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Okay, time for some honest and sincere chat. I make cards. I love to do it, find it therapuetic (sp.) and usually get my cup full of compliments. Is it okay to make sympathy cards? Is it tactful to send homemade sympathy cards?
Absolutely. Search the gallery - you'll see many beautiful samples. I think people appreciate your time and thought in making a card during their time of grief.
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I also think they are very thoughtful. I keep telling myself that I need to do some up ahead of time to have on hand. Sometimes I end up getting a store-bought one because I'm either not home or just not feeling up to being creative at the time when I need one. The person that recieves the card doesn't know that I feel bad for not creating one just for them but I always feel funny about giving a store-bought card. Make sense?
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I would never think otherwise....very appropriate! I started making simple sympathy cards.....CAS to be sure. Just a long stemmed flower colored with markers for different hues and stamped with no layers and also with a ribbon tied on...easy and looks nice. I've missed sending some sympathy because I didn't have time to make one and went to this type of card so I would always have one.
Thank you ladies....I uploaded an example of the sympathy cards I made (neeser73) The man who passed, my father's brother, has a wife, two grown sons and seven siblings, so I made 10, but they are all similar, just have different verses that I thought would fit each individual.
Neeser, I agree with everyone else - handmade sympathy cards are absolutely acceptable to send! It also shows that you took the time to make sympathy cards for these people and that will say a lot to them also in their time of need. I am going to look at your card now. You sound like a very thoughtful person. Oh - I also try to have a few sympathy cards on hand too (made ahead of time and held in my stash) because most of the time when someone dies, I dont feel like making a sympathy card then because I feel so down and sad ... but I have one handy.
My husband sends out about one sympathy card per week and he feels good sending something made with love. (Plus he doesn't grouse so much about stamping money -- he needs me!)
Mary Beth
I find a hand-made sympathy card really makes the recipient feel like you are thinking of them. Most I've sent cards to were really touched and made a point to mention their appreciation. I have a few in my gallery if you want some ideas.
I feel you take the time and effort to send a handmade card for a sympathy does two things - it makes your heart feel good to reach out and two) the recipients will feel like you are empathizing with them in their loss since you took the time to make one
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I had a woman who, by her own admission, doesn't "get" why I make cards tell me that the only sympathy card she was keeping from when her dad died was mine as it was "so beautiful". I was nervous to send her a handmade card, but she said it made her feel good that I took the time to make something special for her father whom I didn't even know.
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I think it is very appropriate. Anyone can go to the store and buy a card and sign it and send it off. Takes all of 10 minutes. But to spend some time and put the effort into making a one of a kind card, I think, means a whole lot more. You put your heart into it which you can't always say about a store bought card - which nothing wrong with a store bought card in a pinch, done it many times myself.
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Not only is it appropriate to send a homemade sympathy card, a lot of people are more comforted by something someone has made.
I'm getting ready to start making a bunch of 'thank you for your act of kindness' cards to use when my mom passes away, which my brothers and I expect to be any day now. :(
I hate the ones that the funeral home gives you and so I'm making the ones for our family to use--much more personal, I think.
Okay, time for some honest and sincere chat. I make cards. I love to do it, find it therapuetic (sp.) and usually get my cup full of compliments. Is it okay to make sympathy cards? Is it tactful to send homemade sympathy cards?
I think it's better to send a homemade sympathy card. Think about it. You took the time to make a card in honor of someone very important to you and to the recipient. I think it's even more heartfelt that way.
When my Dad passed away in January, I got many, many cards, all of which I treasured but I saved the handmade ones because they are extra special to me.
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I feel handmade sympathy cards show how much you care abouth the person who died and their loved ones. Also can be therapeutic for myself if the person was well known to me. I think of that person as I make the card - part of me goes into that card. I always say I'm going to make some ahead but I end up making each card (sympathy, birthdays, etc.) for each individual.
I kept the handmade ones when my dad passed away. They were that special to me!
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I hate purchasing sympathy cards - it seems like it's hard to find one in the store that conveys the message I'm looking for, so I prefer making them and then can personalize it.
neeser73's Gallery at Splitcoaststampers if I click on my name, it goes to my gallery, and my pc shows the above address....the first three are titled sympathy. If this doesn't work, someone will have to tell me what I am doing wrong. Thanks again to all of you for posting. I searched sympathy in the gallery and found some beautiful cards. Mine are very simple, with a tailored quote for each recipient. I had made them the day Uncle Ray passed, but someone close to me suggested it might be tacky to send a homemade card...I am sending my handmade and heartfelt cards, thanks to all of your kind responses.
I also think making a sympathy card is viewed as a thoughtful act by the family of the bereaved. It took me awhile to understand this, because most of my cards have layers, embellishments, etc. and didn't seem fitting. While I'm making the cards, I use the time to pray for the family as well. So, I'd like to think they are a bit more special because of that.
I wanted to add to this post, better late than never. I make cards and my sister puts them on her desk at work and sells them - I can't keep her stocked fast enough. My sympathy cards are always the first to go. My mom always keeps a stash of my cards for her to use, and she is always telling me she needs more sympathy. I have cased so many ideas from the fantastic SCS'rs, and have been told so many times that the thoughtfullness of making a card and sending it to them at such a hard time in their life meant so much.
My husband sends out about one sympathy card per week and he feels good sending something made with love. (Plus he doesn't grouse so much about stamping money -- he needs me!)
Mary Beth
Same situation here, though we have been averaging about 3 sympathies a week. :( The handmade cards definitely take more time, but I make the "outsides" ahead of time so thatall that needs to be done is add a separate sheet inside with the printed verse and handwritten note.
We often hear back from folks how much they appreciated the beautiful card and kind words....we live in a world of text-messaging and e-mails which are rather impersonal and fleeting, so a handmade card with a written note will be treasured by someone who is grieving because it is concrete proof that someone is sharing in their loss. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Absolutely it is appropriate and heartfelt to make a sympathy card, for all the above reasons. And I also make groups of thank yous for others to use for their personal needs after the funeral. People are always grateful and make special mention of the handmade cards.
Handmade Sympathy Cards?
