Sympathy in Saffron

Sympathy cards are so hard to make. It doesn't matter if I am very close to the one who is grieving or simply an acquaintance, it just hurts my heart knowing that I'm making a card because someone has experienced a loss.
However, having recently been the recipient of many Sympathy cards, I know how important they are to make and send. Each time I opened an envelope, I felt the love, care and compassion inside spill out and wash over me. It was like getting hugs from all those friends as they whispered in my ear that they hurt for me and were praying for me. What a blessing to know by virtue of a simple card that I was loved.

Last week, I got word that one of my Stampin' Fools group - Pam - had lost her Mother. I wanted to create something lovely for her to let her know that I cared so I sat down and made this card:

If you read my blog yesterday, it is a similar card to the ones I created for my Mom and I to send out as Thank You's to our friends, but actually this card came first.

I used the beautiful new Fabulous Florets stamp set from the Summer Mini and stamped the main image with So Saffron onto Very Vanilla cardstock. The greeting is stamped with Perfect Plum ink and comes from the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set. I sponged the edges after punching it out with the Large Oval Punch. It's adhered to a piece of Perfect Plum punched out with the Scalloped Oval Punch. It's popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals for emphasis.

I used the Color Spritzer Tool to add a subtle background of Perfect Plum mist and lastly, tied a piece of Very Vanilla Seam Binding around the front. The last little touch is a vintage safety pin from the Vintage Trinkets pack.

Here is the inside view:

Very simple stamping that echoes the card front.

If you were one of the many who mailed me a card from the heart, I thank you from the bottom of mine. You will never know how much it truly meant to me to receive your love and care in the mailbox each day. As card makers, I know we wonder sometimes if our efforts and artwork are really appreciated by the recipient. I can tell you from my perspective, it's one of the greatest gifts you can give because it's a piece of yourself and a gift of your time, our most precious commodity.

Love and hugs to you today!
~~Robin