Mom & Me Valentine Ideas and Card for Newsletter Tutorial

I was playing around with ideas this week for my Mom & Me Valentine class coming up on Saturday, February 10. I had several alternatives to choose from and the first was the cuteness of A Little Wild, which produces the little wild animal tags when die cut with the Little Loves Framelits. I also had my latest Paper Pumpkin kit delivered, and the cute valentines in it make a great background for a little hedgehog, from the Hedgehugs stamp set or one of the pandas from the Sale-A-Bration reward, Party Pandas. With the addition of some hearts from the Coffee Cafe stamp set and the sentiments that are part of the Party Pandas and the Hedgehugs sets, or the new Paper Pumpkin kit, I think I have enough ammo for a great Mom & Me class!

Here's a closer look:

• Those adorable tags from A Little Wild, turn easily into Valentines with the addition of either one of two tiny hearts from the Coffee Cafe set and two of the great sentiments from a Little Wild plus the To: From: stamp.  They are pretty tiny though, as you can see from the comparison to a Hershey's Kiss. 
• They were coloured using the Stampin' Blends, but as that colour bleeds through the Whisper White cardstock you have to die cut a second label shape from Whisper White to glue on the inside for the sentiment and the greeting. If I was doing this with the kids, I would stamp them on coloured cardstock instead of Whisper White and maybe just add one or two colour accents with Stampin' Right markers instead of filling them all in.
• The Paper Pumpkin kit valentines I followed directions for except I used the images and sentiments for Party Pandas and Hedgehugs instead of the stamps in the kit and added a few more images.
  

I am also working this week on my February newsletter, and, as usual, I will be including a free photo tutorial in the newsletter. It will feature the Petal Passion Designer Series Paper and show you how to use the new Stampin' Blends Alcohol markers. My photo tutorials include a list of supplies and measurements as well as links to where you can purchase any supplies you need. This next one will also have a video component for the actual Stampin' Blends colouring part.

Here is the card, which you have seen before on my blog:

That background DSP is normally black and white, but I have made it colourful and the exact colours that I wanted, using the Stampin' Blends Alcohol markers. If you have been wanting to start using these but were reluctant to start because you didn't know what you were doing, it's easier than it looks, as you will find out in this tutorial. Also, if the price for the full set is daunting you, let me know here if you would be interested in being a part of a Stampin' Blends club, which will let you get a full set by paying in a set of 6 monthly installments.

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I Get Cards

Finally today, I wanted to share with you some beautiful cards that I have received from stamping friends in my area:

The card on the left is from one of my Papercraft Cats, Marion Hall, who was very clever combining the Picnic with You bundle with the Waterfront stamp set for a beautiful effect! The card on the right is from a good friend and stamping buddy, Eunice Stoneman, who is on a personal crusade to use up all her old DSP! She's doing an amazing job with it. Some of those flowers are fussy cut and added to the same images in the designer paper for a gorgeous 3D look. I love her colour choices with this one.

The card on the left is from a long time customer, Elaine Walker with a great technique, Triple Time stamping and a great classic stamp set, Betsy's Blossoms! On the right, customer & friend Teri Coady sports up "Hey, Chick", a favourite from last year's SAB, with some beautiful water colour technique. Also that little egg is 3D! How cute!

Two of my Papercraft Cats are featured here. On the left is Karen Bridden's lovely CAS take on the Picture Perfect Birthday stamp set! I love the colour combo she has chosen, and those self-adhesive sequins are the best, aren't they? Another team member and good friend, Doreen Austgarden went tropical in her choice of colours and textures here. I love how the background for the sentiment looks like the ocean!

I Love Beginners

I had a Beginner's Stamping Class tonight and it was delightful!  I can't tell you how great it feels when someone begins the class by saying something like, "I won't be able to do this.  I'm just not crafty!" and after they have finished their first project, they have a little smile on their face, saying,  "Wow!  This looks really professional!"  Then they end the evening with lots of confidence, making little changes in the design to make it their own and being excited about coming back to do the next class in the series!  It's changing their perspective of themselves to someone who can, indeed, do something creative with success.  I heard lots of comments, like "This could be addicting!"  and  "It's so relaxing, doing crafts like this!"  Really, it's why I'm doing this as a business, because I feel so strongly that taking time to be creative, whatever that looks like for you, is an absolute necessity in life!

The card I have for you today was made for two challenges:  MOJO Monday #280   and The Paper Players Challenge #132    .  

The colours in The Paper Players challenge are so cheery together and I love the way they look on neutral Crumb Cake!

All three of these colours are from the 2012/2014 Stampin' Up In Colours!  The layout is one of the best MOJO sketches I've seen.  How do they come up with these great sketches all the time?

You can see that I have followed it pretty closely, because I like it so much.  Thanks, Julee Tilman for sharing your talents!  The stamp set is called  Oh, Hello and it is growing on me!  The DSP in the background is from Patio Party.  I haven't used it much but I will be using it more.  I like this design in Summer Starfruit  a lot!

Here are some quick cards that I made for my two grandsons for Valentine's day.  They are mini cards 3 x 3 inches square.  I used a stamp set that I've had for awhile but never used.  I think it works for Valentines, don't you?  And that tiny little heart - from the Itty Bitties stamp set from the Spring Catalogue.

Just want to also remind you about my Product Shares being offered.  I would like to wrap up the shares that have already been requested, but are waiting for people to fill them.  Last day to order them  in the first round will be Feb. 24.  Just complete the form on the Product Share link or call me for help ordering them.

Stamps:  Oh, Hello (w130730; c130733); Baby Boutique (w126350; c126352); Itty Bitties (w128939)
Teeny Tiny Wishes (w115370; c127802)
Paper:  Crumb Cake (120953), Midnight Muse (126843), Primrose Petals (126841), Pool Party (122924) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock; Patio Party DSP (126926); More Amore Specialty DSP (129309)
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Midnight Muse (126860), Real Red (126949) and Pool Party (126982); Stampin' Write Markers in Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals and Summer Starfruit (126856)
Accessories: 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Summer Starfruit (126846), In Colour Dahlia (127556), 3/8" Designer Printed Brads (122940)
Tools:  Chevron Embossing Folder (127749); Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595)