The Tide Recedes

This is one of those cards that brings mixed feelings; it's the kind you dread having to make, but enjoy the challenge of trying to convey depth of meaning, the sadness at the passing of the person and beauty without ostentation to respect the dignity of the receiver. But you're never sure if you achieved all that.

I created the wording on my computer, using two text boxes so I could have the large letter at the beginning, and used a black fine-tip pen to fill in the parts of the 'T' that were missing because of the overlap of the other text box.

The poem is 'The Tide Recedes', as follows:

The tide recedes, but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.

The music stops, yet echoes on in sweet refrains.

For every joy that's lost, something beautiful remains.

~ Author unknown

The shells stamp was a lucky find. It's a cheap, foam-backed stamp that was part of a set of wildlife stamps from many years ago. I stamped it in black Versafine, then coloured it with diluted grey from a combination of inks and added some fine Glamour Dust from Decoart for just a touch of bling to echo the 'bright sunshells' line. I blended some 'Cool Grey' ink from Versacraft around the edges, and added some silver/grey sequins.

The rest of the poem is printed on the inside fly-leaf of the insert.

 

Sad Christmas

Doesn't look much like Christmas, I know, but this is just me marking my own losses, and thinking of all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones which always comes into much sharper focus and hurts more at this time of year, and we miss the people we've loved who are now physically absent from our lives, even more than we might at other times.

The tide recedes, but leaves behind

bright seashells on the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle warmth

still lingers on the land.

The music stops, and yet it echoes on

in sweet refrains.

For every joy that passes,

something beautiful remains.

~ Author unknown ~

I love this poem, and it lends itself so beautifully to this purpose. The first two lines are printed on the front, and the rest of the poem on the inside front of the insert. It's a very quick and simple design, with the shells stamped on a piece of crisp, white card using graduated blues from a Kaleidocolor inkpad and then painted with iridescent Craft Planet glitter glue. The panel is then simply mounted on foam pads.

Sending all of you big hugs, as you remember people you've lost. xxx

The tide recedes..

Sadly, I have had occasion to make a sympathy card for someone I work with who lost their mum last week. I would be in bits, I know, so my heart breaks for her.

I love this poem, and it lends itself so beautifully to this purpose. The first two lines are printed on the front, and the rest of the poem on the inside front of the insert. It's a very quick and simple design, with the shells stamped on a piece of the same crisp, white card (from http://www.madaboutcards.com/), using graduated blues from a Kaleidocolor inkpad and then painted with iridescent Craft Planet glitter glue. The panel is then simply mounted on foam pads.

The tide recedes, but leaves behind

bright seashells on the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle warmth

still lingers on the land.

The music stops, and yet it echoes on

in sweet refrains...

For every joy that passes,

something beautiful remains.

~ Author unknown ~

Hugs,