Happy Valentine's Day!

Good afternoon!  Today's card is a Valentine for my husband!  Last (maybe), but certainly not least!  I had a blue and kraft theme in mind for him the minute I laid eyes on the denim and burlap craft supplies at one of our local craft stores. I just had to pick up that denim ribbon and that was the inspiration for this card that practically made itself once I started.

Taken in natural morning light; sorry for the shadow.

The back ground was spritzed with my one and only Distress spray in Vintage Photo and then inked with Distress ink. I flicked some water on it and got some amazing drips and drops, but are mostly covered with the other layers. I swiped on a thin layer of gesso in one corner and used texture paste through Tim's ruler stencil. When dry I swiped with some Distress inks to high light raised areas and to give some color to the recessed areas. Thank you for the inspiration on this Pamellia!  When I realized I was so short on time yesterday, I thought I would just copy one of her masculine cards (ha! ha!) and of course not post it, but I didn't have to.  But I did borrow her idea to add the gesso before laying down the texture paste.  If you haven't been to see her amazingly creative artwork, (where have you been?) be sure to pay her blog a visit.  You will be so happy you did!

You can see some of the drips and drops here.

For one of  the embellishments I chose some backing from drywall tape (I think!  I've hoarded this forever to use on a guy card, and this is my last piece.) It was already blue;  I  recall using it as a stencil once with inks, but that was years ago.  Anyway, perfect for this masculine card.

I also cut 3 tickets with Tim's Movers and Shapers die. The larger one was stamped with a wood grain image with Weathered Wood Distress ink and edged in Gathered Twigs.  I used these same colors on the smaller one and gave it a gentle spritz with Distress spray. I flicked and dripped on a little water (truly my favorite Tim Holtz technique)  and let it sit. The last ticket was stamped with Tim's Odds and Ends in cobalt Archival ink and edged in Gathered Twigs.

The larger heart was cut free hand from a corrugated scrap I picked up at a craft store.  They were unpacking stuff, and I asked them for their trash so I have a pretty good supply now!  Happy my kids weren't with me--they would have died from embarrassment! I digress...I swiped on some Picket Fence Distress paint with my finger and flicked some Chipped Sapphire Distress paint thinned with a little water.  I stood the heart on it's point and let it drip down. Of course the coolest drip is covered!

The blue heart is die cut (Sizzix) from some of that paper I resolved to use this year.  (I hate to say it, but it sure was tough to cut into a full sheet for such a tiny heart!  What am I saving this for, anyway!!!)  I used a stiff paint brush dipped in Picket Fence to flick the droplets on.  My basting brush would have made a mess of this little guy.

Lastly, I chose a sentiment from Tim's Simple Sayings and inked it with either Brushed Corduroy or Frayed Burlap, added a little Weathered Wood, spritz and flicked, then fussy cut it out.  I rusted two Phillips head brads with alcohol inks and Distress powder and used them to give the look that the sentiment was screwed down. I happened to notice after viewing this photo that the drop on the background lined up perfectly with the drop on the sentiment--purely by accident!  I'm telling you, this card made itself!

I wrapped the two hearts with paper twine and tucked in the Valentine ticket. I added a strip of that inspirational denim ribbon which I frayed a bit.

Using metal embellishments, Distress spray and ribbon/twine allows me to complete one line in Annie's  grid at A Vintage Journey "It's Time to Play Tic Tac Toe" being the uppermost horizontal line. This has been such a fun challenge, and the inspiration pieces the Creative Guides have put together for us are amazing!  Be sure to hop over and join in the fun.  I have to say, I did not plan this card around the challenge, but it just happened that I used those items on my card, as well as a few other things from the game board.

This card has to be my all-time easiest card to make--it practically designed itself. Thank goodness, because I was horribly sleep deprived when I made it!  My husband is an architect, and I wanted his profession to be symbolized on this card.  I guess I should have used a blueprint stamp-duh! Who's thinking at 1 am when they've had 2 hours of sleep the night before?  NOT me, obviously!

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your heart warming comments!  I read and appreciate them all, and love it when you have a question or suggestion. Today is the last day to have your name put in the hat for the Valentine draw I'm having.  Stop back on Monday evening to see if you are the lucky winner!  I hope you are having a sweet Valentine's Day! Hugs and blessings!

Sara Emily

I would like to enter this into the following inspirational challenges:

A Vintage Journey "It's Time to Play Tic Tac Toe" As mentioned above I used metal embellishements, Distress spray and ribbon and twine.

Inspiration Journal "Love is in the Air"

Mixed Media Card Challenge #8 "Love"

The Artistic Stamper February's Creative Challenge "Love"

Country View Challenges "Drips and Drops"