Tag Archives: Sympathy Cards

Ciao Bella Under the Tuscan Sun Sympathy Card

Ciao Bella Under the Tuscan Sun Sympathy Card Tutorial Reneabouquets Butterflies by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Ciao Bella Under the Tuscan Sun Sympathy Card Tutorial for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends! For this week’s Throwback Thursday I’m sharing a Ciao Bella Under the Tuscan Sun Sympathy Card Tutorial with you.  Sympathy cards are probably the hardest cards to make. But they are also one of the most meaningful cards to receive.  So it’s worth the time and effort it takes to make a really beautiful sympathy card.  I share a lot of tips and tricks for making them in the video tutorial below.

Ciao Bella Under the Tuscan Sun Sympathy Card Tutorial Reneabouquets Butterflies by Kathy Clement PHoto 02

Here are a few tips for success when making a sympathy card.

  • First, think color.  Choose soft shades of green, blue, beige or even white.  Save bright, bold colors for birthday cards!
  • Next, look for calming, serene images.  Grief is a chaotic emotion.  So it’s good to choose images from nature, simple patterns and calming themes.
  • Keep your basic card design simple and more on the clean side.  Even though I have used layers and some embellishments, the overall design of this card is uncluttered.  That’s a good goal.

Since the sentiment panel is the focal image on this card, I added this 2 1/2″ circular image.  To help it blend into the design, I added this Reneabouquets Butterfly.  You can find links below.

A Peek Inside

I also kept the inside of the card very simple.  The blank panel is where I’ll add my personal thoughts to my friend.

It’s a good investment to add a few sympathy sentiment stamps to your tool box.  I probably use my sympathy sentiment stamps almost as often as I use my birthday stamps.

Ciao Bella Under the Tuscan Sun Sympathy Card Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to follow along as I create today’s card, please enjoy this video.

I’ll post a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Authentique Purebred Pet Sympathy Card

Authentique Purebred Pet Sympathy Card by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Authentique Purebred Pet Sympathy Card with the February Ribbon Club

Hello, Friends!  Sometimes we have to send a sad card. This soft, vintage style Authentique Purebred Pet Sympathy Card is the perfect way to send your condolences, I’ve paired it up with elegant Blue, Ivory and Gold Plaid Ribbon from the Really Reasonable Ribbon February Ribbon Club.  As a matter of fact, all the ribbons in this month’s club work beautifully with this vintage collection.

Authentique Purebred Pet Sympathy Card: Building the Layers

  • Begin by creating a 5″ x 7″ top fold card base from kraft cardstock.
  • Next,  mat a 4 3/4″ x 6 3/4″ panel of the gingham check on navy cardstock.
  • Then mat a 4″ x 6″ journal card on navy cardstock .
  • Die cut a Spellbinder’s Tiara Rondelle from navy cardstock.  Cut in half from left to right.
  • Then die cut a Spellbinder’s Large Standard Oval from the paper pieced dog print. Adhere the Tiara Rondelle pieces top and bottom as seen in the photo.
  • Now, create a belly band with a 4 3/4″ x 3″ strip of the horizontal print.  Adhere thin strips of navy cardstock on the top and bottom to separate the patterned papers.
  • Back the 3″ x 4″ image with dimensionals and adhere.
Authentique Purebred Pet Sympathy Card: Finishing Touches

Use your Zutter-Bow-It-All Tool to create a triple loop bow from the plaid ribbon.  Arrange the flowers along the left hand side of the card.  Place a dot of hot glue under the center of the arrangement.  Fold the bow so that the knot is at the front and using the tip of your scissors, push the knot into the hot glue and hold for a second or two.  Carefully pull out your scissors and fuss the bow.

To add to the vintage, shabby chic feel of this card, dry brush the edges of the paper layers with a little ivory chalk paint.  Paint the wood icons with the same paint and when dry, brush very lightly with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  Then adhere to the card.  Add some pearls, vintage buttons, and paint spatters to finish off the design.

Authentique Purebred Pet Sympathy Card: A Peek Inside

To me, nothing is as comforting as a cup of tea, so I tucked in a little tea bag in a simple pocket.  Then I die cut a note card using the Spellbinder’s Cannetille Rectangle Die and tucked it in a side pocket.  Then I stamped another cream card panel with a pet sympathy sentiment stamp, added a sticker from the Purebred Collection Kit , and adhered to the face of the pocket.

I hope I’ve shared some tips, techniques and inspiration that you can use in your  next crafty adventure.  If so, I ‘d love to hear from you in the comment section below.  And, you’ll find a linked supply list at the end of this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Music Themed Sympathy Card

Music Themed Sympathy Card

Hello, Friends!  No one likes to make sympathy cards, but in my opinion, they are one of the most meaningful and important cards we can make.  I made this Music Themed Sympathy Card when a dear pastor/teacher recently passed away.  Steve knew both Dale and me before were were married, counseled us after we were married and then befriended us as our pastor while we were raising our young family.  He had a passion for music, so I made this music themed sympathy card to honor and remember him.

This 5″ x 7″ card has a top fold design.  I dug through the Closet of Shame to find this old pad of DCWV Performance paper, knowing it would be the perfect choice for this card.

Tips and Tricks for Creating a Sympathy Card

  • First, keep it simple.  Simple elegance strikes just the right note during times of sorrow or stress.
  • Next, choose soft, soothing neutrals in papers, flowers and embellishments to provide a sense of comfort and also elegance.   Little Birdie Flowers are paired up with Ivory Satin ribbon to help achieve that effect.
  • Thirdly, say it simply: This simple sentiment is stamped with Versamark Ink, then embossed with Fine Gold Embossing Powder.  Then I die cut it, rounded the edges against my bone folder and adhered just the outer edges to achieve dimension.
  • Walk softly: Vellum music paper accented with gold foiling softens the background paper even more.
  • Finally, make it personal:  Think about the individual, what they meant in your life, the things they loved and try to in some way incorporate that into the card, if possible.
Music Themed Sympathy Card: A Peek Inside

The inner sentiments are stamped on foiled designer paper.  I created a little pocket where I could tuck in my own personal thoughts, memories and message of condolence.

 

This quote from the paper collection was perfect for the card.  Steve was a brilliant man; but his true genius lay in his ability to love and accept others.  He will be sorely missed.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Paper

Flowers:

Ribbon:

Stamps: Retired from Stampin’ Up: Loving Thoughts, Thoughts and Prayers (Check E-bay)

Dies:

MFT Flourish Frames(retired)

Spring Farmhouse Beautiful Life Sympathy Card

Prima Spring Farmhouse Beautiful Life Sympathy Card

Hello, Friends!  Well, it’s Friday, so I thought I’d pop in and share this Prima Spring Farmhouse Beautiful Life Sympathy Card that I made for my dear friend earlier this month.  Dianne is one of my best friends on the planet.  We were young wives together, raised babies together, cried, laughed, dieted, partied, fussed and made up…and through it all, grew as close as two friends can be in this life. So when Dianne’s mom passed away, i wanted to send something beautiful to Di to  let her know that I was thinking of her and cared deeply about her loss.

I was privileged to know Grace for many years and she was one amazing woman. Born during the Great Depression, she came from very humble, country roots.  Her life was filled with obstacles, yet she always found a way to overcome them while staying positive and vibrantly beautiful.  She lived to be 96 years old!  Isn’t that amazing?  Always stylish, always classy, Grace lived a beautiful life.  And that is what inspired this 5″ x 7″ top fold card made with papers from Prima’s Spring Farmhouse.

I know this is not  your typical sympathy card…but it really makes me think of Grace.  The focal image is a die cut wreath topped with Prima Flowers.  The vintage cameo looks so soft and feminine in the center of the frilly flower.  One of my cherished vintage buttons rests on top of the bow cluster of 1/2″ Champagne Wrinkled Ribbon and Gold Metallic String.

Prima Spring Farmhouse Beautiful Life Sympathy Card: A Peek Inside

The inside has a stamped sentiment on blush cardstock.   I wrote my own personal message to Dianne on the 3×4 Journal card.

It’s never easy to say good-bye to one’s mother, so I hope this card brought Dianne great comfort.  I like sending a card so much better than flowers.  Flowers die…but cards stay beautiful for ages.

I hope I’ve shared some ideas and inspiration that you can use in your own crafty adventures.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Soft and Shabby Thinking of You Card

Soft and Shabby Thinking of You Card with Burlap Center Stitch Ribbon

Hello, Ribbon Lovers! Today’s project is a soft and shabby thinking of you card that is loaded with layers and texture.  You can add texture to a project in lots of different ways. But adding ribbon is the quickest way I know to get the job done.

Soft and Shabby Thinking of You Card Cherry Tree Lane by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Product by Kaisercraft Photo 01

I wanted this card to have a very natural, botanical feel.  These Kaisercraft Cherry Tree Lane papers have been calling my name for a while now, They’ve been patiently waiting in the Closet of Shame and were overdue for a little paper play time.

Soft and Shabby Thinking of You Card Cherry Tree Lane by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Product by Kaisercraft Photo 02

To age the papers, I first dragged the edges through a little pool of water.  We’re not talking total immersion here…just a quick skim through a teeny tiny bit of water to soften the edges.  Next, I ran my distressing tool all along the edge of every layer.  Then I inked all the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink,. This step adds that aged shabby look that I love so much.

Soft and Shabby Thinking of You Card Cherry Tree Lane by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Product by Kaisercraft Photo 03

Once I had all my paper layers in place, it was time to add the fun stuff.  Vintage pearl buttons from my stash, flat back pearls, coiled wire, glittered foliage and soft florals from Little Birdie Crafts all add to the vintage feel of the design.  To tie all these layers and paper pretties together, I created this soft textured bow using Really Reasonable Ribbon Pink Burlap Center Stitch Ribbon.

Soft and Shabby Thinking of You Card Cherry Tree Lane by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Product by Kaisercraft Photo 04

This bow cluster makes my heart go pitty pat!

Soft and Shabby Thinking of You Card: A Peek Inside

Sad to say, I needed to make another sympathy card.  Too many this year, and it makes me just a little bit sad.  My hope is that this card brought comfort and peace to the heart of the recipient.  I don’t enjoy making sympathy cards, but I do love to let people know that they are not alone during a difficult time.

So what’s your favorite way to add texture to your projects?  I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy