French Foliage Sympathy PP212

Talking Fall as we head into Spring - well there's a challenge for all of us in the southern hemisphere!

The Paper Players design team have done a great job with their samples so make sure you click on the link and go on over to check them out.

It's not really that tough, although my most favourite 'leaf' stamp set of all time, is a retired one, French Foliage. I have used this stamp set such a lot, and maybe because I loved it so much, it was one of my best sellers ever too. 

It's great for scrapbooking, for birthdays, Mother's Day, travel and one of the best ways to use it is for a Sympathy card. There is just something so soothing about these images. They are natural, rustic or even a touch antique and I have to admit it was not a happy goodbye when French Foliage retired from the Stampin' Up!® catalogue. Do you hang on to favourites long after they disappear from the catalogues?

Another reason I can't let go of French Foliage yet, is my first ever visit to Paris in September last year hasn't been scrapbooked yet, and that Paris postmark will be needed!!!!

Although I haven't added a sympathy sentiment to the front of this card, the inside is decorated with more leaves, French Poetry and splodges. It also contains a sentiment from ANOTHER retired stamp set, Summer Solstice, which reads,"How lucky am I to have known someone who was so hard to say goodbye to."

It is quite a lovely sentiment. I'm fortunate at the moment that it has been almost a year since I've needed a bereavement card, but I've learnt that it pays to always have several on hand. It is no fun to make them if you are close to the departed, and once one occurs, there seem to be more of these events in quick succession. 

I hope you will forgive me for using retired products today,

Rachel