Feelin' Blue About Bees

Hi there!  Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Today's post continues presentation of the cards that I made for my Mom to thank some very wonderful people for the gifts and tributes she received for my father.  After the last two cards with the Love Letters Designer Series Paper, I decided to change things up a bit and take another look at the Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper and the Nature Walk stamp set.  I really liked the paper with the Not Quite Navy bees and the So Saffron dots, so I decided to incorporate this paper into a card design.

(click on card to see larger image)

The card base is Marina Mist; the edges of the card front sponged with Marina Mist ink.  Across the front of the card, I placed a layer of Not Quite Navy cardstock, the bottom edge punched with the Scallop Border punch to add a little interest and the edges sponged with Not Quite Navy ink.  On top of this layer, I placed a strip of the bee paper (the edges sponged with So Saffron ink) matted with a piece of So Saffron cardstock (the edges sponged with So Saffron ink, too).  I wrapped a piece of Old Olive 3/8" Taffeta ribbon around these pieces and knotted it on the front near the middle before adhering the pieces to the Not Quite Navy cardstock.

The focal point for this card contains the flower/stem image inked with Old Olive and So Saffron Stampin' Write Markers and stamped on Whisper White cardstock.  A bee image was stamped near the flower/stem image using Not Quite Navy ink.  The edges of the Whisper White cardstock were sponged with Not Quite Navy ink and place, centered, on a piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock (the edges sponged with Not Quite Navy ink).  These pieces were matted with a piece of So Saffron cardstock; the edges sponged with So Saffron ink.  The focal point was adhered to the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals placed behind the upper left and right corners of the So Saffron mat and a piece of Sticky Strip along the bottom back edge of the So Saffron mat.

(click on card to see larger image)

The inside sentiment area of the card is lined with a piece of Whisper White cardstock; the edges sponged with Marina Mist ink.  A row of bees was then stamped along the left side using Not Quite Navy ink.  Not shown here, but present in the cards I made for my Mom, was the "thank you" sentiment in brackets (from the All Holidays stamp set) stamped with So Saffron ink directly underneath the top four bees.

(click on envelope to see larger image)

The lower left front corner of the Medium Whisper White envelope was stamped with the flower/stem image inked with Old Olive and So Saffron Stampin' Write Markers.  The bee image was stamped near the flower/stem image using Not Quite Navy ink.  Not shown here, but present on the envelopes I stamped for my Mom, was the "thank you" sentiment in brackets (from the All Holidays stamp set) stamped with So Saffron ink directly underneath the bee near the base of the flower stem.

You'll notice that the Thank You cards I made don't feature any bulky items or fancy ribbon treatments.  This was done on purpose to ensure that each card would require only one First Class postage stamp.  The easiest way for me to gauge this is to place the card in the envelope and slide it in between the tracks of my Paper Cutter/Scorer.  If there's no resistance, then the card will need only one postage stamp.  However, if you have a hard object on the card (like a Rhinestone or Pearl or button or large knot on a bow), you'll still need to add the extra 20 cents postage, even if the card will slide easily between the tracks of the Paper Cutter/Scorer.  This is because of the way the mail is pushed through the automated mail sorter and postmark machines.  For these kinds of cards, I put the extra postage on the card and write "Please Hand Cancel!" under the postage stamps.  Otherwise, the card will likely be destroyed or seriously mangled in the machinery.  I look at it this way:  if I've invested the time to make the card, I'm going to make sure it gets to the recipient in good condition.  Quibbling over an extra 20 cents in postage seems rather silly for such a special greeting.

Stamps:  Nature Walk (All Holidays--optional); Inks:  Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, So Saffron; Stampin' Write Markers:  Old Olive, So Saffron; Cardstock:  Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, So Saffron, Whisper White; Designer Series Paper:  Botanical Gazette; Embellishments:  Old Olive 3/8" Taffeta ribbon; Adhesives:  SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip; Tools:  Paper Cutter/Scorer, Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Sponge, Scallop Border punch; Other:  Medium Whisper White Envelope

Comments

[Cindy E.]

Mickey , this is absolutely stunning! Do you mind if I CASE this for a masculine card class I want to do? I'd love to add it to the line up!

[Yapha]

Spectacular card. Those are great colors together. Very classy.

[Sara Mattson-Blume]

So beautiful...the colors, the way you got the DSP to coordinate so well, the details...simply beautiful.

[Chipper]

Mickey, this is really a beautiful card! You're making me want that set! I was passing on it but I think you may be tempting me!!!

[kathy T]

Mickey , I love your card --I never would have thought to make the bees blue and it looks lovely --you rocked the card !

[Adriana Benitez]

Beautiful, soft card. So pretty.

And thanks for the info about the track on the paper trimmer. So good to know!
And you are so right about the extra 20 cents. :)

[Shelley]

Beautiful! Love those colors together!

[Karen Gilbert]

Beautiful card Mickey. The blue bees are fantastic and who would have thought blue bees. You are changing my mind on the Botanical Gazette DSP. Thanks for sharing your card.

[Beth]

Love this card Mickey.

[Diana Gibbs]

This is gorgeous and I loved all your details, the card, the inside, and even the envelope!
Beautiful!

Thank you also for my blog award!!

Hugs,
Di

[Julie]

Very pretty card.

[Christy]

Congrats! You've been awarded with a Stylish Blogger Award. See my post for details.

http://hokiecoyote.blogspot.com/2011/02/stylish-blogger-award.html

[Heidi Baks]

I love the pairing of this paper with this stamp layout. Very nice!

[Anne S.]

So pretty! I love these colors together.