It's a Retirement Party Blog Hop!

As hard as it is to believe, it is already the May 15th, which means it's time for another Stamping Symphony Blog Hop! This month our theme is favourite retiring items, so I chose my very favourite, oldest stamp set: Lovely as a Tree. This set was the very first stamp set I ever bought, so it will live in my collection forever. My set is the last remaining wood mount stamp set I own and it has seen its share of use and abuse over the years.

Today's card is one I demonstrated on my Tuesday Live @ Five video this week...

One of the things that I love most about this stamp set is its versatility. Here, I've used it to make a sympathy card using the spotlighting technique. This simple technique requires very few tools, but creates a real wow on this simple design. I stamped the tree image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then used sticky notes with circles punched in them as masks to create the coloured circles. I used the 1-1/2" and 1" circle punches. My colour scheme was Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry...so pretty!

To add extra texture and interest, I scored some lines along the bottom edge of the stamped panel using the scoring blade of my paper trimmer. This quick and easy trick adds so much to a simple design.

Because I wanted to keep this clean and simple, the only embellishment I added was a bit of black baker's twine with a bow underneath the sentiment to highlight it.

On the inside I stamped a simple sympathy sentiment from the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set  and the little leaf from Lovely as A Tree.

Thanks for stopping by...check out my video tutorial for this card, and two others below.

Time to hop on over to Sandy's blog to see what awesomeness she has for us.

1. Leena (You are here)

2. Sandy

3. Barb

4. Jennifer

5. Steph

Product List

Lovely As A Tree Clear-Mount Stamp Set [127793] $27.00	Rooted In Nature Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146482] $57.00	Itty Bitty Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146667] $49.00	Mango Melody Classic Stampin' Pad [147093] $10.25
Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [147086] $10.25	Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad [147091] $10.25	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $8.25	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $13.25
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $11.50	Stampin' Trimmer [126889] $41.00	Sponge Daubers [133773] $7.00	1-1/2" Circle Punch [138299] $22.00
1" Circle Punch [119868] $18.00	Basic Black Solid Baker's Twine [141682] $4.00