Fun with Valentine Cards – Card #4

Aloha, all!

     Once more, I have a card with a grid pattern, though today's card is quite a bit simpler to make than yesterdays.

     While yesterday's card was made with new and almost-new Stampin' Up! products, today's card is made with almost-new, a bit on the old side, and even (gasp!) three retired Stampin' Up! products. But I think it looks just as fresh as yesterdays!

     The background layer, cut 3-7/8" x 5-1/8", is embossed with the Happy Heart Embossing Folder, which has been around since last year's Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog. The Real Red Cardstock, used for the larger of the four squares (1-3/8" squares) and the mat for the sentiment, has been around forever, even longer than the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set and the Word WIndow Punch. Finally in the "a bit on the old side" category is the 1/4" Real Red Cotton Ribbon, which was introduced in the 2014-2015 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog.

     Now for the retired products. I ignored one of them in a post last week because I didn't get into too much detail. That is the Modern Label Punch, which was retired last year. One of my favorite punch-layering techniques for years has been layering the Modern Label Punch behind the Word Window Punch. So, since I have lots of extra space in my Stamp-n-Storage punch storage boxes, I've kept this punch around. I've also kept the great Postage Stamp Punch, which is the Whisper White layer behind the hearts. Oh, and then there are the hearts. I wanted something larger than the small heart in the Itty Bitty Punch Pack and the larger Sweetheart Punch. So out came the retired Sizzix Heart Collection Framelits. I was thinking last year that I really would want to use that set come Valentine's Day 2016, and durned if I wasn't right!

     I hope you enjoy this card! I know several of my customers have purchased the retired products that I used in this card, and I can't imagine why you wouldn't still have them – and be using them this Valentine's Day season!