Good, good, good, good vibrations!

That song just keeps going through my head. Yesterday it seemed like everywhere I turned I found someone who was going through some really rough times. A divorce that just rips your heart out to hear the details, ailing parents, deaths, rapidly spreading melanoma for my FIL.. and the list goes on. It was just one of those sucky days, ya know? I just felt like I needed to send some good thoughts out into the world, so I sat down to make a card.

As I was sitting there, I started thinking about how much time I spend making cards, writing about cards, photographing cards, buying stuff for cards... but rarely do I take the time to sit down and actually send the cards out! And isn't that the whole point? While I try not to ever miss the big occasions, it's really the little ones that matter the most, isn't it? Those days when you just need a little lift, an encouraging word, a small little smile - to know someone's thinking of you? So today, I'm going to mail out cards. If you've got a stash I challenge you to do the same. It only takes a stamp and a little time to make a big difference in someone's world.

A few weeks ago when I was all drugged up on pain medication I steeled myself up long enough to head to the local LSS for their annual sidewalk sale. I'm so glad I did because I ended up walking away with about 10 different gorgeous Penny Black stamps that were all about 70% off when it was all said and done! Penny Black is my all-time favorite stamp company so I was walking on Cloud 9. Although I'm not really into Fluffles and all the critters I just LOVE the sentiments and the beautiful flowers. This Prince of Orange stamp was one of my super finds and I'm just grinning ear to ear as I look at it.

I stamped the Penny Black Prince of Orange in Ancient Page Coal Black on White Conqueror cardstock and then colored with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. I added just a touch of accents to the flowers with Orange Peel Stickles. Next I stamped the Thoughtful Phrases Sending you Smiles stamp on the side and used my Mat Pack and paper piercer to pierce holes down the side. And guess what folks, I - the worst seamstress in the world, hand-stitched that line down the side! Next I took my Acrylic sheet from my Stamp-A-Majig and lined it up on the stitching and used it as a mask to sponge Pumpkin Pie ink down the side of the white cardstock. I matted this whole piece on Black cardstock and then added some reversible satin May Arts ribbon in the lower corner at an angle and placed a big button on top of it.

The background of the card is from the Tres Jolie Handsome paper and is Cuttlebugged with the Textile embossing folder and then sponged with Pumpkin Pie ink. I then matted on Basic Black and tied some Black Grosgrain ribbon down the side and added a piece of the orange ribbon for a double knot. The whole thing is on a regular size Pumpkin Pie card base.