Thursday 27 April 2017

Office Worker Leaving Card, Shirt + Tie, Personalised

One of my husband's work colleagues is leaving next week after a fair few years of service...  considering how quickly some of them leave by comparison, in any case!

He will be missed as he's worked closely with Hubby for years, so I wanted to make a very 'individual', personalised leaving card that included some of those elements that would have been part of his daily work life.

Whether this is inspired or insane, it's currently making its way 'round the office.
They seem to like it, at least!
Want to see?






It's an 8x8 huge beastie of a card...  

8x8's use to scare the pants off me, but now I'm less intimidated by them than I used to be.
You see, I'm a fan of Sheri Gilson's work...

Sheri is a woman who seems to instinctively know what colours, patterns, textures, embellishments and layers will work together and if you look at her work you will often see 'finished' panels that stand their own ground as fully finished pieces.
She somehow knits these panels into a bigger and always perfectly balanced design that's a real feast for the eyes...  and unbeknown to me, I think her influence in making these panels is beginning to rub off a little.
I will never hold a candle to her work, but that's ok.
I'm still grateful for the inspiration...

That's not to say that I enjoy making 8x8's yet though as I often hit a 'sticking point' towards the end and lament the fact that I should have chosen a CAS design!
(Yeah, like they're so easy...  
...  That's irony - just in case you weren't sure!)

Now before I forget I should also thank Marybeth for sharing a link on her blog a while back about these dollar bill 'folding shirts'.
Of course, being in the UK meant that an actual dollar bill wouldn't work for this design, but as Hubby has a stash I 'borrowed' one for dimensions and cut some thin paper to use instead.
(...  and I've kept the dollar bill for future craft use - obviously)!


So what 'work elements' can you see on this card?
The answer should be two business cards and two spreadsheet tables of sorts.
I've torn, inked over, partially covered and even butchered down to just a teeny tiny logo in one case, then covered one with Distress Collage Medium 'Crazing', one with the same Medium in 'Vintage' and one in 'Matt'.
These 'print offs' were not on the best quality paper (hence the Collage Medium treatment) so one was spray mounted onto a second piece of paper and the other onto thin card.  
(And if you're wondering why the butchered logo got the 'Vintage' treatment it's because the colour of the business card didn't work with the rest of my design).

A stamped image of a laptop would have been perfect for this, but alas I don't have one and had to make do with the pencil pot instead.
I'm thinking I should email Mr Holtz with a plea for a 'techie' line of this style stamps.
I need a laptop stamp, you see!

So what else have I used on this card?






Supplies Used:

Dies:
Marianne Design Collectables 'Tab With Text'
Taylored Expressions 'Little Bits - Neckties'
Poppystamps 'Classic Ribbons'

Holtz/Distress Inks:
 Stormy Sky
Black Soot
Pumice Stone
Spiced Marmalade
Vintage Photo

Other Ink:
Memento/Tsukineko 'Tuxedo Black'
Ranger Perfect Medium

Embossing Folders:
Sizzix Texture Fades 'Notebook'
Spellbinders 'Fabric Weave'

Stencils:
Holtz 'Splatters'
The Crafter's Workshop 'Coffee Splotch'
Memory Box 'Texture Line Up'

Stamp:
Stampers Anonymous/Holtz 'Schoolhouse Blueprint'

Distress Collage Mediums:
Crazing
Vintage 
Matt

Other:
Staple
Paperclips
Patterned Paper





Challenges I'm Entering...

(We've Got Your Number)
The numbers might be oh so very tiny, but they are there!


(Anything Goes)


Allsorts Challenge
(Week #142 - I Spy...  'B')
'B' is for Business Card, 'B' is for Brown



Mix It Up
(Just For Fun)



Make My Monday
(Challenge #44 - Embossing: Heat or Dry)








Thank you so much for brightening my day...

Donna. x

28 comments:

  1. A super and very personal card. I'm sure you'll get much acclaim for this one and probably lots of orders too! Barbxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Acclaim... maybe.
      I put the effort into this one because I know how much my husband will miss him.
      Will catch up soon. xxx

      Delete
  2. WOW! Such a thoughtful design Donna sweet friend!! Then, I'm not surprised coming from you! Every element is sheer perfection! The tiny shirt and tie is just fabulous, as is, all the other elements! A real feast for the eyes, that I am sure your husband's colleague will treasure! The whole card is a testament to his working life and tells the story magnificently!! Inspirational my friend ... inspirational!! Have a great day! Luv & Hugs. Hazel xx
    My Card Attic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Hazel.
      I have to confess that when Hubby initially asked for a leaving card my mind went blank, so I looked for inspiration online... and found nothing.
      Nothing I wanted to use, that's for sure (you should type in Leaving Card or Goodbye Card for yourself and see what I mean. Some humorous phrases that aren't suitable for bosses to see, some naughty words... and not much else). So this was what came to mind. It's a bit of a cheat in some ways, but I go where my inspiration takes me and hope for the best!
      So glad you like it, my friend.
      You must be getting ready for your holiday soon?
      Donna. xxx

      Delete
  3. The guy would have to have lost his mind not to be thoroughly impressed, and delighted, to receive your phenomenal work of art! Bravo!
    =]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, oh lovely lady that you are.
      Your holiday pictures looked idyllic, btw.
      Sending squishes your way. xxx

      Delete
  4. Fabulous creation, some great images and embellishments, I should think they would like, who wouldn't.
    Thank you for joining our 'I Spy' challenge this week at Allsorts.

    Kath

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Kath. πŸ™‚πŸ™‚πŸ™‚

      Delete
  5. wow! So cool Donna! What a wonderful keepsake! Awesome work GF!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Pam. Not sure where men (generally speaking) stand on keepsakes, but hopefully it will make him smile. πŸ™‚πŸ™‚πŸ™‚

      Delete
  6. You have done a fantastic job on this leaving card Donna! bet it was the talk of the office...Brilliant.
    By the way do you know you can get Laptop cutting dies..bit late now I know! this is a good one!! http://www.iconuk.co.uk/Marianne-Designs-Collectables-Dies-and-Clear-Stamps-Laptop sure there are stamps or free images around too..

    Hugs Pam xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hubby would have preferred it with a laptop, Pam. Only because guy leaving's the IT bod... but I think this is fine as it's still office based with the pencil pot.
      I doubt I'll get any feedback from Hubby either, but you never know. Two leaving "do's" and Hubby going to both!
      Aware of die, but not what I needed... and I shy away from computer images as I spend long enough looking for names of things when writing blog posts up.
      There's usually a 'workaround', but I would love a Holtz style laptop stamp.
      Thanks for the link. X

      Delete
  7. Your creation sounds just perfect for the recipient, many thanks for sharing with us at Allsorts 'I spy' theme this week.

    B x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fabulous card, perfect elements for the receiver.
    Thank you for sharing over at Allsorts;-))m

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mervi. πŸ™‚πŸ™‚πŸ™‚

      Delete
  9. Not sure if Blogger took my comment about this and chewed it up or not. But suffice to say I think you've made a fantastic humonganoid card for the leaver.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you got the chewed up treatment. Bad Blogger.
      Thanks heaps, Sarn. xxx

      Delete
  10. Amazing card, love all the elements collaged on it. Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Hugs, Sandra

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Sandra. πŸ™‚πŸ™‚πŸ™‚

      Delete
  11. Wonderful card! Thank you for joining us at our 'Just For Fun Challenge' at Mix It Up Challenge Blog. We hope to see you again.
    ~DT Sherry x

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing with us in the Mix It Up Challenge Blog's "Just For Fun" challenge! Will be looking forward to seeing you again when our regular challenge line-up begins on May 1st!
    Hugs,
    Leslie, MIUCB DT
    Love To Scrap 2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww... thank you so much, Leslie.
      Looking forward to the inspiration. x

      Delete
  13. So enjoyed your entry. Thanks for taking time to post everything you used. I know how much time it takes.

    Diana
    playingwithoutlimits.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Diana. πŸ™‚πŸ™‚πŸ™‚

      Delete
  14. What a wonderful creation, love this design. Thanks for playing along at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
    Hugs,
    Caryn xxx

    ReplyDelete