Air Mail Sympathy Card

I FINALLY got a chance to use one of my Sale-A-Bration stamps! I love this bi-plane, but have been busy making Easter Cards and couldn't use it until I received an order for a Masculine Sympathy card. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to put this adorable Bi-Plane to use.

The base is 6.5 x 5 inch pre-cut craft paper base from Hobby Lobby. Both the dark brown outer frame, and the cream cardstock with the sentiment are open stock from HL--I did use the less textured side of the cream for easier stamping. I chose a brown baker's twine from the Michael's bargain bins. The distressing around the layers is all down with Distress Ink Walnut Stain.

I used my MISTI for the stamping so I could go over it a couple of times and ensure that it would all be straight. The Sentiment is from Stampin Up "Petite Pairs", and was inked with SU Chocolate Chip. The bi-plane is from Stampin Up "Sky is the Limit" from the Sale-A-Bration specials and was inked with VersaFine Brown and heat embossed with Recollections Clear Embossing Powder.

The bi-plane really stands out, as it is on 2 layers of foam. The first is fun-foam, cut out exactly to match and glued to the back of the cut out plane, both of which I fussy-cut. The second layer was done with foam tape, so I could leave space for the string.

The striped pattern paper is a My Minds Eye that has been in my stash for some time.

At first I wasn't going to add a panel to the inside, but silly me, I stamped the sentiment the wrong direction! But I think the panel really added to the overall effect! The sentiment is also from the Petite Pairs collection and inked with Chocolate Chip. I love the way the distressed edges really make this paper look aged. Since this was a small sentiment for the size of the card (as chosen by the client), I decided to put it more the bottom right hand corner...I felt it would look lost in the middle of the card.

I really like the way this came out looking like an old-time package being air-mailed! Since this was for a man, I knew I didn't want any flowers or bling. All together, I think it looks just as "finished" as others that have all those extras.

Thanks for checking it out!