From Days Gone By

As a lover of antiques, I had to have this label stamp from Inkadinkado. Its style warranted a soft patterned paper, sheer ribbon and delicate flowers.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Inkadinkado

Papers: off white cardstock (Core'dinations), patterned (Basic Grey Bittersweet)

Ink: Colorbox Chestnut

Accessories: flowers (I Am Roses), ribbon (stash), Spellbinder Classic Rectangles Large, buttons (stash)

A Sparkling Salutation

Here's another nontraditional Valentine's Day card icon. Cupcakes are still a popular icon and I enjoy incorporating them into my card designs whenever I can. Who doesn't like cupcakes?! The circle and scalloped circles dies were adhered to the cardstock with repositionable tape at the same time, cutting the frame in one pass through the BigShot.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: Inkadinkado (image & sentiment)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), shimmery pink cardstock (Bazzill Pink Cadillac), patterned (Basic Grey Bittersweet)

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Dark Brown, Memories Crimson

Accessories: Spellbinder Standard Circles Small, Big Scalloped Circles Small and Doubled Ended Tags, brads (stash), glitter (Art Institute Valentine & MS pink)

All Torn Up

I had to have this border punch when it came out for purchase. The EK Success Binding Edge punch gives anything character. I crumpled the cardstock to make it look as though the paper was actually torn from a book.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Verve

Paper: off white cardstock (Cor'dinations), red cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (MME Lost & Found Market Street)

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Warm Red

Accessories: ribbon (stash), bird punch (Marvy), Spellbinder Classic & Scalloped Hearts, border punch (EK)

In Print

Print or text patterned paper is wonderful for card making because of its small pattern size. Aged patterned paper works well on a kraft card base. Other elements in the card can be distressed to match using Distress Inks.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Papers: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (MME Lost & Found Blush)

Ink: Distress Vintage Photo

Accessories: button (Nadine K.), ribbon (Fabricland), Spellbinder Classic Hearts & Standard Circles Large

Just My Type

Love, love, love stamps with coordinating dies! A number of companies are now producing compatible products, including Heartfelt, Verve, Papertrey Ink and Just Rite. This one is from My Favorite Things. I heat embossed the typewriter with black embossing powder to give it a realistic shine. Don't limit yourself to hearts and cupids to make Valentine cards.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: My Favorite Things

Papers: patterned (MME Lost & Found Madison Avenue), white cardstock (Georgia Pacific)

Ink: Colorbox Black

Accessories: black embossing powder (stash), ribbons (stash), heart punch (Marvy), dies (My Favorite Things)

Back to Business

Managed to get crackin' and will be posting some Valentine cards for you. In making this card, I discovered that Distress Ink in Festive Berries is the same colour as Mel's Diner Glimmer Mist. I first inked the embossed paper, but thought a Valentine needed a little sparkle, so I sprayed it with the Glimmer Mist. This coordinated with the glittery heart sticker that fit perfectly into the paper pattern. I cut the bottom of the embossed paper off so the solid cardstock would better support the checked ribbon.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Papers: red cardstock (Bazzill), white cardstock (Georgia Pacific)

Ink: Distress Festive Berries

Accessories: embossing folder (Cuttlebug), ribbon (stash), Glimmer Mist (Mel's Diner), sticker (Martha Stewart)

Happy New Year

Best Wishes to you and yours. Unfortunately, the holiday season did not afford me any crafting time. Consequently, I don't have anything new to share, but hope to get some new cards posted within a week or so.

Thanks,

Natalie