Project 365/Day 20 - Triple Heart Photo Valentine

When you get a project idea you like, why not make more, right? I have to say that my day 18 project prompted me to create more personalized photo valentines this year. This one is for my daughter Kylie. I have also really been taking advantage of rummaging through my scraps to create new cards from left over embellishments and papers. I used papers from an old Basic Grey mini stack along with some retired SU sheer organdy ribbon along with an epoxy sticker from KI Memories.

You can frame your photo, use it on a corner as I did here or punch it into a shape to add to the Valentine. I am putting my valentine’s greeting on the inside of my cards and focusing on making the outside all about the recipient. Have fun trying this...you can even make it into a mini scrapbook page!

Technique to try out: Want to create a crinkled vintage looking ribbon? Use your embossing heat tool with sheer organdy ribbon. Hold it close to the ribbon and watch it shrivel up. Don’t go too close or it will burn.

Hazeldiddlies in Heaven Layout

Some of you may recall my post in tribute to my Aunt Floss who passed away on Father’s Day. Before going up to the funeral, I shared my blog post with my family. They loved it so much that I thought I needed to put it into a scrapbook page. I really didn’t have any large photos of my Aunt so you will have to excuse this cropped version being a bit soft focus. I used Crushed Berry, Prailine and Belgian Cardstocks from Basic Grey’s Bittersweet collection along with a a border, some hearts and a stamp image from the Bittersweet Element Stickers that coordinate with the collection. The paper used to print out the journaling is from Karen Foster Design. The flowers are from Prima.

The family had this on display at the viewing and it touched many who read it. There were over 200 of her dancing friends that grew to love her amazing spirit as much as her family. I left the layout behind, but it is forever imprinted in my heart and mind.

Today, Kylie and I saw two monarch butterflies happily dancing together on our way to the mall to run an errand. The significance? When my uncle passed away, my aunt and I would share stories about our “butterfly visits” that we would get from him. So we all have been waiting on the sign of 2 butterflies together to have that reminder that those two souls are now eternally together. So I have my smile on today having gotten my message from above. That is why I thought it very appropriate to post my layout today.

Love is in the Air, even if it is 40 degrees in Florida!

Oh, I know most of you northern girls have had your share of cold, snowy weather, but for us Floridians, we are just not used to waking up to temps in the 30s and 40s. Enough of this already! By now, I have usually purchased atleast a few new flowers for the garden to begin planting for spring. Instead, it is ground zero. Dan and Ash had to cut back most of our bushes and plants. They all looked dead, most dropped their leaves or showed severe signs of the cold temps. Even the palm trees are browned with only a little bit of green. Despite the chill in the temps, the warmth of Valentine's love is still in the air. Here are some cards I created for my Valentine's (aka my girlies and husband).

Hugs & Kisses Cupcake Card (for Kai)

detail shows bow and mini tag and that houndstooth digi paper I love from mygrafico.com

A Stylish Love (this one matches Ash's personality)

Check out the rub on flourishes used on this from

Basic Grey Wholy Cow rub ons

this shows inside the mini card on front panel with Valentine message

guess you can tell who this was for! Stamped the frame and mounted paper on inside, then used Versamarker to emboss name in Gold on the envelope. Cut and glued on hearts as accent.

You and Me, Valentine Card and env. set

Used scalloped border, scallop heart punch and brown pearls as fun accents. Yes, I used pink and brown again, sorry, but a personal fave color combo. This time I mixed it with gold Core' dinations paper, chocolate chip, ivory naturals CS and pp from Chatterbox found at JoAnns.

These two owls from Sassafras' Olivia and Pals set reminded me of me and my DH. See, he is 6'3" and I am 5'2 and a half inches! {LOL had to add the 1/2!} And this is what we look like side by side. We are pretty opposite in many ways. He likes to cycle; my butt has real issues with bicycle seats. He loves all foods; I am a picky eater. I love color; he prefers navy and green, but somehow we are a great match and have been married for

23 years and together for 25!

Note: on the frame, this time, I handcut the center and mounted contrasting CS behind the opening after stamping the verse You and Me.

Here is a fun technique to try with your punches...cut a strip of patterned paper or contrasting CS and place in your punch at the angle you want to mount on top of your solid punched image. Now you have matching edges to align and mount on top and your strip is an even width.

Not going to post my personal love letter to my DH, but this is what was inside the top portion of the card. He loved the distressed edges smudged with ink and the cut out hearts. The love you stamp was embossed in gold. Both it and the heart were from a Brenda Walton Inkadinkado stamp set.

Tomorrow I will post the cards my family made for me...what a treat!!!

Ready for some ultra sweet Blog Candy?

You are in for a real treat. Not only does my friend, Melissa Bove, have some wonderful project posts, but she has some awesome blog candy, too, from Sizzix, Basic Grey and Queen & Co. Here are some pictures, but you need to go to her blog to find out how to enter!