New Location for Designs by Didi Blog

Well, I've given up my old blog address and decided to go with the flow of Google +.  This means I can now post to my garden blog or my craft blog from my phone and my new Surface tablet from one sign in.  It should be easier all around for me, but I really dislike leaving all my former creations behind at Yahoo.

Still, it 's a new year--and a new way of doing things!

Here goes my first post--Valentine cards.

Start with a long card base cut from 

8.5 X 11 inch card stock.

I used white, but light pink would also work nicely.

Use an A2 card front size to insert into embossing folders.

I used Cuttlebug Script and Swiss Dots folders.

A card front size is actually half of a long card base shown above.

Sorry the folders are upside down!  I did edit these photos...

Once the card front is embossed, use a border punch to 

add some texture and dimension to the card base.

This punch is EK Scallop Diamond.

Attach a strip of patterned paper at the base of the front of the card with a Scotch dot roller.

Then attach the embossed and border punched card front to the card base with Scor-tape.

The patterned paper should show under the border.

Sorry again that this photo is sideways!

I punched out lots of hearts with the Marvy Heart Punch.

The hearts are on the large size, 1 5/8 inch across.

I used solids and patterns.

I also embossed half of the solids with the Cuttlebug

Divine Swirl folder in the Big Shot, three hearts at a time.

I folded the hearts in half with a bone.

The embossed ones tear easily in the center, but they will be glued down later.

Turning the hearts upside down, I used Tombow Mono liquid glue to attach some twine to the back.

This is colored butcher twine from The Twinery in lilac, pink sorbet and maraschino.

While the liquid glue is still sticky, turn the hearts over and arrange them on the card front.

Make sure the strings hang down free and that the sides of the hearts are free to pop up.

When the glue has dried a bit, take the strings together and form an overhand knot to keep the 

"heart  balloons" together in a clump.  Anchor the knot with another dab of glue.

Notice that I added some lace and assorted self-stick ribbon above the punched border 

to these before adding the heart balloons.

The sentiment is a banner made with Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Banners stamp and die cut set.

I added a single pearl heart on the banner also.  It is popped with some foam dimensional adhesives.

The variety of colors and backgrounds and embellishments made these Valentine cards 

are real splash of color on a snowy February day.

And this was a much easier post to make also!

Old Designs by Didi available at

http://designsbydidi.blogspot.com

I've been on that blog since 2012.

Inspiration card on Pinterest

from Etsy by imeondesign