Happy Valentine’s Day!  Although I’m not a fan, I can celebrate almost anything – especially when there’s chocolate involved! LOL!  I made this card for my honey.  He won’t necessarily appreciate all the work that went into it, but he knows that if I give him a handmade card, he is officially “Card Worthy” and that’s a good thing! haha

You wouldn’t believe the mess I make when I create!  It’s a phenomenon!  I try very hard not to make a mess but that doesn’t help one iota.  I knew I wanted to use watercolor paper because I was going to make this card for a challenge that required it.  I’m not good at it so I usually avoid coloring of any kind.  So…I gathered all my goodies and got started.

• Kraft Core Card Stock is Shabby Chic by definition so I thought that was a good place to start  I embossed it with TH’s Postal Texture Fade and then sanded the raised portions with a Sanding Block.
• I had a left-over heart shaped doily so I stamped it with “love letter” from TH’s Random Quotes Stamp Set and Black Archival Ink.
• Tea Dye Distress Stain Spray was used to age the heart shaped doily which was then inked with Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.  It was then crumpled and flattened.

• The lock and key from the Mini Blueprints 3 Stamp Set were stamped onto Watercolor Card Stock (smooth side) using Black Archival Ink.
• Various Colors of Distress Markers were used along with a Watercolor Brush to color them in.  The edges were torn and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a Blending Tool.

• Seedless Preserves and Vintage Photo Distress Inks were used to dye Crinkle Ribbon.
• The edges of the Kraft Core were distressed with a Distressing Tool and Walnut Stain Distress Ink was applied to the edges of all of the pieces.

• The dyed Crinkle Ribbon was attached to the front of the card and a Double Bow was tied using the “How To Tie a Double Bow Using Your Fingers Technique” – (See a VIDEO HERE) – and attached to the card using Glue Dots.
• An Idea-ology Charm was attached to the knot in the bow with a Jump Ring.
• The Kraft Core post card was attached to a 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of SU! Chocolate Chip Card Stock – scored and folded at 4 1/4″.

• “love, trust and adore” from the Chit Chat Sticker Pack were attached to the front of the card.
• A Black Distress Marker was traced around each sticker and smudged onto the edges.
• A small heart charm tied with a scrap of jute ribbon was attached to the front of the card.
• The surface of the card was spritzed with Antiqued Bronze Distress Stain Spray.

• The inside of the card was finished with a 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of SU! Very Vanilla Card Stock.

You know I’m a big Challenge Lover!  There are lots of great ones out there and I routinely “play” with a bunch of them.  Consider playing along – Just click the links below.

Challenges:

A Vintage Journey – Tic Tac Toe – I think I  used most of these! (Idea-ology Charm, Spray, Ribbon, Ephemera, Texture Fades, Stains)

Inspiration Emporium – Love is in the Air

Shabby Tea Room – TSTR #245 “I {heart} You) – Shabby Chic Elements and Vintage Elements

Artist Trading Post – Love is in the Air

 STAMPlorations– Stamps & Hearts