Valentine Tags

Napkin trade and play day at Art 'n Soul tomorrow afternoon. It's free and fun!




My favorite stamp at CHA by Gourmet Stamps:

New stamps from Leigh Hannan for Impression Obsession. Did you know Impression Obsession is open catalog at Art 'n Soul? right now?

And here are some of the accompanying sample cards displayed at CHA . . .

Being height-challenged, it was difficult to photo these
samples because they were ALL above the stamp displays, way
above my head!

I was thrilled to see these new stamp designs by Leigh Hannan. I thought she had disappeared from the rubber stamp world because it's been quite a while since I've seen any new stamp designs by her. Obviously, a pink sheet is in the works for me . . . what about you?




from Memory Box . . .

Cupid Heart Card Video

"Does anyone else have a lot of glitter in their workspace? It seems like as soon as I get the glitter out, I find it on me, the kids, my wife Monica and the dogs for about 3 weeks afterwards! 

Well, since it was already a little bit glittery in the studio - I thought up another glitter card! This project showcases the Cupid Heart Die (98281) and the matching Classic Heart stamp (G1856) - I designed these two to work together for easy cutting (the die has a clear grid for easy positioning). Enjoy the video! (I hope the video comes through . . . when I preview the blog, it doesn't; but when I'm on the edit page, it shows. If not, please go to www.memoryboxco.com and click on 'blog' and click on the first title listed.)

The shimmer of the Martha Stewart Sterling Silver Glitter against the Currant cardstock is really noticeable - and using the packing tape idea in the video you can see the glitter sticks right where it's supposed to!

  

Besides the Cupid Heart die, I also used the Heart Delights die (98280) to make the border...

...and the card comes together in no time!"

Butterfly and Chrysanthemum

"For today's card, I wanted to feature one of the new Valentine images (Chrysanthemum Frame G1857) as well as some of the new dies (Darla Butterfly 98264 and Vivienne Butterfly 98265).

To create the background, I stamped the Chrysanthemum Frame onto Parchment cardstock with black ink and then colored the flowers and leaves with Prismacolor pencils.  I then distressed the whole thing with some Tea Dye Distress ink and a foam blending tool. 

To create the butterfly, I cut out some latte Moroccan paper using the Darla Butterfly die and then layered some Raspberry cardstock that I cut with the Vivienne Butterfly.  To finish everything, I added some pink pearls."

Grey and Red (I REALLY like this one!)

"For today's card, I decided to amp up the contrast a bit.  However, instead of going with the traditional black and red color scheme, I went with grey and red.  To create the heart border, I ran the Twirled Heart die (98279) through my Cuttlebug with white paper and then once again with Holly Berry red paper.  I pieced the red and white sections together so that I ended up with red hearts outlined in white.

For the larger heart, I stamped the Classic Heart (G1856) onto more of the Holly Berry paper with Versamark ink and then embossed it with white powder.  I then layered it onto some white cardstock and cut a white border around the heart."

(from today's blog posting) . . .

Hearts and Butterflies

"I'm changing it up today - lots of red and pink going on with the projects, so I thought a little variation might be fun.

The solid Darla Butterfly die (98264) is a really wonderful shape to use with a patterned paper and they work great with the Savannah Border die (98221). The background heart is the Cupid Heart die (98281) cut out of Thistle cardstock - it looks a lot different in a neutral color when compared to the project in the Cupid Heart Card video!

And just so the card pops a little, add some bright blue Ocean cardstock - and send this to a friend!"

From Spellbinders . . .

V-Day Card with New Die Templates!

by Julie Overby

Hi everyone!  Julie here with another project that I am ecstatic to share with you!  The reason being, it is chalked full of new die templates!  Now that CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) is in full swing, we can finally show you the most incredible new products that Spellbinders™ has come out with.  Have you been following along with all the excitement?  Holly and Kelly have been keeping us posted on all the happenings down in Anaheim.  You can see some updates on Holly's post and on Kelly's post.


As I have mentioned before, I have many favorites in this new release and today I put them together to make this Valentine's Day card.  All the new release products can be found in the online store.  They are Gorgeous with a capital G!

Spellbinders Paper Arts Products:

• Spellbinders Grand Calibur®
• EL-004 Imperial M-Bossabilities
• E8-010 Classic Decorative Inserts Two
• S4-356 Floral Ovals
• S4-136 Classic Heart
• S5-086 Bitty Blossoms
• S4-110 Classic Ovals LG
• S4-324 Ribbon Banners

Cross Promotional Products:

• Want2Scrap Pearls
• My Mind's Eye™ Lost and Found Pattern Paper (Home Sweet Home)
• SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L™ 3D Foam Squares, EZ Tape Runner
• Scor-Pal® Scor-Tape
• Clearsnap Colorbox Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink, Glue Gloss

Preferred Partner Companies:

• JustRite® Stampers Shabby Music Background, Happy Everything, With Sympathy 

Other:

Ribbon, glitter, ink, paper, markers, glue pen

1)  After creating a card base, I added a strip of pattern paper to the bottom and a square piece of pattern paper to the center.  Using the new M-bossabilities folder called Imperial, I embossed a strip of cardstock and adhered it to the top of the card.

2)  I stamped this music background stamp on to cardstock.  Lovin' this new stamp by JustRite! Then I stamped the rose image on top of the background stamp.  Because I didn't want to include the entire rose image, I lined up my oval die template and taped it so I could cut it out using my Grand Calibur machine without it moving around.

3)  Next, I cut/embossed a Floral Ovals die template and turned it into a frame by placing a Classic Ovals LG in the center and cutting it out.  I cut small foam squares and placed them on the back of the Floral Oval and then adhered it to the stamped image.

4)  I would recommend coloring your image first but because I hadn't decided if I was going to color just add glitter, I ended up filling in my roses after the frame was on.  I colored them with markers.  Then I traced over it with a glue pen and added glitter.

5)  After tying a bow around the card, I used foam squares to adhere the oval the center of the card.

6) Then I cut/embossed two different Classic Decorative Inserts Two; one out of kraft cardstock and one out of cream cardstock.  Using a glue pen, I layered the kraft one on top of the cream one.  After cutting the strip to 5 inches, I adhered it across the seam of the pattern papers on the card and then added a strip of pearls to the top.

7)  I stamped the sentiment and then lined up a Ribbons Banner die template and cut/embossed it with the Grand Calibur machine and adhered it over the oval.

~ Designer Tip ~

Use Spellbinder Die Templates to create your own embellishment by layering several pages of dictionary pages together.  Sew them together and cut the image out using the die template.

8)  For this step, I layered about 8 pages of old dictionary paper together and then sewed a few lines down the middle of it.  I taped the hearts in position and then cut them out.  Before removing the die cut from the paper, you have to snip the thread so that it's not still attached to the rest of the paper.

9)  Next, I inked the edges with chalk ink and gathered the layers toward the middle, pressing them in with my fingers.  Then I adhered them to the card.

10)  One of my very favorite of all the new die templates is the Bitty Blossoms!  They might just be showing up on all my projects!  I cut/embossed the medium sized one out of pattern paper and then inked the edges.  I rolled it up and then using glue gloss, I applied a small amount of glitter and a pearl to the center.  Then I adhered it to the center of the bow.  I added a few pearls around the oval and pin to the top of the bow to embellish.

Well, what do you think?  Just when you think there couldn't possibly top the beautiful die templates from past releases, they come up these!  And look what you can make!!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in our excitement!

From Suzanne at Pennywise Arts

Valentine Tags

Several years ago I bought this tag at a discount store.  I loved the design, the texture, the colors, everything!  I’ve used it a couple of times now as inspiration.

The first time was for a Christmas atc swap on the Pennywise Arts Yahoo Group.  I made 50 of them!

Last week I used it to jump start some Valentine tags.  My friend Julie Imsland came to craft with me so she made one too.  I always like to see the subtle differences when different people do the same project. 

This one is mine:

This one is Julie’s

We both used the “Roses Are Red 1” collage sheet from the Pennywise website for our rose background paper.  There are lots of gorgeous images to choose from!  I used red and gold opaque micro beads on my heart and Julie used ultra fine clear micro beads on her bird.

Now look closely at the hearts:  

The one from the purchased tag is crimped one way.
	Julie showed me that if you fold your heart in half and put it through the crimper you get lines going in two directions
If you fold it in half and put it in the crimper another way the lines will go upward.  I can’t remember which is which but one of us put the point in first and the other put the rounded end in first.

If this design inspires you too, please share a photo of what you make!  If I get it before February 7th and if I get at least 12 entries to share, I will be awarding one of my heart charms to a lucky participant!  

Use the “Contact Me” button on the blog to send an email with photo (www.pennywisearts.blogspot.com).

Hugs, Suzanne

Talk more tomorrow . . . I have to see which Super Bowl ad has won "best" all time commercial!