Valentine LOVE Shaker Confetti Card

I was playing with my Minc foiling machine and some new Valentine foil cards from Pink and Main and  the results were so sparkly and attractive, I knew I had to make some cards for my favorite sweethearts.  I started by die cutting the LOVE letters on the foiled card stock.  I glued some clear acetate plastic to the back of the letters.  Around the letters I adhered some pieces of double stick foam tape forming a rectangle.  (I cut the tape into thinner pieces.)  Into the rectangle of foam tape I added some Valentine confetti, pulled off the backing of the foam tape and placed another acetate film onto the tape. Doing the confetti box like this is less frustrating and saves on confetti (instead of doing the whole card as a shaker). This whole confetti foiled card front was then adhered to the card blank with more foam tape. Finally, the Ai images were stamped and colored with Copic pens before fussy cutting them out. They were attached with foam dots to add extra dimension. 

This second card was not as pleasing to me as the top one, because the design is a little too busy so the LOVE can barely be seen.  However, I think the candy heart confetti will please the recipient.  As a finishing touch, I added some pink Stickles to both cards.  Making foiled cards is really fun and will please both young and old alike.  Hope you had a sparkling and sweet Valentine's Day!

Valentine Tag with Bear Pin

I was inspired to make this bear pin tag by a new product that I discovered at the Mapunapuna HM Ben Franklin Crafts store. (It may be at the other BFC stores too.)  The pipe cleaner like  product (only thicker and fuzzier) from Japan was designed to be fashioned into cute little animals.  The instructions for this new craft are available for free at the store.  Although the instructions are in Japanese the illustrations are fairly easy to follow.  One warning: The instructions are for both the bear and rabbit but that is not clear until you notice that the animals are in different colors. 

I think the bear turned out pretty cute even though I forgot to get the eyes and nose so I substituted seed beads. The bear is holding a plastic candy conversation heart sticker that I found in my copious stash of Valentine 'stuff'.  The cardboard Valentin stickers were also from my old stash but I'm sure you can find lots of Valentine worded items at HM Ben Franklin Crafts.

Besides the eyes, nose, and plastic candy heart I also glued a pin back onto the tiny, fuzzy bear.  To attach the bear to the tag, I made a slit and pushed the pin back through.  I am very pleased by the way the bear turned out and that there is enough fuzzy pipe cleaner product in the package to fashion two animals.  The fuzzy ball edging on the tag was a serendipitous addition which added color and texture that matched will with the bear pin.  I think you'll be very pleased with this new pipe cleaner product available at HM Ben Franklin.  Because there are different colors and thicknesses you will be able to make a variety of animals. Go check it out and start a new craft hobby....so much fun!

Vintage Gold Heart Locket Collection Necklace

About 25 years ago, I saw a photo of a heart locket necklace for sale.  It was gorgeous but too pricey for me so I began the my search for vintage gold lockets.  I believe that most of these vintage gold lockets are from around the 1930's. Most of them are marked 10k, 1/20, or gold filled.  I used to find them often in antique shops for around $20-$40 but they have become quite scarce and many are priced around $50+.  My collection of lockets is rather large now but I didn't think it would look attractive to put them all on one necklace.  Sometimes the lockets have old miniature photos in them ... super sweet but sometime scary...LOL!  I was lucky to find a heart link gold filled chain and gold heart clasp in my stash of jewelry findings. I knew I'd find a use for them eventually....hoarder! The necklace that started me on this collecting journey just had a plain chain and clasp. I have enough heart lockets to make more jewelry so I might create a bracelet next.  Sterling silver lockets are easier to find these days, possibly because they are not as old as the gold filled ones so you might try collecting lockets to make a silver version of this necklace.  Anyway, collecting and designing jewelry is a fun hobby for me.  I plan to wear this creation on February 14th...... Happy Valentine's Day to me!

Scalloped Valentine Door Card

For this card I used a 5-1/2" scalloped heart die.  If you don't have one you can easily make a regular heart template and trace out the two hearts.  After die cutting the two hearts, I cut one in half to form the two 'doors'.  On the whole die cut heart I folded 'door hinges' on the sides.  I glued the two half hearts to the hinges of the whole heart.  Ribbons were glued to the half heart doors and the ephemera Valentine sweethearts were attached to the card with adhesive foam pop-up dots. 

On the inside of the card I attached a Valentine saying die-cut piece from my stash. You can find lots of die cut sayings and ephemera at HM Ben Franklin Crafts or online from various papercraft companies.  I really hope you'll give this style of Valentine 'door' card a try.  It's so easy and results in a unique looking card for your special 'Valentine'.  It's sure to impress him/her this year. Happy Sweetheart Crafting!

Lavender Sachet Valentine Card

 

I love Valentine's Day cards and the scent of lavender flowers so it seemed only natural that I would try to combine the two.  I started with a lavender colored card blank and a heart shaped die.  I used the die on a printed light pink piece of card stock slightly smaller than the card blank.  Next, I used Fabri-Tac glue to make a small bag from the sheer gauzy ribbon netting (from HM BFC). The bag was sized to fit behind the heart opening.  I filled the bag with dried lavender flowers (possibly available in the soap or candle section of HM Ben Franklin Crafts) before sealing it with glue and adhering it to the back of the heart opening. The whole printed card stock with the lavender sachet bag was glued to the card blank before the lacey ribbon  (maybe available at Daiso) was glued around the border of the card.  Finally,  artificial flowers, Valentine glitter card stock stickers, and vintage Valentine ephemera (Time Holtz Ranger) were glued in a pleasing arrangement.  Even though my husband may disagree, I think it is important to have an abundant collection of ribbons, stickers, ephemera, and other pretty things to select from.  LOL! I think I'll continue to gather 'stuff' ' to make whatever idea floats into my mind. Isn't Life Wonderful!  Happy Crafty Valentine's Day!

Valentine Confetti Shaker Calendars

Using the same format as the last calendars I posted, I decided to make some confetti shaker ones with a Valentine theme.  It was easy to use a heart die to cut a heart shape into the unfolded calendar base.  I placed a confetti filled bag (small Heiko) behind the opening.  After securing the bag with tape, I taped a piece of card stock ( a little smaller than the calendar front) onto the back of the calendar front. Next I used double stick tape to fasten the calendars (purchased from HM Ben Franklin Crats).  I stamped the Hero Arts cat image and Special Delivery words, coloring them before die cutting.  Pop up foam adhesives were used to secure the stamped images down.  That was it...so easy to make cute, shaker calendars. I'm really  happy with these calendars and plan to keep one for myself.  That's how you know I'm truly pleased with the outcome of a project! Happy Valentine's Day!

Easy Valentine Bookmarks

 I wanted to make something Valentine themed for young readers.  I came up with these simple book- marks.  I started with a 12x12 Doodlebug Designs card stock (from my stash) that had tag designs on the front and back. They were easy to cut out with a paper trimmer. If you can't find a Valentine card stock sheet with tag designs, you can just cut out tag shapes and punch a hole on the top.  I glued together two tags for each bookmark so they can withstand lots of handling. Through each tag hole I strung a 12" piece of ribbon and glued down the end onto the tag.

I glued the other end of the ribbon between two die cut hearts.  This project is a good way to use up Valentine paper scraps. I'm sure that you can make dozens of Valentine bookmarks to give away, perhaps to a kindergarten or first grade class.  These bookmarks are also very lightweight for inexpensive mailing. Instead of a usual Valentine cards this year, try making some bookmarks instead. I'm sure they'll be gratefully received.  Happy Valentine's Day!