Valentines

I felt the need to get my craft on over the weekend and tried my hand at making some Valentines.  I am super pleased with how they turned out.  

A million years ago I ordered a set of cds from lunagirl.com with hundreds of vintage images on them.  Now, a million years later, they offer the same images as digital downloads.  I have gotten a ton of use out of these images over the years.  I had a scroll through the Valentine images and was taken with the heart shaped scans on the cd.  

Just trying to get some work done around here ladies.

I printed them on Epson fine art paper which is pricey I know but the results are fabulous.  The colors are really vibrant.  The only beef I have with the paper is that is says to print on the smoother side and both sides feel and look EXACTLY alike.  However one side looks much better when printed.  I generally put the sheet in to the printer upside down and print on the incorrect side but I just flip it over and print again.  The paper is thick enough that you can't see the image showing through from the other side.  And since no one is going to see the back of the hearts it worked out just fine.

Once I had the hearts printed and cut out (using my favorite Cutter Bee scissors for paper cutting) I layered book print scrapbook paper, coordinating cardstock and plain note cards from Michael's.  Michael's has value packs of these cards and they had them in a lovely blush color.  

I sacrificed one of the cards to make little banners.  Since most of the pink card is hidden under layers I wanted to use the banners to tie it all together.  I used my Sizzix Big Shot and a Spellbinders die to make the banners.  I actually bought the set of dies just for the banner one.  I have no use for the rest but the set was on clearance so I didn't sweat it.  

Once I had the layers all affixed I added embellishments with grommets in the corners and glittery accents.   

I go through these phases where I am completely obsessed with some crafting tool and I spend way too much money on something that will, in all honesty, not get much use.  So it was fun to bring out a few of those tools for these cards.  The grommet setter – I mean what was I thinking?  I think I've used it twice.  And it is a pain in the ass so I see why I never use it.  The Sizzix Big Shot I use more but the dies are pricey.  Someone really needs to start a library where you can just check out the dies and return them when you are done.  

This does make me want to try my hand at other cards.  Maybe if I start now I can get Christmas cards ready to send out in December.

Links to the materials I used: 

Disclosure:  Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase

• Lunagirl vintage images
• Recollections Book Print scrapbook paper 
• Epsom Velvet fine art paper
• Recollections value pack cards and envelopes (I don't see the blush on line but they had them in the store)
• Sizzix Big Shot
• Spellbinders die set with banner
• Cutter Bee scissors
• Tombow Xtreme adhesive
• Stickles glitter glue
• Making Memories grommet setter