• Deepest Sympathy

Deepest Sympathy

Inside detail shown above.

Sympathy cards are always a challenge for me to create; therefore, I am always looking for great samples to help me in my card making. Jennie's beautifully created Deepest Sympathy card is one of those that I will refer to often when I need to reach for inspiration.

Jennie's Deepest Sympathy card had a mix of subtle cream and black combined with a trendy but understated red-and-cream chevron printed paper. I like how Jennie used the same chevron print to paper-piece the flower vase as she did for her background paper. This keeps the card from getting too busy but keeps it interesting. She also repeats the black accents in her stamped image, matted frame and ribbon choice. It's a perfect example of a well-put-together card design.

Design by Jennie Harper

Materials

• Cardstock: ivory, black
• 6 x 6-inch Stella Rose Gertie paper pad
• Stamp sets: Vogue Vases, All Occasion Tags
• Dye ink pads: light brown distress, black
• 12 inches 5/8-inch-wide black/white stitched ribbon
• Punches: 1 3/4 x 7/8-inch large oval, scallop edge
• Labels Ten die templates (#S5-022)
• Die-cutting machine
• Adhesive foam dots
• Double-sided tape

Form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2-inch card from ivory cardstock.

Cut a 4 x 5 1/4-inch piece of red chevron paper. Using black ink, stamp "DEEPEST SYMPATHY" onto an ivory piece of cardstock. Punch an oval around sentiment. Adhere to red chevron panel as shown. Trim oval to align with edge of panel. Adhere to card front.

Wrap ribbon around center of card front. Tie knot on right side; V-notch ends.

Stamp plant onto ivory cardstock with black ink. Using 3 1/2 x 2 1/4-inch Labels Ten die template, die-cut and emboss a label around image. Leaving die template in place, ink front of die cut light brown; remove die template.

Using 4 1/8 x 2 3/4-inch Labels Ten die template, die-cut and emboss a label from black cardstock. Layer and adhere die cuts together. Attach to card front using foam dots.

Stamp vase onto red chevron paper with black ink. Cut out vase. Attach to card front as shown using foam dots.

Decorate inside of card using printed paper, stamps and scallop edge punch as desired.

Sources: Cardstock and stamp sets from Gina K. Designs; paper pad from My Mind's Eye; distress ink pad from Ranger Industries Inc.; punches from Stampin' Up!; die templates from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts; Scor-Tape from Scor-Pal Products.

Copyright © May 2012 CardMaker magazine. All rights reserved.