Last Valentine

Wow - it's February 28 already, and I almost forgot to post my final Valentine.  This one was made for my sons and grandson.  Using die cuts for CAS cards means a nice card made fast - LOL!  I think this is appropriately masculine.  Here it is:

Card Base & Panel:  Recollections
DP:  My stash
Heart Die:  Darice
Sentiment:  Snipped from a Happy Birthday die (stacked cuts)
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa
Embossing Folder:  Sizzix Dots

Challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafting with Friends #37 - Anything Goes

          

        

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Floral Sympathy

I created this card for a friend whose adult son passed away.  It was several months ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting it.  This type card is so very hard to make, especially for a friend who's lost a child. I did my best to make it uplifting.

After stamping and embossing the flowers (a background stamp), I blended distress inks all over the front panel.  Then I embossed the sentiment on vellum and added the sequins. It's a bit bright, but I think the colors are comforting.

Cardstock:  Recollections (white and kraft)
Background Stamp:  I think it's Hero Arts, but not sure; I lost the packaging; have had it for years
Sentiment:  Paper Smooches
Distress Inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon
Accessories:  Vellum, Embossing Powders, Sequins

Challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Fantastic Florals
Crafting with Friends Challenge Blog #37 - Anything Goes
Hiding in my Craft Room #289 - Embossing
     
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Inlaid Heart Valentine

This is a Valentine for our precious 16 year old grandniece.  I CASEd a Jennifer McGuire card (see here).  Since our niece loves pink, my color combo is the same as Jennifer's. This was so easy to make and such fun. I can even see making an anniversary card for my husband using "manly" colors. Here's my card:

If you watch Jennifer's video, you'll know that I have leftover hearts which can make another card.  I cut multiples of the words and glued them together to give depth.  It's hard to see, but they are coated with black WOS, so they sparkle nicely. The tiny sequins finished it off.

By the way, I'm now using my IPhone to take pictures of my cards. The photos are much clearer in my opinion, although I need to get the process down better. Thank you, Brenda, so much for your help. I will probably check with you again for more help. And thank you, Darnell, for your tips, too.  Blog friends are the best!!

Card Base:  Recollections 110 lb
Cardstock:  My stash
Dies:  Darice (Heart); Little Yellow Bicycle (Love); Paper Smooches Kudos (you)
Sequins:  My stash
Accessories:  Black Wink of Stella, Sequins (my stash)

Challenges:
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Young at Heart
Die Cut Divas - February - Use Red or Pink
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #62
Stamplorations Cutplorations Challenge - February
 
     









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Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #294 - Valentines

I'm very excited to let you know that I am now a member of the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Design Team. FCCB is a fun place. You have to have at least one Cricut cut image on your project.  I'm pleased that I will be using my Cricut Expression more now.  I don't have a lot of carts, but I intend to fully use what I have.  Be sure to pay the blog a visit, and if you have a Cricut of any type, join in the fun!  Here's my Valentine card:

I think this CAS card has a nice masculine look to it.  I'm not sure which man in my life will receive this one, my husband, son #1, son #2 or my grandson.  But no matter who gets this one, I have more to make - LOL!

Cricut Cartridge:  Close to My Heart Artbooking
Card Base:  Recollections
Designer Paper & Rhinestone:  My stash

Challenges:
Bitten by the Bug 2 - Valentines
House of Cards - February Challenge:  Love and/or Colors
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - February
The Paper Players - PP330 Theme:  Valentine

  

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Bubble Wrap Background

Friends, I am barely under the wire trying to make Darnell's NBUS Challenge #10 using the bubble wrap option. I made my background last night, but it didn't turn out so well.  I think I put two much reinker on the bubble wrap (small bubbles).  And I really didn't use a good color combo either.  I smooshed it on five different photo papers, the only glossy paper that I had.  The first two were just awful - a dark mess that I might be able to use at Halloween.  Of the other three, two were passable and one marginal.  But none were dry this morning.  At different times during the day, I used my heat gun and paper towels and dry and/or blot the paper I disliked the least.  Finally, it was dry and I started my card.  Here it is:

My NBUS is the stamp, it's Close to My Heart, and I've probably had it for five years or more. It's embossed on white card stock.  I dusted some light brown chalk around the truck before cutting it with a stitched die.  I cut the bubble wrap pane with a stitched die also and mounted all to the card base.  This will go to man, and I will add a sentiment later.

Card stock:  Recollections
Stamp:  Close to My Heart Maximum Power (retired)
Ink:  Versamark
Embossing Powder:  Recollections Clear Bark
Dies:  Fawn Lawn
Reinkers:  Close to My Heart (unsure which colors I used)

Challenges:
Darnell's NBUS Challenge #10 
Crafting with Friends #36 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz #356 - Anything Goes with Twist (Male Card)


 



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613 Avenue Create Challenge #194 - Getting Sentimental

Hello, my friends!  Welcome to our February Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  We have the option to use the color blue and make the sentiment the focal point. You'll want to see the DT projects.  They are great.  Here's my card:

I made my own background paper by using a sponge dauber to put the distress ink circles on white card stock. Then I blended the same distress ink all over the panel. I added baker's twine and a banner made from Washi tape. The sentiment was die cut from a paint chip. This is a clean and simple card for my grandson - big surprise there!

Card stock:  Recollections
Ink: Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink
Die:  Kudos by Paper Smooches
Washi Tape:  My stash

Challenges:
Darnell's NBUS #10 (NBUS=Die (a 4 part die; one part used in NBUS #9)
Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge - Blue
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #302 - Anything Goes

      

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Juke Box Birthday

This is the card I made for my husband's birthday. I had fun making it, although I had a few problems. I'll talk about that more later. He's an old school guy, so I made him an old school card. Notice that the card is sitting on a RECORD!!

I've had this Sizzix die for about a year and a half, so it's definitely NBUS. The sentiment was constructed from two NBUS stamp sets.

I made the white and black background paper by embossing white card stock with a dotted embossing folder. Then I attempted to use a brayer to put black ink on the raised dots. I tried 3 times. I never could get the ink to just cover the dots without covering the flat area of the paper. I decided to go with it, cutting down the paper and distressing the edges. I added some red stripes along the right side.

I always take pictures with a digital camera. But I decided to try my IPhone 5s (not planning to upgrade-LOL!) because I've seen on blogs that some folks use IPhone pictures. I loved the picture my IPhone took, but when I tried to upload it to my blog after editing it, the picture was sideways, even though it was straight in my picture folder.  (I had rotated the picture in the photo editing.)  I tried 4 times and never could get it straight. So I gave up and used a picture from my digital camera. I will have to investigate to find a solution to my problem with the IPhone picture...

Card stock:  Recollections

Stamps:  Stamploration Celebrate Sentiment Builders; Neat & Tangled For the Record

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Die:  Sizzix Juke Box & Music

Embossing Folder:  Sizzix Dots (I think that's the name)

Challenges:

Darnell's NBUS #10 (I did not use the option) (Playing for Zig Brush Pens)

Die Cuttin Divas #302 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz #356 - Anything Goes Option Male Card

     

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