Today, I’m sharing with you the hardest cards I’ve had to make. It’s not the most technical nor difficult card. The reason that it’s the hardest card is because it’s a sympathy card for the family of one of my dear stamping friends.
Almost two weeks ago, I received the news that my wonderful stamping friends and former team member, Pam passed away. This sad news was such a shock that I went numb and didn’t shed a single tear… The next day tears flowed freely and didn’t seem to stop. I just couldn’t seem to function let alone put together a card for her family.
Steve and I were travelling interstate so I took some things to make her card but I just couldn’t do it. Sadly, we couldn’t make it home for her funeral so I silently shed quite a few tears on the long drive home and said a little prayer for her family.
More than just a customer
For eight years, this amazing woman has been part of my life, sharing my classes and events, encouraging me, dropping round for a coffee and chat on the pretence of placing or collecting an order (but she really wanted a catch up), showing me her creations and giving me cards.
Over the years, I watch Pam’s crafting skills develop and witnessed her excitement every time she learnt something new. She portrayed a gruff exterior but she had a heart of gold… my mum often called her a “rough diamond”. I agree she was a gem.
When she moved away, I was deeply saddened because she was more than just a customer, I considered her a friend. Even as I write this post the tears flow freely. I feel complete disbelief and an overwhelming sense of loss. My heart is broken that I won’t see her again. Her unexpected passing reinforces just how much I treasure each one of my stamping friends. Who would have known that I would connect so strongly with someone over stamps, paper and ink?
The inspiration
As I said earlier this is the hardest card I had to make. It had to convey how much Pam meant to us. I wanted it to be perfect! I tried for five days to make a card, any card. It wasn’t coming together and I cried so much that the ink ran and I had to start again many times.
After not being able to sleep because I was worried that I couldn’t make a sympathy card and time was passing, I wandered into our study and spied my memory box, filled with cards and important reminders. So there I was at 1 am looking the many cards that Pam made for me (Yes, I’ve kept them all!) As I sobbed, I realised that none of her cards are perfect. Many had crooked sentiments. A few earlier cards had partially stamped images but they were made with love.
Inspired, I raced downstairs to my studio and got creating.
The hardest card
I’ve told you the background and the struggle so let’s take a look at the card.
Is it the best card I’ve ever made? Not at all! It is by no means perfect but it’s definitely not the worst card I’ve made.
Is it made with love? Absolutely!
The process
To create this card, I used the printed black and white vellum from the Magnolia Lane Memories and More Card Pack and coloured it on the reverse side with Petal Pink and Soft Seafoam Stampin’ Blends to add just a touch of colour. Good Morning Magnolia’s sentiment and flower were stamped in Black Memento Ink on a Whisper White nested label. I coloured around the edge of the flower with the light smoky slate stampin’ blend to help the flower stand out. Petal Pink Organdy Striped ribbon and a linen thread bow were the final touches. (Glue dots were a must have for this project!)
The inside
Inside of the card is just as important as the front. I chose a sentiment from the Woven Heirlooms stamp set and decorated the whisper white insert with the same magnolia bloom featured on the nested label. I added a few Soft Seafoam leaves too.
The sentiment is ever so slightly crooked. Yes, I could restamp it but I’m leaving it as a tribute to Pam’s many crooked sentiments. It’s not perfect but it is made with love. The love and heartfelt sentiment make it “imperfectly perfect”.
Thank you for listening to my story. It’s 5am so I’d better get some sleep before the work week begins.
Until next time…Happy creating.
Chrissy
Products Used
[RETIRED] |
