Sad Time

It’s been a tough week. Betsy’s mom passed away last Tuesday after a brief bout with cancer. She was just 65. In April she went for a routine physical, having no symptoms, and within a few days had a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer. Sally was one of the most positive people ever, and always thinking about everyone else, right to the last minute. She will be missed so much.

I’ve made cards for Betsy, both of her sisters, and her dad. Paul’s card is a duplicate of one I’ve made before so I’m not posting it again. I tried a new watercolor techniques for two of the cards. I’ve always thought sympathy cards needed to be simple, and watercolor seems to fit the bill. 

Both of these cards were stamped with a light Distress Ink which fades into the background as you watercolor the separate petals. The key is never to watercolor two petals touching one another so you keep the definition of the flower. Although it takes some time and the outline of the stamps is still more visible than I think it should be, I’m happy with the first attempts.

The last card uses my favorite watercolor technique: a white embossed image that is then watercolored. I’ve learned to do it in a window so I can see the outline of the white embossing.

We made a quick trip to Chicago this week to bring Sarah, Caleb, and Sadie (their dog) back to Rochester. Adam is in Cuba on a mission trip. When he returns this weekend, he’ll drive to Rochester, spend a few days with us before they return to Chicago. We’re always glad to have lots of time with family, so this makes a sad time easier.