My Sunny (Yellow) Valentine

One of the most popular trends right now is the color combination of gray and yellow. I know neither of these colors is normally associated with Valentine’s Day but I decided, why shouldn’t they be?!

I have the DCWV Lemon Flower Stack ( LOVE this paper!)  and chose a couple of complementary patterns to use on these cards. Cut panels from the black and gray sheets and then used scraps of one with the other, and finished off the panels with silver glittered ribbon.

For the focal point of the card, I used a G Studio $1 clear “LOVE” stamp (Michaels)  and Fresh Ink pigment ink in mango. Layered that on a scrap of the DCWV paper, and then on a scrap of silver glitter paper.

I stamped the swirl heart (from Inkadinkado’s Hearts collection #97637) and cut out. Added a couple of hearts punched from more silver glitter scraps.

I love Stickles and the patterns on this paper gave me an excuse to dot iridescent Stickles everywhere!

By now, friends and family who receive cards from me understand they never know what they’re going to get. Sometimes very traditional colors; other times…..

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BFF Open House Link Party #38 Wrap Up and Features!

Thanks to everyone who linked up to Friday’s party. Hopefully my link issues are all resolved and thumbnails will be back at this Friday’s party. As always, so much creativity! Here are just a few highlights.

Katie, from Creatively Living, shared wall art combining one of the most popular design trends, chevron, with one of my favorite sayings “Carpe DIem” ( Seize the Day):


Carolyn from homework, shared how she freshened up some existing artwork in her home using nature as her guide. Crisp, fresh, beautiful!

You’ve got to see what Megan from Polish The Stars did in her son’s bedroom! My college aged comic geek ( self described) would love this!

Not only did she bring Gotham City, complete with Bat signal to her son’s room, she also brought Superman’s phone booth! Stay away comic villains!

And with Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching. you need to check out the ideas that Michele at The Scrap Shoppe shared:

Thanks again to everyone who linked up and hope to see you again on Friday. Have a creative week!

Valentine's Banner from Coffee Filters and Christmas Ornaments

I finally got to sit down and play today! I had the general idea for this in my head but it was greatly helped along when Rachel from Holy Craft shared a tutorial on coffee filter flowers that made me really want to bring the idea for this banner (that’s now on our bedroom mirror)  to life.

The banner is a combination of coffee filter flowers and paper mache heart shaped Christmas ornaments I picked up 50% off after Christmas.

I covered the heart with a gray paper from Echo Park. I had some great lace ribbon trim in my stash and hot glued that around the edge of each ornament.

Here’s a better shot of what the ribbon looks like.

I cut out the letters L O V E on CoCo, my Silhouette Cameo, and put one letter on each heart.

Then I made my flowers. 5 coffee filters per flower and following Rachel’s tutorial.

Thank you Dollar Tree. 160 coffee filters for $1!

I made 5 flowers so I had one for each end and to go between the letters. I strung the hearts on some silver tulle using the thread that was already attached and then clipped the flowers using clothespins, then strung the banner across the mirror. And while this might be Valentine’s themed, with the colors I used I can actually leave it up permanently.

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BFF Open House Link Party #38 The I Almost Forgot Edition!

Well howdy. This week is a blur and I barely remember what day it is which is why I almost forgot to post the party! Needless to say, I didn't get around to doing a BFF Feature this week. Hopefully next week will bring neither crazy weather or crazy work stuff. I'm crazy enough without the help!

We had a fantastic turnout last week...the most ever 100 links! Thanks to everyone who linked up.

Let's see what everyone's been up to this week. I've done squat so I need to live vicariously through you. The rules are simple...if you made it, link it. Recipes, paper crafts, general crafts, jewelry, DIY, upcycle, recyle, you name it. Please link to your specific post and not your main blog page and if you can, please go and visit at least one other link.

Please Note: This week the links will be text only. I needed to update my InLinkz account so the thumbnails will show up and I posted the party before I did that.

More Valentine's in Gray and White

I had so much fun playing with a gray and white color palette that I made some more Valentine’s Day cards using it. This time I used G Studio’s clear stamps…the kind you find at Michaels for $1, and ink by “Fresh Ink” in Provincial Gray.

I love this ink because it’s a pigment ink with a chalk like finish, but it’s kinda hard to see in a picture.

I stamped the image on white cardstock and punched with a circle punch and used two heart shaped brads to attach to a panel of silver cardstock.

I ran the same Core’dinations gray paper I used in my other cards through my Cuttlebug using a Tim Holtz texture folder, and layered that onto a gray damask panel. Accented w/ black and white baker’s twine.

Stamped the sentiment in white cardstock, trimmed then layered onto another piece of white, trimmed with decorative edge scissors.

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BFF Open House Link Party #37: Wrap Up And Features

Happy Monday! I’m certainly hoping this week is calmer than last week. Part of last week’s craziness prevented me from being able to get out and visit party links like I try to do and maybe that’s a good thing because this week we had the MOST LINKS EVER.I was so excited to see that you all had linked up 100 projects!

Of course that makes it even tougher to choose features but here we go!

Jenny, from Days of Chalk and Chocolate, shared these adorable Valentine’s “love note” pillows:

I am always amazed and impressed at what creative people can recycle / upcycle / re-purpose. Jamie from Creative Imperative combined two things that you don’t think of as going together: a pool noodle and a sweater. Result? Valentine’s wreath!

Got milk? Specifically, got a milk jug? Make a beautiful banner like Kristina from REMADESIMPLE did :

You know I have a thing for printables and this one from Bev at Flamingo Toes is a must have for V-Day:

I have to include a chocolate feature and these Nutella Whoopie pies from Kristianne at My San Francisco Kitchen are calling my name!

And last but not least is this fab wreath from Christine and Co who brings non-traditional colors and materials together in this lovely Valentine’s wreath:

Thanks again to everyone who linked up and look forward to seeing you again this Friday. Have a creative week!

Pick Your Plum Giveway. We Have A Winner!

Sorry for the delay in getting this up since I said it would be posted yesterday. Snow and ice are melting, power's on and even stayed on through the windstorm we had last night. That was the cherry on top of the icing on the cake!

Let's start the day off celebrating shall we? Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway from Pick Your Plum for one of their fabulous "Plum Boxes". Thanks to random.org, we have a winner: Tonia from The Gunny Sack!

Congrats Tonia. I will notify Pick Your Plum so we can get you your Plum Box! Can't wait to see what you get and what you do with it. 

BFF Open House Link Party #37 and BFF Chocolate, Chocolate, and More!

It’s probably a good thing I thought ahead and scheduled this post because by the time you see this, we will be under snow and ice here in the PNW and may or may not have power. It’s SNOWMAGEDDON!

How could I not feature this week’s BFF? With a blog name like Chocolate, Chocolate and More I mean was it even a question?! Joan, from Chocolate, Chocolate and More, and I are in complete agreement about this:

I firmly believe that chocolate makes everything better.

Absolutely! Need proof? Look at these yummy treats. Who wouldn’t love a batch of these for Valentine’s Day? They'd make such a lovely gift. 

Joan has a wonderful tutorial to show you how to make them here.

And I love the title of this post : “Chocolate Covered Everything” . Yes please!

Or wouldn’t this be the perfect Valentine’s dessert to make for your special someone? OK I guess you’d actually  have to share it. Double Chocolate Fudge Tart.

Even Joan and I have to acknowledge that you can’t live by chocolate alone ( did I really just right that?) so be sure and check out some of her other mouth watering recipes. Right now she’s on a bread kick with some delish ideas.

I know everyone’s been busy with Valentine’s projects so I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to . I am slowly getting back into the creative swing and have seen lots of inspiring things to try! 

Rules are simple. If you made it, link it. Recipes, crafts, mixed media, upcycle , recycle, DIY , made over, jewelry, cards, you name it. Please link to your specific post and not your main page and no ads or shops please. And it’s a party so go make some new BFFs and visit at least one other blog won’t you? Party On!

Valentine's In Gray and White

For the past couple of years I’ve enjoyed making non-traditional color Valentine’s cards. I went through this phase with Christmas décor so I guess my muse just moved ahead on the calendar!

This year I am playing with a palette of gray and white with accents of black and silver. Maybe it has something to do with being covered in snow and ice right now!

I used white cardstock for the card and Core’dinations textured paper (Stormy Gray), dry embossed using Tim Holtz “Floral and Fancy Frames” texture fade embossing folders.  The patterned strip on the bottom is Deja Views Sweet Romance Gray Damask.

The “LOVE” focal was computer generated using My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software, sized (2.5 x 3 ) and then mounted on black and glittered silver cardstock. Finished with hearts punched from more of the damask paper, black and white baker’s twine, a silver heart brad, adhesive rhinestones and pearls.

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Valentine's Postage Stamp Printable

I just have not had time to make a lot lately but  I did have time to make another Valentine’s themed printable ( even if I’ve done NOTHING about actually decorating yet).

I used my Memories Suite software to create this one and did a neutral and muted rose version, using a background paper called "New Orleans" that comes with the software.

Added the black and white version :) 

Click to bring to full resolution. Right click to Save As.

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