Happy Valentines Day with an Huge Apology

I FEEL I REALLY MUST APOLOGISE ..... I get quite a few e-mails presenting me with Blog Awards ..... and though I LOVE receiving them, I tend not to accept them because with writing two blogs with posts that usually include a lot of photography each day, I just don't have the time to meet the criteria these awards tend to set out ..... I feel awful, but I hope you will understand xxxxx

However, as most awards require the recipient to reveal something about themselves (and I tend to be quite secretive), I thought I'd show some of things I have in my Craft Room that inspire me .......

I was looking around and realised that I have quite a few hearts scattered here and there…and what better day to share a few with you, than today …..

I made this button heart years ago, it’s looking very rough round the edges now, but I can’t bear to throw it away.

Some hearts I have bought on little shopping trips to new places, this laser cut heart is a reminder of a visit to Southport and Chester this time last year.

This resin heart was in a parcel from a very special friend.

And I love, love, love, these heart pendants and other jewellery made by Mary at http://www.mary-mary.net/ - I’ve ooooohed and aghed at her lovely stuff at the Christmas Gift Fair that is usually on with the HobbyCrafts Show at the NEC in November for several years now, but so far I only possess a postcard ….. mainly because I just can’t decide which one I like best!

This heart was found in a gift shop sale at the beginning of the year ….. I wish I had bought a couple more now …….  typical!

It’s a little heart shaped glass pocket, you can put a little message in, as the paper heart opens up into a flower. I love it.

This wooden box has been with me for at least 45 years, it was to given me by a boy called Gerald O’Connor when we were at Infant School in Smethwick!

 

Anyway ….. enjoy your mooch round my craft room …..

xxxx Happy Valentines Day xxxxx

Two Valentine Cards.

This card measures 12.5 x 12.5 cms and is made using a white linen effect card.

I thought that I couldn’t get away with just posting a card like this as it is far too simple, but to be honest, this is the sort of card I would love to get and would pick up in a card shop, my own taste is very less is more.

The heart is cut from a lovely red sparkly paper using a 2in scalloped heart punch and then stuck straight on to the card blank.

This next card measures 12.5 cm x 12.5cm and is made using an ivory linen effect card.

For this second card I have used a plain edged punched heart, but added a text background paper, mat and layered on gold mirror card and four very shiny (and quite expensive) flat backed glass gems to bling it up. Again very simple. The red glittery paper is from Making Memories – Red Glitter Love Notes – 31740, but as I have had the text paper for a long while, I don’t have any details for it.

Marks and Spencer Mini Gingerbread Men

Look what I found today ….. 99p for 12 – don’t know if I can bear to eat them!

Daft Question ...... do you think they would varnish .... the sell by day is sometime in November, so goodness knows what's in them ..... was wondering if I could add them to a festive wreath??????

Jewelled Heart Valentine Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12.5cm and is made using white linen effect card.

There’s nothing like a bit of tasteful bling! I’ve punched a plain heart using my large 2in (diagonal) heart punch and then covered it with an assortment of red, clear and pearl flat backed gems using a tacky PVA glue.

A bit of mat and layering on silver mirror card, and Bob’s your uncle!

Little Red Wooden Heart Valentine Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12.5cm and is made using a white linen effect card.

This is my 9 square template card made using a 1in (measured diagonally)  X cut scalloped  square punch, red gingham background paper and very sparkly glass flat backed gems, plus a bit of faux stitching.

I wasn’t sure if the ink would stay on the wooden hearts without smudging, but fortunately it has.

Valentine Penny Mix

I’ve just put a few sweets together for a Valentine theme…..

…….. mini love hearts, love bugs, chocolate hearts

Penny Mix, gives them a Retro feel!

I Love You Valentine Card

This isn’t my own idea. My sister had seen a card in a shop recently using an eye, a heart and a letter U – to “spell” “I love you” and asked if I could put together something similar, though I hadn’t seen the actual card.

I am not sure about the wibbly wobbly eye …. but it’s an idea that I think I could improve on …and can think of a couple of variations on the theme..

Little Puffy Heart Sticker Valentine Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12.5cm and is made from an A4 sheet of glossy red card from PaperBox.

I’m sorry, I can’t remember if these hearts were from Paperchase or Accessorize!

But, I decided that I liked the way that they were presented in the package so much, that I would put them on this card in exactly the same way.

Tesco Ladybird Chocolate Bar

This is one of the ideas that I have come up with using one of the Tesco chocolate ladybirds (£1 a net) that I had in my shopping bag on Sunday.

I’ve covered a small bar of Cadbury chocolate with a piece of red paper measuring 13.5 cm x 10cm. Then added a leaf made using my Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Leaves die with the ladybird on top.  A few tiny daisies made using a punch and a few flat backed gems plus a bit of faux stitching and sentiment finishes it all off. 

Be Mine – Bee Valentine Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12.5 cm and is made using an ivory linen effect card.

I love insect jewellery!  This bee, which is gem encrusted and very twinkly, though it doesn’t show in the picture, came from a Primark necklace, no longer worn … but I thought I could use it on this very simple card.

It took a couple of attempts to get the writing, dots and hearts in the right place, but I got there in the end.

What’s In My Posh Sweet Dish Today

Pink Smarties!

What’s In My Shopping Bag Today

Woo hoooo,  Tesco chocolate ladybirds, there are 23 in a net for £1.00, with a best before date of December 2011 and they taste pretty good too!  I have stocked up, because although they are supposed to be for Valentine’s Day, I am thinking ahead to Mother’s Day and Easter.  As soon as Valentines is over Tesco won’t have anymore, so it’s a case of buy them when you see them.

From Home Bargains chocolate love tokens – 9 in a pack for 39p, with a best before date of 30.06.12.  I’m not too keen on the sentiments, but they can be covered up with a punched scalloped circle, the other side has an embossed heart and arrow which is OK.  The lolly was also 39p, which I thought would be OK as a stirrer in a Valentines Hug in A Mug (sachet hot chocolate, marshmallows, a couple of tokens and a lolly).

I Love You Tea Bag

This is my second attempt at another idea  I found on Martha Stewart’s website:- http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/valentines-day-gifts

My first attempt was just too small and looked rather feeble and non-descript.

I’ve used a large 2in scalloped heart punch and a smaller plain edged one, a tea bag with a string and a black gel pen.

I’ve punched two hearts out and then stuck them back to back on the string, writing “I Love You” on both sides when the heart was dry. A romantic gesture for breakfast in bed  on Valentine’s morning.

I have a couple more ideas for other teabag tags, so watch this space…..

Bee Mine

This card measures 13 cm x 13 cm and is made using white linen effect card from Papermill Direct.

Nothing really special about this card.  I’ve used a 3D foam bee from a pack of stickers from Poundworld, I’ve added wibbly wobbly eyes and micro glitter to the wings.  The heart is made using a large heart punch.

A bit of my own handwriting and faux stitching on a matted square completes the design.

Heart Shaped Bejewelled Box

This is my second attempt at using the Liquid Beadz  I got for just 29p in HobbyCrafts Sale. 

I’ve used a papier mache box, also from Hobbycraft sale – 49p  and  a black Promarker pen to colour the base sides and lid. I also coloured the edge of the lid just in case there are any gaps between the Beadz. 

To give the box an aged look, I’ve used Ranger Distress Crackle Paint (clear Rock Candy) to give it a crackled effect, it’s the first time I have used it and am very impressed.

Loves Me …. Loves Me Not Card

I love gingham and I love daisies, so I was in my element while making this card.

I’ve used a Woodware punch to make the daisies, snipping off the odd petal and using two layers for a bit of extra dimension when the flowers are “fluffed” up.

Yellow flat backed gems and a bit of faux stitching finish the card. The card measures 12.5 x 12.5 cm.

You Have To Kiss A Lot of Frogs …..

I saw these Haribo jelly frogs and just had to have a packet …. as I had an idea …. I mixed them with some jelly lips (from SPAR), and a sweetie bag was made!

The foam frog was from a large packet of frogs from HobbyCraft, all I have added  is some googly eyes.

I thought it would be a funny gift for a bride or someone newly engaged or even a little girls princess party.

Valentine Page Markers

I can’t claim this idea for my own, I found it on Martha Stewarts wonderful website amongst the Valentine Gifts http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/valentines-day-gifts

All I’ve used are two faithful plastic heart templates that I have had for years and panic if I can’t find them and scraps of red patterned paper.

I’ve drawn round the templates and cut out the heart shapes. Then I have only glued the upper half of the smaller heart onto the larger one, leaving the bottom part to fit over a page top (I hope that makes sense).

A bit of faux stitching and that’s all there is to them.

This would be a lovely idea for a child to make and as an extra touch you/they could write a little message on the back.

A Very Delicate Valentine Card

This card measures 12.5cm x 12.5cm and is made using ivory linen effect card.

This card came to me in a flash, although it’s supposed to be a Valentine, I think it would make a lovely wedding card too.

I punched out a large (2ins diagonal)  plain heart and used it as a template, drawing round the outline first and then an entwined line, using a sepia coloured Marvy Le Plume pen.

I’ve added a few  leaves and tiny punched daisies with very sparkly glass flat backed gems in the centre. I managed to break the punch in the process (bum) but hey ho! The final touch was made by filling in the leaves and going over the sepia lines with a pale olive green Whisper pen.