Love is in the Air...

Like many of you, I'm primarily a card maker these days, and I'm always thinking about the next card-sending holiday and *trying* (note the asterisks around that word...I'm not always successful at that "trying" thing -  LOL) to get ahead of the game and have some cards ready early (i.e., not do what I did for this past Christmas season and change tactics because I started so late...oops). And that means Valentine's Day...and that means, love is in the air!

And these two cards are proof that, at least, I made a good first effort at that early start. :)

First up, a card that I felt didn't need a sentiment (but one could easily be added with a small tag near the flower if I changed my mind later on). I used lots of scalloped elements to contrast the strong rectangular shape of the card and the pieces of patterned papers...the punched scallops down the sides, the scalloped lace, the round loops in the paper doily, and the rounded edges of the open heart...

On top a base of tea-dyed cheesecloth, one loopy diecut doily topped with a large felt rolled rose, diecut leaves, golden-cream pearls, and a large open chipboard heart shabbily inked and glittered, all together form the focal point of the card...

Along with the scalloped lace down the side, I had to tuck a tiny piece of gathered lace between the flower and the heart...I thought it needed a little bit more dimension and texture between those two elements...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   Prima Tea Thyme collection;  Prima Almanac collection;  Crate Paper On Trend collection

Punch:   EK Success Double Crochet Lace      Dies:  My Favorite Things Rolled Rose;  Memory Box Quinn Flourish

Pearls:   Recollections      Scalloped crocheted lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com      Chipboard heart:   Maya Road

Miscellaneous:   cheesecloth, gathered cotton lace, clear coarse glitter

Next up is a fun, and very shabby, Valentine, with lots of distressed and painted edges, and more glittered elements...

The cluster at the bottoms of the two glittered chipboard hearts starts with another piece of scrunched cheesecloth, topped with a large pink button that's been "sugared" with clear coarse glitter and surrounded with a cluster of mini roses and leaves, with a few tiny pearls scattered here and there...

The sentiment stamps were placed in the two corners surrounding the cluster...one at the top, and the other in the lower corner...no way to miss the sentiment on this card!

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   Crate Paper On Trend collection      Chipboard hearts:  Maya Road

Sentiment stamps:  Technique Tuesday/Ali Edwards      Paper roses:  Wild Orchid Crafts    

 Dies:   My Favorite Things Royal Leaves

Miscellaneous:  cheesecloth, clear coarse glitter, twine, button, pearl wire spiral

Thanks so much for visiting today.  I hope the first week of 2013 was a good one for you, with the promise of more good days to come.  Have a wonderful weekend!