Sympathy Cards/"BBF"

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, someone ordered 15 cards, including 5 sympathy cards.  I avoided these until I came upon a lovely card here by Nichole Heady and decided that, with a few substitutions, it would work well for sympathy cards.  

Card Construction Details:

1.  Decided to make 6 sympathy cards, figuring that 3 sheets of paper would make 6 cards and I'd have one left over.

2.  Cut and scored Stampin Up Almost Amethyst cardstock to make 6 A2 cards.   

3.  Stamped 6 borders from Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Labels No. 1 in gray ink on Stampin Up neutral cardstock (I don't have the name but it isn't white or vanilla -- it has small specks in it and an off white, almost grey tone).  Using gray instead of black made big difference, although you can't see it in the pic. It is a softer look.  Need to remember to use gray ink more often. 

4.  Stamped image from PTI Beautiful Blooms inside gray border and cut using Nestability Dies.

5.  Decided die cut was too big and started over.

6.  Flipped the 6 cut outs over, and die cut each.

7.  Using repositional Scotch tape, placed die cut on table and stamped border using a smaller label stamp from same Waltzingmouse set (I cut the stamps apart.  They work fine -- just be careful as you cut!). 

8.  Stamped medallion image from Waltzingmouse Little Box Labels inside the gray border with Amethyst ink.

9.  Masked off top and bottom of card and stamped multiple times the dotted swirl from PTI Little Lady with SU White Craft ink.

10.  Stamped sentiment from PTI Mega Mixed Messages in gray.

11.  Looked at card and something was missing.  Started "counting" -- hmm only 2 pieces of gray.  The darker color needed more presence on the card.  Added third grey by stamping double line stamp from PTI Faux Ribbon set.  It mirrors the double lines on the label stamp and sets off the label better than just the white dots.

12.  Added 3mm self adhesive pearls from Memory Box to center of each medallion and adhered label with dimensional.

Mood When Done = Accomplished!  

By the way, substitute a sentiment and this could be a cute Christmas card...

And for a bit of BBF, read on. Otherwise, have a great day!

Now that my Mom is panic free, I decided to bring her along on a trip to my local stamp store -- Angela's Happy Stamper.  It's about a 25 minute ride.  Mike decided to go along for the ride too  (he went to Starbucks) so my Mom is in the back seat.

Mom:  What's a BBF?

Us:  ????

Mom:  I keep reading about BBFs in my gossip magazines.

Mike:  It's BFF.

Me: (thinking) How does Mike know this??

Mom:  No, it's BBF.

Me:  (sort of shouting) MOM, it's BFF, BEST FRIEND FOREVER.

Mom:  No, it's BBF, not BFF. What's a BBF?

Me:  (shouting) MOM, IT'S B F F, BEST FRIEND FOREVER.

Mom:  Forget it, I guess I'll have to ask someone else.

Comments

[Heidi S]

What a beautiful card Joan! I really like the grey with the Amethyst. I got a kick out of your BBF story. Thanks for the laugh!

[Karen A]

BBF = best boy friend? I have no idea but if you find out, please let us know. :)

[Karen A]

Forgot to tell you, love the card. What a versatile design. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Sandra K]

You are really good with this rule of 3s.
I have this WHM stamp, so I might just have to try this out.
It is a very elegant sympathy card.

[Cynthia]

Love the BBF concept! Thought you would appreciate that for some reason we will never understand, my grandmother (who lived with my parents for 11 years until the age of 97) got into the car with my mom driving (just the two of them) and frequently then thought there were two of my dad and wanted to chat about them. She would have great conversations with my mom about my mother's "other husband." Ahhh. Your post made me think of her, and in a good way. My mom used to call me up and provide what can only be described as quotable quotes.

[Susan Raihala]

LOL, Joan!

I've had to make a bunch of sympathy cards lately, too, but mine were to send to loved ones. It's just so hard to make them...even when it's just for a customer.

Yours is lovely...the die and frame make such a pretty focal point!

[Eleanor]

LOVELY CARD.

[Lynn Schebor]

Like the card and love the story-somehow the children know nothing and the mom will check another more reliable source.

[Dawn S]

First of all, I love your card. The soft colours are lovely. Second, your story of your mum made me laugh!! I have no idea what a BBF is either, but I will be asking my teenage kids when they come home from school today, lol!

[Sandy in Epping]

Joan, it is so inspiring to check out each of your new cards--great ideas to 'borrow' here, hope you won't mind a bit of CASEing.

On another note, your mom sounds like quite a character, and it gives me a chuckle to hear the "tales from home" Kind of like observing the antics of someone elses kids when they act up--funny to be the observer, not so much for the active participant in it all, though. KAnd kind of like what the grandparents see when they get to witness the "payback" from the grandchildren with their parents.
It is all in the perspective,eh?

[Juanita in Ohio]

Hi Joan;

HAPPY NEW YEAR;

Oh my, such beautiful and inspiring work!!

It's been a long, long time. I'm learning from the Serenity Prayer to accept the things I cannot change and it makes life easier.

[Mary C. Anderson]

I love the simplicity of your card. It is lovely Joan. I had to smile when I read the conversation between you and your Mom. I wonder what BBF does mean? :) I'm so happy that your mom is no longer having panic attacks.

Mary

[Colleen]

LOL! I would love to have been at Angela's with your Mom and Mike!

[Ellen]

This story really cracked me up. You need to write a newspaper column with these stories. They are so so funny. Hope your mom finds someone who knows what BBF means.

[lydia perian]

beautiful belles forever?

[juanita zurowski]

I love this card.
I am going to laugh so hard if your Mom is right.

[Tara]

This post made me smile and think of my grandmother too. Years ago my aunt and uncle got all fancy and bought a BMW. My gram went around telling everyone about their new "Beamie" (Beamer). We never did convince her otherwise.

[Colleen Kramer]

Great card...thanks for the tip about counting the grays...I think you and Mike should come up with a definition for bbf.
You know, Bold Brazen Fluzy or Better Beat Farve... I'm anxious to hear what you two come up with when you put your heads together ;)

[Karen]

I think I've had a few conversations like that!! lol Really nice CAS sympathy card! :>

[Jenni King]

You HAVE to laugh!!! BFF vs BBF Like WWF......That is pretty funny!! :) Great card, too!! I like the simplicty of it. Great color.

Cheers!
jennik

[joanne gilch]

Love the ideas! BTW, I found Going Gray and Basic Gray are fab and have replaced black at least SU's black. they give such a great image and clean up much nicer than that ole BLACK. If I need black, Pallette Noir is my go to. It's cleaner as far as image and truer to black. KWIM? obv you do !!!!
as far as BBF--you and Mike must have the patience of Job.

[Kelly Schirmer]

Maybe BBF is the NEW version of BFF...like Miley Cirus and Taylor Swift are best BEST friends...did I just write that out loud???!!!!