Heart of Hearts

Hello, dear hearts!

I hope you had a lovely weekend! We had rain, lots of rain and, oh, how we loved every wet glossy droplet in this drought-starved place. We are truly starting the week with a clean and slippery slate!

I've been wrapped up in Valentines and other life schtuff, so I'm not posting as often, so be warned this is a three-cuppa post!

I wish the Valentine holiday didn't come so soon after Christmas (especially when you throw in a NBUS challenge in January), but I have so many heart-related crafty toys, that it seemed a sin not to send the hamster into the Hearts container for a few card ideas. Who knows, like Christmas, I just may start making Valentines all year long!

Today I am featuring the Memory Box die "Heart of Hearts."

This card is pretty self-exploratory. The front die-cut panel is popped up over a smaller panel which I covered in alternating rows of very, very sparkly pink and grey Washi tape. The photo is not the best as I had to quickly snap a couple of shots during a sorta sunny break in the rain. The "love" sediment, accented with a rhinestone is from Hero Arts.

Here is a closeup of the sparkliness. It's interesting how sometimes the little heart cutouts look recessed like they are IRL, but then sometimes they look 3D like they have been stenciled onto the paper. What is the opposite of "recessed?" Abscessed? Obsessed? Upsessed?

Challenges

1. At Less Is More, the brief is "Pink and Grey." I would like to congratulate Chrissie and the Design Team on the occasion of their fourth birthaversary! Of course, thanks to Mandi, too, who was Chrissie's cofounder four years ago! Head's Up: there are a LOT of prizes this week!
2. The Card Concept, photo inspiration below. My card is clean and simple.
3. Inkspirational: Rose colors.
4. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and featuring Hero Arts.

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I made other Valentines in different colors using this die. For some, I placed patterned paper snippets behind the cutout like below. The sediment is an old wooden stamp by The Rubbernecker Stamp Co. It has E526 written on it in pencil, but I don't know if that's the stamp number or the number assigned to it by whatever store originally sold the stamp.

Challenges

1. House of Cards February Challenge: LOVE.
2. Fusion Card Challenge, photo (patterned hearts) and sketch inspiration below.
3. Just Us Girls (JUGS): LOVE.
4. Stamplorations: Stamps and Hearts.
5. Happy Little Stampers Sketch Challenge, sketch below.

Between the two cards there are a lot of challenge links for you to click on for the details you need regarding rules, sponsors, and prizes so you can play along!

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Oh, and a couple of week sago, I used the die to make anniversary cards in different colors using mats. I got my money's worth out of this die!

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New Friends Corner

I am delighted to present five more new friends for you to meet and get to know!

Millie of Crafting With Creative M. Millie has been blogging since 2012. She makes such bright and happy cards, specializing in cards for kids. Millie also makes wonderful 3D projects. In addition to card art, she loves scrapbooking, candy making, baking, and sewing. You will be inspired as Millie shares her years of experience as a guest designer, winning awards in challenges, and serving on design teams!

Katherine Elliot of News From the Craft-A-Torium. Love that name! Katherine has been blogging since 2009, and she is a former Trend Reporter for Paper Crafter's Library. She loves making cards and all the wonderful tools that go with our hobby. I could seriously CASE every one of Katherine's fresh designs!

And since I have a soft spot for yellow labs, I love that she has the best-looking crafting companion!

Neva Cole of Finding Snippets of Time to Craft. Another awesome blog name! Neva has been blogging since May of 2013. As she says, because she lives a hectic life, she NEEDS to find time to craft as it relaxes her and brings joy to her life. And craft she does, from ATCs to altered art, so there is a lot to inspire you!

Jò of Jò in Wonderland Creations. Jò is from Italy. She started blogging in 2009 to document all the little everyday moments of her life and her love of all things paper crafting, especially scrapbooking. Her layouts are sensational and beautifully textured, as are her cards. You'll love Jò's zest for life, gorgeous creations, and photographs!

Lucy E. of Littlescrapsoflucy. Lucy started blogging in 2012. Like so many of us, Lucy started her blog as a way to share her cards and enter them in the fun challenges that we all love in our corner of Blogland. Although Lucy does not blog often, the cards she shares are always well done and thoughtful!

Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!

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Family

I have to share an updated photo of the Mister, our son, and the twins. We saw them (and our DIL) for a lovely oyster bar lunch and, after a walk, some Gelatos for dessert:

Adam, Dan, Papa, Henry

I didn't even notice the sign over their heads when I took the picture!

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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

  

 

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