adventure with retired products

When I make cards for display at stamping events, I use current products.  Over the weekend I needed two cards for immediate use, and my retired designer series papers fit the requirements better.  Tom requested a card for a young man who likes dogs and cats, and I have one of each in my retired (and available for sale, if you're interested) stamp sets.  I needed something masculine, or at least not flowery, and thought autumn colors would be nice - this is what came together from what I found:

stamp sets - D is for Dog (retired), Sincere Salutations (retired); ink - Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie; card stock - So Saffron, Very Vanilla; designer series paper - Welcome Neighbor (retired); punches - 1-3/8" square, Itty Bitty Shapes; Big Shot with Tasteful Trim; Bitty Buttons, Stampin' Dimensionals

The sketch, from Deconstructing Jen, is another one that I think is incredibly versatile, so you might be seeing it again.  I do have some stamping events scheduled for this week...

I have a stepson whose birthday is on the 31st, and none of the cards in my supply seemed right.  That's why I made the card at the end of this post last week, but it wasn't right, either.  I browsed through my Pinterest boards and decided this one would be perfect, so here's my version:

stamp sets - Teeny Tiny Wishes, Up Up and Away; ink - Soft Suede; card stock - Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, textured Very Vanilla (retired); designer series paper - Well Worn (retired); punches - 2-1/2" circle, Modern Label, Word Window; Antique Brad, hemp twine (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals, mini glue dots, stamping sponge

 

This one makes me smile :)  I've said before, I'm pretty partial to the Up, Up, and Away stamp set, but this time I think it's really the Well Worn paper and the sponging that really *make* this card.  While I was admiring the effect of the sponging, it occurred to me that sponging might improve this card:

stamp sets - Gently Falling, Trust God; ink - Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Soft Suede; card stock - Crumb Cake, Soft Suede; Big Shot with Autumn Accents die and premium crease pad

I made it a couple of weeks ago as a sample for a workshop card, but I wasn't satisfied with the results of the  baby wipe ink pad technique (the So Saffron was too pale), and there were just too many steps involved to work for a group, so I hung it up on the sample display and found something else for the workshop.  The more I looked at it, the less I liked it. Until I thought of sponging:

Oh, and I also realized it needed an additional layer, which I cut out of Pumpkin Pie using the Adorning Accents edgelit.  Much better!  I kind of wish I'd embossed that Pumpkin Pie layer, but I hate to take the same card apart twice...