Iron Craft 2016 Challenge #2--Love Notes

For this challenge, we were required to use flowers or hearts to celebrate the month of February. One of my resolutions this year was to try and downsize my craft materials and use only materials on hand for the Iron Craft challenges this year.

I had these miniature envelopes that I did not use for a previous project and I had this duplex card stock left over from a similar project. I decided to make Love Notes to give out for Valentine's Day.

These are small cards (about the size of a gift card) that are to be left behind for someone special. They can be left in lunch boxes, on pillows, in coat pockets, etc.

For these, I decided to use a heart punch on the front of the card. The duplex card stock is red on one side and fuchsia (watermelon) on the opposite side. Where the cutout appears, I have doodled some sayings that are usually found on those miniature heart candies that are popular during this time of year.

There is ample space to write a little something for that someone special. When you open up the card, you see the surprise heart in its entirety.

Project #5--Valentine's Cards

This post has been delayed because I have been struggling with my final Valentine's cards for this year. I have mentioned that I had signed up for a Homemade Valentine's Swap this year. I had to send out my cards so they would arrive in time (especially since I was sending cards to Singapore and Australia). I was not 100% happy with my main card so I decided to send some alternative cards in hopes my swap partners would receive something they would like.

Alternative Card

The above card is the alternative card. I wanted to use a non-traditional color palette and wanted something that was atypical. I rather like the card and feel that it can be used on a variety of occasions. More importantly, I really like the sentiment--show your love all year around rather than just on February 14.

Final Version--Card Front

The above card is the card that I struggled with on a variety of different levels. Unfortunately, I finally solved all of the problems after I sent my swap partners their cards in the mail. I still might send this to them after the fact so they can see what the card is supposed to look like (rather than the card they received).

I knew that I wanted to do a mobile heart card. Working out the logistics of the card was the difficult part. Which parts to glue to which other part so the mechanics wouldn't show. Getting the hearts to align properly. Where to place the thread and how many threads to use so they middle heart would be suspended.

I also wanted to do something on the inside to create a 3D effect. I thought about using a light box so that all of the hearts would align themselves. I decided to offset the interior hearts so it wouldn't look too matchy-matchy. I still might do another prototype and align them together but I will save that for another night.

Card Interior

Here is the card backlit so you can see the asymmetrical hearts which I think is kinda cool. I will share with you the alternate version next week.

Backlit card

All in all, a very productive Valentine's season.

Homemade Valentine's Day Card Swap--Part3

Here is another card I am considering for the Homemade Valentine's Day Card Swap that I mentioned in other posts. I have one more that I am considering so I will have to make up my mind soon. I have two weeks to send these out--as soon as I get my addresses.

Homemade Valentine's Day Card Swap--Part2

In a previous post, I mentioned the Valentine Mail Swap that I have joined. The above card is the second card that I am considering for this swap.

Homemade Valentine's Day Card Swap

This year, I signed up for the Homemade Valentine's Day Card swap that is being hosted by Lyndsey over at The Stationery Place. This is one of my new cards for this year that I am thinking about using for this swap. The image is based on a felt doily that I found at the Dollar Store. I traced it out and then cut it. The card is 5" by 5" which would make it more interesting to receive in the mail.

There is still time to sign up if you want to get some Valentine's Cards in the mail. The sign up deadline is January 24th and you must mail your cards by February 7th. You can read more about the swap by clinking on the link above.

Valentine Post #2

So after making the big mistake of not measuring my brownies for the cellophane bag that I was going to use, I had to find something to recover from the great mishap. So, I had an "I", heart, and a "U" already cut out of brownies so I wanted to design something to do.

The  bag topper came to me as I was falling asleep two nights ago. I quickly jotted the idea in my notebook and quickly fell asleep. I knew that I wouldn't be able to get to it until late last night although I was thinking about it during work all day.

Valentine's Post #1

Today's entry is a treat bag for the classmates of a friend's daughter. My friend was working on a budget but she wanted something different to share with the child's classmates. I designed these individual treat bags for a fraction of the costs to buy them prepaid. The empty treat bags were purchased from Sur la Table. The children's Valentine's cards were recycled from last year (they were left over from another project).

NEEDED SUPPLIES
Empty treat bags
Children's Valentine's Cards (can be recycled)
Card Stock/Scrapbook paper
Hole punch
Brads (that coordinate with the size of the hole punch)
Glue stick or double-sided tape
Candies

STEP ONE.
Measure the the width of the treat bag and cut a piece of card stock to fit this measurement.

STEP TWO
Measure the height of the Valentine's card and cut the card stock to the height adding 1/4 inch.

STEP THREE
Center the Valentine's card on the card stock and glue/tape.

STEP FOUR
Using the center mark on most children's Valentine's card. score the the card stock along the center and fold.

STEP FIVE
Using an 1/8th inch border around the Valentine's card, cut around the top half of the card starting from the crease. Only cut around the two sides and top edge so that the top of the Valentine's card will release from the top of the bag (see the picture above).

STEP SIX.
Fill the treat bag with treats.

STEP SEVEN
Fold down the top of the treat bag and place within the folded card stock.

STEP EIGHT
Punch a hole on both side flaps that goes through both layers of the treat bags and both layers of the card stock.

STEP NINE
Close the bag with the brads.

Valentine's Day Mystery Cards

Sorry for the lack of posts recently but Valentine's Day crept up on me and I was unprepared. I made several one of a kind cards that I will be sharing with you soon (of course, I can't post them here until after the big day as not to ruin the surprise for the lucky recipients).

I do want to share with you a project that I have been working on which has really been taking up my time. After reading the blog of one of my favorite art bloggers (Dude Craft), I came across this entry and wanted to do an anonymous, feel good project for Valentine's Day. I came up with mini-valentine's cards that people could leave for those they love. They are small mini-envelope sized cards that are empty on the inside so that an inscription can be left for any occasion. I used to leave them for other people and I called them "just because" cards.

For this project, I bundled up five different cards with envelopes in white tissue paper with the explanation sticker showing and left them throughout NYC. I left them at my theater, at grocery stores, at the library, and at several bookstores--all anonymously. There are over 120 Love Note packages (that's 600 individual cards) floating around for people to find and use.

I just want people to share the love--whenever--not just for Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day Card/Spreading the Love

Here is the first manifestation of a Valentine's Day card. I am not totally pleased with it yet but I am still working on it. I am doing some cards in non-traditional colors this year not because I am being all artsy fartsy; I am doing it because I want to use up some of the cardstock that I have leftover. I am so over using red because of Christmas.

Also, I will have many Valentine's cards left over this year. Some are handmade, some are store bought, and some are like kid's valentines. Rather than have them waste away--here is what I propose. If you know someone that could use a little cheering up around this time of year (recently alone, permanently alone, etc), please send me their address via PM. I will send them one of these Valentine's Cards signed with the following--You are loved. Signed Cupid. It will be totally anonymous with a postmark from NYC. That's it. I pay the postage and handwrite the sentiment. No tricks, no gimmicks, no advertising. I do this in memory of those that I have loved in my life. So, let me help you spread some love. This will be on a first come, first served basis as long as the supplies last. I will mail out the cards as I receive the names. The last day that I will mail out will be Thursday.

Valentine's Cards

As promised here is one variation of the Quote cards that I have been working on. The hearts shown on a previous entry are interchangeable. The cards are all similar but the quotes will change.

The cards are made from Fabriano paper. The hearts are cold pressed watercolor paper.

Front of card

Inside of Card

Up to my elbows in . . .

HEARTS. I have hearts falling all over the place--even after I cleaned up my studio space. I found one in my shoe. I found one glue side up stuck to one of my socks. I am working on a series of "Quote" cards for Valentine's Day. Each card features a different quote about love. On the front of the card is a cut out of a heart. When you open the card, there is a die cut of a heart.

I had painted and textured some watercolor paper using a variety of techniques. I used modeling paste for texture, embedded some mulberry paper, used water colors and ink from the bottle for color. I poured salt on some of the water color pieces for texture and a small bit of glimmer and I used glossy Mod Podge for others. I then used these pages for the die cut hearts. After punching out all of the hearts, I was finding them everywhere.

What a mess.

BTW, those imperfect hearts on the bottom row where done on purpose. The card will read "I know I am not perfect . . . but will you still be my valentine?"

In the Weeds

Ever since I have returned to NYC full time, I have been inundated with projects. I am struggling to get my Valentine's Day orders ready. I will post pictures when I get them all finished. I am also doing Valentine's Day cards for children this year (actually the third year). The problem is that I have to make two sets of different cards because the two children are in the same class. The first year that I made them everything was fine. Then the second year, the mother of one of the boys that had received a card from the first year wanted cards for her son as well. So now, I have competing mothers who are trying to outdo each other.

Mother One: This year, I want at least 3 colors.
Mother Two: This year, I want my cards to look better than Sylvia's (Mother One).
Mother One: I will pay you more but my cards MUST look better than Carolyn's (Mother Two).

I guess that I could have worse problems.