The old tradition of sending a sympathy or condolence card following a death or a significant loss is a way of extending one's sympathies during a difficult time. This tradition can become even more meaningful by making a sympathy card or adding personal touches to a condolence card.
The act of creating a condolence card can also be helpful for the person making the card, who may be grieving the loss, or be at a loss to know what else to do. Keeping ones hands busy and doing something creative can help make it easier to cope with the loss.
There are many straightforward ways to easily create a custom card. Read on to discover several ideas.
Make a Custom Condolence Card
When sending a condolence card, sympathy note or condolence letter, taking a few extra minutes to create a card, even if it is a simple one, is another way of showing caring and concern during a time of loss.
Creating a card can be an effective way to more personally extend heartfelt condolences.
Supplies to Make a Customized Bereavement Card
A custom condolence card can be easily created from a few basic supplies with just a bit of creativity, or borrowing from the ideas suggested here. A personalized card can be made using a favorite photograph or image, stamps and other card-making supplies.
The basic supplies needed to create an original, handmade card:
- Photograph, image, colored paper, printed paper, drawing
- Adhesive dots or glue stick
- Blank card or paper (construction or card stock) to fold into black card
- Envelope
Optional extras include:
- Stamps and ink pad or markers
- Embellishments - stickers, brads, flowers, leaves, yarn, ribbons, embroidery floss
- Meaningful mementos
Specific directions for different cards are found below.
Custom Photograph Sympathy Card
To make a custom photograph card start with a favorite photo. Cut the photograph to size. Glue or attach the photograph to a blank card with adhesive dots or glue stick.
Recycled Image Condolence Card
Creating a recycled card is easy and inexpensive. Images can be taken from a magazine, a catalog, an old card, wrapping paper, tissue paper or other paper or cardboard sources and used to create a custom card.
To make a sympathy card using an image, find a favorite image. Cut the image to size. Glue or attach the image to a blank card (from more recycled paper) with adhesive dots or glue stick.
Stamped Bereavement Card
There are many sympathy stamps available for purchase. Those who like making cards may consider getting a stamp with some sympathy phrase, like "With Sympathy" or "In Deepest Sympathy" that can be used to quickly make a sympathy card when needed.
To make a stamped condolence card start with a blank card. Decide whether to stamp the card directly, or on a separate piece of paper that can be attached to the card. Carefully ink the stamp and stamp the card (or the paper). If needed cut the stamped paper to size and glue or attach the stamped paper to a blank card with adhesive dots or glue stick.
Embellished Sympathy Card
Depending on one's creativity and additional supplies, additional embellishments can be added to further customize the card. Embellishments such as stickers, brads, flowers, leaves, yarn, ribbons, embroidery floss and fabric can be used on their own, or to further customize a photograph or image card. Simply glue, tape or attach the embellishments to the card.
More suggestions for using embellishments to personalize a card, such as adding poems, quotes and bookmarks can be found in the related article on How to Personalize a Condolence Note or Sympathy Letter.
Paper Folding Condolence Cards
Another way to embellish or further customize the card is by using simple paper folding techniques. Custom sympathy cards can made by attaching specially folded papers, like tea bag folding or origami.
Customize a Sympathy Card with a Card Making Kit
For those who still cannot think of ways to customize a sympathy card, there are many card making kits readily available for purchase that come with pre-cut cards, images and embellishments.
Customizing a condolence card and taking the time to add a special touch to a condolence card before it is sent is a sincere way to extend sympathies following a loss. The extra few moments taken to personalize a sympathy card can convey your heartfelt sympathies more deeply.
Kirsti A. Dyer - Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, health educator, professor, author and lecturer.
