Two Hearts Love Valentine and Parisian Inspired Amour Valentine

Morning Friends,

Today I'm sharing a special Valentine made for my dear husband Richard.   We will be married 30 years this May so I wanted something special to mark the occasion. After almost 30 years, you get to know each other pretty well. And like all couples we've shared a lot of joy and happiness and endured our fair share of ups and downs. Its not always easy, but our shared faith remains the one constant that helps us overcome wherever life throws our way.  

To make this card, I began by playing with 1/2" strips, originally thinking that I would basket weave them, but after doing so, they looked too busy.  I loved how they looked just staggered in different colors so I went with that for the background.   I finished the background off  by double matting it for a clean and simple look.  Then, I sewed two different hearts together to say that with love, two hearts beat as one. The hearts open to a sentiment that reflects this shared meaning in our lives.  I finished it off with some lovely Prima flowers and their beautiful open fret work die leaves.  I love the vintage colors of these papers by My Minds Eye.  The bold color combination, while subtly vintage, is still quite striking with the black and cream accents. 

Using the same MME paper collection, here's one more Parisian inspired 'Amour' Valentine card.  This one is available at my Etsy today.  Very similar techniques only I used a 6x6 negative heart overlay which is attached to a blank card so you can add your own sentiment. 

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you enjoyed this share. Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Valentines Day!   Until next time ... Big Hugs ~ Dawna

Friendship Swap Gifts from ILovePapalons

Morning Friends,

Today I'm sharing goodies I revived from my dear friend Glenda (aka ILovePapalons at sb.com) for our recent friendship swap.   She is so talented, always inspires me and is such a sweetheart.   I am very lucky to have her in my life and enjoy her friendship.   When this package arrived, well she sure out did herself  on this swap!   So much goodness, I oohed and awed for weeks while I had these on display for everyone to enjoy.  

Let's take a close look at the hanging banner she made.  Its oh so shabby with so many fine details, it deserves a few close ups to take it all in.  By the way, my favorite color palette is soft aquas.  She certainly nailed this on the head!   

Here's the first "Follow Your Heart"  panel which shows off so many pretty elements, including this stunning  peacock dress form:

"Follow Your Heart Panel" 1

There are so many beautiful elements to this panel, the lovely lace, zig-zag trim, organza ribbon, gold tassel, pretty roses, and the lovely organza bows tying them all together.  I have no idea where she found this fantastic peacock dress form, but she knows I love everything vintage too so I can see why she featured this beautiful element.  Then there is the vintage key and sweet sentiment, I love them both! 

Here's the next panel:

"Its the Journey not the Destination" Panel 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh so true!  Now it doesn't get more angelic than this!  beautiful papers, fairies, pillars, even a vintage "D" for my name, lovely roses, pearls, music (which is my favorite past time) and more organza bows tying everything together.  Love the stickpins, petite rose buds, and the framing of pretty pearls, everything is so elegant!  

Next Up:

"Laugh Often, Love Much" Panel 3

Knowing Glenda she handmade the beautiful stickpins and that amazing organiza flower on the dressform, oh so pretty!

Love the header with the beautiful gold overlayed swirls, the beautiful cameo, vintage tape measure and stunning frame and dress work!  Again, so elegant!  And see that tiny, itty bitty gold shoe peaking out from behind that skirt?  Perfect finishing touch! <3 p="">
Last banner: 

"Enjoy Life!"  Panel 4

There is no end to Glenda's inspiration!  Love that peacock dress form, vintage lace, organza flowers and ribbons, handmade stickpins, beautiful sentiments, tulle butterfly and all the finishing pearl touches.  Just lovely my friend, just lovely!  <3 nbsp="" p="">

Then if that wasn't enough, she also sent me these three lovely gifts also, yes, she totally went overboard an spoiled me!  

"Keys to Our Hearts" Pillow

Mini Pearl Bottle

Watering Can Pin Cushion

You can't see the pin at the top of the watering can but its a blue butterfly, perfect way to top off such a love set of gifts!  I can assure you Glenda that these beautiful gifts will inspire me for many, many years to come my dear friend!  Thank you so much for your amazing generosity! 

Well that's it for me today.  If you liked this post, please feel free to follow this blog or sign-up for emails to see whats next.  If you have a minute to leave a message, thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you dropped by!  Until next time, create something from your heart and be inspired my friends!   Big Hugs  ~  Dawna

Saint Valentine's Wedding Day Gift

St. Valentine's Wedding Day Shadow Box

Hi Friends,

Catching up this morning with a few year end posts.  This is a gift I made for our friends Kathy & Charlie who were married on St. Valentine's Day in 1987.  Kathy and I met in 2009 and one of our favorite pastimes is browsing around the antique shops in Old Town Temecula to see if we can find something we can't live without!  lol

 

 Well over the years Kathy has given me many special crafting trinkets and I took this opportunity to use a few of my favorite ones on their special wedding layout.  Among them is this beautiful tatted cameo and these wonderful gold quilted heart buttons. 

To create this layout I used Webster's Pages "In Love" and  "Post Cards to Paris" paper collections.  I framed the  background by using a piece of black textured cardstock then punched around the page with Martha Stewart's Tear Drop punch and used a Krylon pen to distress the edges in gold.   Then I framed the outer punch work with gold foil cardstock.  For the inside page, I used Martha Stewart's Vintage Lace punch and backed it with red cardstock.  Then finished the inner page off with a bit of zigzag stitching. The dark red and hot pick flowers are hand made rolled flowers and the remaining mulberry flowers are from Wild Orchards web site.

Fir the key to my heart element, I embossed a Kaiser Craft filigree heart and key with gold embossing powder, added a vintage label (with the title work printed from my computer) and did some picture matting for a nice clean finish.

Thank you for dropping by my gallery and if you have a minute, I always appreciate hearing from you.  Make it a happy day friends!  Hugs ~ Dawna