VALENTINE CARDS 1-3



I am just getting carried away with Valentine's Day cards this year!!! Actually, I finished them a week or two ago, but didn't get a chance to upload them until today.



Since I retired, almost three years ago, I have not bought one single card....woo-HOO! Every year in February I used to spend at least $30 on cards for friends and family. Now that I have time to do my own V-Day cards, I spend very little and this year, it was about $6!!!



Products used were mostly from my stash, and all I had to purchase was the mini tablet (6"X6") by My Mind's Eye Lost, Union Square Collection. I used a set of sealing wax and clear stamps by Bo Bunny, Prima and Tattered Angels. Each card was made by first creating a tag with a popped-up and fussy-cut stamp. In addition, I popped up the tag.....so that's three distinct layers. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINGER!

My BFF, Ginger, had her birthday this week. We frequently laugh about being VINTAGE GIRLFRIENDS, since we now consider ourselves to be "of a certain age" and because we have been friends for more than fifty years! 

Here's the card I made for her. It is made in a VINTAGE style....LOL

We went to our favorite places for a little shopping and a delicious meal....The Dove's Nest  Gifts and Tearoom.

You would think it was my birthday....I found these lovely little chips of china that have figures of speech written on them in calligraphy....right up my alley! I put them in the saucer of a teacup that Ginger gave me for Christmas! 

While creating this lovely little display this evening, I had to put some vintage buttons and flowers in this cup and saucer that Ginger also gave me for Christmas! Doesn't it make a beautiful display? Both cups are sitting on an antique desk that is in my scrapbook room.

For THE GRAND FINALE, we could not resist a visit to our FAVORITE  scrapbook store ..... THE CRAFTY SCRAPPER, where we both are serving a second year on the design team! 

Hope you had a wonderful day, Ginger!

MAKING VALENTINES!

I've always loved the potential for creativity involved in making Valentine's  Day Cards. This celebration of love also gives us a chance to remind others how much they mean to us. Here are  a card and some tags that I've made this year using My Mind's Eye Lost, Union Square Collection. I used the small 6X6" tablet, a set of sealing wax and clear stamps by Bo Bunny, Prima and Tattered Angels. 

I did a little inking and fussy cutting for this tag. 

The seals were PERFECT for a Valentine theme.....so very romantic! 

This tag was made with a a clear stamp from the Prima "Printery Collection". 

The ribbons and hearts that I used are from my stash. 

Each of these tags were made with a lot of TLC.

I appreciate your comments! 

LITTLE BOY BLUE

I never knew the precious little boy in the photograph and only have a few details of his life.   He   was my great grandfather and he grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Civil War began a year or two after this portrait was made, so I cannot help but wonder how The War Between The States affected his life, and what he knew about the conflict that was in no way civil for either side.  

Techniques used on this piece are wet distressing, inking, paper folding, painting, hand stitching, stamping, and calligraphy. 

When I first laid eyes on Prima's Londonerry Collection, I knew that I had found the perfect paper and embellishments for this precious picture.       The lyrics to "Battle Hymn of the Republic" , by Julia Ward Howe seemed to be the perfect choice to explain the era and place.  

The photo is framed with the paper by cutting out a little window, folding it back, wet distressing and painting it. Most of my heritage LO's are done in this manner, so that the viewer gets a sense of looking through a window and seeing into the past. The concentric circles are distressed, stitched and layered. There is a bit of fussy cutting in the background. 

I stamped the clock face onto paper and misted the Prima Resistant Canvas and Bretton Vines.

Here's the complete list of supplies used:

DMC Embroidery Floss
KRYLON 18kt. Gold Leafing Pen
PRIMA:
      Architecture Collection, Resin Embellishments,     
          Ceiling Ornaments  
     Londonerry Collection:
          paper
          chipboard stickers
          Jardinere Flowers
          Vintage Trinkets
          Alphabet Stickers
          Cling Mounted Stamp
          Avon Rose mulberry flowers
     Ornamental Edging Collection Trim, brown
     Printery Collection:
           Bretton Vines, Chronicle
          Cling Mounted Rubber Stamps
          Resist Canvas, Shapes
     Toggle Wood Buttons, Quirky
TATTERED ANGELS:
     Glimmer Mists: Denim Blue, Graphite, Suede
TIM HOLTZ / RANGER:
     Crackle Paint, Picket Fence
     Distress Ink, Tea Dye
ZIG:
     2 Way Glue
     Writer, chocolate
ZIP DRY glue

I appreciate your comments! 

YOU

Coming from a long line of ladies in my family who have enjoyed sewing, and excelled at it, I felt compelled to do some hand stitching on this layout. However, I didn't want the piece to be perfectly symmetrical, so there is some stitching at the top of this page, but not at the bottom. 

This layout was done for my own pleasure. As always, I like to "do something" with the paper......fold, tear, distress, pleat, etc.. For this piece, I cut a slit halfway up the page where I intended the journaling to be and curled both sides open. The journaling is done in calligraphy, which I have been doing for more than thirty-five years. 

The photo was taken by my husband on the occasion of my mother's 90th Birthday Party last summer. The people are our daughter Elizabeth, son Lee, and myself. 

SUPPLIES USED:
     BAZZIL BASICS cardstock
   COLOR BOX Petal Point Fluit Chalk Inkpad,    
          Primary Pastels
     CREATIVE IMAGINATIONS Narratives
          journaling card
      DMC Light Green Emerald floss
      JENNI BOWLIN: Baker's Twine
      K & CO: small green card, feather
      MAKING MEMORIES: Gem Pin Findings
      MARTHA STEWART: Vine Trim Deep Edge
           Punch
           Scallop Three Dot Punch Around the Page
      MAYA ROAD: Heart Trinket Pin
      MY MIND'S EYE: Lost and Found Two
           Collection 7 layered stickers
                  Lost and Found Two   Rosy "Ordinary"        
                        Dream paper                  

                    Lost and Found Two   Rosy 

                         "Everything" Happy paper  

            PRIMA: 

                  Shabby Chic Treasures, bird and 

                       medallion

                  Winter Rose Melon Ice

                  Say It In Crystals

              PROVO CRAFT: Cricut Personal, 

                   Serenade Cartridge

              RANGER/TIM HOLTZ: 

                    Crackle Paint: Picket Fence 

                    Crackle Paint: Tattered Rose

              SCRAP FX: Heart Corners, small

              ZIG 2 Way Glur

              ZIP DRY Paper Glue

Thanks for taking a peek....I appreciate ALL comments! 

What a treat it was to go to San Antonio, Texas  right after Christmas! My husband and I decided that  this would be our  present to each other this year, and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!

Although we have been to The Alamo many times in the past, we couldn't resist another visit. The weather was beautiful at the end of December this year. Every day was sunny and temps were in the 70's! The nights were crisp, cool and clear. 

One of the main attractions in San Antonio is the lovely River Walk as it winds through the heart of one of our favorite U.S. cities. It is a thoroughfare for pedestrians in a romantic setting filled with waterfalls, lush greenery, restaurants, shops, theaters, pubs, art galleries and a new mall.  The River Walk is famous for the barges that are filled with tourists, eager to learn about the history of The San Antonio River and most of the landmarks along the way. 

The Tower of The Americas rises high above the city and can be seen from The River Walk. 

 The river flows one level below the street, creating it's own sanctuary in this bustling city.

There is nothing quite like the River Walk during December. Trees are lit in multicolored lights which reflect on the water, creating a masterpiece for all who gaze upon this little gem in a city filled with wonders. 

Thanks for coming along with us on our little San Antonio get away! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy 2012 to everyone! A new year means a new start and a chance to do things a little differently. I would like to thank all of  my friends who have supported me with your comments here and at scrapbook.com. I wish for you a New Year blessed with good health, prosperity and love. May 2012 bring to all of us an opportunity to blossom and grow in our personal relationships and in our understanding of ourselves and one another. God bless you all in 2012 and beyond.