Valentine...

I'm running later than planned with posting this year's valentines, but better late than never, I suppose. A few unexpected occurrences the week of Valentine's Day (our refrigerator, already on its last leg, decided to completely fizzle three days before the new one was due to arrive) and a cold/flu last week that sent me scurrying beneath the covers for three days of solid nothingness (such an unusual occurrence here!) has meant that I'm just now playing catch up.

My friend requested I make a gift bag for her nephew for Christmas with an elephant on it. I used one of the cute elephants from WPlus9, "Unforgettable" and added a Santa hat diecut to make it a bit more festive. It was quite sparkly in real life with Diamond Stickles added to each of the snowflakes and the white trim on the hat. The "merry" was cut from DCWV green glitter paper.

I am sharing this bag because when it came time to think about Valentines, I knew just what I wanted to make for her.  I admit I do have a soft spot for cute animals, and when Birdie Brown's "Adorable Elephants" was finally in stock, it was destined to have a home in the Attic. Every now and then I design a valentine that has lots of layers and is specifically a "love" type of card. Usually I tend to gravitate toward valentine designs that can be remade for other occasions, often times with a simple sentiment. This is one such design, that by simply leaving off "valentine," could be sent for all types of reasons:

And inside, quite simply:

That she does. Every day. On all types of occasions, in all ways, and always! And she is loved!

Hugs,

Materials:

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White; SSS Sea Glass; Ranger Distress Watercolor Paper

Stamps: MFT "Adorable Elephants"

Dies: MFT "Stacked Cloud Edges"; TE "Frame in Frame"; ME "Happy Valentine's Day", "All Prettied Up"

        SSS "Stacked Hearts"

Ink: Peacock Feathers; Broken China; Versafine Onyx Black

Other: Prismacolor Pencils; Wink of Stella; Glossy Accents; SSS Asst'd Moonshine Sequins

Can't Make Just One!

Pretty Pink Posh is hosting a Valentine Challenge to create a card or project inspired by one of their designers. I am relatively new to this line, but really fell for their products during their second birthday celebration as I saw the lovely things their designers had created for the festivities. And, of course, I ordered some new things, too!

My project was inspired by Liz' card; I love red and white crispness for Valentine's Day and I couldn't resist those sweet animals. As an added bonus, dh just so happened to give me the set, "Holiday Pals" for Christmas, one he carefully selected from the quite lengthy wish list I provided so whatever I received would be a surprise. I admire that he really does review the entire list to select his favorite (he does go for cute, like me), what he thinks is my most wished for item, or in most cases as his rational mind dictates, what he feels I will use the most...

Since I have been participating in a local scrapbooking group, I have wanted to make favors for the different holidays, but for one reason or another, never managed to complete them in time. I had watercolored several of the images from the new stamp set for the first couple of days of Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge, and while doing so, thought about Valentine treats for the girls. Once I saw the above challenge, I knew just what I wanted to make!

The Lawn Fawn "Milk Carton" and Penny Black "Love Always" dies, teamed up with some gingham checks and a cute animal, and they're perfect for some Valentine M&M's and Dove chocolate hearts. The SSS "Small Heart Doily" created a great accent for the sweet animals. I first made one, and then it turned into six! Each carton featured a different animal with added spots of Diamond Stickles to the bird tummies, bunny tails, and the hat brims and pompoms for a bit of Valentine's sparkle. 

And here they are all lined up, just before being delivered to the girls at our monthly gathering.

These were so much fun to make that I decided to give them to friends also. So, lots more die cutting and assembly, and here are seven more already delivered to loved ones.

I am also entering this project in the Simon Says Flickr Challenge #38, Lots of Love.

Thanks for stopping by the Attic today; I so appreciate your visit. Wishing each of you a very Happy Valentine's Day surrounded by those you love!

Hugs,

Materials Used:

Paper: Recollections cardstock; Hobby Lobby Gingham Check; Red cardstock from the scrap basket

          Memory Box B&W check and red & white dots; Strathmore Watercolor Paper

Stamps: Pretty Pink Posh - "Holiday Pals"

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Milk Carton"; Penny Black "Love Always"; Simon Says Stamp "Small Heart Doily"

Ink: Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens; Versafine Black

Other: Heart Confetti; Lawn Fawn Trimmings "Red Sparkle"; Twinery Twine; Recollections Binder Clips

Let There be Peace

It has been quiet here in the Attic for quite a long time now. I am hoping to continue sharing once again in the coming new year and will update you on the latest Attic happenings then.

This is a tealight easel card made for a friend last year. Since I didn't make any Christmas cards this year, I thought I would share this one tonight, on Christmas Eve. There are several tutorials available to design this type of card, but if there any questions, please ask and I will do my best to answer them.

I wish each of you the hope, joy, and love born on that first Christmas so long ago. I pray peace to be upon our hearts and within our hearts as we round the corner to Bethlehem to greet the newborn babe. May your day be filled with wonder and delight, and may you have a holy, blessed Christmas.

Our love and hugs,

Remembering

Pausing to remember our dear girl, TC, the blackest cat in all the land.

I haven't tended to this blog since Spring. General busyness and responsibilities have occupied the greater part of my Summer and Autumn. I have peeked in on several of your blogs during this time, but haven't been able to comment since I was using a tablet. My hope is to return to blogging and visiting you on a regular basis in the next couple of weeks.

This is the first scrapbook layout I've completed for TC's book. Many more photos and ideas for pages are awaiting their time to be added. I'll plan to share them here as they're finished since I have shared so much of her story already (TC's Journey).

Hard to believe it's been a year today since I've cradled this sweet bundle of fur in my arms.

Still loving her so.

Still missing her so.

Blessed be your heart, dear TC. . .

Wishful Kitties

 

These two kitties sure wish they had floppy ears and a fluffy tail like the Easter Bunny. Since they look so much like him now, he just has to leave some yummy eggs and maybe a catnip carrot or two for an Easter morning surprise!

As much as the bunnies are loved here in the Attic, I couldn't let Easter slip by without making at least one card that included a bunny. This was such a fun card to design and came together much like I had envisioned. It was created with the Newton's Nook stamp sets, "Bunny Hop" and "Newton's Curious Christmas." The animals were colored with Distress Markers and water. The Christmas kitty temporarily came down from his rooftop watching Santa to take part in some Easter fun. Stardust Stickles was added to the bunny ear headbands and some sparkle pom poms (ones from the craft store that were too small for our kitty girls to play with) were attached  for the tails. A portion was cut from the back side of the pom poms to make them flat, a hint I read on Lucy's Cards. Of course, each of our girls got a new sparkle ball while I had them out. The animals were added to a hill cut with Lawn Fawn's Stitched Hillside Borders and the scene was framed with a combination of frames from WPlus9 and Lil Inker Designs. The "Carrot" dies from Taylored Expressions were added to the bow and the framed piece was adhered to cardstock embossed with Taylored Expressions "Lattice" folder.

The inside was finished with the cut away sections from the frame and hillside, along with another bunny and some eggs that were coated with a bit of Wink of Stella. The sentiment was included with the "Bunny Hop" stamp set.

I am joining Challenge #19 at Newton's Nook to use watercolor this month.

Hope your Easter was filled with blessings and wishing you a wonderful, happy Spring.

 

Materials Used:

Paper: Neenah Solar White; Lawn Fawn "Bright Side"; Echo Park "Carrots"

Stamps: Newton's Nook: "Bunny Hop", "Newton's Curious Christmas"

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Stitched Hillside Borders"; Lil Inker Designs "Stitched Rectangles";

        Taylored Expressions "Carrot"; WPlus9 "Sunshine Layers"

Other: Taylored Expressions "Dotted Lattice" Embossing Folder; SSS Sequins; Stardust Stickles;

        Wink of Stella; Distress Markers; DMC Crochet Thread; Craft Pom Poms