Deepest Sympathy

Today I have 3 sympathy cards.  (I've been needing too many of these lately!)  This first one started with some old pre-printed cards from HOTP that I used as patterned paper.  The decorative elements are stamped with black ink (Onyx Versa Fine) and clear embossing powder - then colored with distress inks or markers.  Most were matted with black paper.  Here are the stamps/dies used:

• Sentiment on front of card - HOTP stamp from "Heartfelt Greetings" set, Die from their "9 Tiny Tags and Little Labels" die set.
• Focal on card front: JustRite stamp from "With Sympathy" set, die is Spellbinders "Decorative Labels One"

For the inside of the card:

• Stamps are from JustRite "With Sympathy" set - die is matching "Nested Oval Medallion" die.

Card #2:

This next card started with a background created using black card stock and some metallic gelatos - using the "baby wipe" technique (scribble gelatos on & blend with baby wipe).  The background was embossed with Spellbinders 3D "Roman Romance" - then highlighted with silver ink & silver embossing powder.  The sentiment was stamped and embossed with the same ink/embossing powder, using a home-made stamp made from a HOTP design.   This was cut with Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Oval die (parts that were on the outside of the silver edge were inked & embossed to match).  This was matted on a piece of purple suede paper (HOTP).

Inside:

Inside we have another homemade sentiment stamp - created the same way as the one on the front.  This one was matted on a piece of orchid paper & then framed with the leftover piece of purple suede paper.  I added a couple of scripture sentiments from JustRite stamp sets ("With Sympathy" and "Cast All Your Cares").


Card #3:

This last card started with a background that was colored with distress oxide inks.  It was embossed with a Spellbinder's M-Bossability folder ("Venetian") and the embossing was highlighted with darker ink.  After inking the edges and adding a ribbon border (2 different ribbons from my stash), I glued it to the card front.  Sympathy die cut sentiment was from ODBD "with Sympathy" set of stamps & dies" (now Divinity Designs), as was the small stamp used on the tag.  The small "with" was from Rosa "Love Words" die set.   Die for tag was from a Sizzix set (Bonjour Paris).  Mats for die cut words were traced from the die & fussy cut.

On the inside are more stamps from the JustRite and ODBD sets.