Happy House Day - A Special Non-Valentine Card

Hello, Crafty Makers!

The Hubster and I do not celebrate Valentine's Day but, because we closed on our home on February 14th, as a joke we always say Happy House Day! 

This year, the Hubster surprised me with 4 boxes of Truffles that are only available at this time of year.  I was stunned.  Two of the boxes were the ones I always want and never get because they sell out so quickly and two were a new variety that he thought I might like.  And even though he said they were not Valentine gifts, I still felt the need to make a card to thank him.  He loves it when I make cards for him.

He likes Kraft CS because he thinks it is more masculine.  I was looking through my stash of 6"x6" papers and I found this amazing steampunk paper by Bo Bunny.  I layered the printed paper onto a piece of Gold CS.  I cut my hollow heart and then decided to make it a window by applying a piece of acetate.  I double-stacked adhesive foam to give the window depth.   My original plan was to have the word "together" on the inside of the window and the word "forever" at the bottom by cherub's foot but I did not like that composition.  I like the placement on the cherub's wing.  Since this will be displayed in his man cave along with his other cards from me, I was not concerned about the cherub hanging off the edge.  In the end, The Hubster loved it and that is all that truly matters.

Thanks for Stopping By!

Challenges Entered:

Brown Sugar Challenge: Love and/or St. Valentine's Day
Simply Create Too Challenge: ATG w/optional Twist: Use Hearts
Aud Sentiments Challenge: Love or Valentine Sentiment

A Place To Start - Use An Inspirational Stamp or Die - Mid-Month DT Make

Hello, Crafty Makers!

The creative challenge this month at 

A Place To Start

is to use an inspirational stamp or die.  Mostly, I have inspirational sentiments that I try to pair with images that communicate things like, Hope, Joy, Peace, etc. 

 Hope 

 It is so funny how creative endeavors always seem to take on a personality all their own.  I started out creating the project using one of my watercolored tissue paper panels.  I wanted to put patterned paper behind it but when I found this lovely paper and my entire project changed. 

  The paper worked so well with the dragonfly that I cut the dragonfly away to use as a stand alone embellishment.

For this little fella, I used three different embossing powders. After each color was embossed, I applied a fresh layer of Versamark, added the EP and heated one again.  The final EP was a Clear Iridescent Powder that added amazing sparkle to the die cut.  The surprise benefit here was that the Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder that I used as my base layer, resisted the other EPs in some areas.  

I have always used black cs with my shadow dies, but in this instance, I thought to pull in the background paper might create more tension and I was right.  To give added dimension, I used the shadow die to cut a piece of craft foam and attached to the back of the shadow shape.  The effect of elevated sentiment is way cool.

I had a bunch of stitched panels in my stash, so I used Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink to distress the edges and added 3 crystals to finish off the design.

I hope you will join us at A Place To Start Challenge.  

Here is a chance to use all those inspirational sentiments that you have been hoarding!

HUGZ,

Challenges Entered:

Crafting With An Attitude:  Always ATG

Cute Card Thursday:  Wings

The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes w/Optional Valentine

Through The Craft Room Door

Supplies & Stuff

Butterfly Lace Edge Die

Hope Word Die

Gina Marie™Wonky Stitched Die
Hampton Art Hunter Green Embossing Powder (no longer available)
Basic Grey® Life of The Party Paper Stack (retired)