Thank You Cards from Splendid Thoughts

During the retreat last month, I made the 20 Card Ministry cards for April, from Splendid Thoughts (retired), shown below. Each time an order is placed, I mail a Thank You card with notes inside about earning Prized Blooms. I also use these cards in Card Ministry sent to my personal list of those I know needing some Happy Mail in their mailbox.

This Note Card, and all the Note Cards I’ve made recently, make me very happy for a couple of reasons. First, they are small and cute and fun to mail. Everything small like this is more cute! Second, they are the same size (almost) of several of the stamped panels I’ve added to full sized A2 cards. Not only do I feel strongly about Card Ministry, I love teaching you about the ease of making cards. Everything I stamp onto these Note Cards will make a wonderful stamped panel for a card sketch! See this color combination IN THIS POST.

SUPPLIES:

• Stamps: Splendid Thoughts, Forever Fern, Eden’s Garden
• Ink: Bermuda Bay (retiring), Coastal Cabana, Cinnamon Cider*, Delightful Dijon*
• Paper: Basic White Note Cards & Envelopes
• Pretties: Linen Thread

HINTS:

• You don’t have to do this, but I score all my Note Cards along the existing score line at 3-1/2″
• DO NOT FOLD YOUR CARD THROUGHOUT ASSEMBLY! Stamp and ink and put your bows on with the cards left flat and unfolded at all times! It makes it so much easier to stamp the front, inside of the card, and also the back panel with your special “made by” stamp – – which you can have made by Bossy Joscie!

ASSEMBLY:

1. Load your sentiment into the Stamparatus so that it is nice and straight. SAD NOTE: The Stamparatus is retiring and is currently on the “While Supplies Last” list!
2. I stamped the sentiment with Delightful Dijon*
3. Stamp your line image in Bermuda Bay
4. While your stamp is inky, stamp the inside corner of your Note Card, and the lower left front of your envelope
5. Stamp the second stamp in this two-step technique in Coastal Cabana – – thank goodness this color is NOT RETIRING!
6. Stamp the bumblebee in Cinnamon Cider. While your stamp is inky, stamp the bumblebee on the front of envelope to hover over the recipient’s name and address! Fun touch!
7. Stamp your splatter from Forever Fern in Delightful Dijon
8. Using a 10 Second Bow Maker, tie your Linen Thread bows – I actually tie so many of these little things that I just keep tying while watching TV and store the extras in a drawer of embellishments
9. Using Fine-Tip Glue Pen, attach your Linen Thread bows and use an acrylic block to hold it in place for drying
10. NOW you can close your card and burnish the fold with your Bone Folder

*These two colors, Cinnamon Cider and Delightful Dijon, retired some time ago. However, there are two brand new colors coming in the new Annual Catalog that remind me of these two colors, so I pre-ordered them Saturday and should have them in hand by the time this post is published. Yes, I paid for overnight shipping!

While I’m still searching for my gold Wink of Stella, I will continue to use splatter stamps that I really love. Sometimes, when I’m only making a few cards, I will use heat embossing to add sparkle. What do you use for sparkle?