Gingko Leaves To My Husband Card

Yesterday was my hubby Owen's birthday.  He loves black on cards and I decided to pair it with vanilla for his birthday card.  I stamped the wood grain, layered onto black and vanilla mats and added the sentiment.  I got the sentiment set recently, it's a Tinchies clear set made by Personal Impressions and includes 'To my', 'husband', 'boyfriend' and 'brother' wording stamps.  Now I definitely won't be using the 'brother' and 'boyfriend' words but I still bought the set for the 'husband' 'cos the set was only £1.19, what a bargain! I used Memory Box label die shapes to mat and layer the sentiment and added copper brads. I used the gorgeous PaperTrey Ink Harvest Berries stamp set and matching dies for the leaves.  I die cut the leaf sprigs first, stamped the images on the die cut shapes using VersaMark ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder so the leaf detail is raised and shiny.   It gives a very subtle effect, but it's lovely when the light catches it and you see the shine.

I stamped a sentiment and more leaves inside. 

Yet more leaves and a label on the envelope finished everything off.  It did occur to me after I'd finished that maybe the card was a tad gloomy and was perhaps more suited to a sympathy card rather than a birthday card.  Anyway, I am pleased to report that Owen loved the card - and it also got the thumbs up from our friends Debbie and Mike, phew!

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI Harvest Berries clear set, Tinchies 'To my' clear set, Woodware Special Wishes clear set, SU! Four Frames set
CS: SU! Basic Black & Very Vanilla
Ink: VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: PTI Harvest Berries die set, Memory Box Bistro Label & Chadwick Label dies, SU! Decorative Label punch
Embellishments & accessories: clear embossing powder, copper brads, 3d foam pads

The cat in this signature picture looks a lot like Tucker, our older cat - Tucker had the same white tippy tail but he also had a black smudge on his pink nose.  Sadly, our Tucker boy is no longer with us as he passed away last week. He was a very affectionate cat and I will certainly miss his head bumps on the chin and his lovely, deep, rhythmic purr.  He's now at rest in a warm, sunny spot in our garden.