LOVE note

Ah, Valentine's Day!  Just what we all need to get us out of our winter funk, don't you think?  Start bringing in those warm colors and the happiness that comes with expressing love, and the whole world looks a little rosier!  This is my first Valentine for the year, but I have lots more ideas percolating.  I made this one for the Caardvarks challenge to use hearts and the color red, and I also turned the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You this week sideways.  I decided to have another go with the pleats I used in my matryoshka doll card, but this time instead of using a scoring blade to make them line up just right I folded them all higgledy-piggedly and I LOVE the result.  It adds so much dimension!  I used my SU scallop trim punch for the white trim.  For the heart, I cut the heart with my Cricut (George cartridge) and stamped it with a Hero Arts text background stamp.  The cute little silhouette is from the A Child's Year cartridge, as is the word LOVE below.  I used stickles to accent the heart, because I think every V-day card needs a little bling, don't you?   The background PP is from Basic Grey.  TFL!

Cute crochet headband/flower giveaway!

My lovely friend Tonya makes the most adorable crocheted accessories, and right now she's doing a giveaway on her blog.  I already have a couple of her flowers and I love wearing them.  Go check it out!

It's what's inside that counts...

My little sister is going through a really tough time, and I wanted to make a card to tell her that I know she has the strength and beauty inside to get through it.  I thought this sweet matryoshka doll was the perfect symbol for that.  I used this week's sketch from Card Positioning Systems -- it's the first time I've participated in their challenges, but I'm loving their sketches!  I was inspired by last month's issuing of Creating Keepsakes to try pleats, and I love the dimension and handmade touch they give the card.

Materials used:  Paper -- Basic Grey Ambrosia collection; Die Cut -- Cricut Paisley cartridge; Pearl stickers -- Hero Arts; Distressing ink -- Cat's Eye Charcoal

Neighbor Gifts

This year for our neighbor gift I made my father-in-law's special fudge sauce -- oh, so yummy.  And quite the chocolate buzz, standing over a steaming quintuple batch of steaming fudge sauce...  I wanted to include the recipe on the tag, so I cut these tags with my Cricut and the Tags and Bags cartridge using the mirror feature, so the tag opens like a book.  The snowflake is from the Winter Wonderland cartridge, with a little bit of stickles for bling.  The "With Love" stamp is from 7Gypsies, and I cut it out with my SU scallop punch.  TFL!