A Loss So Big

 

If I were to picture the "perfect" sympathy card, this would not be it. I might go for something much simpler, less fussy, more somber, understated. Today, though, while I'm mourning a devastating loss in my extended family, I'm also celebrating a love story. A love story cut far, far too short, but one that many never find in a lifetime. And so I chose a more romantic assortment of florals and lace. I used the time making this card to reflect and remember, to sorrow and grieve, to lift up and love. This card, and the words inside, are all I can give my dear cousin right now; you can be sure I poured myself into them.

The papers are from the Restoration line by Crate Paper. The sentiment, from JustRite's Sympathy Nested Sentiments & Verse set, has been stamped onto one of the Crate Paper patterns. The pattern is actually playing cards. I stamped on the Ace of Hearts playing card, then die-cut with a Spellbinders Labels Fourteen Nestabilities die so that all you see left is the red heart outline from the center of the playing card. The ivory fleur de lis accent at the bottom of the sentiment panel is from the Fleur de Lis Doily Accents Shapeabilities. I topped that with a fabric mini rose that I trimmed from some Small Roses Organza Ribbon by Maya Road. The decorative borders along the top and bottom of the blue and green horizontal background panel were die-cut with one of the Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two dies.

The white paper rose that tops the crinkled seam binding is a Kaisercraft Paper Bloom.

Many have asked how I mail bulky cards such as this one. I have a bunch of Crystal Clear Boxes from clearbags.com that are leftovers from selling greeting card sets at craft fairs many years ago. The boxes are a nice, heavy, durable material with no cloudiness whatsoever. Usually the 1/4"-thick boxes are perfect. For really bulky cards, I'll use a 1/2"-thick box. Clearbags.com has pretty much any size you might need. For mailing, I usually leave the box plain, slide the whole thing into a padded mailer, and count on a rate somewhere in the $1-$1.75-ish range. If I'm hand-delivering, I'll use these same boxes and just dress them up with some ribbon and a tag or other embellishment. Hope that helps!

Thanks for stopping by today,




Stamps: Sympathy Nested Sentiments & Verse (JustRite)
Paper: Papertrey Rustic Cream card stock, Crate Paper Restoration collection
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Inks
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels Fourteen Nestabilities, Fleur de Lis Doily Accents Shapeabilities, and Fancy Tags Two, Maya Road Mini Roses Organza ribbon, May Arts crochet trim, crinkled seam binding, Kaisercraft Paper Blooms, sanding block, foam adhesive, hot glue, sewing machine
Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"