Hi friends! Kate, here. I recently needed a sympathy card and really struggled for an idea.  It's hard to lose someone special and even harder to decide on the perfect card to send. 

After I figured out what to make, I thought it might be helpful to come up with more ideas to share with you. Here are 5 ideas for sympathy cards that you can refer to when you are in need of that special card. 

1. Tone on Tone diecut

Take a simple diecut.  Diecut it several times, layer for dimension and add a simple sentiment.  Our Neenah Stardream Pearlescent cardstock is a beautiful choice, here in Coral. 

Tulip die from Simon Says Stamp

2. Highlighted Ink Blending

You can ink blend a shape (like the circle) on our Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock and stamp a simple image in black for a beautiful one layer card.  Add some splatters for interest.  Licorice Twist Bazzill Card Shoppe 100 lb makes for a sturdy card base.  Be sure to add an inner panel in white for writing your message. 

Stamps from Stampin' Up! (retired)

3. Full Ink Blended Background

Similar to the previous card, but with the entire panel ink blended.  Stamp your images in black.  Even if it is an outline image, you can color in the image with a black marker to make it appear as a shadow.  Neenah Solar White Classic Crest cardstock is super smooth and perfect for ink blending.

Stamp from Stampin' Up! (retired)

Distress Oxide Inks:  Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Picked Raspberry, Chipped Sapphire

4. Black and White Image

Use a stencil (or painter's tape) to mask off a rectangle on our Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock.  Ink blend inside the shape (here, slightly darker toward the bottom).  Pop up your stamped image and add a sentiment strip and this simple card is done.

Stamp set from Concord and 9th

Sentiment Strip from Taylored Expressions

5. Heat Embossing on Dark Cardstock

Select a simple outline image and emboss in white on colored cardstock (darker shades work best).  The neutral shade of Dark Kraft Bazzill Smoothies makes the white "pop" on the paper.  For some added interest, use rectangle infinity dies to remove a thin rectangle from the panel. 

Stamps from Concord and 9th

Rectangle dies from Hero Arts

Sentiment from PaperTreyInk

Another great technique for Sympathy cards (bleaching) can be found here:

https://www.12x12cardstock.shop/blogs/news/bleach-stamping-technique-for-cards

Pin or bookmark this post so you have it when you need it! 

-Kate