I am blessed to have worked for Cox Enterprises for 11-1/2 years. It’s an amazing company, and I love my job. People tend to come to Cox and stay there until they retire. If it seems I’ve made a lot of “going away” cards for coworkers in my department lately, then you are paying attention. They aren’t retiring, but they’re also not leaving the company – they are just taking jobs outside our department.
When I heard Cathy was leaving, I knew her card had to be special. Cathy has been a great leader and role model. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know her over the past years. You looked ahead already, so you won’t be surprised when I tell you I did a lot of sponging on this 6″x6″ card. You were so proud of me for going vintage with the telephone box earlier this week, so I had to repeat that behavior in hopes of similar positive reinforcement. 🙂 
Tips, tricks and reminders:
- Emboss resist. I’ve become really good friends with Ann Shack over the past couple of months. Our styles are completely different (neither is good or bad – just different). This technique is an homage to Ann who would have beautifully “dirtied” up this card with torn edges and browns. I kept it a bit cleaner – fearful of going too far. I clear embossed the poppies on Very Vanilla card stock and then (starting at the center each time) sponged toward the edges. I then wiped over the embossed image to remove the excess ink. What a beautiful look! Thanks for the inspiration, Ann!
- Thin layers. I love this large image of the poppies. I wanted to do it justice by giving it the space it deserves. As a result, I trimmed the Early Espresso border to 1/8″ all the way around. The thin layers of Crumb Cake and Early Espresso are beautiful but don’t take away from the image at the center of the card.
- Don’t forget your Embossing Buddy! Rub the Embossing Buddy over the paper before you emboss. It removes the static and reduces the moisture from your card stock so that you can get a good, clean embossed image.
Stamp sets: Pleasant Poppies, Curly Cutes Papers: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla Inks: Calypso Coral, Early Espresso Accessories: Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Brian
Today’s the day! The 2013 Spring Catalog is live! Check it out here: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampwithbrian/catalogs. Lots of great things! Before you head over to my demo site to place your order, remember what I said yesterday – if you can wait until January 22, you can maximize your order during Sale-a-Bration. Just a friendly tip from your favorite demonstrator! 🙂
Come Back Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing some exclusive information with you about the new catalog. You won’t find this list anywhere else. Tomorrow I’ll be sharing BRIAN’S FIVE MOST FAVORITE ITEMS IN THE 2013 SPRING CATALOG, so please check back!
Busted. You know me too well, I looked ahead! Lovely card and your “tip” on taking your color from the center repeatedly makes for such pretty shading! Why didn’t anyone teach me that? Oh yeah, I’m on my own. The School of Hard Knocks maybe you’ve heard of it! A beautiful card for Cathy I’ll let you know when I retire!!
Positive Reinforcement!! Beautiful! Great tip on using a thin layer to keep the focal point popping!
A pretty card that I`m sure will be loved…Congratulations Cathy ! Thank you ,Brian for the shading info…I have never tried that before. I would like for you to do a video on embossing at some point . Yes, I know how but….sometimes it just doesn`t pop like it should … and I am sure you have some wizardly tips and techniques that would be so helpful to some of us that could use a refresher course. Please schedule this in your free time (tee hee) ….btw , I am enjoying my new catty …thank you for mailing it to me .
I must have been one of those that were sitting in the class all focused on the teacher while the others are flinging paper airplanes in the air……I didn’t look ahead! (insert cheesy smile here!) Your congrats card really pops and I love love love the thin border of Early Espresso. Fabulous card Brian. Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting card, the sponging although a vintage play seems to keep things soft, so how interesting is that? I am glad you didin’t rough it up although I think Ann’s cards are beauties too.
Beautiful card, Brian. I love this stamp, it’s so detailed and with this technique, looks amaizing in any color. It’s a bit hard for me to sponge the color evenly, so I guess I need to practice more. Congratulations Cathy on your retirement. Getting this card personally and beautifully made by our gracious host has to be one of the best things ever.!!
Lovely and interesting color and stamp combo. Calypso coral is one that is not used (by me) often enough. I too appreciate your tip on sponging from center out! Nice effect!
Beautiful card!
I like the clean and simple style and have tried forcing myself to go outside the box but am never sarisfied with the result. This card fits my style perfectly. Simple lines with a burst of brilliant color. Great card Brian!
Love your sponging, Brian! You did an awesome job with this gorgeous card! Cathy will be so elated to receive it! Congrats to you, Cathy, by the way!
Hmmm…videos on techniques…great idea! I would love to see some more, Brian!
I – must – wait – until – January – 22nd!! Hard to do, but I can do it…LOL!
L8ter, g8ter!
Sharon
Hey Sharon….I am right there with you but, I have been referred to SUOA….Stampin` Up Orderers Anonymous …. so I am trying to abstain and wait… there are some neat new things calling my name tho !!! I want to see what your faves are Brian….I love the Hound`s Tooth stamp…I have one but it`s smaller than that …and then there is…never mind I will wait and see what you come up with….hey wouldn`t be fun for the regular bloggers to put down the things they want to get?? Yes!!!! Yes!!!!
That’s tomorrow, Sonny! 🙂 Make your list! I’ve got my list, and I want to hear yours…tomorrow. 🙂 You are always one step ahead.
Beautiful Card! Great job on the sponging! I think it is perfect just the way it is!! Can’t wait to see your list tomorrow and compare it to mine!!
BTW, I need a referral to SUOA…LOL
You didn’t get me today! I usually do scroll down to see the picture, but this time I didn’t! Haha! Take that you… you… wait. Never mind. Beautiful card. I’m going to the States for a belated Christmas/birthday vacation next week so now I’m inspired to make a Christmas card using this technique. Only, I don’t have clear embossing powder, I just have white. Hopefully it’ll turn out as beautiful as yours!
I made the card and it turned out ok. I couldn’t get all the ink off the embossed image, though. Perhaps that’s the benefit of using the clear instead of white powder.
Beautiful effect with the heat embossed flower images. Your sponging is marvelous – good observation of Ann Schach’s sponging methodology. Lovely card!
Cathy has to absolutely LOVE this card…your sponging is fabulous and reminds me of going to the City of Oz….you rocked this card! And I had to retire this last January, before we met….as a matter of fact, it will be a year on Monday that I’ve been officially retired…and I just love it! You would have been one person that I would have hated to leave behind….but then we are just starting our relationship….LOL!!!! Thank you Brian, always appreciate your tips and tricks and try to use them in my own card making! Oh yes, I went to my up-up line’s today with my up-line and got to use my wonderful new Trimmer….cuts sooo beautifully! Just had to share…
simply gorgeous!
Beautiful card. Nice use of this stamp!