with sympathy...
March 05, 2015
They are the cards that I need most often, but the ones that are my least favorite to make: sympathy cards. Every card maker knows that this particular card is one that is good to have plenty at hand because more than likely you will need them at a moments notice. I sat down and made this subject a focus for my card making recently and have several designs to share with you that are simple, elegant, and will work for a wide variety of who you need to send a sympathy card to. I hope that what I have to share with you will be helpful and help you be inspired to make this a priority today so that you won't be in a rush to put something together later.
The color palette that I used for all of the cards I shared today is fairly neutral. Bright and bold colors are not the choice for this subject of card. I think it is important to keep things simple and calm. Kraft, white, cream, and green tones work so well for this.
You can get as elaborate as you want, like I did here by painting the little leaves on the branches of the Cover Plate: In the Woods die with Simply Chartreuse ink, or keep it very simple by doing a simple die cut. there are some gorgeous cover plates in the Papertrey Ink collection that would be wonderful layering onto the background of a sympathy card.
For all of the cards today, I used the Mat Stack 1 Collection stamp set and coordinating dies. When you are sitting down to create many cards at once, keep it simple and use the same pieces throughout. That way, you aren't digging around for supplies. All of the Mat Stack collections are wonderful for this!
The sympathy sentiment that I used on this card is a favorite of mine and is from the Through the Trees set.
It is easy to forget that it is a good thing to have some sympathy cards with a more masculine look and feel to them. I used the Through the Trees set here on the Mat Stack 1 Layerz die cut layered over a woodgrain background that I stamped with the Background Basics: Farm & Barn set.
The sympathy sentiment that I used here is from the Fillable Frames Sentiments set. Keep your accents and embellishments minimal and simple. I used a bit of Rustic Cream button twine here.
On this last card that I am sharing today, I used the Keep it Simple: Sympathy set - a great set for a collection of several styles of sympathy sentiment. I used an image from the Mat Stack 1 set on the die cut and stamped the sentiment right onto it. It is pretty and elegant without too much fuss.
The die cut is from the Songbirds collection. I die cut it from Ripe Avocado cardstock and then added just a bit of shimmer with a glitter paint pen I had. A little bit of shimmer is a simple, but elegant touch for a sympathy card without overdoing it.
Even though the subject isn't uplifting, it certainly is necessary. Take a little time to look through your stamp and die collection to put together some sympathy cards now. Here are just a few of the Papertrey Ink sets that you might find useful:
With Sympathy: Loss of a Child
If you have a set that you use for sympathy cards that is not on my list, please feel free to add it into the comments. I know there are so many people out there who would appreciate seeing a list like this put together.
Thank you so much for stopping by today.
Supplies:
all supplies from Papertrey Ink unless noted
Heartfelt Sympathy Card
size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
stamps: Mat Stack 1 Collection, Through the Trees
ink: True Black, Classic Kraft, Simply Chartreuse refill
cardstock: kraft, Rustic Cream
other: Cover Plate: In the Woods die, Mat Stack 1 die, Classic Kraft twill ribbon, silver rhinestones, brad (Creative Impressions), clear glitter Wink of Stella (Zig)
With Deepest Sympathy Card
size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
stamps: Through The Trees, Mat Stack 1 Collection, Fillable Frames Sentiments, Background Basics: Farm & Barn
ink: True Black, Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado
cardstock: Rustic White, kraft
other: Mat Stack 1 Layerz die, Rustic Cream button twine
With Sympathy Card
size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
stamps: Keep it Simple: Sympathy, Mat Stack 1 Collection
ink: True Black, Classic Kraft
cardstock: Rustic Cream, kraft, Fine Linen patterned paper
other: Songbirds die, Mat Stack Layerz 1 die, Cream Cotton baker's twine, corner chomper (We R Memory Keepers), pearls (Kaisercraft), clear glitter Wink of Stella (Zig)