Valentine Love (Cont'd)

Here's the card I made for Nicole using that same collection. So fun!

Supplies
Patterned Paper - Stampin' Up!
Cardstock - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Stampin' Up!
Ribbon - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Stampin' Up!

Valentine Love

I made this simple little card for Kendall for Valentine's Day. I always try to find little gifts to give the girls for every holiday. Not that they need anything, but I like to just let them know throughout the year how special they are by giving them a handmade card and a small treat.

This year I found some cute little photo boxes that had a small bag of candy and a little stuffed animal in them. I realize the girls are 13 and 16 but they still like their stuffed animals. The gifts were small and inexpensive, but it's always fun to get something special to make an otherwise ordinary week a little less ordinary.

I made this card using some new product I got from Stampin' Up! I just love the colors on these papers and the stamps are adorable! I am really loving the new cling stamps and packaging that are now available. I still think there is nothing that can compare with stamping with a wood-mounted stamp, but they just take up too much space. As a result, I am only purchasing the stamps in the new packaging from SU now and they stamp just as well with the same precision and accuracy.

Supplies
Patterned Paper - Stampin' Up!
Cardstock - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Stampin' Up!
Border Punches - Stampin' Up!, Martha Stewart Crafts
Corner Rounder - We R Memory Keepers

Valentine Altered Frame

This was a fun project for me! I have been eyeing these gorgeous frames by 7 Gypsies for months now but just never had occassion to create one until now. Since Jay spoiled me so for my birthday (still need to do a post on that....) I told him he was totally off the hook for Valentine's Day this year. Meaning, he didn't have to get me a thing and I would be fine with that! He didn't quite listen....he had roses in a gorgeous heart-shaped vase sent to me at work (which I loved and was completely surprised by) but since I had given him a pass this year, I didn't want to get him anything expense because then he would feel badly which is not what I intended at all!

So, I decided to give him a gift from the heart. I wanted to make this gift romantic, but without being too girly-girly. I happened upon this gorgeous new line from Graphic 45 called Curtain Call and knew it was perfect. It's filled with music and cinematic images and the colors are black and cream and it's the perfect balance of romance and masculinity.

I was really happy with the way the project turned out overall. I know when I get a few more of these under my belt they will look better and better, but for my first attempt, I was pretty happy with the results.

And, most imporatantly, I was able to bless my wonderful hubby who is ALWAYS a blessing to me!

I cut the frame for this image on black cardstock (Bazill) using my Cricut Sentimentals cartridge and I hand-painted these Prima roses using Ranger alcohol ink mixatives. I just placed a few drops onto my craft mat and then picked up the color using a paint brush. They are super shiny and absolutly stunning!

For this panel, I used an epoxy sticker from Cloud Nine Designs and took the Love and Heart chipboard shapes from Maya Road and painted them with some Red Pepper paint from Ranger and then sprayed them with some Graphite glimmer mist from Tattered Angels. The small tag is from the die-cut sheet that came with the collection. I added a small brad from Making Memories to the top of it.

On this panel, I took some trim from Making Memories and outlined the frame. I used Glossy Accents to adhere the trim because it dries so quickly and has such a strong hold. The tag was cut using my Cricut (the patterned paper is from the same Graphic 45 collection) and I just hand wrote a small message using a Prismacolor fine line marker.

On this panel, I cut another frame onto black cardstock (Bazill) and them took some black flowers (Kaiser Crafts) and topped them with smaller red flowers (Bazill) and finished them off with some decorative brads from Making Memories. The epoxy sticker at the bottom is from Cloud Nine Designs and I backed it with some Riding Hood Red cardstock from Stampin' Up! so that it would stand out.

I kept this panel rather simple. I cut out another frame using black cardstock with my Cricut and then finished it off with some beautiful Prisma mesh flowers.

And finally, I cut another frame on black cardstock using my Cricut then took some letter stickers from Making Memories for the J&S and then took a dimensional sticker from Jolee's Boutique that I colored with some Copic markers.

Some detail on the Prisma flowers I colored with my alcohol ink mixatives.

Jen's Sketch Challenge 02-11

Hi Everyone!

The fabulous Jen Del Muro has another wonderful sketch challenge on her blog. This month, you have a chance to win a beautiful prize from Anita be Stampin. And, if you participate in the challenges every month for the entire year, you will be eligible to win a prize package worth over $200!!!! Go to Jen's blog for details.

For this month's sketch, I made a card for my amazing friend (more like a sister, really) Susan. Susan was my roommate for 9 years before Jay and I married. She was in our wedding and she is THE most incredible woman and friend I could ever ask for. She is truly a blessing from God. I just had the opportunity to spend the weekend with her when she flew out and surprised me for my 40th birthday. I can't even put into words what it meant to me. But, that is typical Susan. You can't outgive her and she just loves to give to others. And more important than anything, she has the most beautiful heart.

Being that Susan is so amazing, I thought it appropriate to use this sentiment stamp from Verve stamps. And it is true.....I strive to be more like my wonderful friend. I love you Susan!



Supplies
Cardstock - Papertrey Ink, Bazzil, Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper - My Minds Eye
Ink - Stampin' Up!
Ribbon - Papertrey Ink
Flowers - Prima Marketing
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Pearl - Basic Grey
We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper
Tim Holtz Distress Tool