Magnificent Branch Sympathy Card

One of my friends in the crafting community recently lost her mother-in-law, and I wanted to send a sympathy card to her and her husband. I created this card during a practice session for another friend's upcoming Leve 3 Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP) workshop. Kim (the friend leading the practice session over Zoom) created a card design using Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Magnificent Branch set, and I pulled that set out and used the stamp, coodinating stencil set, and coordinating die to create this card inspired by her class.

I first stamped the image in my Stampwheel 2.0 and left the stamp on the flip plate so I could restamp the image after ink blending it. Then I chose inks from Altenew's Warm & Cozy ink collection along with Silverstone and Moss inks for the leaves and Brambleberry for the purple flower center on the flower at the bottom left side of the card. I used inks from Delectable Desserts ink collection for the branch. 

After ink blending the image, I put it back in the Stampwheel 2.0 and restamped it so the lines were nice and crisp again. Then I die cut it. I wanted to use colors in Altenew's October Inspiration Challenge, so I chose purple cardstock for the background panel and used a matching purple Ohuhu alcohol ink marker to color the white edges of the die cut stamped image. 

To create my layers, I trimmed 2 pieces of purple cardstock and one of white cardstock. The purple layers were: 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 and 4 by 5 1/4. I added Orange Cream ink to the edges of the white panel I had trimmed to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches and adhered it to the large purple panel. I adhered that to a 5 by 7 card base. Then I adhered the Magnificent Branch image to the smaller purple panel and trimmed off the edges. I added back the bits I had trimmed off to fill up the space a little more (and so they weren't wasted). 

For the sentiment, I used the November 2026 Craft-Your-Life: Wildflower Tufts project kit and add-on dies. That set is available to subscribers now and will be available on the website to non-subscribers in early November. It's a beautiful kit with sympathy-themed sentiments I think will be a great addition to my stash. I stamped the sentiment and die cut it and then die cut several more to stack behind the sentiment for dimension. I added the sentiment to the smaller purple panel, adhered that panel to the layers already on the card base and then finished off the card with 6 enamel dots from Altenew's Warm & Cozy Enamel Dot collection.

If you're interested in doing some crafty shopping at Altenew, I'd be so grateful if you used my affiliate link here: Carrie's Altenew Link.  I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Altenew carries many wonderful craft products and has a great weekly sales section if you are looking for bargain prices to grow your Altenew collection. 

Inside the card:

 Challenges I'm entering:

October 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: ends at the end of the month

Creative Moments: Autumn Colors (1/3; ends 10/12/26)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: ATG with stencils with option of Orange (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

little red wagon: Autumn Colors (2/3; ends 10/7/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 10/12/26)

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: ATG (2/2; ends 10/24/26)

The Neglected Stuff Challenge: ATG with neglected items from your stash (I used a stamp set I hadn't used in over a year) (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of Spotlight technique (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of Think Pink (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

We Love Stamping: Shades of Autumn (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends 10/27/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (2/5; ends 10/9/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends 10/9/26)

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (2/5; ends at the end of the month)

I'd like to leave a blessing for all the lovely visitors to my blog: 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:22-26