A Couple of Valentine Challenges

I had thought I would try participating in more different challenges starting out this year, but that doesn't seem to be working out like I wanted it to. I do keep doing three of my favorites though, and they all have the same theme going right now...make a Valentine card, because love is in the air! : )

First is my Whiff of Joy Challenge card. This will be a double duty card, working well for Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge. This is really...pink...but I like it. Used Willow With Umbrella image, masking off the umbrella. Colored her with Prismacolors blended with baby oil. Chalked around her with some Pebbles chalks, cut out with regular and scalloped oval Nestabilities. Where the umbrella was, made her a "heart sign" using smallest heart Nesties attched on foam tape, and she is holding a tiny key charm dangling from thread. Love stamp is from Crafty Secrets, tiny heart sprays from See D's. Background DP is Basic Grey Bittersweet, inked all around. Stamped that gorgeous vine from Papertrey Ink with Versamark, embossed with silver EP. Stamped some little Rubber Stamp Tapestry hearts on the vine. The sentiment was printed from my computer, cut out with SU! punch, attached on foam tape to a Cuttlebug flourish. Foil butterfly with pink rhinestone added in the lower corner.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Willow With Umbrella, Rubber Stamp Tapestry hearts, Papertrey Ink With Sympathy, See D's Romance, Crafty Secrets Cherish.

Paper: Basic Grey Bittersweet, The Paper Studio.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Silver EP, charm, foil butterfly, rhinestones, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, SU! punch, Stickles, foam tape.

I had a hard time getting a good picture of this card for the House Mouse challenge, but finally got some that are okay. Had an attack of Nestabilities here. Used the largest scalloped heart for the base. Traced around the inside of that die to get the folding heart from the red CS. Stamped both sides with new Inkadinkado flourish using Versamark, embossed with silver EP, added some rhinestones. Colored the mousey image with Prismas/baby oil, cut out with plain and scalloped ovals. Chalked it up with Pebbles. Attached this little stack to the left hand side of the opening heart. At first attached the photo tab where the little rhinestone flower is, but it wouldn't hold the card closed well enough. So out came the brad and covered the hole with the rhinestone flower. Probably shouldn't have tattled on myself there. Little picture shows the inside...another heart Nestie, sentiment printed from computer. Stamped some hearts by Rubber Stamp Tapestry, and there's a little pink rhinestone flower to cover my oops brad hole from the inside. :)

Stamps: House Mouse Chocolate Heart, Rubber Stamp Tapestry hearts, Inkadinkado Flourish 99040-K

Paper: The Paper Studio.

Ink: Colorbox Queues, Stazon.

Accessories: Nestabilities, rhinestones, photo tab, brad, silver EP.

On a more serious note I suppose: Today I will be having my post chemo tests. Blood work and a PET/CT scan. Was supposed to have these couple of weeks ago, but cost of the PET scan went up since last time so needed to wait until another payday to plop down $500 more. Ouch. Darn...now some of those crafty wish list items will have to wait. ;) Put this post in schedule mode, so we'll see how that works. With this behind me after today, hopefully will finally feel like I'm out of this limbo state. This is something that has been looming in the back of my mind so feel like my creativity hasn't been flowing like it should and I haven't been as charmed with my stuff lately. Oh well...onward we go, right? If you're still reading, thank you for stopping by, and please know that any comments are greatly appreciated.