MORE VALENTINE'S

Here are more of my Valentine's Day Cards. They were a joy to create and share. 

Techniques used were inking, 3-D work, stamping, and fussy cutting. 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.

Products used were My Mind's Eye Lost, Union Square Collection. I used a set of sealing wax  by Spare Parts and clear stamps by Bo Bunny, Prima and Tattered Angels. 

....and to my Valentine, the words of composer Ludwig van Beethoven in a love letter known as  "Immortal Beloved":

"Ever thine

 Ever mine

                  Ever for each other"

HOW TO MAKE A WAX SEAL TUTORIAL

In February our thoughts turn to those we love. Many people today are making their own Valentine Cards, so here is a tutorial on how to include sealing wax to make your cards traditional and romantic. This tutorial is intended for adults only, and those using this method do so at their own risk. 

YOU WILL NEED: 

1. One wet sponge to place the seal on while not in use. The impressed part of the seal (the image) should be touching the cold, wet sponge in order for a nice, crisp seal to be produced. 

2. One piece of foil, approximately 12"X12" that is folded  in half  at least  twice. 

3. One lit votive candle. 

4. Sealing wax with a wick and a seal. 

DIRECTIONS: Fold the piece of foil twice, so there are four layers. Then, light the votive candle, place the seal face down onto the cold, wet sponge. Light the sealing wax wick and hold it over the foil at a 45 degree angle so the wax will drip onto the foil. Enough hot wax will be needed so that the area covered is a little larger than the impression on the seal. 

Press the seal into the hot wax and hold down for a minute. 

                                                  

When the wax is cold you will be able to separate the seal from the wax and later peel it off of the foil. Last, glue the wax seal in a strategic spot on your card. Voila!

ALTERED VALENTINE BOX GIFTS

Here are some little Altered Valentine Boxes that I enjoyed making  for family and friends. The first one is for my mother. Shhhh.....don't tell her....LOL

A friend of mine introduced me to "Snow Writer" by DecoArt, which worked perfectly for this project. It can be purchased at most craft stores. Also used were scraps of scrapbooking paper, Maya Road Velvet Ric Rac Ribbon, a heart shaped paper doily, seam binding ribbon, a vintage image, Maya Road Trinket Heart Pins,   Petaloo Velvet Mini Blossoms Chantilly Collection, Stickles and an idea for some cut journaling to be printed onto cardstock. 

This is one of the little boxes that I did for a friend. 

You can see the side of the little box here. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to everyone! 

THE NICEST KIND OF LOST

This travel layout was done as a design team project for my favorite scrapbook store, THE CRAFTY SCRAPPER, in Waxahachie, Texas.

While on our twentieth anniversary trip to London and Scottland, my husband and I became lost, somewhere close to The Strand in London. We tried on our own to find our way using maps, but to no avail. Mind you, this was before the day of GPS and smart phones. Finally, we saw a "Bobby" and asked for help, which he gave and we were so grateful to receive! The best part of being lost was finding the Royal Courts of Justice, Twinings Tea Museum and the Australian High Commission building. We had such a nice time being lost! 

Techniques used on this layout were stitching, inking, distressing, die cutting, stamping and 3-D work. 

Products used here are:

ADIRONDACK Ink: black and Tea Dye
FANCY PANTS DESIGNS: Clear Stamps, Blush
PRIMA FLOWERS: Londonerry and Printery  
     collections
RANGER Clear Stamps, Bella Brush
REMINISCE paper: Travelogue Collection
TIM HOLTZ:
     Paper Rosette die cut
     Mini Paper Rosette die cut
     Hanging Sign die cut
     Spinners
     Jump Rings
     Crown

     I always appreciate your comments!

ITALIA

This is a layout that I did for the Crafty Scrapper Design Team. On this assignment I chose to do some inking, stamping, embossing, fussy cutting, distressing, machine stitching, painting, border punching, layering and 3-D work.

The photo is of my daughter, Elizabeth, and a friend during their high school trip to Italy. 

Here's a little up close shot of the 3-D layering. 

Products Used: 

BO BUNNY clear stamp: White and Black Collection

KAISERCRAFT Wooden Embellishment Vines

MAYA ROAD Velvet Pleats, Green

MARTHA STEWART Arch Lattice Border Punch
PETALOO: Canterbury Collection Roses, Lemon

RANGER:

  Acrylic Paint Dabber, Sunshine Yellow  

          Archival Ink, Jet Black

          Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Ink Sunshine Yellow

          Tim Holtz Crackle Paint, Black Soot

          Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Tea Dye

REMINISCE: 

Expedition Collection: World Map

Travelogue Collection:

Italy

 Paris

World is a Book

THE PAPER STUDIO Sticky Doos

ZIG 2 WAY GLUE

ZIP DRY GLUE

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!