Throwback Thursday: Pet Sympathy Cards with a Mix of Old and New

Leave a comment February 27, 2025 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

Losing a beloved pet is never easy. Whether it’s a loyal dog who’s been by your side for years or a sweet cat who loved curling up in your lap, pets truly are family. When a friend or loved one experiences that kind of loss, a handmade card can be a thoughtful way to show you care.

This week’s Throwback Thursday project is a heartfelt pet sympathy card featuring a mix of brand-new and retired products. I love pulling out old favorites and giving them new life alongside fresh supplies! Let’s take a closer look at how I created these soft and comforting designs.

A Blend of New and Retired Favorites

For these cards, I started with a Thick Basic White card base with a Petal Pink layer—such a warm and soothing colour. The background features the not-yet-released Textured Note Dies, adding a subtle frame that elevates the whole design. The gorgeous rainbow arch? That’s the Everyday Arches Dies (an Online Exclusive!), layered in Flirty Flamingo, Gold Foil, and Basic White to create a warm yet elegant look.

I tucked in some fluffy clouds using the Adventurous Sky Dies, stamped a small but meaningful sentiment from the Keeping Tabs Stamp Set, and added a sprinkle of Petal Pink Foiled Gems for just a touch of shine.

But here’s where the throwback element comes in—I reached for my retired cat and dog punches to create the sweet silhouettes at the base of the card. While these punches are no longer available, they were the perfect finishing touch, and if you have them in your stash, this is a great way to use them!

A Handmade Card That Brings Comfort

There’s something truly special about a handmade card during difficult times. While it can’t take away the loss, it lets someone know they’re not alone. Whether you use the same supplies or swap in similar ones from your craft collection, I hope this design inspires you to create and share a little kindness.

Want to make your own? Many of the products I used are available now in my online store (with the exception of the upcoming Textured Note Dies and the retired dog and cat punches—stay tuned for those!). You can shop the Everyday Arches Dies, Adventurous Sky Dies, Keeping Tabs Stamp Set, and more to create your own version of this heartfelt card.

Here is a full list of the supplies I used:

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock $15.50	Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock $15.75	Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock $15.75	Gold Foil Sheets $7.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock $18.00	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock $15.75
Keeping Tabs Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) $26.00	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad $12.25	Petal Pink & Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems $11.00	Everyday Arches Dies $40.00	Adventurous Sky Dies $45.00	Stampin' Dimensionals $6.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue $8.25	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine $177.00	Take Your Pick $16.50	Paper Trimmer $39.00	Basic White Medium Envelopes $15.00

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I’d love to hear—do you enjoy using a mix of old and new in your crafting? Let me know in the comments! And if you decide to make a pet sympathy card, tag me on social media so I can see your beautiful creations. 💕

Sale-A-Bration is Still On!

Did you know that Sale-A-Bration is happening now? You can earn free Stampin’ Up! products for every $75 CAD you spend until February 28th! It’s the perfect time to stock up on crafting essentials while getting amazing freebies. Don’t miss out on these exclusive rewards!

Special Offers and Upcoming Events

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Option 2 – Join Stampin’ Up! during Sale-A-Bration and get $165 CAD worth of product PLUS an additional $41 CAD worth of product of your choice when you join for $135 CAD. That’s a $206 CAD value!

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Happy crafting, and I can’t wait to see your creations! 💕

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Dino-Mite Birthday Card for the Global Design Project #GDP485

Leave a comment February 25, 2025 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

Hello, stamping friends! This week, I’m excited to participate in the @GlobalDesignProject color challenge (#GDP485) featuring Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, and Daffodil Delight. As soon as I saw the color combo, I knew the Darling Dinos stamp set would be perfect for a fun and playful birthday card! 🦕🎉

Here’s the card I created:

Creating This Card

I started with a Granny Apple Green card base and layered a background from the Take a Bow 6″ x 6″ DSP, which adds a playful and textured look. My adorable dinosaur is colored with Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends, while the Garden Green details were added using a Stampin’ Write Marker for contrast. For the balloons, I used Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green and then I mixed Granny Apple Green and Shaded Spruce Blends to achieve a Garden Green shade, since there isn’t a Garden Green Blend available—such a fun way to stretch your supplies!

The Daffodil Delight accents bring a cheerful pop of brightness, making this card extra fun and celebratory. To add a little sparkle, I brushed Wink of Stella over the balloons, which gives them a subtle shimmer when they catch the light. ✨

Finishing Touches

The sentiment, “Hope your birthday is DINO-mite!” is stamped and heat embossed in white on a Garden Green cardstock banner for a crisp and bold look. To make the sentiment fit perfectly, I used the Stylish Shapes banner die and double-cut it to create a shorter label—such a handy trick for customizing your die-cut pieces! The stitched circle behind the dino adds a clean focal point while keeping the design fresh and fun.

Here is a full list of the supplies I used:

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock $15.75	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock $15.75	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock $18.00	Take A Bow 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper $17.00	Darling Dinos Bundle (English) $55.75	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad $11.00
Regals Stampin' Write Markers $42.50	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack $15.00	Shaded Spruce Stampin' Blends Combo Pack $15.00	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack $15.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush $12.25	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad $12.25
Versamark Pad $13.00	Embossing Additions Tool Kit $37.00	Basics Wow! Embossing Powder $29.00	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) $44.00	Stampin' Dimensionals $6.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue $8.25
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine $177.00	Take Your Pick $16.50	Paper Trimmer $39.00	Basic White Medium Envelopes $15.00

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Join the Challenge!

I love how color challenges push me to get creative with my supplies, and this one was especially fun! Have you ever tried mixing Stampin’ Blends to create a custom color? Let me know in the comments! And if you want to join the @GlobalDesignProject challenge this week, head over to their FB page and play along!