Saturday, February 14, 2015

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"

32 comments:

  1. Hey hun, not sure if it's just me, but I can't see any pictures. I'll check back later. The suspense is killing me!!!!!

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    1. Oops! I was having technical issues! I hit the publish button before I was anywhere near done! I shouldn't be operating heavy equipment right now!

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    2. Oh thank goodness, I was really looking forward to getting back to my computer so I could see if the pics were up...YAY!! This is just spectacular Sara, but then everything you do IS! Love the kraft and dark blue, it's my new favourite combo and I just love your drips and drops, especially on that corrugated heart...wowsers!!! Love the little ticket you tucked under the heart, it's the little details like that, that keep me coming back to visit you! Thank you for the shout out my friend, you really know how to give a girl a fat head! haha! Well if your hubby doesn't fall off his chair with absolute delight, I suggest a CAT scan immediately!

      Big hugs my creative, crafty friend! :)

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    3. Thank you, Pamellia! I'm afraid, Mr. Barker is a little under the weather and doesn't even know he has a card! My kids loved theirs, though! I think, however you are the queen of detail, and it is the big detail of the gesso under the texture paste that I stole from you that helped this card out. So a great big hug of gratitude for saving my crafty butt!!! A Happy Valentine's Day to you, Pamellia! hugs!

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  2. Hi Sara, I love how you have combined all the elements together, the cards looks fantastic!! The blue and kraft colour theme is just perfect for a guy, your hubby is sure to love this xx

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    1. Georgie, thank you for ALL of your sweet supportive comments you've left me! I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day and a nice relaxing weekend! Hugs!

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  3. wonderful Valentine for your hubby, love the blue and kraft combo! Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours Sara!

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    1. Hi Deb, Thank you for your sweet comments! I have really enjoyed them! I have Michael's to thank for the color inspiration here! I hope you and your family enjoy each other's love today, too!

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  4. Super looking masculine card Sara and love your colour palette. A refreshing change to the usual reds and pinks of Valentine's Day.
    Julie x

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    1. Thank you, Julie! I kind of like this color palette, too!

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  5. What a great Valentine Sara! love all the layers, the inks and stain - and wonderful colors! thanks so much for joining in on both the Mixed Media Card Challenge and the AVJ Tic Tac Toe! and Happy Valentine's Day!

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    1. I hope your Valentine's Day was happy, too! Thank you so much for your generous compliment!

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  6. Wonderful card for your husband Sara I am sure he will love it so much. What a shame he is under the weather. Brilliant layers and a great design

    Another amazing entry to our TTT challenge at AVJ

    Wishes
    Annie x

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  7. Happy Valentine, Sara! You are the Queen of Valentine cards, I have never seen so many, on a roll girlfriend!!! Lovely to see so many different ideas. Hugs Jan x

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    1. Thank you, Jan; you sure know how to make a girl feel good! Hugs!

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  8. Gorgeous card Sara!! Love the colors and all the textures!!

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    1. Thank you, Samra! What a generous compliment coming from one who makes the most brilliant of cards!

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  9. Sara I adore your colour choices on this and all the layers and textures are fab! Nikki xx

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    1. Thank you, Nikki! And I adore a lovely comment from you! :)

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  10. This is just gorgeous,love all the texture. Thanks for sharing with us at Country View.xxx

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  11. Such a wonderful walentines card! LOVE the texture and how you put all those elements together in a perfect unit! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at the Inspiration Journal! Hugs, Karin

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    1. What a wonderful compliment, Karin! Thank you so much!

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  12. Love this one (obviously!) - the colours and the corrugated texture are right up my street. Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey again!
    Alison xx

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  13. Absolutely wonderful Valentine for your husband! I love the texture and color choices! Thank you for joining us at A Vintage Journey.

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  14. Thank you so much, Terry! I'm happy you like my Valentine!

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  15. Great card! Thank you for joining in The Artistic Stamper Creative Challenge this month x

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    1. Thank you, Jennie! Wow, you've had a lot to look at! I appreciate you stopping by each of my posts!

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  16. Beautiful card with lots of gorgeous details! Love it!
    Thanks for playing with us at MMCC. Hoping to see you with us again in March!

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  17. Thank you, Elina! I hope to be able to play again in March!

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