X is for XOXO Valentine!

Another two Valentines to design, of which I plan to make two. . .one for son and his wife and one for youngest daughter and her husband.  This one will focus on meeting the Alphabet Challenge, Round 8 "Letter X". . ."X" = XOXO!  I am using an old stamp to get XOXO onto my card to meeting the Letter "X" challenge, and I decided early on not to try for the double challenge of C for collage, as it seemed to me it would have to lean toward vintage to achieve a collage look.

Based on the WORD Challenge for "TEMP" in the new February Dirty Dozen Monthly Themes, I must use items on my card that start with each letter of the word TEMP.  My already planned stamped sentiment will be the printed word XOXO.  I will use a background stamp that is retired name En Francaise (retired) for my letter E.  My letter M will be the hot pink color I plan to use with  black and white as well...Melon Mambo, and the P will be the punches that I will use.

The third challenge is the 2018 Use It challenge to use materials and tools that have not been used in a long while and never used.  This will be no problem for me, as I have challenged myself to use all already-on-hand materials and tools and to bring out those gathering dust for this year's session in Valentine cardmaking!  Everything is old, as it turns out...perfect for this last challenge!  Take a peek at the finished card inside and out.  I think my children and their spouses will like their Valentine card!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Cardstocks:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Silver Glimmer.   SU Stamps (retired): En Francaise (background stamp), Oh, Goodie! (XOXO-2013 Occ), You Plus Me (heart-2015 Occ), Oh, Hello (inside corners chevron pattern-2013 Occ).  Ink: SU-Melon Mambo; Memento-Tuxedo Black.  Die: Nellie Snellen--Dots Circle.  Punches: SU--1-3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, Itty Bitty Accents-Heart (retired); EK Medium Scallop Corner.  SU-3/4" Black Chevron (retired).  Created verse.  Size: 4-7/8" x 6".  

Note: I have borrowed a several years old design by Liz Thayer that I made at a card class she hosted.  I've added layers, lowered by area of background stamping, changed my ribbon knot to right side, enlarged my circle focal point and added a die-cut bottom layer. 

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."

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".

Bloomin' Love & Happy Hearts!

I went to a cardmaking gathering hosted by my Stampin' Up upline, Liz Thayer, where she provided us with three card designs to make as a make-n-take.  It was a fun gathering of just six ladies who made the hour trip south to visit Liz and see her new home that they purchased about six months ago now.  We, of course, each brought a dish of food and Liz provided the beverages.  What a fun way to spend the afternoon.

One of the cards we made was a Valentine card using the new Stampin' Up Bloomin' Love stamp set, with lots of lovely popped layers to which I decided to add a white cardbase as another layer.  This card's colors are soft and elegant and the bottom Crumb Cake layer is texture embossed with the Happy Hearts embossing folder, which adds to the wonderful three-dimensional aspects of the card.  Thank you Liz Thayer for this lovely design. . .it was great fun to make! 

Now on to finishing the inside of the card so that it is ready to send off to someone special for Valentine's Day.  I brought the soft and elegant colors into the inside and embossed my Crumb Cake layer with the same Happy Hearts embossing folder as the front.  I printed my verse onto the Blushing Bride pink layer and added the My Valentine stamp from the Bloomin' Love stamp set.  I finished off the corners with a little embellishment and it was ready to go.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer; Love Blossoms dsp stack (2016 Occ.).  Stamps--Bloomin' Love (2016 Occ.).   Ink--Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Rose Red (inside).  Embossing Folder--Happy Hearts.   Love Blossoms Embellishment Kit (2016 Occ.).  Punch--EK Scroll & Hearts Edger.  Pearls.  Computer-made verse.  Size--4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

2010 Valentine Cards for the Men!

Valentine's Day was just around the corner...I really had to make card for my family.  I made my first trip to my local scrapbook store, Scrapbook Nook in Kent, WA and to my local JoAnns store to buy Valentine papers.  What I had used for Christmas just wouldn't work for this holiday, that's for sure.

I bought paper, ribbon, buttons, rhinestones, brads, embroidery floss, twine, and a page of puffy stickers, but I was very conservative.  But,. . .the slippery slope had begun!  Looking back...I see that I was stuck on making them all horizontally and opening from bottom to top!

John's card - Feb. 2010

David's card - Feb. 2010

Mark & Ginger's card - Feb. 2010

What fun it was...again...I was so proud of myself!  I love this quick self-gratification.  Sewing was a lot harder and took a lot longer to finish.   I was in my element!