No Time To Stamp?

How about Friday and Saturday, July 31 and August 1, 2009? Up here in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula on the shores of Lake Superior. Doesn’t it sound fun???

A couple of my local friends, JoAnn (sarahzoe) and Deb (Dream in Color), planned a stamping event herelast summer and it was a blast! We had good attendance for a first time event and as most who came are wanting to come again, I guess that’s a pretty good indication they enjoyed themselves!!! You may click this SCS thread to read all the details about Stamping in the UP II. Registration is still open and it is important for those planning this event to have approximate numbers of those interested to determine sizes of work rooms needed, etc., so if you are interested in attending, PLEASE be sure to check in at that thread and leave a comment indicating your interest. You can then follow the thread to keep up-to-date on all plans.

But I’ll just quickly tell you about last year’s event, knowing they will follow the same general outline for this year. The event was hosted at the Baraga Bestwestern Lakeside Innwhere most out-of-towners stayed, but this is less than 1 mile from Baraga State Park if you care to come with your family and camp. There are a few golf courses (here and here)within driving distancefor the guys if they are tagging along!!! You can also check out the Baraga County Tourism Bureau to learn more about our beautiful county!

We gathered during the late afternoon on Friday which gave us time to get toknow each other as people were arriving. Quite a large group chose to eat dinner together Friday evening at the in house restaurant at the Lakeside Inn, while still another group chose to get out their stamping supplies and work on some projects while they visited in the conference room. There were enough snacks there to feed an army!!! We eventually all ended up back in the conference room where some fun games were hosted, and I may be mixing up the order, but between the 2 days several fun games were played (with prizes, TONS of prizes), several challenges were run for all to participate in, and several demos took place, along with a time for questions and answers and an opportunity to try out the new product being demoed. There was also a card swap for those who chose to participate (you came with your cards made and ready to swap), as well as a shoe box swap where we rotated stations making up the projects others had prepared!!! The projects were all great and much fun was had by all!!! Participation in any of these projects was completely optional. You were also free to take along any of your own projects to work on at your leisure.

And back to the food — LOL — a large group again met for breakfast at the in house restaurant at the Lakeside Inn, while others chose to munch on the fruit and snacks in the conference room. We all enjoyed a very generous supply of pizza, salad and pop at lunch in another of the conference rooms, provided with the registration fee. Closing time dragged on for quite a while as no one was in too much of a rush to leave — LOL — which is a good thing!!! It was a wonderful 2 days — 3 meals out with NO cooking, stamping, friends and FUN!!! What could possibly be better!!!

So if you think you’d like to get together with a bunch of us Yoopers (a person from the UP(Upper Peninsula) of Michigan)this summer, check outStamping in the UP IIand leave a comment indicating your interest! We’d love to have you ALL, but need to know interest to continue with plans!!!

Thanks, everyone! Hope you are enjoying your weekend and hope to see some of you in person come summer!!!

Before we start, I don’t know if anyone’s noticed my absence this week (after promising you daily uploads — so sorry!), but our household was struck with a nasty stomach flu bug. Everyone else got over itin a day or so, but I’m on day 4 and still not quite up to par. This is my first post in as many days, but I do hope to get back to normal soon!!!

Keyword ssnotime72 -There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload yourproject at Splitcoastand/or your Blog, anytime at all! You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!)can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

This weeks challenge is to create a card witha focus on LOVE. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I thought today our cards could focus on LOVE. Make any love themed card you’d like — it could be for Valentine’s Day or for a wedding or anniversary, or even a LOVING birthday or thinking of you card — just incorporate LOVE into your project somehow!!! No other rules, but do try to keep it simple!!! Can’t wait to see what you all do — and the most important thing is to have fun!!!

Some great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today can be seen on the blogs of these designers:Deb, Becky, Dee, Tammy, Janine, AJ,Julie and Jennifer. Please bear with us as we are all uploading and linking tonight.

You can see all Gallery Submissions here.

What wonderful samples!!! Thank you girls!!! Much appreciated!!!

Since I haven’t felt up to stamping in many days, I cruised the archives of my SCS gallery to find a LOVE themed project to share with you here today. I chose this little ATC that I made in February 2007, 2 years ago (gee, where does the time go!). It was a project for my first Dirty Dozen Gallery which opened on March 15, 2007. Here it is:

As you can see, very little stamping, just the tiny little *love* from SU’s long retired Noteworthy. Otherwise, just playing with pretty things! This ATC is the traditional size, 2 x 3 . The white layer is Shimmer White. Oh, I forgot, it is stamped in Craft Very Vanilla with Stipple Rose, then clear embossed, but that isnt showing at all oh well, I know its there! That little piece of sheet music was truly a scrap of real vintage sheet music that I photocopied and then distressed. All pieces are DTPd with Creamy Caramel. SU Mini Glue Dots do an excellent job of holding the shape to the organdy ribbon.

So glad you stopped in today. Hope you can play with us and make a card with a LOVE theme!!! Hoping you all stay healthy and can avoid the bugs floating around this time of year!!! Hope to see you all real soon!

I made this card to offer some words of encouragement to a teenage girl going through a rough time. I included scripture on a removable bookmark that she can use. I don’t often make things for young girls, so it was fun to try to choose papers and colors that would be suitable. The paper I used came from a Crate Paper pack called Twirl. Here’s my card:

The bookmark was one of the punchouts included in the paper pack and I used one of my Plain Jane scripture verses by Verve Visual to stamp onto it. I sponged the edges,backed it with a yellow sheet from the pack, applied a Pewter Jumbo Brad and ran my ribbon through and tied it off. The bookmark is attached with some removable mounting tape. It really works great for projects such as this. It holds plenty tight to keep the bookmark where it belongs on the card, but yet pulls off ever so easily when you want to. My removeable mounting tape is by Duck and I got it in the hardware section of Wal-Mart, by the light bulbs (I think).

In making this card I also played the Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS. Today’s Featured Stamper is Vicky Gould — YAY, Vicky!!! She has a ton, and I mean a TON, of work in her gallery to choose from. This is the card I chose to case. You’ll seeI followed Vicky’s exact layout, but changed all else, and substitued my bookmark for her heart.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10. I love to use these words when someone needs encouragement.They tell us to be still — to quiet our own thoughts and worries — and to KNOW that God is God — that He is there, that He knows, that He cares for us, that He watches over us — that no matter what we are going through, He is ever with us. And in that, I can find encouragement.

Stamps: Plain Janes by Verve Visual, Psalm 46:10

Paper: PTI White, Crate Paper Twirl Collection

Ink: Versa Fine Onyx Black, SU Barely Banana

Accessories: SU Grosgrain Ribbon, May Arts Checked Ribbon, SU Pewter Brad, Hemp, SU Corner Rounder, Sponge, Glue Glider, Cropadile.

Thanks so much for stopping in today. Hope you all had a great weekend and are ready for a productive week ahead!!! We had a rather stressful week last week, and I’m really ready to get back into a more normal routine this week!!! Hope to have daily uploads each day this week!!! Hope to see you soon!!!

Keyword ssnotime71 -There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload yourproject at Splitcoastand/or your Blog, anytime at all! You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!)can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

This weeks challenge is to create a card withA MODERN EDGEto it — whatever YOU think is modern in the card making world today!!! This is totally open to your own interpretation and preferences as to what MODERN is — and I can’t WAIT to see how you all interpret this!!!! You may read the text under my card to get my interpretation of modern. I think one of the most fun things about challenges is to see how differently people interpret things. Given the same starting guidelines, the results always vary so much, and this should be a fun one!!!!

Some great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today can be seen on the blogs of these designers:Deb, Becky, Dee, Tammy, Janine, AJ,Julie and Jennifer. Please bear with us as we are all uploading and linking tonight.

You can see all Gallery Submissions here.

What wonderful samples!!! Thank you girls!!! Much appreciated!!!

Heres myproject for todays challenge:

This is my version of a modern card. To me modern means that it has to fit today’s lifestyle — and I view thatboth from the perspective of MAKING the card as well as the feelings it will evoke whenviewing the card. Things I think ofwhen trying tomake a modern project (to me anyway), are:

1. A clean, crisp overall appearance (easy and restful to the eye)

2. A simple layout (avoiding the appearance of too much going on)

3. Minimal, but perfect,embellishements (again, to avoid the appearance of overkill)

4. A relaxing, refreshing color scheme with a bit of POP (I used black and white and the Celery is my POP of color)

Anyway, that’s my take on modern. Yours may be totally different - and that’s the fun of it!!! Can’t wait to see what all of you do!!!

For this card I used a set I was just gifted and I love it!!! JUST my style!!! It’s Silhouettes of Nature from Inque Boutique. My image is stamped in black to create a calming silhouette image. You’ll notice I’ve used minimal layering — everything is simple, straight lined. The DP adds interest without making the entire card too busy. Image and sentiment are up on mounting tape. I do like the appearance that they are floating, and that, too, is a modern element (in my opinion)!!!

Stamps: Silhouettes of Nature by Inque Boutique

Paper: PTI White; SU Certainly Celery, Black; Basic Grey Scarlet’s Letter

Ink: Versa Fine Onyx Black

Accessories: Long Rectangle Nestabilities by Spellbinders; SU Celery Grosgrain Ribbon; Eyelet Punch; Glue Glider; Foam Mounting Tape.

Note: Joans Garden has theLong RectangleNestabilities and theGlue Glider.

Thank you so much — so glad you could stop in again!!! Hope you can try your hand at creating A Modern Edge with us!!! It’s fun!!! Hope you all have a great weekend ahead!! See you soon!!!

Since I had my velvet out yesterday, I couldn’t bear to put it away without trying to emboss on it. I had done this years ago using a rubber stamp, but the heart image I wanted to try today was an acrylic stamp, and it worked wonderfully!!! I used the Lace Heart by Flourishes and embossed it on red dressmaker velvet. Here’s my card:

Before I go any further, I want to say that this is a birthday card for my good friend, Deb, over at Dream in Color. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEB!!! Hope you are having a good one!!!

This is a 5.5″ square card. The background is stamped using one of the Plain Jane Christian sentiments by Verve, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4. The white and black panel are edged in gold.

Here are the steps to embossing on velvet. You’ll need an iron, and the fewer steam holes on the bottom the better, a spritzer bottle of water, a stamp with good line images and velvet fabric. My velvet is a leftover piece so I don’t know what type of velvet it is, but it worked great!!!

1. Lay your stamp right side up on ironing board.

2. Cover your stamp with the velvet, fuzzy side down.

3. Spritz the velvet with water over the area where the stamp is.

4. With a DRY iron set to Cotton/Wool, try to place it on the velvet over the stamp with NO or as few holes as possible on the velvet/stamp. Hold firmly in place for 10 - 20 seconds. I did 20 seconds. Check to see if the velvet is dry. If still damp, hold longer. Be very careful that the velvet does not move under your iron or your image will be messed up.

5. Carefully peel the velvet off the stamp and it should look GREAT!!!

I then placed my Heart Nestability over my embossed velvet heart, taped it into place so it would not shift, and ran it through the Cuttlebug. I ran it through twice to make sure it cut and it did. This time I only had 1 little string to snip with scissors. Just as I did yesterday, I turned my heart upside down and gave it a good spray with spray glue, especially around the edges in an effort to prevent the edges from fraying. I then adhered my embossed velvet heart to my larger heart cut from Black Mirricard from Marco’s Paper. It is highly reflective and looks great against the velvet heart. I added a stick pin and adhered to my card front. A fairly easy card again!!!

I made a card with a black velvet heart yesterday, using a slightly different method that you can read about here if you like. Having fun with velvet this week!!

Stamps: Plain Jane Sentiment by Verve Visual; Lace Heart by Flourishes

Paper: PTI White; SU Black

Ink: Versa Fine Onyx Black, Gold Calligraphy Pen by Marvy Uchida

Accessories: Classic Heart Nestabilities by Spellbinders; SU Pretties Kit; Black Sheer Ribbon; Glue Dots, Glue Glider, Dimensionals, Iron, Water Spritzer, Velvet Fabric, Spray Glue

Note: Joan’s Garden has the Heart Nestabilities and theGlue Glider.

Thanks much for stopping in again today!!! Tomorrow we have our usual Stamp Simply Challenge up and I’m excited about this one. It’s one I’m going to be especially excited to see all your creations from!!! Hope you’ll have time to check in!!! As always, wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Funny title!! But I’m using JustRite product to be introduced at CHA, the card is for a Dirty Girl Challenge(click to see all uploads, they’ll be coming in all day long), and the challenge is to make a valentine using texture — thus the velvet!!! So maybe now it’ll make more sense — LOL!!! Each month the Dirty Girls run a challenge amongst themselves and this month it is to make a Valentine with texture, but NO red, so I went pink and black and used the velvet for my texture, among other things. Here it is:

I truly do love this and it was fairly easy to make. It is 5.5″ square, but looks a bit misshapen due to the angle of my photo. I was trying to show all the texture. My heart is black dressmaker velvet fabric. I first adhered dressmaker Pellon Fusible Interfacing to the back of the velvetwith the iron according to the package instructions, and then I ran it through the Cuttlebug with the largest Classic Heart Nestability by Spellbinders. It pretty much cut through. I had to use the scissors to snip a few threads here and there, but I have no complaints. And I might add that my Cuttlebug has gotten very loose, so you may have no problem at all. I was then worried that the raw edges of the velvet may fray and ravel and make a mess on my card, so to try to prevent that I turned the heart upside down and gave it a good spray with Spray Glue, hoping it would keep my edges from fraying. I does appear to have worked, at least initially. I guess time will tell as this card gets packaged and handled if it’ll fray or not — I hope it doesn’t!!! We’ll see –

To add texture to the top black portion of the card, I made a little background stamp on an acrylic block by combining two little swirlies from a Crafty Secrets set and stamped it repeatedly to get my pattern, then black embossed. It does add a very nice texture to the black paper. I got some additional texture on my cardby adding ribbon and pearls, and of course the stick pin and scallops on the heart provide more texture. Hope I *texturized* it enough for those Dirty Girls — LOL!!!

Here’s some of the detail. There’s a light background stamping on the small heart achieved by using a gray ink and stamping off once first. The *True Love* sentiment on my small heart is made using a combination of Times New Roman Font by JustRite and the soon to be available Lowercase Times New Roman Font, both in 25 pt. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that JustRite is making lowercase font available — I just love the more professional and finished look we can achieve with the addition of the lowercase font to their line.

I created my *True Love* on the smaller of my Harmony Rectangle Stampers. The Lowercase Times New Roman font is shown and as you can see it is also available in all 3 sizes to coordinate with the original uppercase font sets — 95 pt., 50 pt. and 25 pt. Again, I used 25 pt. today, but yesterday’s post used the 95 pt. You can see it here if you’d like to see the huge size difference. Love that we have all sizes available with the purchase of one box of font!!!

Stamps: Times New Roman Font and new Lowercase Times New Roman Font, used on the Harmony Rectangle Stamper, all by JustRite. Cherish by Crafty Secrets. Anna Griffin background by All Night Media.

Paper: SU Black, Pink Pirouette. PTI White. Crafty Secrets Classic Heartwarming Vintage Collection Pad.

Ink: Versa Fine Onyx Black. Palette Charcoal. Versa Mark.

Accessories: Classic and Scallops Heart Nestabilities by Spellbinders; SU Taffeta Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Corner Rounder; Kaiser Pearls; Black Embossing Powder; Glue Glider, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Mounting Squares, Dressmaker Velvet Fabric, Pellon Fusible Interfacing, Iron, Spray Glue.

(NOTE: I got my Cherish by CraftySecrets, myKaiser Pearls and Glue Glider from Joan’s Garden.)

Please remember to check out the JustRite Blog each day this week — with 2 uploads each day there is a lot of see, drool over and be inspired by over there! New product is being revealed daily and fabulous projects by Guest Designer Barb Schram are being posted daily as well!!! You won’t want to miss Barb’s designs!!!

And if you’re going to be at CHA, be sure to stop at the JustRite booth. Debbie Olson and Sharon Harnist will be providing Make-and-Take projects that you won’t want to miss!!!

Thanks much for stopping in today!!! Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

I made this card for today’s Featured Stamper Challengeat SCS– Lori Craig!!! How fun!!! Congrats Lori!!! For my card I used some new product beingintroduced at CHA next week by JustRite– their new Vertical Stamper and the Lower Case Times New Roman Font — GREAT additions to the JustRiteline. How happy I am to be able to create vertical words and have them be perfectly straight and lined up. Like the original Harmony Rectangle Stampers, the new Vertical Stampershave the grooves in which you insert the letters so there is NEVER a problem — always straight, always perfect!!! A product I am super excited about!!! I’ll show you below, but first my card:

For my LOVE panel, I used the new Vertical Stamper by JustRite to easily get a perfectly straight sentiment!!! Since I was casing Lori’s card, where she had the image of the woman, I used some tiny floral images from an Inkadinkado set and then adorned them with rhinestones. I cut and embossed my LOVE panel with Long Rectangle Nestabilities by Spellbinders, first edging each layer with a gold paint pen. All DP’s used are by Crafty Secrets.

Here’s a closer look where you can see the detail a bit better. I love being able to use lower case font for sentiments. The *Love You* uses Times New Roman Font in 25 pt. and the new Lower Case Times New Roman Font in 25 pt. as well. The LOVE is 95 pt. Times New Roman Font, perfectly aligned with the new Vertical Stamper soon to be available!!! How fun for everyone!!! This is a super versatile stamper, allowing you to make words in a vertical orientation as I have, or you can use it to make a long narrow sentiment using smaller font. I can see this being so fun to use to make sentiments for bookmarks!!! Take a look at this new Vertical Stamper:

See my perfectly aligned LOVE? No mistakes or crooked letters here!!! It has the same grooved base as the other stampers, just in a tall and thin vertical orientation which gives us all so many more options!!! And more options means more fun!!! And my *Love You* using both upper and lower case Times New Roman Font is on the smaller of the Harmony Rectangle Stampers. I really do love the look of the sentiments when both upper and lower case letters are combined!!!

PLEASE HEAD ON OVER TO THE JUSTRITE BLOG each day this week. Fun things are happening there!!! Two posts will go up each day — one post will be with projectsdone by Guest Blogger, Barb Schram!!! Barb does some of the MOST FAB work EVER — her 3-D projects are always so very out of the boxand cool!!! You will NOT want to miss her!!! JustRite is also revealing new product each day — how FUN to see whatis coming for us all to play with — can’twait to see!!! I LOVE what they just posted!!! Go take a peek!!!

Thank you so much for checking in again. I truly do appreciate you stopping in to see what I’m up to — and I do want to give you all a GREAT BIG THANK YOU!!! for all the warm and wonderful birthday wishes extended to me over the past few days!!! Turning 55 ended up being a GREAT thing — LOL!!!! Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!!! See you soon!!!

When I saw the Inspiration Challenge today at SCS, I fell in love with the fresh and clean feel of the first teenagers bedroom pictured. I love the colors and thebreath of fresh air itmade me feel, so that’s what inspired my card. A clean and simple thank you card with a valentine theme, butI am still sending out Christmas thank yous, so I’ll use it now. Here it is:

The brown was the wall color, theaqua/tealishcolor was the bedspread, the pillow and other accent pieces were pink, and there was a black monogram on the wall. The lattice represents the circle features in the bed. This went together very simply and quickly and I am pleased with the results — fresh and clean — just what I was after!

Thank you so much for stopping in today!!! Our temps are warming a bit, and that’s a GOOD thing! It’s been way too cold!!! Hope you are all well and enjoying your weekend.

Keyword ssnotime70 -There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload yourproject at Splitcoastand/or your Blog, anytime at all! You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!)can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

This weeks challenge is all about having fun with ourselves!!! And I hope no one takes offense with this challenge as it certainly was not intended that way — the intent is merely to have fun and be able to enjoy where we are in life — wherever that may be!!!

Today is my birthday, my 55th birthday!!! Oh good gracious, how did that happen!!! I don’t feel a day over 25 (most of the time)!!! So today we will make a card that is suitable to give to a Senior Citizen!!! Yes, I know Senior Citizens like ALL types of cards, but today let’s try to make a card that when we look at it we think — gee, that sure looks like an *Old Lady* card — LOL!!! (or Old Man, if you prefer). This is totally open to your interpretation — you could go vintage, you could go humorous, or anything else you can dream up — WHATEVER strikes your fancy!!! Most importantly, have fun!!! Can’t wait to see what you do!!!

Some great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today can be seen on the blogs of these designers:Julie, Janine, Jennifer, Tammy, Dee, Becky, AJ,and Deb. Please bear with us as we are all uploading and linking tonight.

You can see all Gallery Submissions here.

What wonderful samples!!! Thank you girls!!! Much appreciated!!!

Heres myproject for todays challenge:

Think an Old Lady would like this — LOL!!! I had fun making it. I used one of my favorite products that I just don’t use all that often — Cotton Scraps by Crafty Secrets – FUN little swatches of fabric with all these gorgeous images. Today I fringed mine and sewed it onto the pink panel behind it, then distressed the paper edges.

The *Love You* on the heart was made using the new lower case font being introduced by JustRite at CHA next week. I LOVE that we now will have lower case font to add to our upper case font, giving us so many more options for sentiments!!!

I used Trompe Script Font for my first letters and then switched to the new Times New Roman Lower Case Font for the remaining letters — fun to do!!! They are mounted on the smaller of the rectangle stampers in the Harmony Rectangle Stamper Set. Here’s a closeup look at the sentiment:

Isnt’ it pretty AND Old-Ladyish — LOL!!! The elements I incorporated into this card that I thought would appeal to an older woman are:

A larger sized card (this is 5.25 x 7.75″)

Soft Pinks and Browns

Stick Pin and Pearls

Cotton Scraps & Sewing (reminds me of quilts)

Vintage Style (though clean vintage)

Pretty Designer Paper with vintage feel

Lace and Scallop Borders

Stamps: Trompe Script Font, Times New Roman Lower Case Font, used on the Harmony Rectangle Stamper, all by JustRite. Anna Griffin Background by All Night Media.

Paper: PTI Vintage Cream; SU Pink Pirouette, Prism Suede Brown Medium, Crafty Secrets Classic Heartwarming Vintage Collection Pad.

Ink: Color Box Chalk in Chestnut Roan; Palette in Burnt Umber; SU Pretty in Pink.

Accessories: Crafty Secrets Cotton Scraps (Family); SU Taffeta Ribbon; Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Heart Nestabilities; Cuttlebug Border Die; Martha Stewart Scallop Punch; 1/8 hand held punch; Stick pin, pearls (JoAnns and SU); Kaiser Pearls; SU Distressing Tool; Sewing Machine and Thread; Glue Pen; Glue Glider; SU Dimensionals , Mounting Squares , Scor-It.

Again, I just want to say thanks for stopping in!!! I hope you can find time to play if this challenge interests you — I can’t wait to see what all the players feel are Old Lady cards — LOL!!! We are having very, very cold temps — wishing for a bit of a warm up! Hope you are warm and cozy and off to a safe weekend!!!

TodayI havea little sneak peek at some new product from JustRite to be showcased at CHA. We have all fallen in love with the font sets available by JustRite and those incredibly fabulous Rectangle Stampers — well, it is getting better!!! JustRite will be introducing lower case font for us to use along with our upper case font — how totally cool is this!!! I LOVE being able to use lower case font on my sentiments, and that’s what I did today — I created a Valentine sentiment for my altered box, usingBraytonUpper Case Font and Times New RomanLowerCase font. Take a look –

Isn’t that new lower case font just wonderful!!! I love it and it opens up many doors for fun sentiments we can make!!! I’m so excited with this new release by JustRite!!! Let’s look at what I did here.

This is how this project started. And now to show you this, I must confess — YES, I purchased store bought cards this Christmas, many boxes of them — BUT the really good thing is that they came in these wonderful boxes that are perfect for altering! The cards are from Wal-Mart, by Day Spring, as shown on the left. They were all nice cards with Christian Christmas sentiments on them, so that pleased me. An empty box is shown on the right, and the boxes are made of striped gold and black mirrored paper, so they are highly reflective and rather difficult to get a good photo of, but I think you can get a good idea.

This is a photo of the box after I adhered on the decorative paper. The left is the box top and on the right the inside of the box is shown. All I had to do to the box base was insert a sheet of DP on the box bottom. I left the black and gold mirrored paper as is. After all, it was very pretty and one of the reasons my eye went to these cards in the store. Now that our box has some pretty paper on it, lets see what I used to finish it off and decorate it up:

I used both the BraytonUppercase Fontand thesoon to beintroduced Times New RomanLower Case fontto create my sentiments on the Harmony Rectangle Stampers. On the larger block *Be My Valentine* is in 95 pt. and the *I Love You* on the smaller rectangle is in 25 pt.

Above are all the pieces I made to embellish my box. The *Be My Valentine* that was black embossedis cut with the Curved Rectangle Nestabilities by Spellbinders, sponged while still in the die and then edged with a gold paint pen. It is matted with a larger shape cut with black Mirri Card from Marco’s Paper. The black on the box is exactly the same as the black Mirri Card at Marco’s Paper. I also used Nested Birds and Classic and ScallopedHeart Nestabilities and a Tag die as well for the *I Love You*.

Here’s a closer look! I was really pleasedwith how this turned out — I think it’s pretty and rather sophisticated — not quite like the traditional red and pink Valentine’s Day themed items and projects. And here’s a view of the side of the box so you can see why I didn’t want to cover up much of this box:

This was a fun project and unusually simple to make with rather dramatic results — and that’s always a good thing!!!

Stamps: Brayton Uppercase andTimes New RomanLowercase Font, used on the Harmony Rectangle Stampers, all by JustRite

Paper: SU River Rock, Black Mirri Card from Marcos Paper, Once Upon a Time Stack by DCWV

Ink: Versa Mark and Versa Fine Onyx Black, SU River Rock

Accessories: Spellbinders: Curved Rectangle, Classic and Scalloped Hearts, and Nested Birds Nestabilities and Tag Dies. Kaiser Pearls, May Arts Ribbon, Marvy Uchida Gold Calligraphy Pen, Black Embossing Powder, Fire Mountain Pin with clutch added, Sponge, Glue Glider, Foam Mounting Tape, SU Dimensionals(Joan’s Garden has some of the Spellbinders product, Kaiser Pearls and Glue Glider)

Thank you so much for stopping in today. I do so appreciate all your visits and comments. Hope you are having a good week and that you can check in again to see my future projects!!! Thanks much!!!