Sending Sympathy and Prayers for {PP #131}

Hello there stamping friends! I hope you all are enjoying your weekend out there. Although I had to work yesterday,  I took some (much needed) time off this past week and am feeling totally rested and reenergized. Funny how a LOT of extra sleep can do that, huh? This week at the Paper Players, the amazingly talented Nance is our hostess and she has a theme challenge for us. Sympathy cards are the cards we don't ever want to make but unfortunately do need to make from time to time.   

Sympathy cards are pretty difficult for me to create, in general. As soon as I saw this week's layout over at Retro Sketches, I was immediately inspired to put my card together. I love the clean layout and the repeated elements in the design.

The Natural Composition Specialty DSP is a product I have had stashed away for quite some time and it is a shame I don't use it more often. It's super-cool and if you like having the embossing already finished for you (without the mess) then you need to pick up a pack ASAP.  I layered the butterflies using the embossed image from the Bloomin' Marvelous set (which I earned for FREE during SU! Sale-A-Bration). As far as the details go, I am listing all of the supplies I used at the end of the post. Please email me at: annemariehile@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Here is quick shot of the inside of the card, continuing the sentiment from the front. I think the Petite Pairs stamp set is one of those sets that everyone should own. That set has seen a LOT of ink in my stamp studio. 

I hope you will join us this week at the Paper Players and share your creations with Nance's theme challenge. The challenge closes on Friday, February 8th at Noon (PDT). The rest of the Design Team created some gorgeous cards this week. Please stop by, visit their blogs and say hello:

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Amy O'Neill

Brian King

Jen Nelson

Justin Krieger

Sandy Mathis

CLICK HERE to order anytime 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! website

Stampin' Up! Supply List

Stamps: Bloomin' Marvelous (Sale-A-Bration) and Petite Pairs

Paper: Natural Composition Specialty DSP, First Edition Specialty DSP, White Vellum 8- 1/2" x 11" card stock, Bravo Burgundy, Basic Black and Very Vanilla card stock

Ink: Versa-Mark, Crumb Cake, Basic Black Classic ink

Punches: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Modern Label, Large Oval and Bitty Butterfly (Spring Catalog)

Accessories: Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Sponges, Bitty Banners Framelits Dies, Basic Pearls, Mini Glue Dots and Stampin Dimensionals

Secret Garden Sneak Peek for {DD#32}

Hello there stamping friends! After a wee hiatus from Dynamic Duos, I'm finally back and ready to get to creating. This week, a HUGE box of brand spankin' new Stampin' Up goodies arrived on my doorstep, via the "man in brown". Whoot whoot! (Yes, I buy my UPS guy a Christmas gift. Don't you?) I am LOVING all of these new items that will be coming out in January. So exciting! 

This week at Dynamic Duos is Monochromatic week and it pretty much goes without saying that this color combo is right up my alley. Pretty in Pink and Rose Red? Yes, please! 

As soon as I saw the sketch over at Create with Connie and Mary, I knew I wanted to ink up the new Secret Garden stamp set. *sneak peek alert* This set also has coordinating dies. How awesome is THAT??

The center of the flower did not have a coordinating die though, so I embossed it and cut it out by hand. (Those of you who follow my blog, know how I LOVE "fussy cutting"...hee hee!) I added the embossed sentiment from the upcoming Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set and some bling to dress things up. See that hexagon embossing in the background? That is new, as well. I LOVE it!! 

I sure hope you will join us this week at Dynamic Duos. The fabulous gals on the Design Team have created some awesome projects for inspiration. Please stop by and say hello to them, won't you? 

Allyson Andersen

Christina Barnes

Vicki Burdick

Karen Day

Deanna Dean

Jenny Engelke

Anne Marie Hile

Erna Logtenberg

Bobbie Trost

Amy White

Oh and before I go....I have BIG news to share. We made it official and finally adopted our sweet little Abby. We had to wait until she was old enough to be spayed before we could and the deed is done. She had her surgery Wednesday and first thing Thursday morning, I was at San Antonio Pets Alive, paperwork in hand. We just love this little girl and couldn't be happier that she found her fur-ever home with us! Welcome to the family, Princess Abby! :) 

Stampin' Up! Supply List: 

Stamps: Secret Garden (sneak peek) and Bloomin' Marvelous (sneak peek) 

Paper: Subtles DSP in Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink and Basic Black card stock

Ink: Basic Black Craft ink pad

Accessories: Secret Garden Framelits Dies (sneak peek), Honeycomb Embossing Folder (sneak peek), Finishing Touches Edgelits dies, Black Embossng Powder, Heat Tool, Basic Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals and 1- 1/4" Square Punch