Tips for Elegant Sympathy Cards

Hi there! Emily Midgett here with you today, and I have some tips to help you with creating the perpetually-difficult sympathy card. Sympathy cards are unfortunately something that I've needed recently, so I decided that I would build up a stash of them while I had all of the supplies out. When I am creating a sympathy card, I want to maintain a level of simplicity and elegance that is also sensitive to the occasion. The 3D embossing folder provide the perfect focal point for sympathy cards: elegant, but not overpowering, allowing the greeting to be the main star of the show.

I find monochromatic color schemes to be easiest for sympathy cards. They are ethereal and not overly cheerful, and definitely elegant. I've done a trio of monochromatic mini-slimline cards today, each featuring a different 3D floral embossing folder and metallic glitter die cut. Let's get started with the details!

My first card features the gorgeous Ranunculus Bouquet 3D Embossing Folder. I embossed a 3″x5.5″ panel of plain white cardstock using the Ranunculus Bouquet 3D Embossing Folder, then mounted it on a full size mini slimline card base using Instant Dimension Foam Tape. The white textured panel popped up on the slightly-larger white background panel is so elegant to me. Tone-on-tone projects are always a good idea, in my opinion, and are always so elegant!

For the greeting, I die cut the Handwritten Hello from some gold glitter cardstock from the Gilded Glitter Cardstock pack and the background from some more white cardstock. Cutting the backing from white cardstock allows me to add another layer of extra dimension without adding any extra color. It helps the die cut greeting stand out a bit more. I gold heat embossed the “please know that I care” sentiment from the Thinking of You stamp set on a thin strip of white cardstock, then popped up both sentiment pieces with more Instant Dimension Foam Tape. Some gold gems helped to tie the other gold accents together and complete the “rule of three.”

The next card was constructed in the same way, this time featuring the Pressed Flowers 3D Embossing Folder.

I added the greeting from the Simple Greetings Dies, which I cut using the silver glitter paper from the Gilded Glitter Cardstock pack. I embossed the sentiment from the Thinking of You stamp set using Silver Embossing Powder, popping the pieces up with more foam tape. I finally added a few silver gems to tie it all together!

My final card today features the Spring Blossoms 3D embossing folder. I embossed the white panel, then added some die cuts from the All About You die set, cut using white cardstock and the platinum glitter paper from the Gilded Glitter Cardstock pack.

I heat embossed another sentiment strip from Thinking of You (that set is a workhorse!) using some platinum embossing powder, then popped up the die cuts with some more foam adhesive. I finished everything off with some coordinating metallic gems.

Well, that's all for my projects today! I hate the occasion that caused me to pull out my sympathy card supplies, but I'm glad to have a few on hand should the need arise. Thanks so much for reading, and have a marvelous day!