So in love

Admittedly I'm finding working on themes of love and Valentines a bit tough these days.  The anniversary of our first date falls right before Valentine's Day so I have a number of 'love' occasions that call for a card...or 2. 

Over on the EverythingWendyVecchi Yahoo group we're into the 2nd MakingArt challenge.  Lori has stepped away from Wendy's books this time and has asked the participants to incorporate the following items into their art: Pop 'N Cuts, a heart, glitter, and of course, at least one Studio 490 stamp.  No Pop 'N Cuts?  No problem!  Use a dimensional piece for the interior of the card.  Hey, we're not that strict around here!  lol

 I used numerous blue and orange distress inks on top layer of my card front then overstamped with the background text (Art From The Heart) in Jet Black Archival Ink.  In the lower left hand corner I smeared some of Wendy's embossing paste and immediately stamped in to it, misting the stamp first, and washing it right away afterwards.  Once dry, I added more orange inks to the top so you can see what was stamped (also from AFTH).

The heart (AFTH) was stamped into a glue pad then on my cardstock and quickly covered with Art Institute Glitter...a gorgeous bright fall orange.  Reminder to self:  don't use this glue again as it's not very durable.  Sigh.  An Sizzix mini arrow (TH) was cut from coordinating patterned cardstock and layered behind the heart.  A Martha Stewart silk ribbon bow finishes the heart.

I've layered several coordinating cardstock strips (cut with Sizzix dies and a Martha Stewart border punch) at the top, top middle, and lower parts of the card.

More coordinating cardstock was used to cut a 2nd medallion for the pop part.  A grungeboard heart and a Maya Road key complete the medallion.  The mini portrait dies were cut from kraft core core'dinations and sanded.  More cardstock and grungeboard hearts complete the card.  Behind the medallion the portraits and heart are on wire that kind of bobble when the card is opened.

This card certainly isn't your typical Valentine palette but I think I like it even better.

If you don't have the Pop 'N Cuts system I hope you'll look into getting it.  There are so many options for this and it makes cardmaking so easy and quick.  The hardest part for me is knowing when to stop adding elements!  lol