LOVE is in the air......

....and it's taking shape in the form of Valentine Easel cards. 14 of them to be exact. Valentine's Day is my fave holiday. I LOVE everything about it: cards, hearts, flowers, chocolates, romantic gestures...... It's by far my fave ART holiday. This year I have discovered easel cards. Who knew? These are delightfully fun to make and the recipient can display them if they choose. Win Win! :)

So, I wanted them to be similar in design but yet still unique. I made the base cards 5 x 10, so the finished easel panels are 5" square. I pre-cut and scored all the cards in stages. I used German scrap, collage sheet images, BINGO cards, vintage hymnal sheets, vintage dictionary pages, and antique heart doilies, seals and gummed hearts from an estate sale find.

The envelopes are cut from scrapbook paper in various Valentine and sheet music patterns. I used my fave template that when folded up into a square envie opens up into a heart! How seriously cool is that? I placed the finished cards/envies in larger stamped red greeting card envies. My reasons were 2 fold.....one the PO charges more for a square envie (blah blah blah) and 2 an extra layer of protection with no marring of the heart envies. :)

I must admit I am very happy with the results and I hope my friends and family enjoy receiving them!

12 Days of Christmas Ornie and Book

Once again I was fortunate to participate in a 12 Days of Christmas giftie swap and also new this year a 12 Days of Christmas book mingle. Here are my contributions:

The ornie I made was created from repurposed Pageant Numbers I found at a yard sale. I thought the lovely shade of green was perfect fro Christmas!  I distressed them down with brown ink and brushed on some diluted glue and glitter for a bit of sparkle. The Santa images were repurposed from old Christmas Cards. The centers were vintage dictionary pages with a satin red ribbon for trim! I was happy with how they turned out. I may make more for next years tree! :)

Don't they look cool on DH's hanging poinsettia baskets out by the pool??

For the mingle we were to make a tall skinny book with our interpretation of the song the 12 Days of Christmas. I took the traditional approach to the song. I made black sillhouettes of each days icons and used co-ordinating papers, snoflakes and some bling for mine.