Thoughts of Love

I'm a big fan of this heart-filled thought bubble, and thought about using it with the fox on yesterday's card...but decided the owl punch would be an even better fit.  This cute little card is 2"x3"--just perfect to fit in Scallop Envelope and give as valentines to everyone in your class (if you're in 3rd grade), or tuck into a brief case, lunch bag, box of chocolates, etc (for us older folk).

The star of this show is definitely punches, since that thought bubble is the only stamping on this card.  I used the Two-Step Owl punch, and borrowed the branch from the Two-Step Bird punch.  The extra special pop on this card is the owl's belly, which I punched out of Red Glimmer Paper (pg 7 of the Occasions Mini).  I thought I loved Dazzling Diamonds...and I do, but this is even better!  I didn't have to do any work to create this shine, and it doesn't rub off or shed glitter on everything it touches.

Would you like to make some cute cards like this?  Well, just send me an email and set up a party for you and your friends now.  I still have a few January dates left!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Valentine Defined
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Very Vanilla, Red Glimmer, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Old Olive
Extras: Two-Step Owl punch, Two-Step Bird punch

Forest of Love

Yeah, so I didn't know what to call this.  Bear with me; as I mentioned, I'm not much of a sweet and sappy person!

However, I just adore these heart-filled trees, which are also from Valentine Defined.  The cute clothesline of hearts is from the same set, making it a winner in my book (note...with the flamingos and the love you sentiment, you've now only seen HALF of this great set!).

This is another sweet and simple card.  I used Riding Hood Red for the trees, and Soft Suede for the clothesline.  After much searching for a forest animal that would be the right scale for this forest, I settled on the fox from Fox and Friends, and stamped him in Soft Suede as well.

My finishing touch is the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes, which I stamped on Very Vanilla and then popped out with the Word Window punch.  I matted this on a Modern Label of Soft Suede and that was that.  What do you think?  Not bad for someone who doesn't "do" Valentines, right?

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Valentine Defined, Fox and Friends, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Extras: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch

Flamingos Take Two

I thought it would be fun to step up yesterday's super simple card, and use more of the complimentary Love Impressions rub ons from Stampin' Up!  [Want the real story behind this card?  I misjudged on my first try for yesterday's card, so the flamingos weren't centered.  Not a problem!  I cut out these three flamingos and recycled them onto this card.]

For my color scheme, I went with the soft colors Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink and Very Vanilla.  I used the Scallop Edge Border and Corner punches to make the Pretty in Pink mat, and there was no measuring required!  Since I already had my flamingos piece cut, I used that as a guide for where to make the corners.  TIP:  When using these punches for a full mat, make sure your sides are square...otherwise the corners won't match up!

I used Very Vanilla 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon for some interest along the bottom, and decided that I wasn't up for making a bow.  Instead, I decided to embellish the ribbon itself.  DID YOU KNOW that you apply rub ons directly to ribbon?  You can, even if it's ribbed, and this is one of my favorite effects for a neatly pulled together card.  My finishing touch is four large Basic Pearls to space the hugs and kisses, and this card is ready to go.

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Valentine Defined

Ink: Melon Mambo

Paper: Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla

Extras: Very Vanilla 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Love Impressions rub ons, Scallop Edge border punch, Scallop Edge corner punch

Flamingo Love

Usually I don't get the Valentine/love stamp sets because I don't really get excited about them.  (See last year's attempts to come up with a Valentine card if you don't believe me!)  For some reason, the cute hearts and sweet sentiments don't call to me in the same way that the other stamp sets do.  But the Occasions Mini has a FANTASTIC set, Valentine Defined, on page 9.  I like ALL the images in this set, so expect to see lots more cards made with it.

This card actually features my least favorite image, the lovebird flamingos.  But aren't they cute?  And this card is SUPER simple--no cutting, no layers, just stamping!  I inked up the flamingos in Melon Mambo and did my best to put them in a straight line across the card (thank you, clear mount!)  Then I chose the "love you" sentiment from the same set, inked it up with Basic Gray, and stamped it on scrap paper before putting it to the card, so I'd have a softer shade of gray.  My final touch is a large Basic Pearl to cover the O.

Simple and fun; I like it!
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Valentine Defined
Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Gray
Paper: Very Vanilla
Extras: Basic Pearls