A Non Traditional Valentine's Day card

 For the first time in many years I actually made a New Year's Resolution!

For the next 12 months my goal is to use the products I already have on hand to make p etc.  This does not mean I won't buy new products, but the amount I purchase will be  very limited.

With that goal in mind I made this Valentine's Day card.

Instead of purchasing a new stamp set, I used a Christmas die I already had, accompanied with a die from a Valentine set, & an elegant frame embossing folder.

The wreath was die cut using Basic white card stock 3 times and adhered together. After it was added in the center of an Elegant Frame embossed card front,  Red foil die cut hearts were added randomly around the wreath.

A small red ribbon was added at the bottom of the wreath and the sentiment adhered below it.

Decorating Valentine Treat Boxes - Facebook Live Video

 The Sweet Little Treat Boxes on Page 9 of the Mini Catalogue are so darn cute!  And - they are so much fun to decorate!

Here are 3 ways to do so,

 .... I demonstrated how to do so on a live Facebook presentation.  The video is below. You'll have to excuse the start of the video as I did not have my camera pointed the right way to start.  Just fast forward through the 'blackness'.

Decorate the front of the box before assembling it.

Valentine Box #1

• cut two pieces of DSP 2 1/4 by 3 1/4" in half diagonally. 
• Adhere 2 different pieces to the front, and add a 1/8" of Real Red cardstock along the mid seam line
• Die cut a mini envelope in vellum and one in Real Red card stock.  Trim the Real Red card stock leaving one flap and the center.  Add this to the back of the vellum envelope.
• Add 3 different hearts die cut from the DSP as shown above.
• Adhere a blushing bride small heart coming out of the envelope and a Real Red one near the top of the box.
• Make a bow with the Blushing Bride ribbon (On Horizon) and adhere to envelope using a glue dot.
• Stamp the sentiment using Real Red ink.  Cut into 3 words.  Adhere to Real Red card stock.  Trim leaving a small margin around the words.  Add words to top left of box using mini dimensionals.
• Assemble box

Valentine Box #2:

For the second treat box, the DSP was added to the front section of the treat box holder after which an aperture was die cut in the center using one of the heart dies.

• After die cutting a heart shaped aperture in the center of the box front, turn the box over and adhere a piece of window sheet over the opening to prevent candy from falling out.
• Turn the box over again and add 3 die cut hearts, each in a different colour, along the right side of the heart.
• Die cut a strip of 4 hearts. This leaves an outline of joined hearts as well as 4 individual hearts.
• Adhere this strip below the heart aperture and the tiny hearts beside the left side.
• Stamp the sentiment in Gorgeous Grape ink, trim, and banner both ends.  Add to the treat box using dimensionals.
• Add a ribbon made with Gorgeous grape organza ribbon in the left upper corner (missing in picture)
• Assemble box

Valentine Treat Box #3

• Add 2 1/4 by 3 1/4" piece of Sweet Talk DSP (lots of red hearts) to the front of the treat box
• Die cut 3 heart openings vertically.  I found it easiest to die cut the bottom one first, followed by the middle and the top one.
• Turn box over and adhere a piece of window sheet over the apertures
• Put box together.
• Wrap ribbon around box near the top followed by a bow
• Fussy cut a tag from the DSP
• Stamp the sentiment "Be Mine" from the stamp set "Pinball greetings"
• Adhere two tiny hearts - one Highland Heather, one Blushing Bride to the horizontal line on the tag,
• Add tag below ribbon bow with a dimensional.

And of course, chocolate hearts were added to the treat boxes.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Sweet Conversations, Gumball Greetings

Inks:  Black Memento, Gorgeous Grape, Real Red

Papers:  Sweet Talk DSP 

Accessories:  Window sheet, Sweet Hearts dies,  Gorgeous Grape organza ribbon, Real Red ribbon, Iridescent rhinestones, dimensionals                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Bouquet of Love Valentine Greetings Card using the Hybrid Embossing Folder

 A Hybrid embossing folder cuts and embosses at the same time.  It's hard to conceptualize if all you have ever done with an embossing folder is emboss. What is different with the hybrid folders is that there is an image engraved in one  of the sides of the folder into which a cutting die fits.  This is usually the side that has the Stampin' Up logo.

So this embossing folder can have 2 functions:

1.  Emboss

2.  Emboss and cut out an image

Here's my card:

For this card, I used both the emboss and die cut function.  However, I also added another element.  I added Black Memento ink to the entire side of the folder that had the logo on the other side.  Then I added a piece of Red Velvet card stock, & ran it through the Emboss and cut machine (Be sure to wash the embossing folder well before the ink dries. P.S. Do not use Stazon ink).  I first saw this technique done by Jackie Bultje.

This is the hybrid embossing folder with the die in place.  To cut and emboss at the same time, add some card stock, and insert into the die cutting machine using 3D settings.

Remove the die and add Black Memento ink on the entire Embossing folder.

To cut and emboss, add the heart die and place in the embossing folder until you hear the click.

Cut red velvet to the size you want it and place inside inked up embossing folder (velvet side against inked surface).  Close folder and run through die cutter.

To emboss without cutting a heart in the center do not put the die inside the folder.

The Red Velvet paper is embossed with a die cut heart in the middle, and the black memento ink has coloured the flat areas between the raised flowers

This piece is adhered to a 1 1/4 by 11" piece of Basic Black card stock.

Two smaller hearts, one in Real Red and one in Basic Black, are placed below and to the right of the die cut heart slightly overlapping each other.

Three smaller pink flowers and 2 leaves die cut in Granny Apple green are adhered over the Real Red heart. Iridescent gems are added to the center of each flowers.  A bow made from pink ribbon was added below the flowers.

The sentiment is stamped on a 1/4 by 2 1/4" strip of Blushing Bride and added over the lower heart using dimensionals.

The die cut heart was used to make another card.

The die cut heart from this one could be used to make another card.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Love & Happiness

Inks:  Black Memento

Papers:  Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Granny Apple Green, Red Velvet

Accessories:  Bouquet of Love Hybrid Embossing Folder, Bouquet of Love Dies, Sweetheart Dies, Dimensionals, Iridescent Gems

A Gumball Machine Shaker Valentine Card

 As soon as I saw this stamp/die set on Page 12 of the new Mini catalogue I knew I wanted to get it and make some wonderful cards. If you like making 3D cards, and shaker cards, this is the set for you.  If you don't, this is the set for you.  I showed my finished card to a neighbour and she can't wait for me to make a card for her great grandson.

Don't those little frosted gum balls look real?

For my card base I used Magenta Madness layered with Sunshine and Rainbow DSP (SAB). Those multicolored stripes gave me lots of options for colours for the Gum ball machine - but in the end I chose Magenta Madness. I did not immediately add these two layers together, so I set them aside for now

To start, I die cut all the pieces I thought I would need.  I wasn't sure what went where, but the pieces for the base were easy to figure out. These I die cut in Magenta madness, with the exception  of the metallic part in the front, which I die cut using a metallic piece of card stock I had left over from a winter project.  I added that to the base with dimensionals, and popped the little trap door below it open.  An extra handle was die cut and I popped it on top of the original.

To determine where I would have to die cut an aperture for the Gumball Machine shaker box, I placed the completed base on the DSP which would be adhered to the card front and penciled lightly where the aperture would be. After I die cut the aperture, I removed the adhesive cover on the top of  the shaker box and  inserted it into the aperture from the back to the front.

Now comes the fun part.  I turned the shaker box upside down and removed the bottom adhesive.   I added frosted gum balls and covered the opening closed with a piece of window sheet. That way the gum balls would not roll all over the place when I turned the box over to finish the rest of the card.

Using tombo, the DSP was adhered to the card front, after which the rest of the Gum ball machine was added.

The sentiment was stamped with Misty Moonlight ink on a Tasty Label die cut, and added to the left of the machine.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Gumball Greetings

Inks:  Misty Moonlight

Papers:  Magenta Madness, Basic White, Sunshine and Rainbow DSP

Accessories:  Gumball Machine Dies, Frosted Beads Assortment, Tasteful Label dies, Gumball Machine Shaker, Misty Moonlight ribbon

A Valentine Treat Box

 I can't seem to make up my mind which of the new products I want to 'play' with.  Today the Valentine treat boxes won out. I used the Sweet Talk DSP to decorate these cute little boxes.

The "Sweet Little Boxes" #157628 are on Pg. 9 of the new Mini catalogue. Each box is 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 by 5/8" just the perfect size for a little treat.  Each box is super easy to put together.  All you need to do is burnish the folds, remove the covers from the adhesive and adhere the appropriate folds and your box is made.

Measurements:

• 2 pieces of  Sweet Talk DSP (hearts) 3 1/4 by 2 1/4"
• 1 piece of Sweet Talk DSP  1 by 7" for belly band

1 piece of Sweet Talk DSP (reverse pattern) 3/4 by 7" to layer on belly band

• Basic White 1/2 by 3" notched at both ends for sentiment
• ephemera fussy cut from DSP  

Add the 3 1/4 by 2 1/4" to the front and back of the treat box

Adhere the 2 layers of belly bands together.  Fold around box and adhere ends together at the back of the box.

Arrange various fussy cut items above belly band and adhere with dimensionals

Stamp sentiment with black Memento ink, notch both ends using Tailor Tag punch. Adhere to front of belly band

Fold a piece of Real Red ribbon in half and then off set the ends.  Adhere below belly band. Trim ends at an angle.

Finish by adding 3 angle dots

Other supplies:

.1/2" Real Red ribbon

.Tailor Tag punch

.Matte decorative dots

Alternative Card Designs for January2021 Paper Pumpkin kit

 Valentine's Day is coming soon, so the January Paper Pumpkin kit was perfect for making some cards  for some important people in my life.  Both are animal lovers, so I added images from the Pampered Pet stamp set and made some unique cards.

Here are 2 examples:

In this card, man's best friend is waiting patiently at the mail box for a letter from his best friend.  He even brought his food bowl with him, probably anticipating a long wait.  After all, it is a  COVID 19 pandemic and the postal delivery service has been affected.

This art panel is adhered to one panel of a Gatefold Card.  This card fold was made by scoring a 4 1/4 by 11" Basic Black piece at 2 3/4 " at both ends and folding the ends inward,

Both panels are matted with Real Red card stock upon which was added some Playful Pet DSP.

The art panel itself is from the Jan 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit. My addition of the pooch with his food bowl, a black bow and a sentiment made it a unique individualized Valentine card.

The second card, below, also includes the addition of a Pampered Pet, and  I have just the person in mind for this card.

The card base of diagonal pink stripes is from the Paper pumpkin kit, as is the art piece which only had the gold heart and the smattering of flowers in two corners. A strip of Playful Pets DSP was adhered to the card front to the left side.

With the addition of the "Love" sentiment, the pink epoxy stickers, the pussy cat is grinning from ear to ear.  "I super like you" he purred.

Just before adding the art piece to the card base, some Real Red card stock the same size as the art piece was added offset behind it. 

Stay tuned for more unique cards made using the February paper pumpkin kit.ds

Donkey Slide & Lock Valentine Card

 I am really enjoying making Slide & Lock cards so I made this Valentine's Day card for a special person. 

I couldn't resist using the Donkey as my central figure.

The Gate fold base is Basic Black card stock 4 1/4 by 11" scored 2 3/4" at each end.  The front panels are layered with Whisper White and then a black and white diagonal stripe DSP called "True Love".  A sprinkle of Poppy Parade hearts cascade down the right panel; red flowers fussy cut from the same DSP as the diagonal stripes (and coloured with Blends) grace the left panel.

The art piece that slides up and down in the space between the Gate folds is heart shaped - a larger Whisper White heart with a smaller Poppy Parade heart added to it.  A Donkey, from "Darling Donkeys" with a rose in his mouth, was stamped, coloured with Blends, and then fussy cut.  Using dimensionals, he was added to the heart in front of a die cut fence from "Birthday Chick Dies".  I also added a cute little die cut chick from the same die set.

The art piece was completed by adding red rhinestones around the heart edge, and a ribbon bow coloured with a Poppy Parade blend added below the chick.

The lock and slide mechanism in this case is heart shaped.  See previous post for a short video clip 

The inside of the card reveals another donkey

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Darling Donkeys, Meant to Be

Inks: Black Memento, Stampin' Blends (Smokey Slate, Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Granny Apple Green)

Papers:  Basic Black, Whisper White, True Love DSP, Poppy Parade, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Birthday chick dies, Be Mine dies, 1/4" crinkled White seam binding, Real Red rhinestones, dimensionals.

Corner Bouquet - a Valentine Card

I started using the Corner Bouquet SAB stamp set to make an Anniversary card, but somewhere along the way, my card, having a mind of its own, became a Valentine card.

The stamp set has 2 sizes of bouquets - a larger one, and a smaller one.

The larger of the bouquets was embossed with gold embossing powder in the lower left corner, with the smaller one in the opposite upper right. This art piece was then die cut with the Stitched Rectangle die.

In between I placed the sentiment "Love" which was die cut with gold foil and adhered to its Basic Black shadow die. Below it was the rest of the sentiment, embossed in gold on Basic Black card stock.

To go along with the Valentine theme, I added some hearts in black, red and gold scattered above and below the sentiment.

This art piece was then matted with Gold Foil and then it was added to a a piece of Basic Black card stock also die cut with the Stitched Rectangle die. These 2 pieces were off set from each other and then off set again before being added to the Real Red card stock base.

In the inside, a Whisper White layer matted with Basic Black.  The smaller bouquet was also embossed in the upper right corner, and some hearts in the 3 colours were added in two of the corner.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Always and Forever, Meant To Be, Corner Bouquet

Inks: Versa Mark

Papers:  Real Red, Basic Black, Gold Foil, Whisper White

Accessories:  Always Die, Gold Twine, Gold Embossing powder, Meant to Be die, Stitched Rectangle Dies

Love You More - Paper Craft Crew Challenge #409

 Valentine's Day is nearing, and the challenge at the PCC challenge  #409 is an Inspiration One - Romance

Below is the card I made

I used an Oldie and a new stamp set to make this card and incorporated the colours red and black into the card.

The base is Basic Black card stock, layered with Poppy Parade, and then the black and white polka dot pattern of the True Love DSP.

A strip of Basic black card stock layered with Poppy Parade is angled across the middle.  On top of that is adhered a die cut of layered hearts, the hearts die cut from it are used elsewhere on the card. Also adhered to this strip is the sentiment "Love" adhered to its Basic Black shadow piece.  The words "You" and "More" are embossed with White embossing powder on black card stock, cut out and adhered next to the main sentiment.  Two small black hearts are also added to both ends.

Roses are the ultimate symbol of romance, so I just had to add them to the card. Above and below the strip are added two roses which were fussy cut from the True Love DSP, and coloured with Poppy Parade and Old Olive Stampin' blends. Some glimmer Crystal Effects was added to each flower and in the center some black prills. Dimensionals were used to adhere those romantic blooms to the card front.

To finish the card, a string of black and white hearts were added from the upper right to the bottom left of the card.

Supplies Used

Stamps: Forever & Always

Inks: Versa Mark, Stampin' Blends (Poppy Parade, Old Olive)

Papers:  Basic Black, True Love DSP, Poppy Parade, Red Foil

Accessories: Always Die, Be Mine Dies, White embossing powder, Dimensionals, Shimmer Crystal Effects, Non SU Prills (black)

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Music in My Heart - a simple Valentine

This  week in class we are making Valentine cards.
This card was made using

It's a simple, quick Valentine card.  Just stamp, colour , add ribbon, add some notes emerging from the piano, and you're done.  The ribbon is optional. 

Supplies Used:
Stamp: Music From the Heart
Inks:  Black Memento, Stampin' Blend (Basic Black, Real Red, Smoky Slate)
Papers:  Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories:  1/4" Real Red Ribbon, Crystal Effects on Piano (optional)

Meerkat Valentine

What in the world are Meerkats?  When Stampin' Up first introduced the Meerkat stamp in the Sale-a-bration catalogue that was the first time I had ever seen this animal.  So, I did a little research and found the following:

Meerkats are a type of Mongoose who inhabit all parts of the Kalahar Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namid desert in Nambia, in southwestern Angolia, and South Africa.

They are carnivora a spend much of their day foraging for food and digging deep tunnels.

A group is called a gang or a clan and it is not uncommon for  30 or 40 Meerkats to be part of a gang. This the name of the stamp set "The Gang's All Meer"

Being with Stampin' Up sure gives you an education!

The Meerkat stamp set can be quite versatile using it for birthdays, and/or holiday events.  Today the gang is sending a Valentine message to everyone.

The Meerkats were coloured with Light and Dark Crumb cake Stampin' Blends; the sky behind them with a  Pool Party Stampin' Blend.

Using the Dog Builder punch (which has a tiny heart as well as the dog) a Real Red heart was punched for each of the Meerkats and attached to their hands.  Tiny stitch marks were made with a fine tipped black pen around the outside and a small red rhinestone placed in the center of each heart.

The completed scene was die cut with the So Sweetly Stitched Die and adhered to the card front with dimensonals.

The Real Red card base is layered with Whisper White card stock.  A strip of From My Heart DSP with a lace die cut adhered to the bottom and a 1/8" strip of Real Red to the top was added to the middle.

The sentiment, from "Meant to Be", stamped in Real Red ink and die cut with the Be Mine dies, was added to the left side above the strip.  The rest of the sentiment was stamped directly onto the card front below the strip.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  The Gang's All Meer, Meant to Be

Inks:  Real Red, Black Memento, Stampin' Blends (Light and Dark Crumb Cake, Pool Party), Fine black marker

Papers:  Read Red, Whisper White, From My Heart DSP

Accessories:  Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Delicate Lace Edgelet die, Dog Builder Punch, Be Mine die, Dimensionals, Real Red Rhinestones

Hearts Pop Up

For some reason I'm in a 'pop up' kick, making cards that pop up , pop out or explode upon opening. Yesterday I posted a panel pop up featuring "Hey Love" here; and on Sunday an explosion card here.

Today's card is also a pop-up (or pop out), but the pop out's are hearts attached together.

Card Front

The card base is a Thick Whisper White top fold layered with Lovely Lipstick embossed with the Lace embossing folder.

    

On the upper portion I add 2 Whisper White stitched scallop hearts frames left over from another project.

The sentiment, from "Be Mine", was stamped in Lovely Lipstick, and punched using the Pretty Label punch.  To complete the front, two pearls are added on both sides of the sentiment.

Open the card, and out pops 4 hearts attached together.

Here's how to make the heart pop up insert: (The sample below is done using copy paper so as not to use up all my DSP)

1.  Start with a piece of desired paper 8 by 8" (size may vary depending on the pop up)

2.  Fold in half, with the open ends facing down.

3.  Fold right corner down to bottom open ends followed by the left corner

4.  Place selected die to the upper folds, so that the cut edge is just barely over the fold.  You should see a very tiny open space.  Here I use the Sweet and Sassy heart framelit.

5.  Tape in place and run through Big Shot.

6.  Refold.  Place in inside of card  and position lower heart where you want it.  Adhere.  Add adhesive to the top heart, close card and your pop up is adhered in the card.

You can stamp a sentiment in the center of the inside if you wish.

Supplies Used:

Stamp: Meant to Be

Inks:  Lovely Lipstick

Papers:  Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, Love Me DSP, Lovely Lipstick

Accessories:  Lace Embossing folder, Delicate Lace Edgelit, Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Pretty Label punch, Pearls, Sweet & Sassy Framelits

Meant to Be Explosion Valentine Card

This fun fold card is exploding with love.  The insert in the card is folded in such away that when the card is opened it literally explodes creating quite a sensation.

There are numerous tutorials available on Pinterest but I used the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers here

The card base is 5 by 10 piece of Flirty Flamingo cardstock scored at 5" to create a 5 by 5" square card.

The front is layered with Whisper White embossed with the Lace Dynamic embossing folder.  A 3 1/4" trip of Lovely Lipstick added down the center is embossed with the new Dot to Dot embossing folder.

To decorate the front, a strip of hearts is die cut in Crumb Cake.  The little hearts left over from the die cut are added on the right upper side of the card.  The Be Mine Stitched Framelits are used to die cut a heart in Flirty Flamingo, Whisper White, and a scalloped heart frame of Balmy Blue.  The little flower is die cut in Lovely Lipstick; a small half flower in Whisper White. The sentiment strip is added between the heart layers. All are layered as seen in the picture of the card.

To finish the card, a small bow is made using the 1/8" Flirty Flamingo ribbon

Open the card, and the surprise begins:

Open the card fully and …..

At the bottom I adhered a 'left over ' heart upon which was stamped "Happy Valentine Day"

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Meant to be

Inks:  Lovely Lipstick

Papers:  Flirty Flamingo, Whisper White, Lovely Lipstick, Balmy Blue, Crumb Cake, All My Love DSP

Accessories:  1/8" Flirty Flamingo ribbon, Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Dot to Dot Embossing Folder (new), Lace Dynamics Embossing Folder (new)