Recently I needed sympathy cards.  I try to have one or two on hand, but I much prefer making just the right card.  It allows me to create something just for the person who has lost a loved one, and I can also spend some time thinking about them and praying for them as they grieve.

These cards were made for young adults – a brother and sister who lost their dad.  This is the card I made for the young woman:

• Simply Soft and Faith in Nature stamp sets (both hostess sets)
• Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Naturals White card stock
• Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy Classic ink pads
• Baja Breeze seam binding

I considered adding pearls and other embellishments, but ended up rejecting all of that for the simplicity of the flowers.  I folded the seam binding in half – it’s so soft that it takes that treatment easily and can still be mailed without extra postage.

Lately, cards that can be mailed without extra postage have become more of a focus for me.  I think twice before adding buttons, big brads and other heavy bling.  I LOVE those embellishments – don’t get me wrong – but I mail a lot of cards and those extras create headaches at the post office.  I’m keeping the 3-D goodies for hand-delivered cards, and there are plenty of those, too.

Here’s the companion card for the young man:

• Medallion and Thoughts and Prayers stamp sets
• Old Olive and Naturals White card stock
• Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy Classic ink pads
• 1/2 and 1 3/4 inch circle punches
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• Crystal Effects

The “brad” in the center is nothing more than a circle of cardstock covered with Crystal Effects, and I left off that girly-frou-frou ribbon stuff.

Although these cards are similar in color and general style, the fact that they coordinate was more for my benefit than that of my young friends.  As I thought of the two of them,  putting these complimentary cards together gave me a little comfort.  I hope it did the same for them.