52 Weeks of Caring Cards in 2015: Week 1

Hello friends!
I hope you are having a fabulous start to 2015!  Today I begin 52 Weeks of Card Card posts and I'd like to make these as 'how to' as possible, because new card makers email me all the time on how to put a card together or advise on color choices or stamp placement.  As I put in my last post, this Inspired Stamps blog will focus on papercrafting.  So Tuesdays (today's our first one!) are devoted to creating Caring Cards.  Thursdays here are our Design Team Thursdays and Fridays will focus on New Stamp Releases---yes EVERY FRIDAY we will have new stamps in the etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/GodblessyourART)

My blog over at www.GodblessyourART.blogspot.com will show more of the mixed media and art journaling artwork.  So Wednesdays, there will be Memorizing Scripture in a Grateful Calendar posts, and Fridays will be Bible Art Journaling posts each week! 

Today is my first post for the 52 Weeks of Caring Cards.  I want to encourage YOU to join me in this endeavor and feel free to post  your cards on our Facebook page or leave a link here in the comment section, as I'd love to see what you are creating!

My goal is to not only MAKE 52 Weeks of Caring Cards, but to MAIL OUT 52 Weeks of these Caring Cards!  I hope you will bless someone you know for the next year with cards that show you care...it can really mean a lot to people!

So here's my first card, going out to a beautiful woman in my Bible Study whose father-in-law she was caring for just went to be with the Lord this past week:

 This is how I made it:

I used a white card base of 4 x 5.5".  Then I cut the brown cardstock that will serve as a mat to the BoBunny patterned paper to 3.75"x 5.25", and the patterned paper to 3.5x 5".  I inked all my edges as shown:

I wanted you to see the difference in the inked edges and the plain patterned paper so I took a photograph of both here next to the brown mat:

It just gives the paper so much more depth with inking!

I use a tape runner and put them all on the card base (set it on my art journaling bible!).

I used one of my Inspired Stamps' stamp sets called DRAW NEAR for the sentiment and inked/matted it.

I made a bow in a ribbon I had in my ribbon stack and cut it long so I can tuck the ends behind the brown matted paper to secure it with a little adhesive.

I got out my CTMH Opaques and looked to see which looked best with the card...best way to put any embellishment on a card is to lay them out and see what you like best next to the patterned paper.

I used a stamp from my Inspired Stamps' stamp set: CARD MINISTRY BASIC SET

Here's a front photo of my finished card, all ready for me to write a personal note in and mail out tomorrow:

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Please leave a comment if you plan to create some Caring Cards this year to share with others!  I'd love to see what you do!

Blessings,
Antoinette       Free Shipping on all US orders over $25:  use coupon code: 25freeshipping

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