If you have any pets, you know that it is a very sad thing to lose a member of your family. One of DH’s coworkers and friends lost a beloved companion just this week, and DH asked me to make a card for them. I am learning to use my Gypsy, Imagine, and Expression together and be able to put something together quite quickly.
I used the new Damask cartridge. This cartridge has a lot of designs and some great shapes. I selected the images I wanted to use and then sized them to a 4.5″ card – including the envelope. I edited them to fill with colors and patterns from the Audrey Imagine cartridge. What a perfect pair these two make together. I love that the Imagine scales the patterns in conjunction with the size objects I use.
I also love that I can add all the objects I need to queau at one time and the Imagine figures out how many mats I will need. Granted, I will love this even more when we can use our Gypsy to move our images where we want to save even more paper.
I wanted to ink around the inside of the card as well as color some ribbon. Broken China Distress Ink was the perfect match for this.
For my inside sentiment, I knew that I wanted to stick with the same damask pattern, but use the silhouette feature. I created the sentiment in word and printed on paper left over after cutting out my card base using my inkjet printer. I cut the scrap paper down to make straight edges and sized my word document to match.
This is where I used my Expression. Still love those Mode feature buttons. I decided to use Center Point to center my sentiment inside the silhouette images. Don’t forget that it will print sideways. I have now learned to always line up my image when using Center Point and then “air cut”. Sorry, can’t remember where I originally learned this technique, but the process is to turn your pressure all the way down to minimum and change your blade setting to 1. With standard cardstock loaded, these settings will not cut into your paper at all. I then line up my blade in the center of my design and press cut. While it is ‘air cutting’, I watch my blade to ensure that it not only centers my cut where desired, but fits and is oriented correctly. Some shapes may need to be adjusted from dead center of your project. I fat heart, for instance, will probably look better if the object you want relatively centered is slightly higher in the heart than lower near the point. Anyhow, after ‘air cutting’, I can make any adjustments to the blade starting point and/or size. When I am comfortable with my centering and sizing, I adjust my settings back to work with shape and material being cut and officially cut the image.
Here is the final cut, centering my sentiment within a silhouette damask image. Isn’t this great?
I used the Broken China ink again to dye my seam binding ribbon and finished putting my card together.
Here is the inside of my card inked and finished. I inked the edges of my silhouette image as well, and stamped a little paw-print with the same ink.
Thanks for stopping by today.
I know how painful it is to loose a member of the family.I had to put my greyhound to sleep in may of last year.It will be a year on may 24th.I love the card.What a great card.Their are not a lot of sympathy cards out their for the loss of a pet.
Joan
Beautiful card that is perfect for this time in their life. So hard to go through and it helps to know that others care! TFS
What a beautiful card. you are rocking the gypsy!
What a great card you put together, and your hubby’s co-workers will be very appreciative I’m sure. I do know how painful it is to lose a member of your family!