Valentine's Day Already?

I have begun making my Valentine's Day cards for this year's fiasco. I love Valentine's Day, but only because I get to tell the people I love that I love them, and not seem like a maniac.  I grew up in a home that those words were given freely, often, and I miss that.  One day, I'll give my own kid that kind of love. :)  For now, I'll just make cards so that other people can get the point across in a tasteful manner.  Here's what I've come up with so far:

This little card is a remake of one I made last week, the one I said would be perfect for duplicating.  It was easy enough, and if it sells fast, I'll make more.  I can use different paper, colors, etc.  I like the simplicity, and can see it being given to a person who isn't super mushy, like a guy.

Now, this is an idea I got off Martha Stewart's site, I think... she had the lollipops on birthday invites, or something and I couldn't resist knowing I had lollipop sticks from Christmas.  I used my glue gun to adhere the bow, and dimension dots to make the hearts pop. 

Here's a card I made in about one minute.  I used most of that minute trimming the frayed edges off the cut strips of paper, too.  I like the raw look of this card, it just might be another duplicated card made in bulk.  What a hustler I am! :)

After Valentine's Day, we have a little break from holidays, until Mother's and Father's Day, and this will give me time to work on the new website and get my arsenal built up again.  I've been thinking of making better use of my space in our shared office, and have some really good ideas. I need to organize my paper and have a better storage plan.  I found some paper the other day at the bottom of my pile(s) that I haven't seen in a year, so I'm thinking vertical files of some sort.  Separate them by size, color and pattern.  Project time.

Oh!  I will be making my niece's first birthday invitations next month, I just remembered.  I'd also like to do some party favors, or a banner... Anabella will be one year old, I just can't believe how time flies.  She is walking now, and wearing shoes regularly, look:

Look at those cool shoes!  I heard that over the last few days she began walking... YES! :)  I can't wait to see her, see her walking...

Here's Bella playing with the hippo that Auntie and Thomas got her for Christmas:

My sweetiepie!  Her smile is so sweet, I swear I could just scream.  It looks like she just woke up, or is ready to go down for a nap. 

That's all for now, as if I haven't rambled on for long enough. 
XO

Thank GOD it's Monday! Not.

Happy birthday, Lily!  My bf's niece turns 9 on Thursday, so we sang to her yesterday and gave her this card (and another, older one).  She rides horses, so it's quite fitting.  I am in love with my Vagabond, and now that I have a few embossing folders and some dies to use with it, it's even more fun.  So, I used the tiny dots folder to emboss the white cardstock that the horsey is standing on, and the patterned paper's edges were inked in glue and then dipped in brown glitter.  It's really subtle, but I think in person it pops more.  The grass was an afterthought, and now that I look at this card, I realize I should've added a little carrot for the horse -- rats!  Next time.

I have been trying to get more stuff to go with my Vagabond and use it more, so this weekend, I raided a Michael's sale and (with my 40% off coupon) got myself a Nestibilities (scalloped circles).  I brought it home and ran one through my Vag, but nothing happened!  I was SO confused, so I read the directions (durrrh) and found out that I'd need an extra shim, or whatever they're called, an adaptor shim (sounds like a tranny).  So, after I cursed Tim  Holtz, I decided I wasn't going to go out and buy another part, but I'd make it on my own.  I gathered all my cardboard (backs from paper pads, etc) and cut them into the shape of the shim, and made it the exact thickness of it, as well.  After gluing all the pieces together, I ran it through again and it worked!  SO, the moral of the story is: don't buy it if you can make it, ya big dummy!  I outsmarted old TH, and it feels pretty good.

Here's another card I made recently:

It's not such a great pic, but you get it, right?  I used my scallops cutter (Fiskars, I think, it's only broken down once) and then cut out each individual scallop to make little tags.  I used some yellow & white baker's twine to hang them on and that's it.  I think this is a good one to duplicate for Valentine's Day, coming up.  I need to supply the office with tasteful handmade cards. ;)

I made this sympathy card for a co-worker who just lost her brother... so sorry, Vilma! :(

I LOVE the paper on this card... it's double-sided, and the black newsprint banner is the backside.  I used my die to cut the little placard and inked the sentiment with individual letters.  These butterflies are from a LONG time ago... I've held onto these suckers for years, I'm sure.  Finally, I've used the last ones!  It's tough to make a sympathy card, you must be sincere, not too flashy or bright, but not so depressing that the point of the card is missed.  I think I shoudn't have used black on it, but next time I'll know that going in. 

That's all for now, folks.  I'm going to work on Valentine's cards this week, until the 14th and will post them as I go. :)

XO