Encouragement cards ...

In need of a couple of encouragement cards to get in the mail a.s.a.p., I decided to use the sketch challenge layouts offered over on 2Sketches4You as my starting points.

My first card is for a young lady in Colorado who has just been diagnosed with cancer. She, of course, is scared out of her wits. An online friend, mothermark (Cindy Motherway), has put out the call for cards to hopefully help give Kimberly strength in knowing that there are people all over the world praying for her. With having just witnessed all my DH has endured because of this ugly monster, I of course wanted to get a card out to her right away.

I've chosen to combine the 2Sketches4You sketch with the current Color Challenge going on over at Papercraft Planet. My base card is SU Real Red, 2nd panel is SU Whisper White which I have stamped with an image from the Crafty Secrets Garden Girls set using SU Summer Sun ink. My main panel is SU Certainly Celery, matted with Real Red with an overlay of designer paper from the Crafty Secrets Earthy paper pack which I've also made a decorative edge using the Martha Stewart floral border punch. The sentiment is from ExpressionsInInk.com which was stamped using Versafine black onto SU Whisper White cardstock and diecut using a Nestabilities Label Four die. My floral embellishment are Prima flowers with a Making Memories brad center. I have used SU Summer Sun cardstock for my butterflies which I've punched with the Martha Stewart butterfly punch. I've distressed the edges of a couple panels just to add some texture. My ribbon treatment is SU Certainly Celery which I have positioned over a scrap strip of SU Whisper White cardstock.

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Card No.2 is for an incredibly brave young woman who is experiencing the "fight of her life" after having a brain hemmorage shortly after giving birth to her 3rd child. Her name is Melanie and you can read all about her fight on Joan Fricker's blog (Joans Garden) found HERE.

I'm using the Bonus Sketch offered up by 2Sketches4You on my card for Melanie. I liked the simplicity of this layout and the fact that I could "send her flowers" too (in paper form of course) was a nice added touch I thought!

My base card is of SU Very Vanilla with panel #2 being of SU Sage Shadow and designer paper that I have no idea who makes because there were no markings on the back ... sorry!! I must have really liked it because I have 3-12x12 sheets of it, lol!! My sentiment is by American Art and was stamped using Versafine Black ink on SU Very Vanilla cardstock. Using my Nestabilities scallop oval diecuts, I've double matted this sentiment using gray cardstock and SU Sage Shadow cardstock. I've used a sponge to shadow around the sentiment using Ranger Antique Linen ink. The border on my designer paper was created using the SU scallop border punch. To make my flower bouquet, I've used this "stem" image from a HeidiGrace set, stamped in Versafine Black and my flowers were punched using a (retired) 3 flower punch by Stampin' Up.

I pray the good Lord watches over both of these lovely ladies and gives them strength and guidance through out their medical journey. I only hope my card gives them a moment of joy in their daily struggles. Thank you all for stopping by today. Hope your day if filled with sunshine and laughter!! Happy Stamping!!