How I use "flair"

Today's cards feature "flair", you know, like the buttons one might wear on a jean jacket. Only these are better because they have and adhesive back. Sometimes it's hard to figure out how to use these suckers. I got three sheets of them when I got the rubons from peachy cheap. And I made the card above. I had gotten the embossed heart background folder on clearance somewhere last May, glad I could bust it out. A little corner rounding and a nice bow with a PTI sentiment. The photo stinks, but I am not in a place to retake it. So I gave a bonus card.

This is a smaller card and was FAST to put together. I grabbed a scrap of Valentine paper from three years ago (stored with my other Valentine specific scrap paper- I know it's anal, but hey it works for me!) and added the foam letters from American Crafts, and the heart flair. The ribbon was an after thought because it looks naked without it.

And another thing. Some of you know I am running the Shamrock Shuffle March 21 (for those of you not familiar with the Shuffle, it's an 8K run through downtown Chicago with 36,000 others). Yesterday I asked Tiffany if she wanted to run it and she declined. Today she not only says she running it, but asks if I want to do the half marathon in Kenosha. Um....am I crazy? Apparently. So we are both signed up, and now accountable because I have just told you all about it. That race is May 1. Here's to finishing.....

Love is in the Air

So it's time for another holiday season that most people exchange cards at. Well, at least one card. I am not a girly girl, but there is just something fun about pulling out the pink, red, and white cardstock and going to town.

I got a slew of American Crafts Valentine stuff from peachcheap. I love peachycheap. (I actually got today's deal too (a ton of basic grey stuff AND free shipping for $12.99 - yes please!)

Anyway, I took my Valentine goodness and laid it out before me. New stuff makes me happy. Then I made what I am calling the Valentine Tree card. So fun. So pink and girly, yet with the sometimes annoying habit I have of making things analytical and precise (or clean and simple if you want, but I know it's the scientist in me struggling for order!)

I used a quickutz embossing plate to give the background some texture, and then stiched around that layer. I have a stash of precut scallops from my Silhouette, and so I took one of those and an oval and then used an American Crafts rubon for thefocal image. A few Melon Berry buttons, some Doodlebug ribbon, and a PTI stamp and this card was done. Actually only took like 20 minutes, including sewing. Love that! Now....who gets this card?

Valentine's Day Boxes

I know it's the middle of January. But I needed to start thinking Valentine's Day. I have to make treat boxes for Jack's teachers and the Favor Box from Perfect Presentations fit the bill! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these templates. They are easy peasy to use and Leigh Ann provides great instructions of how to assemble them- including adhesive placement. Plus, the bonus for me is that the .gsd files are available so my silhouette does the cutting for me. I have to make at least 7 of these, and I think each one is going to be different. My mother informed me that I have to make one for my grandmother as well, and I have to use some red buttons she gave me, so that one I will make soon.

I haven't decided which of these are my favorites. :)

Hearts and scallop rectangle are cut with the silhouette, stamp on the white box is PTI, stamp on the red is from the stash.

One Last Valentine

I wanted to share one last project that I did for my son's daycare teachers. This is an easy project you could customize for any holiday, changing the candy inside to match the holiday. You just need to save the baby food jars! The fabric is from JoAnn's, and the ribbon is from Michaels.

Supplies

Paper: Making Memories

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (sentiment), Stampin' Up (heart)

More Valentine's Day Cards

I had some more fun last night and tonight making valentines. I was looking for quick designs that I could replicate. I CASEd the third card from my friend Tiffany.

Supplies

Patterned Paper: Cloud 9Design

Ribbon: American Crafts

Brads: Making Memories

Stamps: thoughts of you (kollette hall), Boxed happy valentine's day (katie and co), happy valentine's day (Hero Arts), Heart (Stampin' Up)

Ink: Rose Romance (Stampin' Up)

Fun with Scraps

A scrap of paper caught my eye the other night as I was looking for some paper for a scrapbook page. It being close to valentine's day, I thought I could make a variety of cards in order to show how easy it is to change the look of a card by changing the size and shape. The possibilities are endless! I can't wait to dive into my Valentine's paper stash. I don't really know where the paper came from, the manufacturers tag was cut off....Hope everyone gets some ideas!