Simple Sympathy

Sympathy cards are one thing that I need to have more of on hand. When the sad occasion occurs, I usually don't have the time to stop and make a card. So, last week while I created for family, I made a couple of extra cards to keep on hand. These are based on a simple idea I saw on Pinterest for creating a one layer card.

First, I cut a shape in the middle of a piece of scrap cardstock - any decorative shape will work. I used my Close to my Heart Artiste cartridge to cut a simple label shape as a stencil. I laid the stencil over the card base and stamped script in Slate ink. Then I set the card aside to dry.

I used the time to select an appropriate flower and sentiment.  The Hero Arts  "With Sympathy" set was perfect.

I changed each card a little, but for embossing, I used Versamark ink.

One card has the flowers and sentiment embossed in Hematite for a shimmery effect. One the other two, I used Detail Black embossing powder. And on the card in front, I wiped off the Versamark ink where the flowers were for the black embossing and came back later and inked only the flower areas and embossed them with Ranger Enchanted Gold powder. 

The sentiments on those cards are embossed in Gold.

I punched out a butterfly from a K&Co. Paper in the Julianne stack. One card has the zip strip of CTMH Avonlea paper

I sponged around the flowers lightly with CTMH Buttercup ink, and around the sentiment on the other card with Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink.

For the final touch, I added a little shimmery gold ribbon.

Southern Sympathy

My dear Great Aunt  passed away and I was unable to attend,  but I made some beautiful sympathy cards for family members. These cards are truly from my heart. 

One of my favorite paper stacks is K&Co. Julianne paper.  Since my relative lived in Mississippi, I chose the magnolia patterned paper in the stack. 

I paired that with the coordinating striped patterned paper and used CTMH Indian Corn blue as a background layer.  

Both the ivory (2-1/4") and blue (2-1/2") shapes were cut on the Cricut using the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge.

I heat-embossed the border stamp (CTMH Frame It Up) with Stampendous Peridot embossing powder.

The sentiments on both cards are from a Just Rite Stampers set, stamped on CTMH Colonial White cardstock with CTMH Outdoor Denim ink.

 

I added one flower cut out from a matching 6x6 pad. It was a bit of challenge to fussy-cut, but I perservered!

The second card has a paper flower as an embellishment.  I used some Tim Holtz Distressing Ink (Antique Linen) to age it. The button is a CTMH button.

A little ribbon finished these cards beautifully.

Thank you for looking.