Hi everyone! Sympathy cards are always the most challenging for me to create. There’s so much emotion tied into each one, and I find myself second-guessing every choice (even more than usual) — the colours, the sentiment, the overall feel. I want it to be comforting, gentle, appropriate… and sometimes, there are no words that feel right.
Is It Too Bright?
For this card, I used the Thoughtful Expressions stamp set (and coordinating die set) by Stampin’ Up!©. The sentiment “Sometimes there are no words” really spoke to me — it perfectly captures the feeling of helplessness that may come with grief.
When it came to colouring, I ended up creating quite a bright card. And of course, I questioned it — was it too bright for a sympathy card? In the end, I hoped the vibrant colours might offer a small bit of cheer or comfort to the recipient during a difficult time.
Personalising the Card
I chose to use orange as the dominant colour because I think it might be the favourite colour of the recipient. It’s bold and warm, and while it might not be a typical colour for this kind of card, it felt meaningful and personal — and that’s what matters most.
Here’s the card…
Colour Combinations…
As part of my process, I created additional colour combination sheets using my Colouring Combinations Printable (which you can find in my Ko-fi store). I enjoy making these — they’re such a helpful way to remember the colour combinations you’ve spent time carefully choosing. These sheets don’t have to be perfect; they’re just guides. In fact, the paper I use for them isn’t isn’t premium alcohol marker paper — it’s not as smooth or blendable — but it’s much more affordable and works well enough for swatching.
This card might not be a traditional sympathy card, but it was created with intention and care. In times of loss, sometimes words fall short — but hopefully, a handmade card like this can still offer a small measure of comfort.
Do you like to pre-prepare a lot of cards, such as Sympathy cards, or do you make them when you need them? Do you try to personalise them for each recipient?
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a great day!
Supplies
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