Until you receive cards of encouragement you probably don’t appreciate how much it means to the recipient. Even if you don’t know what to say, a hand-stamped card is a postal hug. Using the Envelope Challenge, I decided to create some cards that can go in the mail at a moments notice.

All three of the following cards use the same stamp set — Clear Design Thoughtful Messages — and are versatile enough to remain a permanent desk accessory, or at least “top of the pile“ status when it comes to stamping supplies.

Although this card takes a little longer to create, it is worth the effort. I have some “long talking phone buddies”, so while I am listening (or talking) I am cutting images. I store the precut images in plastic bags with coordinating colors together. Did you notice that I cut just the middle from some of the flowers, creating smaller stamped flowers?

Supplies:

• Clear Design Thoughtful Messages
• Art Flowers Spring
• Lemon, Pink, Baby Blue Notecards
• Assorted Crystal Gemstones
• Pink Gemstones
• Memories Black
• Other: scalloped punch, scissors, permanent green ink pen and glue dots

Instructions:

1. Cut apart a green paper flower and draw a vein down the middle of each petal to make leaves. Cut flowers in desired colors.
2. Using the scalloped punch, create a yellow triangle pocket on one of the bottom corners of a yellow envelope. Punch a smaller piece of pink paper to make the top mat. Stamp the message and add a line of gemstones along the “d”. TIP: Line the gemstones up against the “d” while they are still on the plastic, cut apart then place the line of gemstones along the “d”.
3. Glue the stamped and paper flowers inside the yellow pocket, adding the green leaves and Gemstones as desired.

Sometimes a simple message can say a lot. Using two different envelope flaps, cut flowers and a single color of ink keeps supplies to a minimum. I made a dozen of these cards in different colors to give to my 93 year old mother for her birthday. She loved not having to hunt for a card and the message was perfect.

Supplies:

• Clear Design Thoughtful Messages
• Sparkle Gems Large Flower
• Sparkle Gems Blossom
• Lime, Lemon and Baby Blue Notecards
• Circle punch scissors, paper cutter, black ink, glue.

Instructions:

1. Cut envelope flaps as shown and attach to lime card. Punch a circle and stamp the message in black ink. Glue the circle to the card.
2. After cutting the flowers attach gemstones and add over the circles, overlapping some of the petals.

Promotion, new house, moving, getting out of the hospital, and retiring, occasions that call for a card, but what to say? “Happy Day”, the message is simple and can be adapted to the occasion at hand. Since this card uses the entire envelope you will need to slip the finished card into a larger envelope. This single sided card looks great on a bulletin board because there is no flap to hang open.

Products used:

• Clear Desgin Thoughtful Messages
• Hyacinth, Cantaloupe, Cream and Pool Notecards
• Clear Circles
• Other: ribbon, small hole punch, circle punch

1. Trim Cantaloupe and Pool notecards so they fit under the flap of a Hyacinth envelope, leaving a thin border of each color. Glue the two layered cards to the envelope, do not glue the flap yet.
2. Punch a small hole in the envelope flap and draw a piece of ribbon down through the hole, around the right side of all layers and make a single knot.
3. Stamp a cream circle with your message, place under a clear tag and mount under your knot. Glue down the flap.

After signing the back, add a small paper easel and it can be placed on a co-workers desk as a special surprise.

I hope that you are having as much fun with the Envelope Challenge as I am! Remember, you have until Sunday at 11:59 PST to submit your entries.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 8:58 am and is filed under Take Two Tuesdays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.