a difficult sympathy card

Many of you who are regular readers of my blog saw this post last month, about the tragic loss of my friend Chris Hertel. The card I'm sharing today is the sympathy card that I sent to Chris' family. It was probably the most difficult card I've ever had to make, both because I was unspeakably sad at the need for it, and also because I so wanted it to be absolutely perfect.

I cut the strip from Vintage Cream with a Half and Half die, and then used PTI's Peaceful Garden on the focal point. I love the effect of layering the different images in a very light brown, and then adding the single foliage image in Terracotta Tile, as well as the little butterfly from Postmarks. The sentiment is a combination of Verve's Kind Words and PTI's Round and Round (3rd anniversary set).

I added a strip of Damask Designs paper and a Leafy Vine die-cut border, after using the Woodgrain Impression Plate on the Kraft panel. The three gems are colored with a Copic to match the Spring Rain card base.

I also finished the inside, to echo the front design:

Although this was a heartbreaking card to make, I found solace in thinking, "I think Chris would like this". I hope so. I miss her, and to her family - you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers each day.