stamp and stitch valentine card

I've been meaning to do some chain stitch on a card ever since I did my "libby" card with back stitch on, but I didn't know what do use it on until some new stamps from Crafty Individuals dropped through the post. I love the selecion of heart stamps, they remind me of fractals or zentangles (but so much easier than drawing your own)

I am entering this card for the sunday stampers "heart" theme.

I used an insert on this card to cover up the messy stitching detail on the inside of the card, but I chose to use some pretty paper to do this. so as not to waste its prettiness, I cut out the smallest heart from the stamped image to show it.

(a quick "how-to": Stamp the image in black onto white card, with a piercing tool or sewing needle make holes around the heart at regular intervals. Using two threads (taken from a six thread) of embroidery silk, chain stitch through the holes. Cut the smallest heart out with a craft knife. Apply double sided tape to the back of the stitches and position the insert.)

OLW 76 colour in winter

The Challenge at one layer Wednesday is to use grey and white and a pop of colour,
This fit perfectly with a technique that has been swirling around my head for the last week. I was thinking about colouring on kraft card with pencils and how it would also work nicely on grey card using just grey and white pencils (it does, trust me)
but then I got to thinking if it would work if you created your own grey background with distress ink.

to make this card, I stamped the elephant (lili of the valley) with versafine grey ink. then masked off the area with torn post-it notes, and inked up with pumice stone distress ink. I then coloured with various grey and white pencils, with my pop of red. I finished with glossy accents on the bubbles.

less is more: apertures

So, did less is more make this challenge just for me? I'm really into holes on the front of my cards are the moment (especially my one layer cards) I even did an article about this for craft stamper, not so long ago, and it's actually my personal favourite out of all of my articles.

I decided to use the opportunity to whip up my husband's valentine card.

I was given these felt hearts ages ago, and I thought I liked the idea of them being inside the card, but through an aperture.

The aperture was hand drawn and cut. I wasn't thrilled with it, so I decided to draw a line around it, I still didn't like it so I took inspiration from one of the hearts on Jo Capper-Sandon's Hearts Cubed stamp (which I had out as I have used it on a piece I will blog tomorrow), and drew random short lines all over it.

The Love stamp is from a old Vap! set, and is still one of my favourite words sets.

Happy Valentine Weekend with Stampotique

There's plenty of love inspiration at the stampotique designer's challenge. As the design team has grown, the challenge posts are now split over 4 posts, so it's worth popping back and seeing all the creations.
Don't forget to take part in the challenge, and as it's the first challenge of the month you don't even have to use Stampotique stamps (and lets face it we all have something love themed in our collection) and you could win $30 worth of stamps!!

My challenge piece will be posted on wednesday, but you can get a preview here. I decided to make a simple valentine gift box. (I did see something similar to this on a blog recently and meant to credit it but can't find it, if you know where it is please let me know.) - I found it.... here

I simply chose the size of label die that fit my image and then made a really simple box, and used the diecut as a lid. I added a ribbon and a tag and fastened with velcro.

This would be perfect for holding chocolate or jewellery, but believe it or not actually holds 3 pairs of socks!!

stamps used 3019 bow heart
6119 hanging hearts

which are available direct from Stampotique or from Happy Daze in the UK

chocolate heart card

My book group meets on the second Monday of each month and of course that means that it falls on valentine's day this month. We considered moving it, but then decided that really we might as well be with friends than forcing our husbands to treat us to overpriced meals full of loved up youngies.
I decided though that I wanted to mark the date with a little valentine something for the members of the group. I found these little chocolate hearts, and then decided to make them into cards. I used a book page for the heart, and used this fabulous Mark Twain quote, which could have been made for book groups! both the floral heart and quote are from Scrolls Work Stamps.


These cards were so quick to make, I'm thinking they would make the coolest wedding invitations.

I decided not to put these cards in envelopes, as they are so bulky, but make little brown paper bags


After they were all finished I closed the bags with a presonalised embellishment stapled to the bag

This fits many challenges this week, including
Papertake weekly - have a heart
Crazy Amigo - valentine
Created by hand - queen of hearts (As I'm "in charge" of the reading group lol)
wednesday Stamper - expressions of love
theme thursday - words


it also fits the stampotique challenge, so don't forget to check that out, you could win $30 of stamps!! I haven't shown my piece for this yet as the stampotique team is so big at the moment, the designers' pieces are being staggered on the blog, so keep checking back for inspiration.

Hanging Hearts

Continuing the pink theme for breast cancer awareness on the frantic stamper blog. I have made this very pink card. The design of this card actually came about by accident. it was originally mounted on a white card blank, but then I went and got ink on the white border, so I trimmed it down to square and then sat and wondered what to do with it...

I decided to make it into a book style card. I think I'll be doing this again.

A pretty good rescue, don't you think.

For details of all the materials and techniques please visit the frantic stamper blog. I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment over there