#43: Angelina Fibers

I seem to be making way too many sympathy cards these days. It also seems, however, that of all the cards I make, sympathy cards are the most appreciated.

The heart was created using Angelina Fibers-- something I'd never heard of until I saw a demonstration by Class Act of Canada at a convention this spring. The quick instructions are:

1. Preheat a dry iron to medium.


2. Ink a rubber stamp with dye-based ink (must be rubber, not acrylic).


3. Place the stamp, inked side up, on a firm surface.


4. Place shreds of Angelina Fibers on top of inked stamp. You can use a single color (I used "Sugar Plum" for the heart above) or mix several colors.


5. Place a piece of parchment paper over the fibers.


6. Press with the pre-heated iron until you are able to faintly see the stamp design through the parchment.


7. Allow paper and fused fibers to cool slightly and remove from stamp.


8. May leave the loose fibers around the image for a halo-type of effect, or you may trim the outline of the stamped/fused image.

I bought a number of packets of fibers at the convention. Since then, I've purchased a sampler pack of 19 colors from a vendor on eBay, and have noticed that AC Moore has the fibers available online. I haven't found any bricks-and-mortar stores, however, that carry the product.

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Lace Heart Stamp: Rubber Stampede
"God gave us memories..." Sticker: Seredipity Stamps
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Textile

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#39: Fiskars Border and Corner Punch

I love-love-LOVE punches of all kinds, but I'm really impressed with one of the new Fiskars Border and Corner punches. I haven't seen them in stores, yet, but did purchase one at a recent Rubber Stamping and Scrapbooking show in Syracuse, NY.

The names of the punches are truly, truly awful (one that's a woven-type of style is called "Lattice Entertain You".....), but I just adore the beautiful intricacy of the one I purchased, called "Comin' Up Roses."

You must start with a square or rectangle that's measured in full inch increments. There are actually two punches, side-by-side: the corner punch and the border. You begin by pressing both simultaneously, then move your paper/cardstock along the very clearly marked base, pressing only the border punch, to make your design. When there's one inch remaining, turn the paper 90 degrees and repeat. One of the easiest punch systems I've ever used, with spectacularly intricate results. It almost appears laser-cut.

On this sample, I used a heavy cream paper matted on black cardstock, resulting in a simple, but elegant, sympathy card. With the right stamp and by substituting a pretty pink or green mat, and it could be a wonderfully feminine birthday card.

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Stamp: My Sentiments Exactly! Clear Stamps "Sympathy Sentiments" (Set #M123)
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#28: And then at the other end of the spectrum....

My last post celebrated new life; today I wanted to show you a sympathy card I recently made. There's very little stamping on it-- the cover's wording "With Deepest Sympathy" was stamped and then embossed with detail black. The card is actually a booklet, made with a tabloid size sheet of textured burgundy cardstock (approximately 12"x18") scored and folded in half.

The inside wording is computer generated on vellum which was then placed over a sheet of preprinted paper. A close friend lost her brother after a long and difficult illness and this poem spoke from the heart. I am very sorry to say I have no idea where it came from or to whom credit should be given-- if anyone knows I would be grateful for the information.

I also decided that I wanted to play around with the layout of my blog. I have a feeling it's going to require a few different attempts to make me happy. I sure wish I knew more about HTML. However, I think one of my daughter's college courses this spring includes web design, so maybe I'll have to hire her!

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"With Deepest Sympathy" Stamp by PSX

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