Sympathy cards

Sympathy cards are something I have not really turned my mind to, but unfortunately yesterday I got some very sad news that a friend lost her father after a long battle with illness and another friend lost her husband suddenly from a brain annurism. Sad and shocking news. They are two people who are trying to have a little space and and such, I wanted to send a card to say we were thinking of them, but looking through my stash, I didn't have anything I thought was appropriate.

So yesterday evening, I pulled out all my things and tried to come up with something I thought they would like, but that was not too bright or garish in the circumstances. Both of the recipients are into simple striking things, so this is what I managed to come up with:

I've used SU chocolate chip for the card, and the matting is SU very vanilla. The floral paper is called Making Memories diecut LgFloral Mocha Paperie. It came in a 12 x 12 sheet with die cut flowers through it at random intervals. I initially thoght I would put it directly onto the chocolate chip, but you couldn't really see the difference from the die cut detail to the printed flowers. Very vanilla did the trick I think.


Some satin ribbon in a mocha colour from my scrap ribbon collection finished it off.


The aim was to make something 'muted' befitting a sombre occasion, but also something beautiful to lift the spirits. I just hope it has that effect!


The second card was an idea that I had cased from Jenni Oliver long ago, but never had a crimper to be able to make my own version. Since my lovely mum was kind enough to get me a SU gift voucher from Sue Madex for my birthday, I finally got one of my own, along with lots of other lovely things on my wish list! Again I tried for muted colours, this time, SU Chocolate Chip, Kraft and Whisper White.

I have just crimped the front flap of the Kraft cardstock somewhere near the middle.


I then stamped the square mostly flowers stamp with choc chip on whisper white, punched it out with the 3.2cm circle punch. I mounted each design on 3.5cm circle punched whisper white paper which in turn was mounted on choc chip paper punched with the scallop square. (Phew! sounds complicated but actually nice and quick because of the punches).


Each of the three little stamped bundles were then mounted straight over the crimped bit using dimensionals.


The chocolate stiched grosgrain ribbon helped finish things off becuase I didn't have an appropriate sentiment stamp. (The idea was to have used something similar in size to the short and sweet sentiment but there was nothing appropriate in my stash).


Excuse the wierd white box on the bottom right had side of the inside picture. I only thought to take photos after writing in the card and didn't want to post such a personal message for the recipient online. I've blocked out that bit using my basic editing program (I sooo need photoshop).

The inserts are choc chip. I discovered my laser printer (which was purchased with work and study in mind prior to me getting into this card making gig) doesn't pick up cardstock which sucks, so the quote is printed on normal white printer paper in black. It would look better printed on whisper white in brown ink, but I guess we cant have everything!


There are more of the stamped images, but this time on Kraft scallops. I wrote in the panel with my choc chip marker.


Well that's it for now. I was deciding whether to post them, but I figured there's not a lot of examples of sympathy cards around, so I might as well. That said, I hope you never need them!


Take care and here's to crafting in happier times!