A quick heads-up. I'm planning a "Sweet Something's" Valentine's class at Art 'n Soul. I need to confirm the date with the store tomorrow and will let you know right away when the date is set. It's all about putting your 'sweet treats' in a pretty little basket, box or folder. This is one of the 3 Sweet Something's you'll make in class . . . very easy!

by Debbie Gaetz for "Sweet Something's" Class

Two terrific cards from the Memory Box blog featuring their new dies.

by Pam Sparks for Memory Box

Go to the Memory Box blog at http://davebrethauer.typepad.com/outsidethebox/ or Pam's blog, Expressions With Heart, at http://expressionswithheart.wordpress.com/ to see how she made this and other cards for Valentine's Day.

And there is this beautiful card from the Memory Box blog, an Acetate Butterfly Favor Box with Matching Card by Bibiana Martinez-Ziegler.

by Bibiana Martinez-Ziegler for Memory Box

You can go to Bibiana's blog, Stamping with Bibiana, at http://stampingwithbibiana.blogspot.com/ or the Memory Box blog at http://davebrethauer.typepad.com/outsidethebox/.

From the Magenta blog, check out these cards featuring Magenta's new Floral Elements Template (TM39) from Ellie Knoll . . .

by Ellie Knoll for Magenta, Design Team

by Ellie Knoll for Magenta, Design Team

by Ellie Knoll for Magenta, Design Team

You can go to the Magenta blog at http://lestylemagenta.blogspot.com/ to see how Ellie made these cards. When you're looking at the blog posting, be sure to scroll down to another of Ellie's postings featuring more stencil work featuring more designs from the same stencil set. 

As I was ordering Valentine's Day paper from BoBunny this morning, I discovered a line of paper they make called "Dot Flourish." I'm going to check it out at CHA this weekend; it looks like a great paper to use for backgrounds and something you might want to stamp directly onto as well. It's challenging to see the quality of the design and nuances of a paper online.

I lucked out today. We went to the Passport Office in Seattle and they refused the photo of me because the 'photographer' didn't cut it to the proper size, it was too washed out from the flash, and I had a scarf and coat on that covered up my neckline and shoulders. I could have kissed him right through the glass window! So we walked 2 blocks and I was able to obtain a much-improved photo. Unfortunately, because our passports were temporary ones issued in London to get us home in the U.S., then we learned birth certificates for proof of citizenship were needed to proceed; I had been told the expired temporary passports would suffice by the person on the phone. So, the saga continues!

Send warm thoughts to our friend Helene Metivier with Magenta. She is home in Montreal, Quebec and the temperature is 5 degrees. You are reading this correctly! At that temperature, I think I would have to sit "in" the fireplace!

Good night!