Silhouettes in the Sunset Sympathy Card

I don't know why, but I've always found sympathy cards difficult to make.  I don't know if it's because of the occasion they represent, or because I like bright bold colors that don't seem appropriate for a sympathy card.  Whatever the reason, it always takes me much longer to create a sympathy card than any other type of card.  So I decided to challenge myself to make a simple sympathy card using a subdued color scheme.  I selected black and a mellow yellow for the color combo and had a picture in my mind of silhouettes in the sunset.  While browsing through my stamps I found a butterfly and floral stamps that I thought would make suitable silhouetted images on a sympathy card.  With the color scheme and stamps selected, I got down to the business of making my Silhouettes in the Sunset Sympathy Card.


The Making of Silhouettes in the Sunset Sympathy Card


Card Statistics

• Final Card Size: 5.5" wide x 4.25" tall
• Image Size: 4.125" wide x 2.75" tall
• Tools: paper cutter, circle cutter, Martha Stewart scoring board, sponge pieces, stamps
• Materials: cardstock, cover stock, adhesive, ink pads, spray sealer
• You can purchase this card at my Etsy shop: Silhouettes in the Sunset Sympathy Card

Card Front

Black cardstock was cut and scored to create the base card.  The image was produced first on a panel of mellow yellow cardstock.  I positioned a 2" white cardstock circle on the image panel and sponged a variety of orange inks around it to create the sunset.  The cardstock circle was removed leaving the yellow of the cardstock panel showing through the orange color to form the sun.  Silhouettes of a butterfly and flowers were stamped in place.  This completed image was matted on black cardstock.

To complete the front panel I cut another piece of the mellow yellow cardstock.  I identified where I was going to place the matted image and then determined placement for the front sentiment.  The sentiment "With Deepest Sympathy" was printed on the yellow panel and the matted image adhered in place above it.  This completed panel was affixed to the front of the black card base.


Angle View of Card Front to Show Dimension

   
As you can see from the picture, this card has no added dimension.


Card Inside

For the inside panel, the words "Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time" were printed on a panel of mellow yellow cardstock.  A silhouette of ivy was stamped along the lower edge and a butterfly silhouette was added to tie it all together.  This panel was affixed to the inside of the card base.

My logo is placed on the back of the card.

I also made an envelope from heavy cover stock to compliment the card.  The image on the front of the card was scanned into my computer and cropped.  I printed the cropped image on the lower left corner of the envelope and sprayed it lightly with sealer.


Final Card and Envelope Combo

I thought this was a fairly simple card.  However, when I showed it to my husband he said that he liked the sympathy card and its sentiments, but thought the card overall was too elaborate for his taste.  Guess I need to further simplify a sympathy card for him.  Even so, I am happy with how the card turned out.

You can purchase this card and envelope ensemble from my Etsy shop: Silhouettes in the Sunset Sympathy card

Tidbit of wisdom from the experience: Simplicity is in the eye of the beholder.  Or stated in another way...my husband's idea of simple is different from mine.


Card Recipe Specifics

• Cardstock: Embassy, Hammermill
• Cover Stock: Staples
• Stamps: butterfly - Inkadinkado; flower silhouette - Inkadinkado; ivy silhouette - Heidi Grace Designs
• Ink: Colorbox, Stazon black

 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you come back soon!

Page Content © 2010 Polished Moxie Concepts and Designs