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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BFF Open House Link Party #36 Wrap Up and Features!

Sorry for the delay in getting features posted! Some days I can multi-task, other days not so much!
Another fun party with wonderful ideas. I’m way behind on Valentine’s Day décor so if you’re behind like me,  here are some inspiring ideas to get you started.

Tonia over at The Gunny Sack has the cutest and I think the most original idea I’ve seen for giving out Valentines:

Go check out her tutorial ! I just love this idea!

If you sew or can convince someone you know who sews to make these for you, Bev from Flamingo Toes has an absolutely GORGEOUS pillowcase project for you:

Yes I’m punny, and yes I LOVE these!

Need a simple yet beautiful way to wrap Valentine’s gifts? With stuff you likely have on hand? Yes and Yes? See Randee over at her blog Randee’s Organized Chaos has just the thing for you. Wax. Paper!

And finally, while not specifically Valentine’s this amazing journal from Terry over at Cherished Treasures showcases  creating a special place to  keep track of all those movies you attend with your sweetie throughout the year:

Thanks as always to everyone who linked up and hope to see you all again this Friday!

Don’t forget, there’s a great giveaway from Pick Your Plum that’s up all week. Winner will be announced on Friday!

Happy Monday! Giveaway From Pick Your Plum!

I’m so excited to share this with you all today. Have you heard of Pick Your Plum? If you haven’t, you need to check them out! Pick Your Plum offers daily specials on various crafting supplies and items at a ridiculously discounted price.

I have been thrilled with the things I’ve ordered from them and they’ve arrived even faster than I expected. The thing is, when they’re gone, they’re GONE and things go fast so I would suggest signing up for their email newsletter and following them on Facebook and Twitter so you don’t miss out.

Some of their recent offerings have included:

Giant Paper Clips With  Flat Pads for Embellishing

Adorable Assortment of Cupcake Liners

Still Bummed I Was Too Late for These!!

The wonderful folks at Pick Your Plum have generously offered me the chance to do a giveaway! One of you lucky people will get a "Plum Box" ( $25 worth of goodies!!) from Pick Your Plum! You get one entry for each of the following ( YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EACH!) and the giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. Winner will be announced on Friday January 20.

• Be or become a follower of The Answer Is Chocolate
• Like Pick Your Plum on Facebook
• Follow Pick Your Plum on Twitter
• Blog / Tweet / Share giveaway 

Easy peasy! Good luck!

My First Official Silhouette Cameo Project

OK technically my second, but I didn’t think using it to decorate CoCo counted.

I love handmade paper. A little too much perhaps. I love it like some people love fabric and can’t resist the temptation of so many gorgeous patterns. I walk into places like Paper Source and just stand there drooling. They cut a wide path around me!

The thing is….I love to collect it and then freeze at the idea of cutting it up. Silly huh? But it’s sooooo pretty. I can't cut it up!!! I’m facing my fears and determined to use it this year!

Supplies:

• Sheet of handmade paper . I fell in love with this grey / yellow / silver combo.
• Last of the Goodwill $.99 frames from Pottery Barn from last year’s score. Like these so much I haven't even painted them. 
• Vinyl.

I’ve had fun downloading images from the Silhouette online store for CoCo. A girl needs choices right? I picked a fun tree and a bird image. I originally cut both in white but decided I wanted a contrast so cut the bird from grey vinyl. This machine is so easy to use it makes me feel like a lazy guilty crafter!

Cut  the handmade paper to size, framed it, and applied the vinyl on top of the glass.

And since I dare not waste any of this gorgeous paper, I made a layered paper flower from the scraps:

Easy peasy and will be a nice addition to my powder room.

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BFF Open House Link Party #36 and BFF Creatively Living!

Happy almost Friday all. It’s been a quiet week here at TAIC…had to have a little medical thing done so laying a little low and slow. Getting ready for college boy to head back to school and enjoying the last few days with our great young man.

This week I’d like to introduce you to another talented and creative person, Katie from her blog Creatively Living. Katie describes her blog as: Taking everything from thrift store finds, to dumpster dives and making them into a beautiful home.

Not only does she manage to do that for her own busy home ( she’s a military spouse and mom to 5 kids!) but shares her talents with others, like doing a room makeover for her sister. This week’s feature will be a little different since I’m going to share several projects from Katie’s room makeover. Let’s take a look: 

When will you be over to my place Katie?

Another corner of this room showcases this fabulous chair re-do:

Here’s a closeup of the chair:

Isn’t it gorgeous?!  Katie also made over the frames she used to create the gallery wall from those her sister already had, unifying them with color and adding mats.

I love the silhouette Katie did and framed, and that little catch all next to it? It’s a condiment holder! You can also see in the mirror the chadelier Katie made from two wall sconces she found at Goodwill.
You really need to pop over to Katie’s to see the whole room and SO much more!

Now, what have you been up to this week? If you made it, link it and no advertising or stores please. Otherwise…party on!

PS...mark you calendars for Monday January 16. I have a FUN treat coming :) 

Why Yes, I Did Name My Cameo

After entering every single Silhouette giveaway I could, I finally broke down and asked “Santa” for a Silhouette Cameo for Christmas. I know I totally didn’t need it but…..

Fortunately, Santa has a great elf in Mr. C and I screamed with delight when I opened my present.

I finally had a chance this week to take it out of the box  and install the software ( super easy!) and then last night, dove right in and played with it and even CUT SOMETHING! Woo Hoo!

I also couldn’t resist naming her, so the first thing I had to cut was something for my new BFF. Meet “CoCo” …a play on the name of one of the world’s foremost designers (Chanel) and my chocolate infused blog.

I downloaded the damask swirl from the Silhouette online store and cut it and the letters from chocolate brown vinyl.

I am totally overwhelmed by the amount of designs you can cut with this wonderful tool and cannot wait to play and play and play, but the set up really was very straightforward. 

I have TONS to learn but CoCo and I will learn together!