UDI Inspiration Challenge - Cocoa and Friendship!

You know, sometimes there is a rubber stamp that says it way better than you ever could yourself:

Yep, I love my friends, but I REALLY love them when they have chocolate - and share it with me!

When I saw this week's Inspiration Photo from our challenge on the UDI Blog, I knew exactly what stamp set I wanted to use - even if it is retired - some things just endure the test of time. Here is the inspiration photo. Does that not look just yummy delicious?!! Can you guess what stamp set I pulled out of my secret stash?

Well, if you guessed Like it a Latte, you guessed right! I have one shelf in my stamping supply closet where I keep stamp sets that I most likely will never part with and this one is truly a keeper. I don't often show projects here on the blog with retired products, but I know quite a few of you still have this wonderful set and it really was perfect for this challenge.

I do apologize for the poor quality of this photo. My camera has been acting up lately and I might have to ask Santa for a new one under the tree this year. Ya'll just pray that Santa can afford to bring that particular gift, kwim?

Anyway, my card is pretty clean and simple - more focus on the hot chocolate, right?!

I used Whisper White cardstock and Real Red DSP from the Brights Stack.
The images were stamped with Early Espresso ink on the focal panel and I stamped the cup again on a scrap, trimmed it out and mounted it with Stampin' Dimensionals over the one I stamped on the card front. I love how this gives depth and dimension to a card.

I know it may be hard to see, but I heat embossed the whipped cream and marshmallows with White Embossing Powder. After I stamped them, I colored them in a bit with the Versamarker and that made it easy to add the embossing powder and heat it up. The cocoa cup has Crystal Effects on it to add more dimension and to make it shine!

I paper pierced a row of holes under the cup and then stamped my greeting in the bottom right corner. The three peppermint sticks were stamped on scrap and trimmed out, then mounted with 2 Way Glue Pen. The entire focal panel is popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals and that, friends is pretty much it for this card. I love it's simplicity and it's just a sweet, fun card. Kind of like drinking a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day with a friend. It doesn't get much better than that!

I'm glad you stopped by to visit today - be sure to visit the UDI Blog to see what the other designer came up with - I'll bet they are yummy projects! I'll be spending the day at the ice rink with Emma and her skating team - no day off for this crowd! Then I get to stamp with my friends tonight at the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company!
Maybe we'll have some hot chocolate, eh?
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin