A "So Sweet" Valentine for Hubby!

I decided I should finish a card that was demontrated in a card class hosted by Stampin' Up demonstrator Liz Thayer a few years ago.  Its parts have been languishing in my "To Do" box for quite awhile.  Of course, I have to tinker a little to make the card a bit more my own.  

I added a black cardbase to add more layers and because I thought a black and red edging would look ever so much more striking than just red, plus I widened my layered edges to be more like a frame.  I re-arranged my heart colors a bit, plus added rhinestones to the curlicues on the sentiment.  The inside to tie-in with the front is entirely my own design, including the created verse, which I used on all my Valentines this year.  I used to do a different verse on every seasonal card. . . finally the lightbulb went on after feeling way overburdened.  "Why do that,"  I said to self. . .so obviously I stopped!

I plan to enter this into the SCS Alphabet Challenge for Letter S...no double challenge for me on this...I just couldn't quite see a hot glue design that would in any way enhance the look of my card...LOL!  Hot glue reminds me of buggers to be quite blunt and honest!  Didn't think hubby would appreciate that!  Although, one clever lady wound yarn around her glue ball as her focal point was all about cats. . .that glue ball did work well!  

I found a few other challenges it might fit into as well.  Now it's time to take a peek at hubby's finished card inside and out below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White; Pattern--*Stacked with Love Pad.  SU stamp: *You Plus Me.  SU Ink: Real Red.  SU Punch:** Sweetheart; **Itty Bitty Accent Punches--Heart.  **1/8" Taffeta Silver Edge ribbon: Red and Black. SU catalogs: *2015 Occasions/ retired.  **2014-2015 Annual/ retired.  SU Rhinestones.  Created Verse.  Size: 4-5/8" x 5-7/8". 

A Valentine in the Pink of Things!

I have another Valentine card to enter on my blog.  This one is especially made for my first daughter, and she gets one made with pink and punches to fit my Splitcoaststmper Alphabet Challenge, Letter "P" for just that...PINK and PUNCHES!  The double challenge for this letter was "K" for kraft.  The description indicated that kraft could also be bleach white, like that used on large envelopes or gift paper bags.  I went in search of the big white envelope that came in the mail with my insurance papers in it.  I cut a piece of white from it, and used it to stamp on my little Valentine plant.  Sure hope this meets the double challenge requirements!

I am also trying to meet a self-imposed goal to use a lot of my old Valentine materials and tools in my stash rather than buying new things. . .though I have to admit I did buy a few new stamps because I just couldn't help myself, but they haven't actually arrived, so I won't be using them this year!

I really delved deep for Michele's card and pulled out a stamp set I bought way back in 2011 that I haven't used in at least four years called Valentine Defined by Stampin' Up.  I really like this set for its variety of stamps that can be so creatively used.  I decided on the little long-stem tiny heart plant, the LOVE sentiment, and the string heart border that I used to make my own stamped paper.  I also added my own punched hearts from red glimmer paper to add some bright colors and glitz!  I needed to use pink on my card to fit the alpha challenge so I used pink cardstock and pink ink distressing on my white kraft panel.  In addition, I used all punches and no dies to be sure I was spot on with Letter "P."  First three layers where adhered together flat (gray cardbase, red and pink layers) to form a set of three layers.  The remaining layers were adhered together flat and popped up off the first set of three layers.  I used a foam sheet to "pop up" the top set of layers, which is difficult to see in the photo.  Take a peek below at my finished card both inside and out!

Ingredients:  Paper:  Stampin' Up cardstocks--Basic Bray, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Red Glimmer; Envelope Kraft White (recycled).  SU Stamp: Valentine Defined (2011-Occ/ retired).  SU Inks: Basic Gray, Real Red, Pink Pirouette.  Punches:  SU--Scallop Edge (retired), Heart to Heart (small heart-retired).  Stamped patterned paper (part of stamp set).  Darice Foam sheets.  Stahs: 1/2" Red grosgrain ribbon. Ink Distressed (Pink Pirouette ink).  Computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6."

Numbers for Valentines!

I found an old piece of XOXO Valentine patterned paper by My Minds' Eye from the Love Me collection.  It seemed like a good masculine piece, so I thought it would work for my oldest son's Valentines card.  

I am still working on finishing Splitcoasterstampers Alphabet Challenge, Round 8.  I have Letter N, Letter P, and Letter X for which I thought this paper might work. . .N=Numbers, P=Punches, and X=XOXO (the paper pattern).  For Letter P, I was thinking that might work if I used all punches to make the card.  I could not make up my mind, so I work with all three letters being a possibility, and I thought I'd figure out which challenge to go for at the end, based on what other Valentines I had yet to make that might fit one or the other of these letters.  I also checked out the current Featured Stamper's gallery (Michelery) and found several possible layout ideas that I thought would work, especially with my Numbers idea.

I decided to use primarily red and kraft cardstocks.  The flip side of the Numbers Grid paper is a grid of calendar numbers with a 2 ♥14 showing up on every two or three rows.  I decided to make a circle focal point of the 2 ♥14 numbers to fit Letter N for numbers.  I add a kraft circular layer under my top 2 ♥14 layer.  These first two punched layers were easy because I have lots of sizes of plain circle punches, but I wanted a final decorative red mat to finish this focal area.  I did not have a large enough scallop circle or a circular heart edged punch, so I built my own using a Martha Stewart lacy heart punch in my stash.  I punched four of these and overlapping their tips in the center to form a circle.  I was pretty please with the final effect and it was the perfect size.  

I used some additional old punches to make a scalloped decorative band across the card and added a red strip for color.  The band would host my punched sentiment and its under layer that I positioned on the left side of this band.  I then popped three large red pearls on the right to finish off the band.  In my mind's eye, the card needed a bit more, so I punch curved corners all around on the patterned dsp.

This is one of those cards that starts with a simple design idea that grows as it is put together.  When I was finally satisfied with the front, I moved on to designing the inside and adding my personalized verse that I completed on the computer that I planned to use on most of my family Valentines.  I think son, David, will be very please with the end result.  Take a peek below at the finished look inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstocks--Kraft, Real Red, and Very Vanilla.  Patterned paper: My Minds' Eye - Love Me/ Numbers Grid.  Stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Ink: Early Espresso.  Punches: Stampin' Up--1-1/4" Circle, 1-1/2," SU retired--Scallop Border, Modern Label, Word Window, Triple Corners (inside); Martha Stewart--Lace Scallop Heart LG; Zutter--Corner Rounder.  Recollections Pearl: LG - Copic colored.  Dovecraft Pearls--Christmas Basics--smaller pearls.  SCS Alphabet Challenge - Letter N!

Vintage Valentines!

I need to make about eight Valentine's cards, and I really want my first one to be along the vintage lines as it has been sometime since I've made this style of card, and it's one of my favorites.  I am earmarking this card for a very dear friend.

According to what has been my "norm" in the last six months, I also want to enter it into some of the Splitcoaststamper challenges.  Following my usual pattern, I checked out possible challenges that would fit a Valentine's theme, and I found about seven challenges that would allow me to make a vintage Valentines card and also meet requirements for each challenge's specifications.  Take a peek below at the finished inside and outside of my card, which fits all seven of my selected challenges.  Look below the Ingredients area, if you are interested in the back story of the design and the making of this card.

Ingredients:  Papers: Stampin' Up (SU)  - Cardstock--Whisper White, Pool Party; Recollections Soda Pop pack (mint green); DCWV: The Glitter Cardstock Stack (white); Pattern: Prima (stash). Dies: Cottage Cutz Expressions--Happy Valentines; Spellbinders--Woodland Wreath; Spellbinders--Hearts Nestabilities.  May Arts: 3/8" Sheer Dots ribbon.  SU: Pearls.  Colorbox--Chestnut Roan Ink (distressing).  Personalized computer verse.  Distressed Edge Technique.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

STORY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Valentine for My Hubby!

MORE HAPPINESS!  ANOTHER CARD NAMED AS

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - FEBRUARY 19, 2017!!

Valentine's Day is in a few days, and I finally finished my husband's card.  He is getting a second hot air balloon card in a matter of just a few weeks to make sure this Bucket List item is complete.  I made his first air balloon card for his birthday just a few week's, which shows just how versatile this new stamp/die bundle, "Lift Me Up," from Stampin' Up is. 

I wanted my color combination to be black, red, and white.  I had in mind to make my night sky in black, and I also wanted it to be a bit glossy so I tired something I was not sure was going to work, but it worked wonderfully.  I covered the entire black cardstock layer with Versamark ink, making sure is was thoroughly and evenly cover by pressing the stamp pad down over the entire area of the cardstock and then wiping the pad in long strokes over the entire surface again..  I sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and heat set it, making it glossy.  I pressed it overnight in a cardstock paper stack with several few books on top to make sure it was flat and level.

I envisioned puffy clouds in my night sky and decided to use the retired SU embossing folder Cloudy Day, because it has tiny embossing dots that make the cloud forms.  For some reason, this folder has the clouds positioned vertically rather than horizontally on the folder.  As I wanted to cover the entire paper with clouds, I placed the paper in the folder so the clouds would cover from side to side.  This left the bottom half of the paper outside the folder, so I made sure it didn't run all the way through the rollers and over the edge of the folder, which would cause the folder edge to crease my paper midway cross.  Next, I turned my black paper and re-positioned the unembossed side into the folder.  I tried to match the cloud impressions as closely as I could to those already embossed, and then I ran it through the Big Shop, again, just to the edge of the folder, but not over it to prevent a crease.  It turned out surprisingly well, and as my air balloon would cover a great deal of the mid-section of the embossed clouds, I did not feel it would show at all where the clouds were not formed quite right!

I decided on a patterned paper for my red color.  I chose a white mini dot on a red background, and I decided on Shimmery White for my card base.  I dressed up the corners with rounded corners and used the eyelet Curvy Corners punch on my black glossy top piece for the red to peek through.  I used the same papers for the balloon colors under the black patterned balloon die-cut overlay.  I colored the black balloon die-cut with Black Wink of Stella to give it a bit of sparkle. 

 

After roughly laying out my pieces, I decided to add some vellum clouds.  With my chosen sentiment being "love is in the air," I thought a large red glitter heart on my air balloon and smaller ones on each vellum cloud would finish off my card very nicely.

Take a peek below at my finished Valentine air balloon card, both inside and out.  I think my husband will be well pleased.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Shimmery White (cardbase), Basic Black, Real Red, Vellum.  DSP Stack-Brights.  Stamps-Lift Me Up (front sentiment), Sealed with Love (inside sentiment), Valentine's Love (hearts-inside/ retired).  Die:  Up & Away framelits (balloon, clouds). Punch: Curvy Corners (retired). Embossing Folder: Cloudy Day (retired). Embossing Powder: Real Red Glitter.  Other:  Zutter Corner Rounder punch.  Recollections: Foam Glitter Hearts; Charcoal Anthracite Embossing Powder,  Dies:  Papertrey Ink-Clouds/ Hero Arts-Cloud.

A Sister-in-Law Vintage Birthday in August!

I have sister-in-law number FIVE to prepare a birthday card for in the month of August.  I was in the mood for a vintage birthday card, and I was excited to begin.  It seems I take spells where I must do some vintagey stuff or bust!  I had to hurry, because my husband is making a trip south to a family get-together and this particular sister-in-law will be there all the way from Kansas.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to travel with him because of some previous commitments made before we knew this get-together was going to take place.  But, here was a chance to hand-deliver this birthday card. . .I would not have to worry about weight and bulkiness due to postal limitations!  I was stoked, and I got to work immediately!  Take a look at my finished vintage birthday card just for Joanie!

Ingredients:  Stampin Up cardstock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink (retired).  BoBunny: Love & Lace (rose pattern).  Punches: Becky Corner Rounder, EK Scalloped Corners, WRMK Deco Corners.  Dies--Spellbinders Scallop Hearts.  SU: Metallic sequins, Gold Embossing powder. Stash: Crochet Flower, Black lace, Vellum.  Computer sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  (Note: Flower center...black sequins tied into a sequin knot with needle/thread).

Valentine for a Son!

About two years ago, I went to a Card Buffet cardmaking event hosted by my Stampin' Up Upline, Liz Thayer, where we could make as many cards as we found time for in a four-hour period.  There were usually at least ten different card designs from which to choose.  I made one card that I really liked, which was a thank you card, but right off the bat, I thought it was a Valentine card until I read the sentiment found in a Stampin' Up stamp set named Chalk Talk.  

To this day, I have always wanted to make this card as a Valentine card, and this 2016 Valentine's holiday is the time.  In thinking it over, the thought came to mind that if sentiment read, A Son Holds Your {Heart} Forever, using an actual heart instead of the word, it would be perfect!  Of course, I did not have a stamp that said this, so I created it on the computer and printed it onto the Crumb Cake cardstock.  I was really pleased with the result.  My words were longer than those on the original Chalk Talk sentiment; therefore, I could not die-cut my tag using the Chalk Talk Framelit dies.  I decided to use the Ornate Tag punch, and cut it narrower to more closely replica the look I was trying to achieve.

On my card, I decided to add Chocolate Chip cardstock as the card base and make the original Cherry Cobbler base a middle mat layer instead.  My sentiment tag received the same three layers as well.  In addition, I added some Early Espresso Gorgeous Grunge lines as well as the Cherry Cobbler used on the original design, and I used a different washi tape, coloring the light one with a tan Copic Marker to blend better with the Crumb Cake card front.  I also added more hearts to the left side of the card to more replicate a shower of hearts.  I really think my son will like his Valentine card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Red Glimmer.  Stamps--Gorgeous Grunge.  Ink--Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler.  Punches--Ornate Tag, Small Heart (retired), Heart to Heart--smallest (retired).  Ribbon--5/8" Natural Chevron (cut in half), Linen Thread.   Stash--Washi tape.  EK punch: Ribbon Slot.  Spellbinders die:  Nested Heart (smallest).  Size--4-3/4" x 5-3/4".

Valentine Key to Love!

I just finished another Valentine card that I want to show you.  On a whim, I decided to try to make as many cards with different styles as I could using the checked heart brown, white, and red paper until I ran out.  I have to say, so far this is my favorite card using this paper.

I thought my checked heart paper would lend itself well to the layout idea of a card I made at a Liz Thayer cardmaking event about a month ago, which was also similar to Sweet & Sassy Layout #09 that I had saved to my Pinterest Layout Ideas board a few weeks ago.  Both are shown below:

             

I used a Darice embossing folder on the Early Espresso layer, plus I enlarged my left-hand rectangle larger than both layout design samples.  I added little key charm to the rectangle layer tied with sparkly red yarn to match the sparkly sheer ribbon.  Since I like sparkly, I decided I should use red glitter paper for my popped flowers to coordinate well with the sparkly ribbon.  

Though Liz's design popped both the patterned rectangle piece off the card front and the square heart-stamped piece off the rectangle (thus, the square was double popped on the right-hand side), I decided to only pop my layers once.  I adhered the left side of my heart-stamped square directly onto the patterned rectangle layer and only popped it on the right to match the rectangles elevation from the card front.  

Recipe:  Paper:  SU Cardstock--Very Vanilla, Real Red, Early Espresso, Red Glimmer; Pattern--TCP Studio--The Reasons I Love You/ Little Lovin'.  SU Stamps--Bloomin' Love.  SU Ink--Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler.  SU Dies:  Bloomin' Heart (flowers).  Darice Embossing Folder--Heart-Coeur.  SU Pearls.  Stash--5/8" Sheer Sparkly Ribbon; Brass key; Sparkly Red Fine Yarn.  Distressed.  Size--4-5/8" x 5-3/4". 

Hugs & Kisses for the Bride!

My youngest daughter, Jackie, is getting married, and the hostesses for her bridal shower party are my oldest daughter, Michele, and my son's wife, Ginger.  They have been very busy for the past month and a half planning the menu for the invitation design, the luncheon, the games and entertainment for the guests, and prizes to be won.  

Ginger came up with a vision of theme for the shower invitations, which she thought would be fun to craft ourselves.  This, or course, is where I entered into the planning as well!   From her ideas of having a gatefold card to use Jackie's wedding colors of black and red, she thought it would be elegant to add a black and white damask patterned paper and add ma wedding dress to the front of the card.  I thought a doily-fold wedding dress would be just right and the "sisters" agreed after they saw my completed dress.  I tweaked Ginger's other ideas here and there and came up with a suggested card design.  It took a lot of collaborating between the three of us before we settled its a final design.  We were all excited to see a sample card putting all our ideas together.

I shopped for supplies, meanwhile deciding to use a larger doily than most of the design instructions that I found on Pinterest, because it was to represented a long wedding gown.  When the sample card was completed and several changes made, we were excited to get together to make up our little beauties to send out to our guests.  I prepared and cut multiple card parts and we were ready for the next step to convene one Saturday morning over a month ago and "whip" out multiple replicas of our sample invitation card.  Michele has made a few cards with me in the past, so she had a good idea that this would not be a one- or two-hour job as Ginger thought.  Much to Ginger's surprise, Michele was very right. . .we needed about five hours to get them all done!

Michele and Ginger planned the luncheon menu and shopped together for ingredients, plus game prizes.  The main course was able to be assembled ahead and frozen until ready to bake.  They got together on another Saturday to complete these task and brainstorm the decorating ideas and games to be played. 

Michele and I have been working on the house and party decorations.  I was happy to lend my papercrafting and computer graphic skills, plus oodles of papercrafting tools to make her ideas become a reality.  It has been an exciting and fun time brainstorming ideas to come up with our finished products!  Once decisions were made on basic ideas, I went to work using my computer skills complete everything from signs for the Mimosa Bar, game instructions to game parts using papercrafting tools.  Once the parts and pieces were designed and printed, Michele and I worked together on at least four different occasions to assemble all the parts.

Last night, after coming home from another night of shower crafting and decorating, it dawned on me that the shower was the next day, and I had not had time to sit down and create a card to go with Jackie's shower gift.  Oh my!  I could see another late night looming!  

I got busy and whipped up this simple card below, which borrows the wedding colors and the bridal shower theme.  For a "short-timer" card.  This is what I call a card that is made with very little time. . .a just get it done card. . .create the design quickly, do it fast. . .no procrastinating allowed.  For the very little time that I had in the wee hours of the morning, I was pretty please with my results.  Also, when the card was finished, I realized it could make a good Valentine's Day card as well.  Jackie always loves almost every card I've ever made, so I'm pretty sure she will like this one too.

Below is a peak at the inside, using the outside theme to create the inside design.  I used my computer to whip up it's little verse.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Blake, Red Glimmer paper.  Recollections: Black Glitter.  Recollections: Hollywood  & Vine (damask).  MFT Die-namics: Layered Hearts; Photo Corners.  Cottage Cutz die: Hugs & Kisses.  Stash: Offray ribbon. Computer-made verse.  (Size: 5-1/4" x 5-1/4" square).

Be My Valentine!

I decided to send friendship Valentine cards for three of my cardmaking buddies.  My first card was for my Stampin' Up friend and mentor, Liz.  I decided to make a kit card I had in my stash that was a designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner (blogspot.com), and that I purchased from her a few years ago.  The kit featured four very cute Valentine shaker cards, and they got buried in my "To Do" box.  It seemed like a good time to bring out the kit pieces, and put them together from the pictures provided.  This was such a cute card, and I thought it would be perfect for Liz.

This card was a bit larger than the A2 size that Heidi was normally designed at that time, so the only change I made was to add one more layer by adding a white cardbase.  The original red base became a layer, but I made it about 1/4" larger than the original red base.  This white base and the new red layer not only made the card a little bigger with more color layers, but it also created an eye-appealing red frame to bring out the lovely red/black dot ribbon and to enhance the original card design just a tad.  Of course, it always makes me happier when a card is larger than A2, because as many of you know by now, I prefer my cards a bit larger than the traditional A2 size.  I hope Liz enjoyed her card!

Recipe:  Paper--Georgia-Pacific white cs base; Stampin' Up Real red cs; Echo Park-Yours Truly.   Papertrey Stamps: Button Boutique. Stampin' Up punch: Heart-to-Heart, Postage square.  Maya Arts ribbon.  Stash: metallic hearts, clear heart button.

Valentine for Hubby!

I completed this card in a card class offered by Misty Bradley about two years ago, and I have not used it.  Because of the sentiment, I love the "u" in us, it is a perfect card for a couple, and thus, my husband got this one.  I love all the geometrical layering that Misty used, and I had the chance to use Perfect Pearls, which was all the rage at that time.  I'm not sure how I got those little red dotted pearls so perfectly round...I've never accomplished it again on another card, and so, alas,  I've resorted to just using regular half-pearls.

Recipe:  Paper-Georgia Pacific white cs base; Bazzill cs-Blossom/ Kisses; My Mind's Eye: Love Struck.  Stampin' Up stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Ink: Real Red.  Stampin' Up Punches: 1-3/4" Scallop circle,  1-3/8" circle, Modern Label, Word Window.  Lifestyles Die: Nesting Hearts.

Jar Full for A Valentine!

My next Valentine card was for my brother and his wife, and it is from that shaker kit of cards from my sister Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner.blogspot.com) noted in my daughter's card post earlier this month.  Again, as in my daughter's card, I wanted my card to be larger than the traditional cardmakers A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), so I decided it would be a 5-1/2" square card.  I re-cut the base in a darker shade of pink to match the seam binding ribbon provided.  Again, I was able to spread the embellishments out on the card front.  I added an extra red heart on the jar lid just because I had an extra cut off the red heart border trim.  Because I had the same paper, I was able to cut and add to the gray and white patterned mat layer below the ribbon and the border.  I was very satisfied with the enlarged design...very similar to the original design yet more space to admire each feature on the front of the card.  I hope Mike and Diane enjoyed my take on their sister's design and my cardmaking.

Recipe:  Papers - Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink cs base; Echo Park Yours Truly.  Papertrey stamps/dies: Friendship Jar/ Jar & Lid die/ Jar Toppers die/ Fillable Frames #10/ Heart Border die.  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Real Red.  Hug Snug Seam Binding ribbon. Stampin' Up punch: Heart to Heart.  Zutter Corner Rounder.

Cupids Arrow for a Son!

The next card I made was for my oldest son.  I decided to go a little vintage and used a kit I had purchased at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique in Chico, CA on my travels.  This card uses a paper that features a collage of old-fashioned Valentine's of earlier decades (about when I was of elementary age in the mid-1950's) and seemed to still be around when this son was an elementary age child in the 1970's.  Since the patterned paper features mostly boy Valentine images, I decided it would be perfect for my son, David.  

The bow & arrow and hearts were cut using Accu-Cut dies with glitter paper and backed with lightweight chipboard.  I decided the card needed a bit more framing to enhance and make the words pop on the paper and the ribbon, so I added a black mat between the patterned paper and the white cardbase.  Other than this change, the card remains true to it original design.  I think David liked his card...a bit of nostalgia!

Valentine Shaker for a Daughter!

I had a kit of Valentine cards designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner.blogspot.com) that I decided to pull out of my "To Do" stash and use this year.  I always like cards that are larger than the traditional A2 sized cards (4-1/4" X 5-1/2"), and the cards in this kit were that smaller size, so I just had to make mine bigger.  Fortunately, I had the papers used in the kit; therefore, I was able to do so with ease.  I added an additional red mat between the white cardbase and the patterned paper to enhance the ribbon color.  I to think this really adds to the card.  Because my card was larger, I was able to space out the embellishments and the shaker full of little pink, silver, and red hearts.  Such a lovely card that retains the original flavor presented by the designer.

Recipe:  Paper--Georgia-Pacific white cs base; Stampin' Up Real red cs; Echo Park-Yours Truly. Papertrey stamps/dies: Lock & Key; Mat Stack 4.  Hug Snug Seam Binding ribbon.  Stash: black netting, lace, hat pin, metallic hearts.

Valentine Conversation Hearts for Sister!

I wanted to make a card for my sister to give her a hug and the Valentine holiday seemed the perfect time.  I had some Valentine conversation hearts in my stash of embellishments and so wanted to use them.  I also had a "Hugs" ticket that I thought would work in nicely.  I decided on using inchie squares to set the conversation hearts off, and the ideas took off from there. Here is how the card evolved, and it is now on its way to greet my sister with her hug from me.

Recipe:  Paper: Georgia Pacific white cs base, Bazzill-In the Pink cs, DCWV Carte Postale stack,  Me & My Big Ideas-Hearts, EK border punch, Jolee's Conversation Hearts; Pink sparkle net (Joanns); K&Co. Hugs Ticket; Pinking Shears.

Valentine Love Across the Miles!

I pulled out my Valentine paper stash, and fell in love again with Echo Park's "Be Mine" paper.  It is such a pretty collection of pinks, grays, and charcoals.  I decided to use my Stampin' Up stash of Valentine stamps to create a card for my daughter and her husband.   As the card evolved, it became very pink!  I hope Michele's husband doesn't think this very pink card is too girlish...after all...it's Valentine's Day!  Banners are so popular right now, so naturally it became part of the card as well.  This one had to be mailed early to get it all the way across the U.S. to the East Coast.  Happy Valentine's Day from Mom and Dad!

Recipe:  Paper: Georgia Pacific White cs base; Echo Park-Be Mine.  Stampin' Up stamps: Easy Events, P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Ink: Primrose Petals.  EK punches: 2-1/2" circle, 2-1/4" Scallop circle, 2" circle, Corner pumch.  Recollections pearls: Copic  colored.  Stash: sheer pink ribbon.

Valentine Love You!

The last of my children's cards I made was for my son and his wife.  Again, I decided to use the Echo Park "Be Mine" paper and Stampin' Up stamps.  I also decided to make a gatefold card for them, which I was really happy with.  When I was finished, it did crossed my mind that it would have been a great card fashioned as a flip-flop aka double-swing card.  Maybe next year!

Recipe:  Paper:  Georgia Pacific white cs base; Bazzill-Blossom, Vintage Pink; Echo Park-Be Mine.  Stampin' Up stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Ink: Primrose Petals.  EK punches: 1-3/4" scallop circle, 1-1/2" circle, 1-3/8" circle. QuicKutz: Bullseye.  Stash: flower buttons, embroidery floss.

Little Owl Valentine for Mom!

Valentine's Day is coming and I decided to start with my card for my Mom.  I went to a cardmaking event last Saturday and made a little owl card that gave me the idea for mine.  I decided on my card I would add two more layers and enlarge my card as well.  I dug out the Stampin' Up More Amore paper that I bought but did not get a chance to use for my patterned layer and then matched it to the Cherry cardstock in my stash.  My banner uses two banner flags punched from the More Amore paper, and the other banner flags were stamped with Strawberry Slush ink (SU) using the Banner Blast SU stamp set offered in the current 2014 Sale-A-Bration promotion currently in progress.  I also decided my owl was definitely a little girl, so she gat a bow for her head made from the bitty hearts on the owl stamp using the More Amore paper.  I made a duplicate little owl to place on the inside to dress up the verse.

Recipe:  Staples cs: Cherry (base), SU: More Amore, Smoky Slate cs, Pink Pirouette cs, Basic Black cs.  SU Emboss Folder: Woodgrain.  SU Punches: Full Heart, Heart to Heart, 1-3/8" Circle (wings), Modern Label, Banner (SAB 2014).  SU Stamps: Banner Blast (2014 SAB).  SU Ink: Strawberry Slush.  Maya Arts Fine Twine.  Recollections: Cherry rhinestones, medium Googlie eyes.  (Inspiration card by Janine Henrickson.)

It's a Seventh Anniversary!

My son, Mark, and his lovely wife, Ginger, celebrated their seventh anniversary on July 22nd.  It is truly surprising that seven years have passed since that happy event!  After thinking about what kind of a card I wanted to make for them, I remembered a card I made while at our Mom/daughter Mt. Shasta crop/ retreat this spring that seemed perfect for them.  

This card is another of the "make-it-yourself" card kits designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com) from a few years ago.  She re-designed it a bit from the original just for me because she knows I like cards larger than the A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2").  I re-positioned a few of the embellishments a bit to please my own creative eye with the larger size, but essentially it is most definitely similar to the original.  I then designed the inside and put in a verse to coordinate with the outside sentiment about love growing in a happy home.  I hope Mark and Ginger like their anniversary card!

Recipe:  SU cardstocks: Marina Mist, VeryVanilla. Soft Suede; PTI: Fall Prints Plaid, Holiday Flourishes & Swirls Dots (red); Stash: Green dots. SU Ink:  Marina Mist, Old Olive. PTI dies: Celebrations Frame, Fillable Frames #11, Love Lives Here die/stamp set (sentiment, house, hearts).  SU Perfect Polka Dots EF. Hug Snug Gabardine Green seam binding ribbon (really-it's actually more of a blue!). Clear heart button, hemp twine.

A 2012 Valentine for My Daughter!

I made this card at a card class given by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com).  It uses a Mo Manning digital images and Copic markers.  I earmarked this card for my daughter, Jackie.  The little girl is so cute peeking out from behind the Valentine.

Following is my design for the inside of Jackie's card and poem a little poem I composed.  I know Jackie will like her card!