Sympathy cards and cards for those going through difficult times can be hard. If I need to make one such card, I will create a couple at the time - you never know when you will need them. My recommendation is to go with soft pastel or neutral colours and include something pretty like flowers or butterflies. A sentiment like "thinking of you" works well. With that combination, you can't go wrong.

For this "Wishing you brighter days" card I used the same watercolour background technique as my previously shared Beautiful You card, but this time I used soft, washed-out colours... Pool Party and Tip Top Taupe.

Stamps: Beautiful You (wood: 143004, clear: 143637). Ink: Tip Top Taupe (138325). Markers: Pool Party (Subtles: 131263), Tip Top Taupe (2015-2017 In Colors: 138333). Card/Paper: Pool Party (124391), Tip Top Taupe (138343), Vellum (106584), Watercolor Paper (122959). Accessories: Silver Metallic Thread (138402), Pearls Basic Jewels (119247). Tools: Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (143263), Magnetic Platform (190658), Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies (141489), Tree Builder Punch (138295), Clear Block E (118484), Stampin' Spritzer (126199), Heat Tool (129056), Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430). Other: Stapler.

Beautiful You Wood-Mount Stamp Set (143004) - $82.00
Beautiful You Clear-Mount Stamp Set (143637) - $59.00

Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies (141489) - $54.00

I love this combination of colours - pairing the clear, crisp Pool Party with earthy Tip Top Taupe. In case you missed it, Tip Top Taupe is one of the 2015-2017 In Colors that will be retiring at the end of this month. At the time of writing this, three of the 2015-2017 In Color stamp pads and the mix pack of card stock are still available (all with a 20% discount). Plus the 2015-2017 In Color Stampin' Write Markers have not sold out yet - great for this watercolouring technique.

ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT! The last day to order from the 2016-2017 Annual Catalogue and 2017 Occasions Catalogue is next Wednesday, 31 May.

Make sure you get your favourite products from the Retiring List before they're gone. All items are only available while stocks last.

• Click HERE to see what's on the Retiring List and what's sold out
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