Wonderful As You For Retirement or Sympathy

Many people find it hard to make sympathy cards and I used to be one of them. But over the past year or so I realised that for me the solution lies in keeping everything simple. So that means elegant, often neutral backgrounds, with minimal embellishments or layers. The sentiment is really the focal point, and for today’s card I found what I needed in the Wonderful As You Stamp Set.

"It's hard to say goodbye" sympathy or retirement card created using the Wonderful As You Stamp Set from Stampin' Up! #papercraftwithme

WELL SUITED BACKGROUND

I began the project by choosing the background paper. In fact I found two that I liked in the Well Suited 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack. Then from this I settled on Basic Black, Basic Gray and Whisper White for my overall colour scheme.

First, using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored some Basic Black Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create a card base.

From the pinstriped DSP I cut a 2″ x 5-1/2″ piece, and using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed it down the right-hand edge on the front of the card base.

Next I cut a 2″ x 5-1/2″ piece of the grey paisley pattern DSP. Then using liquid glue I attached it to the front of the card base up against the crease. Now I had a 1/4″ black strip running perfectly down the centre of the card without any fussing.

From the paisley patterned paper I then cut a 2-1/4″ x 6″ piece and glued that to the flap of a Whisper White Medium Envelope. Then using Paper Snips I trimmed off the excess following the edge of the flap as guide.

Finally I cut a 3/4″ x 5-1/4″ strip of the paisley DSP and glued that down the right-hand edge of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Whisper White Card. Then I glued a 1/4″ x 5-1/4″ strip of Basic Black Card along the left edge of the DSP to mimic the strip on the front of the card.

WONDERFUL AS YOU

In no time at all I was ready for the sentiments from the Wonderful As You Stamp Set.

First on the prepared Whisper White layer I stamped “Just know that I’m here for you” using Basic Gray ink. Then I fixed the completed layer on the inside of the card base.

For my main sentiment I chose “It’s hard to say goodbye”. Using Basic Gray ink again I stamped this onto a 1-5/8″ x 2-5/8″ piece of Whisper White Card.

Sticking with my original colour palette I glued the sentiment onto a 1-3/4″ x 2-3/4″ layer of Basic Gray Card. Then I mounted the layers onto a 1-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ piece of Basic Black Card. I completed the sentiment by adding three self-adhesive Matte Black Dots.

Finally, using Stampin’ Dimensionals I fixed the assembled sentiment to the card front and my simple sympathy card was done.

I’m very happy with how this project turned out. The patterned paper adds interest without distracting from the sentiment, while the matte black dots are understated and reflect the tone of the card. What do you think?

For more projects using the Wonderful As You Stamp Set see these earlier blog posts: