play along.

thanks for popping by.

Product Review – Ink Blending Tools

paper crafting with RA means i create more slowly and, because of loss of function, some techniques are avoided because products are not useable by people with disabilities and they exacerbate pain.

sponging is one of those techniques that i stopped doing but i’ve discovered a helpful tool – the creative expressions mini smoothies:

i love these sponges! they are easy to grasp, dense, and hold more ink so less effort is required and the task is completed more quickly which means less pain. the smaller tip can be used for small areas like sponging paper while it is still in a die.

note: price above is canadian dollars and allergy alert: they are latex.

while not being completely scientific, i did use the same supplies for each test:

  • 140 lb. cold press watercolour paper
  • only one of each tool for two distress ink colours: picked raspberry and mustard seed and
  • penny black patina stencil.

as you can see from the examples above, they’re very similar; the difference was that the blending foam with handles took longer and required more pressure.

these are the picked raspberry and mustard seed distress inks blended together. i used the same sponge for both colours on each sample, deliberately not swiping the sponge on paper towels in between since i wanted a blend of the two. the colour in the bottom sample is slightly more intense because the sponge is easier to use so i spent more time blending. also, because i could hold the sponge close to the bottom i had more control and more success.

the daisy on the pink box, posted earlier today, was coloured in picked raspberry ink with a mini smoothie sponge:

MFT daisy box copyright linda snailzpace.wordpress.com

why not other tools?

the wooden handle is difficult to hold, the velcro requires a pinching and grasping motion to remove and since the foam holds less ink, it requires more time holding it in an awkward and painful position.

thanks for popping by and if you try these, let me know what you think.