It's in the Mail...

I'm sending out my valentines today! At least, that's one of my goals--I have a few work things that I need to take care of first, and it looks I'm also going to have to do some serious shoveling to dig my car out. But since I'm mailing them, I thought I should share another valentine with you, just to get you in the spirit.

Remember all those Medallion cards I made? Well here is another, with the colors updated for Valentine's Day. The base of the card is Rose Red--and I've since gone on a Rose Red binge, since I decided that I really love it's dusty deep pink hue. Again, I used a brayer to ink up the Medallion with Versamark, and then stamped that twice--once on the Rose Red for the background, then again (after reinking) on Sahara Sand.

Then I got out my trusty pastels and sponge daubers, and chose whatever colors I liked (you'll notice that some purple worked it's way in--no surprise there!). A quick punch or two with the Full Heart Punch, and I had my layered heart to express my love in a lovely font.

That's it! I hope you'll be sending some Valentines this year too--if only to say hello.
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Medallion, Well Scripted
Paper: Rose Red, Sahara Sand, Orchid Opulence, Regal Rose
Ink: Versamark
Extras: Stampin' Up! Pastels, Sponge Daubers, Full Heart Punch, Stampin' Dimmensionals

Hey Foxy

I can't take credit for this entirely, as it was inspired by some 3x3 cards by Angela McKay that I saw on Stampin' Connection (the demo-only site for sharing and swapping creations!), but I did tweak things a bit to come up with this valentine. Happily, this used up materials that I already had and didn't know what to do with, so it doubles as a "cleaning out my stash" project. Gotta love that!

On a Whisper White card base, I mounted a 4x5.25" rectangle of Real Red, and then a 3.75x5" rectangle of Real Red patterns from a 6x6" print pack that I had lying around. (Note: These print packs are available as a hostess reward, but you can also purchase patterned paper in Patterns Designer Series Paper in any of the colors available, which greatly widens the spectrum)

With my basic card ready to go, it was time to work on the details. Angela used circle punches for her animals, but I don't have those. Since Kiran wasn't handy to lend me her punches, I pulled out my new Scallop Trim Corner punch from the Occasions Mini, and cut a 1-15/16" square of Real Red. At that size, all I needed was the corner punch to create the design all around. The fox was easier, quickly punched out with my 1-1/4" square punch and ready for layering. I also turned to punches for my sentiment, mounting the Word Window punch on the Modern Label (a favorite of mine). For an extra pop, I used dimensionals to attach these to the card, and that's why the sentiment really stands out from the background.

I have to say, this was quicker to make than to explain. Deceptively simple, with lots of options for mixing and matching...

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Fox and Friends, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, retired Patterns Pack
Ink: Real Red
Extras: 1-1/4" Square punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Be Bold

Be bold and just say it this Valentine's Day. I've officially shaken my Valentine funk, and now I'm just having fun with it. This card is inspired by all those cards that I love that just have repeating elements--inchies, circles, curly labels, you name it. I do want to redo this as a square card, but for starters, I'm really happy with how this turned out.

My secret weapon is my Big Shot, which cuts out lovely letters in no time and with minimal effort. These were cut using the Timeless Type Sizzlits in Real Red and Pink Passion. Use Dotto to mount those on some Tempting Turquoise for a definite pop of contrasting color and voila! A striking card in about the time it took me to type this up. Now that's what I like!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion, Real Red
Extras: Big Shot, Timelss Type Sizzlits, Dotto

Valentine Updated

This is the same basic idea as the last post, but with a little extra polish. Before die-cutting, I stamped my card stock with my favorite from I {Heart} Hearts in Real Red. I changed the orientation, so I'd have room for a sentiment, and used the Tulipe die again. Then my Stamp-A-Majig gave me perfect placement for the message, and my Mat Pack helped me to line up and evenly space those black brads. I added the Groom Specialty paper to the back, deciding that the swirly pattern matched those hearts better than the original stripes, and voila! Now this is a Valentine I could put in the mail...

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Real Red, Basic Black

Paper: Real Red, Groom Specialty

Extras: Big Shot, Tulipe Die, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Vintage Brads, Stamp-a-majig

Valentine Attempt 1

So I've never really been a big fan of Valentine's Day. I mean, the idea is nice--you tell the people you love that you love them--but it's so commercial and over the top at every single store from Jan 1st on. And since I famously once told a few hundred people, "I'm not a mushy, sappy, annoying kind of person" (and I did mean it), cards covered in hearts and screaming out in reds and pinks aren't so much my thing.

That said, I always love sending (and receiving! hint, hint) mail, so I am going to make some Valentines this year. Or at least I'll try. One of my goals for 2010 is to be in better touch with my friends afar, so this is the perfect chance to dust off that grade school tradition of giving all my friends a card. Here goes nothing...

Above is my first attempt at a Valentine this year. I like it--it's simple, striking--but it is missing something. So check back later this week to see how I jazzed it up...and then moved away from the Valentine color palette entirely. Hope you like...and I hope you'll be inspired to share the love, both platonic and passionate, with your friends and lovers come February.

Cheers,
Melanie

Paper: Real Red, Groom Specialty
Extras: Big Shot, Tulipe Die

Something New

I'm still trying to get inspired for Valentines...I want to make some, but haven't had any luck yet! In the meantime, I thought I'd share this birthday card, which I put together from some scraps. While visiting my aunt and upline to see what's new in the Occasions Mini, I punched a sample bird with the Extra-Large Two-Step Bird punch, and also stamped a sample sentiment from Well Scripted. But I needed more...

So yesterday, I quickly took a break from my work to glue these few little things together. I added two punched corners with the new Scallop Trim Corner punch, and mounted my "sample" onto a piece of Cameo Coral to match the bird, and then onto an Orchid Opulence card base. Voila! From sample to the mail...and just in time for a January birthday.

Cheers!
Melanie

Stamps: Well Scripted
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Orchid Opulence, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Old Olive
Extras: Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch

Turtle Thank You

In keeping with the spirit of the last post, here is another thank you note. It follows the same clean and simple design of the lion card, and features a long-time favorite of mine: turtles! When I was younger, I collected turtle figurines. I gave that up a while ago, but still do wear a pair of capri pants with turtles embroidered all over them in the summer. :) So it is absolutely perfect for me that the little turtle from Fox and Friends expresses my thanks to friends and family.

Stamps: Fox and Friends, Thank You Kindly
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Green Galore, Brilliant Blue