The Not-So-Fun Cards to Make

Sympathy cards are by far my least favorite kind of card to make.  They are hard in so many ways.  These were especially hard.  Today is the funeral of a sweet young mother who left her husband and two young daughters (4 1/2 and 20 months) behind.  We've been friends with the husband's family family since I was a baby.  We even went on a few family vacations together, and his mom watched me while my mom taught aerobics at a gym.

One of the reasons that made these cards difficult is that I can't just sit down and make a card.  I try to make my cards personal.  They are often symbolic of feelings I'm trying to convey, a reflection of what the recipient loves, or what reminds me of the recipient.  I chose a brighter color scheme for the first card because I was thinking of those sweet little girls.  It isn't masculine (though I considered making one that was knowing the father would be the one reading the card), but I intentionally used colors that I thought were happy and might bring some hope.  And the sentiment reflects the most hope and help I can give...prayers.  

The second card goes to the parents.  When they told my parents their daughter-in-law had passed away they mentioned they felt like they were trapped in a nightmare.  The roses seemed soft and soothing to me, which seemed like something they need.
I used the same technique with both cards, inking the leaves/branches and roses (even the sentiment on the second) with multiple inks and then swiping the aqua painter over them before stamping.  I loves softness and the variation that resulted.  I realize there are some shadows and graininess in these photos, but I was more concerned with actually mailing them than the photography aspect.  Most of all, I'm hoping that somehow these cards will bring a measure of peace and comfort to this understandably heart-broken family.
Prayers Card Supplies
Stamps: PTI (Birds & Blooms, Inside & Out: Well Wishes) 
Ink: Hero Arts (Green Hills), PTI (Harvest Gold, Hibiscus Burst, New Leaf), SSS (Fog), SU! (Lavendar Lace)
Other: SU! (Aqua Painter)

Sympathy Card Supplies
Stamps: PTI (Keep it Simple: Sympathy), WPlus9 (Mother's Day Bouquet)
Ink: PTI (Spring Moss), SU! (Blush Blossom, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink)
Other: SU! (Aqua Painter)