XOXO Valentine!

I recently purchased the Bloomin' Hearts die from the Stampin' Up 2016 Occasions mini catalog, and I was determined I was going to make a card with it this year.  It seems I usually buy new products during a holiday time, and I don't end up using it until the next year (or even after)!  I was also determined I would use it with a black, white and red color scheme. . .but read on. . .it didn't turn out to be black, white and red!

Making the Card---

While going through my stash of Valentine papers to use for my two friendly cards, which you will see posted at some point in February, I came across what I thought was patterned paper that matched my color idea with white and black mini checks and red hearts on alternate checks.  So, I pulled it out of the stash box and set it aside to make later, because I needed to finish any cards I had to mail, or like my two friendly card that I would be seeing the recipients soon.  

Today, I was all excited, because this was the day I got to use my Bloomin' Hearts die and my black, white, and red color scheme.  All this while the checked paper had been patiently waiting, and my subconscious creative mojo had been stewing over this paper.  Before I even started, I had decided who would receive this card and the style and design I would use.  I was going to make a gatefold card using a black cardstock base and red glimmer paper for its middle layer and for the die-cut heart with a doily underneath my heart.  Lo and behold, this paper was NOT black, white and red, but dark brown, white and red!  "OMGosh, what to do now!"  I had the card layout all visualized, all I had to do was plan the cutting sizes and get to work cutting!  Not to fear, I easily decided an Early Espresso, red and white card would be just as pleasing. . .problem solved.

The paper is double-sided and had a red foil heart border on the back pattern.  I thought this would be kind of cute to add instead of having only the checked pattern, so I planned accordingly.  After I glued the delicate filigree heart die-cut onto my doily, I still felt it was a little flimsy to be the piece you grabbed to open the card, so I thought a large, red cardstock scalloped heart cut with my Scalloped Circle dies would add to its sturdiness and look nice on the backside when the card was opened as well.  This idea worked very well.  

Next, because I decided the white in my paper pattern was actually more of a pale cream and the border was definitely a darker cream, I made my popped flowers on my red filigree heart of a pale cream glitter paper that I had in my stash.  NOTE:  the filigree heart die comes with two little flower dies, one larger than the other, to add where the filigreed heart has these flower shapes in the its pattern.  I finished adding these, the other embellishments, and the sentiment, and satisfied with its look, I proclaimed it done.

For those of you who have viewed and read my blog before, you know what comes next. . .creating and finishing an inside design and verse that compliments my card's, hopefully, creative front.  

Recipe:  Papers:  Cardstock-Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Red Glimmer; DCWV-Glitter Cardstock Stack; Pattern-TPC Studio--The Reasons I Love You/ Little Lovin'.  Stampin' Up Stamps: Bloomin' Love.  Stampin' Up Ink: Cherry Cobbler.  Stampin' Up Thinlit die: Bloomin' Heart.  Spellbinders: Scallop Circles.  Stampin' Up punch: Word Window (shortened).  Wilton 4" Doily (Michaels).  Queen & Co. Twinkle Goosebumps-Red.  Size:  5-1/2" x 6".