All we need is LOVE!!!

    Isn't that the truth and there is not better feeling then to be loved and to love others with all of your heart.  My post today is all about LOVE and I'm hoping I can inspire you to create some LOVE themed cards for Operation Write Home's - Midweek Throwdown Challenge.

   I am posted my first two and will be working on some more this afternoon.  OWH is currently in need of Love Card, Missing you Cards and basic cards for everyday use.  You can always go HERE to the main site to find out the current needs along with wish lists from each of the shippers.

   These two cards are very basic and were fun and easy to make.   I started both with with two red cards from DCWV.    I buy boxes of these card bases in a variety of colors, whenever they are on-sale and they are really prefect for OWH cards, because they are A2 size, they are white inside, have a nice texture outside and also all come with their own envelope.  If you are looking for them they are currently on-sale this week at Jo'Ann's and are only $5.99 for a box of 50.   You can even use Mr. Rebates at Jo's to earn 5% back on each of your purchases.    I also always check for any promo codes before I shop and I am also on the mailing list for Jo's, that way I receive all of their promo codes directly by email!

   I think HUGS cards are always my favorites to make and LOVE is probably second.   It's kind of fun to make LOVE cards and not be thinking only of Valentine's Day, even though both of these cards, could also be used as Valentine's.

   

   I am back now with an afternoon update and have two more cards to share, both created again with the LOVE theme in mind.  I also meant to tell you about these really cute die cut images that I bought from Lili of the Valley.  I used one on the card above - from the Romantic Times collection.   These are totally adorable and are pre-printed and colored on white cardstock.   You use them the same way you would use a stamped image and they make really fun and super easy cards.   You can cute them out, litterbug them, or even add more color - use them in whatever way works for you.   I really did not know what to expect when I ordered them, but I really like them and I'm happy I tried them.  They are perfect when you need a very quick card and don't necessarily have time to color an image. 

   They are also my Favorite product of the day and you can find them in the store HERE - Note:   They are a new product (at least to me and are called 'Die Cut Design Sheets'.  Each sheet contains six different images and they are scored, so that you can easily punch/cut them out.  The price converts to just under $1.50 USD, which I think is very reasonable.    If you are not familiar with LOTV, it's a wonderful craft store based in the UK and they have a wonderful line of stamps and other craft products.     All the prices shown are in Euro, but you can easily use a currency converter to figure out the price and PayPal will also calculate it for when when you make payment.   I have ordered stamps from them a few times and always been very pleased with the prices.  The shipping rates are very reasonable and the shipping time is very good.  My last order arrived just about a week after I placed my order.   

Die Cut Design Sheet

Friends and Flowers

   My next card features one of the cute die cuts from the Friends and Flowers Sheet and I simply cut it out, edged it a bit with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink, and layered it onto my card.  To make the balloons more dimensional, I ocated them with 3D Crystal Lacquer.   It was a really easy card to make and the options are endless!!

  And I have one more card today and this one is again another LOVE card and was inspired by a card tutorial that was featured at OWH and on the OWH TV channel a few weeks back.  They are called Dimensional Ruffle Cards and you can find a tutorial on how to create them over at the Stars and Stamps blog HERE!! 

   I had made a couple of them when the tutorial was first shown and today I did one all in shades of pink, using scraps - this is a great way to use scraps and you can use ANY colors!   I found that I like them best when I used a simply scallop punch, but you can use any type of border punch or die!!   This is my new one and the more I make the, the easier I find it to be.  Today, I layered everything first onto a plain piece of white cardstock and made all my layers just under 4 1/8" in width -- that made it very easy to keep the layers even and in the end I simply trimmed it all even and adhered it to my card base.

   The 'ruffle' cards can also be created in any color or with any papers, making it a card that can be used for a vareity of themes!   I think it will be fun to make some in Holiday Papers this year and will plan to do so!!

    Well that's it for today - I have had a nice day and now have four more created for Operation Write Home!!  Yippee!!