Love You Much Valentine!

I finished a half-made Valentine card that I started several years ago when I thought I was going to need a quick card for a short notice invitation, but it turned out to be a false alarm.  It has been residing in my "To Do" Stash ever since.  I needed two cards for my cardmaking buddies, and further motivation came from seeing some Splitcoaststamper Challenges I wanted to enter as well!

After seeing the  Splitcoaststampers' Dirty Dozen February Monthly Themes MORE is MORE challenge, I thought this would be the perfect card to finish and then do a more elaborate version to meet the challenge requirements, which requires a simple card be modified and elaborated upon to make a more complex version.  I will also use it to start the new Alphabet Challenge Round 9. . .pre-alphabet card, which is to make a Valentine card.  I am making two of the stepped up version #2 for my two cardmaking buddies.

My first and simple version is the card front with several mat layers and a cardbase.  My second, and more elaborate version sports an embossed heart and places the card front and two matted layers on a Basket Weave Edged card base.  Take a look below at Version #1 and Version #2.  Version #2 also has a finished inside with a created verse.

Version #1

Version #2

Version #2 with completed inside

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla.  Washi Tape--Retro Fresh (2014-15 Annual/ retired).  Stamp--Best of Love (2013 Anniversary celebration Best of... stamps).  Ink--Melon Mambo.  Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired). Punchs:  Full-Heart (retired); Boho Blossoms (smallest blossom- retired); What's Up? (arrow-retired).  Essentials Punch Pack (heart piercing).  Rhinestones.  Stash: crochet ribbon.  Punch: EK Medium Scallop Photo Corner.  Technique: Basket Weave edge (aka Braided Edge; aka Lattice Edge). Chatterbox verse.  Size: 5: x 5-1/2".  

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". 

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!

Valentine Dots & Hugs for Friends!

I'm going to a Stampin' Up cardmaking event in the next week, and I wanted to make some Valentines cards for the two ladies our hostesses.  This was especially since I was unable to get my Christmas cards finished and mailed due to hand and bone issues where I was forced to wear thumb braces 24-7 to help try to get the pain and swelling under control.  I am now down to several hours a day without the braces, so I will take advantage of that time for cardmaking, and hope I do not find myself right back to the same issues all over again.  Meanwhile, a cortisone shot in my left thumb joint has helped considerably, which is my worst hand.

Moving on. . .  I decided to use the Basket Weave Edging (aka Braided Edge/ Lattice Edge) technique, which is fun to do and gives such an amazing look of added elegance to a card...at least in my humble opinion.  I want to enter my card into the Splitcoaststamper Alphabet Challenge for Letter D for DOTS, using a dot embossing folder to feature dots on my card, which also inspired my blog title, Valentine Dots & Hugs for Friends!

I also looked into other possible challenges to enter as well before beginning.  I was inspired to branch out in that I am not creating a card in the traditional Valentine colors of black, red, pink, or white.  Mine is to be sapphire blue, medium pink, and yellow and sports a peek-a-book washi tape heart.  I was inspired by the Inspiration Challenge Spoonflower website for my colors and the Ways to Use It for my peek-a-boo heart.

I created a peek-a-book heart window and used an embossing folder on the card front to create some dimension.  I threw in a little washi tape for added interest in the peek-a-book heart and the "hugs" die-cut sentiment!  Take a look below at my finished card; I made two identical cards for my hostess friends.  I'm sorry to say that I forgot to take a picture at the card interior designs with their personalized computer verse before I gave them away, so I am unable to share that with you.

Ingredients:  Cardstocks:  Stampin'Up--Whisper White, Pretty in Pink (retired); Recollections Cape Cod Blue pack (sapphire blue shade).  Stamps: Happy Day (flower center punched out).  Ink: Melon Mambo.  Dies:  Technique Tuesday--Di Heart Hugs.  Punches:  SU retired: Full Heart, Boho Blossom (medium flower); EK Medium Victorian Corner punch.  SU Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired).  SU Washi Tape: Gingham Garden (2012-13 annual catalog).  SU Ribbon: 3/8" Pretty-in Pink Stitched Grosgrain (retired).  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Rhinestones.  Basket Weave Technique (aka Braided or Lattice Edge).  Size:  4-1/2" x 5-3/4."      

A 2018 Valentine for Mom!

It's time to make a Valentine card for my Mom!  I sure miss her...with all my knee and hand issues starting over two years ago, I've missed three of my traditional semi-annual trips to visit her.  I will not be able to go until this coming fall due to my second knee replacement in March!  Mom will be a spry 93-years old in August, 2018.  We always spend lots of time cardmaking together on my visits, along with my sister who lives in the same town in California!  We usually schedule a week-long girls' get-away to Mt. Shasta...what wonderful memories!

I pulled out some of my old unfinished Liz Thayer card kits and their pictures to see what I might use and get them out of my too full "To Do" box.  I found this little gem that I never put together during my knees "hiatus."  I love the paper colors and Liz's design, so my plan was to keep it quite similar, but add a little here or there to put a little "me" into it.  Then, I would design a complimentary inside and verse to finish it off.

I re-cut and enlarged the white cardbase and added a Crisp Cantaloupe layer between the base and the black layer to add more color.  (I saved the old cardbase to cut and use for the inside card verse).  I added rhinestone gems to the four corners, the banner points, hearts, and sentiment circle, but the bones of the design still shine through.

Now that Mom's card is finished, it really reminded me how much I loved the Valentine Stampin' Up products I bought in 2015 and 2016 but never had the opportunity to use.  I will check out some Splitcoaststamper challenges to see if any of them fit, as I already had the colors, papers, and design ideas before beginning my card.  Take a look below at the finished card inside and out.  I think Mom will be pleased!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe (retired); Patterned dsp--Stacked with Love.  SU stamps: Hello Life (2016-retired).  SU: Happy Heart EF.  SU punches: Itty Bitty Accents Pack (2016-retired); 1/2" Circle; 2" Circle; 2-1/4" Scallop Circle.  SU-Rhinestones.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Computer-composed verse.  Size: 4-1/2' x 5-5/8".

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 Wreath for My Door!

If you view and/or read my blog, you will have seen that I am now into making Deco Mesh wreaths for the holiday to decorate my door.  My first wreath is near and dear to my heart because it is a Seahawks wreath.  I have now made four of these:  one for my son & daughter-in-law, one for a cardmaking buddy's birthday, and one for my son's girl friend's birthday (an avid fan as well).  Here is a link to that project: http://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2015/08/seahawks-wreath-for-her-birthday.html 

My second project was loads of fun. . . I so love Halloween!  I love to make Halloween cards and I love all the fun decorations.  When the children were growing up, my oldest son and I fashion gravestones for the front yards out of tombstone shaped outdoor plywood, painted them gray and used one of those huge permanent black markers to assign them to clever characters for our lawn.  We, of course, had cobwebs and eerie music to fill the area surrounding the house.   Our house was the talk of the neighborhood.  As soon as I saw all the Halloween goodies in the stores, we had to get started on our next wreath project. .  .for Halloween!  Here is a link to that project:  http://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2015/10/halloween-wreath-lets-try-it-again.html

Now, we are onto Valentine's Day, which is soon to arrive.  Since Michele and I were not able to get together to get much shopping done, except for our Deco Mesh itself, I went out by myself to find embellishments to finish up our wreaths with a flair.  I found it really difficult by myself to choose as I really didn't know what Michelle would like or not, so of course, I over shopped and that means we spent another whole evening later making numerous returns before February 14th as many stores do not take back seasonal items at all after the season has passed, even with a receipt!  But, with all that said, I still have to say, we were very pleased with the way our wreaths turned out.  I made mine with more of a focus on red, and she used a raspberry pouf in her base; therefore, hers ended up with more of a pink-toned focus.  Take a peek below at my finished project, which is gracing my front door:

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".

Another Checked Valentine Card!

I've made my third card using the brown, white, and red checked heart patterned paper from TPC Studio, and I still have enough paper left to make at least two more cards!  

I saw a card on Pinterest with a unique fold design that I thought I'd like to try.  I saved it to my Pinterest Layout Ideas board a few weeks ago, and I remembered it when I was looking through my board for pattern ideas for my last "key" card.  The author of this Pinterest save called the its style the Collar Fold.  After taking a look at it, I figured it wouldn't be too difficult to figure out myself without a tutorial.  I figured my first step should be to figure out what stamp or embellishment I would put in my "collar opening," which would help determine the depth of my cut to created my collar.

I have been trying to organize my stamps into seasonal and occasion lists so that when I wanted to make a Valentine card, for example, my list would tell me which stamp sets I could use to make that type of card.  My list is further broken down into stamps sets that have small or large sentiments for that season or occasion list as well.  From my Valentine list, I discovered several stamps sets with cute hearts that could be added to my collar opening, and I discovered the retired Hearts A Flutter stamp & die sets had an open bodied heart with an eyelet edge, which would allow a word or small sentiment to be added to its center.  From this point, my card just flew together easily, and I was very happy with my first try at a Collar Fold card.  Take a peek below:

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up cardstock--Early Espresso, Real Red, Very Vanilla; Pattern-TPC Studio--The Reasons I Love You/ Little Lovin'.  Stampin' Up Stamps: Hearts a Flutter, Bloomin' Love (xoxo).  Stampin' Up Ink: Early Espresso, Rose Red.  Stampin' Up Framelit die: Hearts a Flutter.  Stampin' Up punch: Curvy Corners.  Recollections Pearls.  Stash: 5/8" Sparkly Sheet ribbon; Antique Gold Key.  Style: Collar Fold.  Size: 4-5/8" 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". 

Friendly Valentine Card #2

I'm on to my next friend Valentine card.  I thought I would try the same layout design, but eliminate the embedded embossing and use one of the cute little journal tags that I found in my Valentine stash.  The sentiment is perfect for one of my friends, "I Like Hangin' Out With You."  

Next, I began to search for the perfect patterned paper companions that would work well together and with my tag.  When I found the Little Yellow Bicycle foil hearts hanging from a curly while clothes line, I thought it was the perfect base.  I soon found the other two patterned papers that would work for the banner and its half-circle topper.  I decided on the rose-pink cardstock I had used in my first friend card and decided to pair it up with red for the tag and the banner underlays.  I used larger brads on this card and I think I like them as well, but the jury may still be out on that one.  Take a peek at my finish card and see what you think.

Following my traditional cardmaking routine, I now turned my attention to designing an inside that compliments the outside, finishing it off with my own idea for a verse, using the Be My Valentine stamp from the Stampin' Up Delightful Dozens stamp set, which has unfortunately, been retired.  I made my verse using the computer and added the stamp at the bottom in Cherry Cobbler ink.  I also decided to color in my stamp heart with the Stampin' Up Rose Red marker.

Recipe:  Paper products:  Recollections 200 Sheet Pack: Red, Rose pink; K&Co.  Little Yellow Bicycle--Heart Strings with Foil; PaperMania--Mini Hearts; WRMK--Love Struck-Forever Yours.  SU stamp: Delightful Dozen.  SU Ink: Cherry Cobbler (inside).  SU Punches: 1-3/8" Circle.  EK Stickos: Red Bubble Hearts.  SU 1/4" Brads (retired).  Computer-made verse.  Size: 5" x 6".

Friendly Valentine Card #1

I have several cardmaking friends with whom I exchange Valentine cards just for the fun of it.  We usually plan a friends-lunch-out adventure and meet at one of our favorite restaurants.  Our luncheon is coming up soon, so I needed to get my cards finished pronto.  I wanted to use a technique that I learned probably going on four years ago now, and that is embedding patterns with the use of an embossing folder.

I chose a bright and colorful patterned paper that incorporates almost a horizontal stripe collage of patterns with many different colors of pinks, reds, and a few other pastels as well.  From many of these patterns, I punch small and medium-sized hearts, which I adhered to a white cardstock rectangle.  I then embedded them into this rectangle by using the Square Lattice embossing folder by Stampin' Up that is now retired.  This is my favorite embossing folder to use for this technique because it has a tightly woven pattern that really works well for embedding.  Next I decided to incorporate a banner using one of the paper patterns as a focal point and to also use it as the anchor for my planned sentiment.  I finished it off by adding mini brads in coordinating colors for an embellishment interest.  This is my little embedded Valentine pattern card. . .take a peek below!

To finish my card, I turned my attention to designing a coordinating design and Valentine verse that compliments with the front of my card creation.  I decided to incorporate the front sentiment into the inside card verse.  I must say there is certainly a LOT of PINK!  Take a look see at the finished product below:

Recipe:  Paper products:  Recollections 200 Sheet Pack: Red, Hot Pink, Rose pink; Darice Core'dinations Cardstock: Soft Side-mint; K&Co. Valentine Stack (retired).  SU stamp: Delightful Dozen.  SU Ink: Rose Red, Cherry Cobbler (inside).  SU Embossing Folder: Square Lattice.  SU Punches: Heart to Heart (retired), 1-3/8" Circle, Decorative Label, Itty Bitty Accents-Heart.  EK punch: Graceful Heart Corner.  SU Mini brads (retired).  Technique: Embedded Embossing. Computer-made verse.  Size: 5" x 6". 

Valentine's Day is Imminent!

Valentine's Day has been creeping ever closer, and here it is now in the imminent category!  I few weeks ago, I decided I should try to use up some of my old Valentine paper and embellishment stashes.  Then again, I also wanted to use some of the new products in the 2016 Stampin' Up Occasions mini catalog, so now I knew I was going to be pulled in both direction.  I decided to start with my stash so I wouldn't feel so guilty if I ended up using more new than old.

The first stash idea that popped into my mind was My Mind's Eye's original Lost & Found Union Square papers that I have had for six LONG years now!  It was first published in 2010 and I bought my first pieces then.  Over the next several years, I stocked up on a more and more each year if I saw them on sale, as they were a little pricey because most pieces had glitter on them.  Now, I even have the 6"x 6" paper pad that came out a few years after the original 12" x 12" collection was published.

The piece of paper from this collection that came to mind was what I called the red glitter LOVE paper.  Now, this 12" x 12" paper, of course, is made with scrapbooking in mind, so it has rather large patterns to deal with.  I measured the lower right-hand corner of this paper where the glittery red LOVE word was imprinted, and decided a horizontal card with the big LOVE word in the center would work really well.  My mind evidentally chewed around on this idea subconsciously for several days, and one day in the middle of the night, I woke with an image of the LOVE word fussy-cut out and popped up in the center with some layers involved, of course.

After several days of completing my errand lists, doctor appointments, and celebrating my husband's birthday were finally over and done with, I was able to get to my craft table around noon today.  By this time, I had actually pulled out the paper I was thinking of and had decided to use SU's Early Espresso as my cardstock base.  Today, I actually began working on this LOVE word card that had been fermenting for going on two weeks.  In the meantime, I had received my most current Stampin' Up order, and there were some of the things I had ordered that had also been popping in and out of my mind to use as well!  

My first step was to fussy-cut the LOVE word and its surrounding design.  I decided to underlayer it with Early Espresso cardstock, so I traced its shape onto the cardstock and fussy-cut it about 1/8" out from my trace line.  I wanted use my new corner punch from Stampin' Up; thus, I ended up using both the eyelet corner and the 2-scallop corner as well.  I was really please with this effect.  I adhered a layer of the pattern paper to my espresso cardbase, and I popped up the set of red glimmer and the top patterned paper from this base set of papers.  I then adhered my espresso, fussy-cut underlayer to my LOVE word and popped this set up as well.  I added some small and mini red gumdrop glitter gems to the front, and I was done! Below is the final version of my LOVE word card, which I think I am well satisfied with!

As is my tradition in cardmaking, my finishing job is to create an inside that coordinates and compliments the outside design that I have created, so I turned my focus to accomplishing just that.  I had the idea to use my new SU stamp set, Bloomin' Love as I liked the flourishing My Valentine stamp in this set.  I built a verse around using this very stamp, and voilá here is my completed inside:

Recipe:  Papers:  SU cardstock: Early Espresso, Red Glimmer, Very Vanilla (inside); MME patterned: Lost & Found--Union Square: Home Sweet Home-LOVE; Darice Kraft cs (inside).  Stamps: SU-Bloomin' Love (inside).  Ink: SU-Cherry Cobbler.  Punch:  SU-Curvy Corner Trio; EK-Scroll & Hearts Edger.  MultiCraft: Gumdrop Glitter Gems.  Computer-made verse (w/stamped My Valentine). Size: 4-1/2" x 6".

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).

Valentine Girl!

My third Valentine friendship card that I made was also for a cardmaking buddy!  I decided to use another card kit provided by my sister Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner (blogspot.com).  Fortunately, I had the patterned paper used on this card because I really wanted to make it a 5-1/2" square card from its original A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2").  To do this, I had to make a new cardbase, so I decided to switch it to brown and add a mat layer in Flamingo pink BoBunny Double Dot.  I had to add another piece of the patterned paper below the brown cardstock belly band.  I got out my Copic markers to color the little Magnolia stamp.  I thought my card turned out well, and I really like the change in cardbase color and the added Double Dot.  They seemed to bring out the colors in the background pattern my little colored image popped better.  I hope my friend, Charlene, liked her little Valentine Magnolia card.

Recipe:  Stampin Up Chocolate Chip cs (base), BoBunny: Flamingo Double Dot, My Minds Eye pattern.  Magnolia stamp.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  Michaels' Celebrate ribbon.  Recollections pearls.  Copic markers.

Be My Valentine Cupid!

My second Valentine friendship card I made was for my friend Sandy.  I decided I wanted to use the Stampin' Up cupid stamp on her card, and my new Pretty Print embossing folder.  Again, I used patterns from Echo Park's Yours Truly collection.  I was pretty happy with my little card with its perky pink satin bow!  I hope Sandy enjoys her card.

Recipe:  Georgia Pacific White cs (base), Echo Park: Yours Truly.  Stampin' Up Stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Embossing Folder: Pretty Print.  Stampin' Up Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Black.  Stampin' Up Punches: 1-3/8" Circle, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, Modern Label.  Stash: Pink Double Satin ribbon.

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.