Embossing fiend - First of my USE IT UP challenge

I finally sat down and made some cards today. My Dad needed a sympathy card and I offered to make him one.

I'm giving myself a challenge - anyone wanna join me? USE up WHAT YOU HAVE!!! Its stuff I obviously liked enough to buy - stop hoarding - use it - enjoy it - make some space for when you find new stuff you gotta have.

Lately I've really been enjoying heat embossing and decideed to start with that today. It can add such a nice touch to a card. Here is an example of the same stamp and clear embossing powder done on 3 different colors of cardstock. I'm thinking I may make a few of these up ahead for those times when I need a fast card - I'll be partly started.

I used the damask stamp from SU! Friends 24-7. If usage is any indicator this is my favorite stamp - it sure is my "go to" stamp! I used versamark ink and clear embossing powder.

This is on the retired SU! "in color" Soft Sky paper

This is on the retired SU! "in color" River Rock

Sorry this card is so blurry - I'm too lazy to go down and retake it LOL but you can see its on SU! night of navy cardstock.

You know what is so funny - I really am OPPOSED to the idea of the SU! In Colors - I despise the idea of "in colors" - the idea of retiring papers/colors - what if you fall in love with the color (Like I did with Pink Piroquette) and then you can't get it ANY MORE!!!!!! - so I refused - for the most part - to get the in colors - except for these 3 - soft sky, river rock and pink piroquette.

So in the spirit of USE IT UP - I used 2 of the retired incolors - but I couldn't , just couldn't touch the pink piroquette yet LOL
Here is a card using the river rock damask background - I also used some river rock patterned designer paper, brown satin ribbon, the new SU! bird punch, SU! tope note die and a nesties tag die. The sentiment is from the SU! Friends 24-7 set stamped with chocolate brown SU! craft ink and clear embossed.

LESSON LEARNED: when you practice on your scratch paper to see how the craft ink will look - move the scratch paper before you accidentally get it on the top note part of your card and you have to make sure to cover it when you put on the tag and ribbon

Finally - here is the sympathy card I made for my Dad. I really like this one!

(Disregard the date - somehow my camera reset itself )

jeez I sure talked alot today!!

Thanks for stopping by! Andrea