Showing posts with label Sympathy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sympathy. Show all posts

2.10.2020

Masculine Sympathy Cards - Waterolor

More sympathy cards today.  I feel like such a downer.  Can you see why I avoided blogging for so long?  Even the cards I was making were depressing, but it is an honest reflection of the season I was going through.  This card has a slightly more masculine feel to it.   I made it for one of our close friends that had lost his father. 
  


The tree was watercolored using another Let's Make Art tutorial, scaled down to card size.  I made it into a 5x7 card instead of the typical A2 size.



The painting was layered onto a light tan cardbase once dry and I added a die cut out of navy cardstock on the front with my xyron.  On the inside I stamped some leaves in Versamark ink.  It shows up nicely on the Crumb Cake cardstock.  I stamped the same image on the back flap of the envelope.


For those who are curious, I did a combination of lessons from these 2 kits listed below.  You can find youtube videos on them as well from Sarah Cray at Let's Make Art.

2.07.2020

Rose Gold Foil Watercolor Sympathy Card

Yesterday I shared the Sympathy card I made for Meghan Evan's family.  Today I am sharing another card I made for her family.  I made both and then chose one to give them and put the other in my stash.  As I said, I have difficulty making these cards, but it is good to have some on hand.  I also like to send out cards about a month after the loved one has passed and on the one year anniversary.  I usually make these extra cards around the time I make the first.


The background was loosely watercolored in shade of purple and blue and allowed to dry. I attempted to do gold foil by stamping in versamark and using a heat-n-stick style embossing powder.  After heat setting it I rubbed the gold foil on.  It didn't work quite the way I pictured it, so I ran it through my gemini.  Note, if you attempt this, use a clean/smooth cutting plate or the scratches will impress into the foil. (unless that's the look you're going for)  I layered this piece on a navy cardstock that I had stamped in versmark with the same stamp I used for the card panel.  It adds a little bit of pattern without being too distracting.




*Note- The stamp set I used is called Beautiful World from Gina K Designs & Catherine Pooler.  I could not find a current link to this set, but it is still one of my favorites because every card I have made using it is so beautiful and touching.

2.06.2020

Feminine Sympathy Cards - Lavender Watercolor Flowers

It's nice to have sympathy cards on hand that you can send when needed, but I struggle to do that.  I tend to make them as needed and spend the time making them to pray for the loved ones left behind.  That was the case for this card.  It actually started as a practice piece for watercoloring lavendar.  I thought it would look good on a card so I saved it.  When a young member of our Corvette Club lost her life, I knew this flower would become a card for her parents.


I then stamped a sympathy sentiment beside the flowers and die cut using my favorite wonky stitched dies.  I layered it with some purple paper and a thin strip to anchor the flowers.  The final step was to stamp an image on the back of the envelope.  We took this to a memorial service, so I wasn't worried about rain smearing the ink in the mail.  (A problem here in the Pacific Northwest)


This would make a sweet thinking of you card, Mother's Day, birthday or even friendship card.


This plaque was made by our friends at D&M Embroidery.  They also made vinyl clings for our club members to put on the hoods of our cars as we traveled together to her memorial.


Meghan and her dad were both part of our club.  When her dad & mom saw us pull into the parking lot and they read what was on our cars they started crying (again) and I got so choked up as her mom pointed our car out to Meghan's sister.  It was a special way to honor her life and her being in our club.


That's me on the left waiting for the driver's meeting to start.  Several of us wore purple and black.  I had the unique challenge of finding something nice to wear in my new smaller size.  Thankfully the dress I ordered from LuLaRoe fit perfectly.  You never know when ordering online.  (#girlproblems)




We met together in Olympia and traveled together to Kelso, WA where we met up with the other Corvette Club that Meghan & Don were members of.  Then, we went together to the memorial.  It was a sight that meant so much to the Evans family to see their Corvette families roll in to honor their daughter/sister.  At Corvettes de Olympia we really are family.  Corvette + Family = Love  



Corvettes wrapped around the bend in the road and across the overpass on the other side.



Presenting Don with the plaque, card and flowers.




The flowers and food were lovely.  They also had a slideshow of Meghan's life in pictures.



This was my first memorial service since my grandfather's funeral last Spring.  It was difficult because Meghan was so young.  In this picture I see the effects of grief around my eyes.  It was important to support Meghan's family and though it was hard, I was so glad we went.  We go for those who are left behind.



eta: Sentiment for the stamp set is Beautiful World by Gina K Designs and Catherine Pooler.

10.06.2018

Comfort & Peace

Here is the card we all hate to make.  It means that someone we love or someone they love has passed away or is in a difficult place.  Most people tell you to make these cards ahead so you don't have to make them in a rush or while grieving yourself.  That is not bad advice and I do have a few on hand that I've made.  I find though that it is part of the healing process to make a card for the grieving person after their loss.  I think about them and who they/we lost as I make the card and I offer prayers of comfort.

This card was made for my friend that recently lost her father.  It breaks my heart that her heart is broken.  I never met her dad, but he sounds like he was an incredible father.  



The other "strange" thing I do is to send out sympathy cards a few weeks after the person has passed away.  My thought is that most people send them immediately, and that is good.  We all need that.  Most people though find that grieving is the loneliest after all the services are over, relatives have gone home and everyone is going on with their lives.  They are still mourning the loss, but it feels like nobody else even remembers or they are too uncomfortable to say anything about the deceased.  The sentiment on this stamp is perfect because it could be sent before, during or after the person passes. 

To make this card I did a light wash in the background of grey inks and silver watercolor.  Once it was dry I added the stamping.  It needed a little something to fill in the holes, so I did a bit of a wash with colors of ink from the flowers & leaves.  After this stage was dry I stamped and embossed the sentiment, finishing off the card with a ribbon and mounting it on a cardbase.


I'm linking up with Just Us Girls for their sympathy challenge.  Thank you Vicki Dutcher for your Facebook post that let me know about this challenge.  ;) 


On a more positive note, today is World Card Making Day.  Lots of sales and specials going on including 20% off at Ellen Hutson.  Use code WCMD18 at checkout!

Shop Now


Stamps: Peace & Comfort (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Elegant Eggplant, Fresh Fig, Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder, Mint Macaron, Tranquil Tide (Stampin' UP) Versamark
Paper: Bristol Vellum Cardstock (Strathmore)
Accessories: Wonky Stitched Dies (My Favorite Things) Silver Embossing Powder (Wow) Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon (Stampin' UP)

 Peace & Comfort

Don't forget to use your coupon code when shopping at CAS-ual Fridays.  ;)




8.25.2018

So Sorry... CAS16

So sorry you are going through this...
 because not all cancer is pink.

Another card made for the Calling All Sistahs challenge to bring hope for all types of cancer.  Teal for ovarian cancer.


The background was made by stamping floral images in grey ink on gray cardstock.  To make the ribbon I stamped the sentiment with an ombre ink pad using my MISTI to stamp more than once, then I used a sponge dauber to sponge ink onto the ribbon after die cutting.  The sentiment is stamped on a thin strip of white cardstock, tucked behind the ribbon and then I cut a V out of the end. 





Stamps: Loving Thoughts, Word Ribbon (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) 
Paper: Smoky Slate, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Pool to Navy Ombre (Hero Arts)  Basic Gray (Stampin' Up)
Accesories: Ruffled Ribbon Fri Die (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Stitched Rectangles (My Favorite Things)