I made about 60 of these little Valentine treat holders last weekend for friends and co-workers.  Each one holds a Hershey's Hug and a Hershey's Kiss. It's always so much fun to give little treats like this to people I care about!  I CASEd Melissa Davies' treat holder, and used her wonderful tutorial.
  















RECIPE (all products used are Stampin' Up!)
Stamps:  P.S. I Love You
Paper: Read Read/Basic Black/Whisper White and Pool Party/Pink Pirouette/Whisper White
Ink:  Real Red and Pool Party
Embellishments:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Tools:  Small Heart Punch, Full Heart Punch, Fancy Flower Punch, Hearts Adorning Accents Embosslits Folder, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit
Supplies:  Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

A VALENTINE FOR ME!

The other morning, I stopped by my sister-in-law, Norene's house on my way in to work to drop off some stamping tools for her to borrow (we are always trading back and forth), and she had this Valentine beauty waiting for me!  She made the flowers using the stamp set, Mixed Bunch and coordinating Blossom Punch found on page 17 of the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  The container is a votive holder with the hanging charm included!  I have it sitting on my circulation desk in my library, and the kids have been ooohing and aaahing over it for days!  I just love it!

I'll be hanging out at the Stampin' Up! Regional Convention in downtown Phoenix on Saturday.  If you're there, be sure to look for our group in our weSTAMP t-shirts!

BE MY VALENTINE

Oh, it's great to be on Winter Break!  I'm loving this relaxed stamping time!  Today, I was inspired by two challenges: Create with Connie and Mary Challenge #183, a color challenge of Blushing Bride, Pool Party, and Soft Suede, and Stampin' Queen Sketch Challenge #20.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well Soft Suede compliments Blushing Bride and Pool Party.  I had never played along the the Stampin' Queens challenges before, and enjoyed this unique sketch.

RECIPE

Stamps:  Delightful Dozen

Paper:  Blushing Bride Designer Series Paper, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Blushing Bride and Whisper White Cardstock

Ink:  Soft Suede

Embellishments:  Blushing Bride 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon

Tools:  Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die, Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Supplies:  Stampin' Dimensionals

SWEETHEART for VALENTINE'S DAY

I hope you had a joyous and blessed Christmas! Mine was great, and certainly very busy!

If you're wondering where iPICKS has been .... I've been having difficulties with Clipmarks and haven't been able to post. As soon as it starts working again, I'll get caught up with the iPICKS posts.

On to a card...
I am really hoping that this card is the first of many during my Winter Break! I used the Create with Connie & Mary Sketch Challenge #182, and the stamp set Sweetheart. I love the non-traditional Valentine's Day color scheme!

RECIPE
Stamps: Sweetheart, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Berry Blossoms DP, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Early Espresso
Embellishments: Wisteria Wonder Designer Printed Brad
Tools: Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die, Big Shot, Small Heart Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

VALENTINE PURSES

I made a bunch of these little Valentine purses last weekend. I passed them out to all the ladies at my sister-in-law's superbowl party, and will be giving them to co-workers on Monday. They are so quick and easy and hold one Hershey's milk chocolate nugget. I followed the instructions on Ink Bug's Stamping Fit found HERE. Although it's hard to tell in the photograph, the chocolates are wrapped in coordinating designer paper.

RECIPE
Paper: Love Patterns Designer Paper, Real Red and Pretty In Pink Cardstock
Embellishments: Pretty In Pink and Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty In Pink and Real Red Brads
Tools: Small Heart Punch
Supplies: Sticky Strip for ribbon

VALENTINE SHADOW BOX COLLAGE

I created this Valentine shadow box collage over the weekend. I liked the way it turned out so much that I'm making more as gifts for friends. I found the 8 x 10 shadow boxes at my local craft store in a 3-pack for $9.00. The Petty In Pink cardstock that each square is adhered to measures 6" x 8", and each square measures 1 3/4" x 1 3/4". I used many different designer papers, stamps, punches, and embellishments with a color scheme of Pretty In Pink, Real Red, Whisper White, and Basic Black. All products are Stampin' Up!.

See my Christmas shadow box collage HERE.

LOVE IMPRESSIONS for SWEET SUNDAY

I know you probably can't believe your eyes right now seeing an original design from me! I've missed Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenges sooo much! One day I'll have "my normal" back and be able to play along each week. In the meantime, I'm going to have to settle for sporadic bursts of stamping time.

For this card, I've used Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #98, along with Love Impressions Rub-Ons from the new Occasions Mini Catalog (pg. 8) and the Love Patterns Designer Paper from the Filled With Love Promotion. The balloon images were rubbed on to Whisper White cardstock, cut out, then popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals.

RECIPE
Images: Love Impressions Rub-Ons
Paper: Love Patterns DP, Real Red, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, and Basic Gray CS
Tools: Scallop Border Punch, Modern Label Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
All images and supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

To order any of the supplies used to make this card, click HERE 24/7.

CASEing BRENDA

I've been sharing with you the Valentine's Day cards I've been sending to my mom every day for a couple of weeks. This is another one, and I cased it from Brenda Keenan's original design.RECIPE
Stamps: Love You Much, Define Your Life
Paper: Real Red and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Real Red
Embellishments: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Heart to Heart Punch, Eyelet Border Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

CASEing SHERRI

Another Valentine's Day card I made for my mom. This one is cased from this card by Sherri Barron.RECIPE
Stamps: A Happy Heart, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Sending Love Specialty Designer Paper, Very Vanilla and Pretty In Pink CS
Ink: Real Red
Embellishments: Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Border Punch

CASEing BARB

I've been sending a Valentine's Day card to my mom every day for over a week. I lack the time to design all of them, so lucky for me there's other great designers like Barb Mann who I cased this card from. Barb's design really shows off the versatility of Stampin' Up!'s punches, using four of them!
RECIPE
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Sending Love Specialty Designer Paper, Kraft, Real Red, Pretty In Pink and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Embellishments: Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Full Heart Punch, Small Heart Punch, Word Window Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

HEARTS DON'T GROW ON TREES

You've all heard the saying "money doesn't grow on trees" ... well, hearts don't either! Except when it comes to stamping! Just stamped this simple little card for fun last week. The punched hearts are popped up on dimensionals, and the leaves are stamped off every other one.RECIPE
Stamps: Season of Friendship, sentiment from Happy Heart Day (retired)
Paper: Tall Tales DP, Real Red, Pretty In Pink, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Close to Cocoa and Old Olive Classic, Jet Black Staz-On
Tools: Word Window Punch, Heart to Heart Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

SWEET SUNDAY HEARTS

I'm a little rusty after being away from stamping for so long, but managed to create this simple Valentine's Day card for today's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #51 highlighting the Full Heart Punch and Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Paper.

More sketch inspiration from the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers ...
Jennifer Tapler
Karen Motz
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki BurdickRECIPE
Stamps: A Happy Heart
Paper: Melon Mambo and Whisper White CS, Melon Mambo Patterns DP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Full Heart Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Word Window Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Click HERE to order the products used to create this card.

CASEing KAREN with MAKEESHA'S SKETCH

Thanks to all of you who have been asking about my foot! The infection seems to be slowly going away, and I am able to spend more time without my foot elevated. You know what that means! ... Stampin' time! As I was blog surfing for inspiration this morning, I came across THIS CARD by Karen Thomas, and knew I had to case it! I love how she worked in all those different images from the one stamp set, A Happy Heart, so beautifully! Karen's card and my card both use Makeesha Byl's sketch found HERE.

I had a heck of a time photographing this card, until I finally settled for this shot. What you can't see in the photo is that I used the Priceless Classy Brass Template to paper pierce the 1 3/8" Basic Black circle behind the Feb. 14 image. There are several different layers popped up on dimensionals. As always, all products are from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.RECIPE
Stamps: A Happy Heart
Paper: Candy Lane DP, Basic Black and Pink Pirouette CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Embellishments: Button Bouquet, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: 1/2", 1" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Priceless Classy Brass Template, Paper Piercing Tool w/ Mat Pack
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

LOVE YOU MUCH VALENTINE

This little Valentine uses Mercy Kerin's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #24 (from a couple of weeks ago). I used all three items from the current Love You Much Stampin' Up! Promotion ... Love You Much Stamp Set, Candy Lane Designer Paper, and Heart to Heart Punch.


RECIPE
Stamps: Love You Much
Paper: Love You Much DP, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Embellishments: Riding Hood Red Designer Button, Silver Brad
Tools: Trio Flower Punch, Heart to Heart Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
Card Front Size: 4 1/4" x 4 1/4"

TIC TAC TOE VALENTINE

Today's SCS Featured Stamper #100 is JulieHRR. I've had THIS CARD of Julie's in my favorites forever ... I've always loved her color combination of Bravo Burgundy, Pretty In Pink and Certainly Celery! I kept Julie's colors and general layout but changed the stamp set and sentiment. My card ended up to be an odd size - 3 1/4" x 4 1/4". I didn't intend to make it that size ... it just ended up that way, but is a nice size for enclosing with a gift. I just realized that I didn't use any designer paper on this card ... that hasn't happened in a very long time! RECIPE
Stamps: A Happy Heart
Paper: Whisper White, Pretty In Pink, and Certainly Celery CS
Ink: Bravo Burgundy
Embellishments: Bravo Burgundy 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Word Window Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

LOVE BIG DEAL

This is so NOT my favorite card. I find it quite boring but no matter what I try to add to it doesn't work. Great sketch, not so great card. I used Taylor VanBruggen's Cupcake Challenge #49 with Big Deal Alphabet and Candy Lane DP.

RECIPE

Stamps: Big Deal Alphabet

Paper: Candy Lane DP, Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla CS

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Embellishments: Antique Brass Build-A-Brad, Antique Brass Library Clip

Tools: 1 3/4" and 1/2" Circle Punches, Heart To Heart Punch

Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Card Front Size: 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"

BUTTON HEART VALENTINE

I'm not one to stray too far away from Stampin' Up! products in my papercrafting. Sure, I have a Cuttlebug, Stickles, and general craft store embellishments here and there ... but, for the most part I stick with Stampin' Up! products. I love their stamp designs, their wood mounted stamps, quality of products, and the 48-color + 6 In-Color structure of their papers, inks and embellishments.

I have a scrapbook store within a couple of miles from my house that I hardly ever go to. When I do, it's usually for an emergency adhesive or Stickles. Yesterday, when I was in the scrapbook store with Allie I couldn't resist this little jar of buttons (by Boxer, Valentine Button Jar Mix). I knew they'd be perfect for trying Kristina Werner's Button Heart Valentine's Day Card (complete with video tutorial!). It was very easy and fun to do! RECIPE
Paper: Bella Rose DP, Basic Black and Pink Pirouette CS
Embellishments: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Buttons from BOXER Valentine Button Jar Mix (non-SU)
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots

VALENTINE MINI MAGAZINE NOTE HOLDER

No one is more happy to see 2008 come to an end and a new year beginning than me! I've never had so much drama in one year! Don't get me wrong ... things could be so much worse and I am grateful for the many blessings around me, but 2008 had more than it's share of challenges. I've told my co-workers at my new job several times who I just met a few short months ago, "My life is usually pretty boring, and not normally filled with this much drama. I'm going to have to introduce you to some of my friends who have known me for years to vouch for that!". I'm praying for a drama-free 2009!

Onto the project .... with the exception of a few changes, I cased this Mini Magazine Note Holder from bejoyce on SCS HERE. The Mini Magazine Note Holder was designed by the very talented Becky Roberts at Inking Idaho. You can find her tutorial HERE (Part 1) and HERE (Part 2). Becky's Mini Magazine Note Holders are absolutely adorable and fairly easy to make. The notecards that fit inside measure 3" x 3". The only stamp set I used for this collection is Love You Much along with Candy Lane DP ... both from the Stampin' Up! Love You Much Promotion ... and it used every stamp in the set! (I also used the Heart to Heart Punch from the promotion too!).

RECIPE
Stamps: Love You Much
Paper: Candy Lane DP, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Close To Cocoa, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Embellishments: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Riding Hood Red 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty In Pink Brad
Tools: Heart To Heart Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" and 3/4" Circle Punches, Word Window Punch, Paper Piercer, Trio Flower Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Double Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots
Other: Very Vanilla Mini Square Envelopes

ANOTHER HAPPY HEART VALENTINE

This Valentine's Day card uses Taylor VanBruggen's Cupcake Sketch Challenge #48. Again, I used the stamp set A Happy Heart from the holiday mini catalog with Candy Lane DP from the Love You Bunch Promotion. The main tic tac toe image was stamped once in Close To Cocoa, and again in Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette (for cutting out). The center heart with the "love" is in a Build-a-Brad. The vertical stripe along the left side is from Candy Lane DP mounted on Pink Pirouette CS.

Here is a close-up of the button treatment. There is a piece of Candy Lane DP (the Pink Pirouette with white polka dots pattern) punched out with a 1" Circle Punch that backs the Clear Circle Button. I used pink embroidery floss to thread through the Riding Hood Red Button that is secured to the top of the Clear Button with Mini Glue Dots.Lately, I've been making a conscious effort to complete the inside of my cards. Many times, I simply add a strip of designer paper or simple stamped image. In this case, I covered the whole inside with a light colored, faint pattern of designer paper. I especially like to do this when the card base is a dark color. I chose a light color and faint pattern so as not to distract from the written message. The Candy Lane hearts were punched with the new Heart To Heart Punch from the Love You Bunch Bundle Promotion. I've been finding that I am more apt to mail or use my cards when the inside is done and pretty too!
RECIPE
Stamps: A Happy Heart (holiday mini catalog)
Paper: Candy Lane DP, Close To Cocoa, Pink Pirouette, and Very Vanilla DP
Ink: Close To Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, and Very Vanilla CS
Embellishments: Clear Circle Button, Riding Hood Red Button, Build-a-Brad, Pink Embroidery Floss (non-SU)
Tools: 1/2" and 1" Circle Punches, Heart to Heart Punch (for inside)
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

A HAPPY HEART VALENTINE

THANK YOU for all your well wishes regarding my last post! I'm feeling real good, and am now focused back on getting my foot to cooperate so I can go back to work on Jan. 5. I normally don't have medical issues like this. In fact, I really don't have a regular physician because I rarely need to see one! 2008 has made up for lost time, I guess!

I have been so ready to be done with Christmas cards and start in on Valentine's. Last night, I had my chance! I started with Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try 12/27. I used the stamp set, A Happy Heart from the Holiday Mini Catalog, along with the new Candy Lane DP from the Love You Much Promotion.

RECIPE
Stamps: A Happy Heart (Holiday Mini Catalog)
Paper: Candy Lane DP, Close To Cocoa and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Embellishments: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Pink Pirouette Flower Fusion, Dew Drop (non-SU)
Tools: Word Window Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Paper Piercing Tool
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
Note: Overall card front size is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4".