Make It Monday Challenge #16

This week's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday Challenge (details here) is to create a sympathy card. In an eerie coincidence, I just made this one. Eerie because I don't have anyone I've made it for, I just had a feeling that I should have one on hand. I hope it was for this challenge, and not because I will actually need to send it!

I tend to use natural colors and images when making sympathy cards. Most of the ones I've made in the last few years have been for men--I mean, to send to men, on the passing of their wives--so greens, browns, blues and the like are colors I reach for. For women, I also use greens and blues, but softer shades like Ocean Tides and Soft Stone, and I never use black for either. Smokey Shadow is gentler and more hopeful, I think. I also use PTI's add on sympathy set for the loss of pets regularly--that set is a perfect example of PTI's thoughtful and thorough inventory. I mean, who else would think of it?

For this card, I used Kraft, Fine Linen, Ripe Avocado and the patterned paper collection Pacific Vineyards along with the 2009 Anniversary stamp set, Round and Round--an excellent one for sympathy cards, especially when you need one quickly. I can tell that Royal Velvet will be added to my roster of colors for this type of card. I also used the sewing machine, leaving the thread ends long for a rustic look both inside and out. The twine hopefully added to the rustic feel too.

This is a card I would send to a man, or a family, but I could easily make the same exact card with different papers/color choices and a ribbon in place of the twine for a woman. These are cards no one wants to make, but nevertheless are needed. Thanks to PTI for the wonderful products that make this job easier.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Round & Round, With Sympathy (inside)
Paper: PTI--Kraft, Fine Linen, Ripe Avocado, Pacific Vineyards
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Versacolor--Grape, PTI--Ripe Avocado, Tea Dye Duo; E.P.--Filigree Clear
Misc.: Buttons--PTI Royal Velvet; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug; Twine--stash; Corner Chomper; Sewing Machine

Sympathy Card

Well, unfortunately, this card is for the husband of the woman I made the "With Appreciation" card for. Today was the date of her retirement party, and she died yesterday. Things went downhill fast. She sure is going to be missed. You know, I have made more sympathy cards in the last year than ever in my life. I'm just glad that stamp companies make sympathy sets. It makes a tough task much easier. I picked a funky time of day to photograph this card, it's a bit washed out, sorry about that. Maybe I should get one of those photo box thingees. Anyone have one? What do you think? If not, how do you get that soft light that doesn't make the cards look so stark? Any tips are appreciated!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Text Boxed, With Sympathy (inside sentiment), and Beyond Basic Borders.
Paper: PTI--Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, and Rustic White, stash.
Embossing Folder: PTI--Woodgrain.
Ink: Ranger--Peeled Paint, Versamark--Vintage Sepia, Versacolor--Sand Beige
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear and Peeled Paint.
Button: Stash
Twine: PTI Rustic White