Valentine's Day

Being french, Valentine's Day has never been a big deal for me... That is until I lived in the US and had kids! ;-) In France Valentine's Day is all about couples (really annoying when you are not in a relationship!), and I was happy to shift the focus back on family. See I don't like being commanded to do something, so to me it is a bit of an oxymoron to HAVE to be all lovey dovey on the 14th and who cares about the rest of the year!... ;-) My poor hubby knows better than to come home with chocolate and/or flowers on the 14th!... LOL (any other day of the year is welcome! ;-)) Actually he did bring an extra bag of Lindor truffles yesterday with the ones I asked him to buy for the teachers... He thought I might eat some while giftwrapping them and then run short!!... Who would do something like that?? LOL...

But anyway... The kids have had to bring Valentine's Day cards to school, and this is what I made this year. Naomi colored hers and I colored the ones for Noah... I found out afterwards that nobody in Noah's class made/brought valentines this year! How weird!?...  :-(
I used the Valentines Tiny Treats stamp set from PTI. I love acrylic stamps, it is so cool to be able to bend and shape them. The base cards are made with the lunch box note die. Love that die... :-)

For Naomi's class

For Noah's class

Isn't that little guy cute? :-)

Valentine's day mailboxes

I made those little mailboxes for Noah's teachers, using Laurens' "happy mail" template (My Time Made Easy) and her "You've got mail" stamps set. This is the size that comes from the pdf file. I didn't have the right USB port to use my computer with the Cricut. I just added a few hearts on foam tape, and a bit of ribbon. The Happy Valentine's day heart stamp is from PTI.

I totally stole this button-pull idea from Catherine Doucette (http://www.thedancingpear.blogspot.com/) (BTW, pay her a little visit, she has the cutest gingham mailbox with a little mouse...) I actually had to break one of the buttons in between the 2 holes to make a slot, now that was fun!... ;-)

And to hide my button-pull attachment, I glued a little heart inside. :-)

And as you can see, the little mailboxes contain an assortment of Ghirardelli chocolate squares.... I had to eat a few so that it would fit in the boxes. Oh the things you have to do for the sake of gift giving with a personal touch!... ;-)

V-card for Naomi

Long time no see... Adjusting to life with one more family member is proving to be challenging! LOL!... Needless to say the creativity is on hold, not that I don't have the mojo but I just don't have time and the sleep deprivation makes me functionate at a sloooow pace...

Anyway, here's a little card for the fun, for my 7 1/2 years old daughter Naomi for Valentine's day... slightly flashy but it was intentional... ;-) The colors of the pics are slightly off because I used the laptop and I'm not familiar with the photo editing there...oops...

I used JustRite stamps for my custom sentiment. And funnily enough the superwoman stamp from the "kindred spirits" collection by Gina K. is called "Naomi"'!

Out of this world

My son is "out of this world" for so many reasons!!... When I saw that set I had to have it for him...

Because of his autism, he is literally sometimes "out of this world"... and also he is out of this world because he is the most wonderful and cute little boy ever and I love him to pieces!!... :-)

He likes to watch the baby Einstein "baby Galileo" which is all about planets and space...

He barely looked at the card or give me time to read what I had written inside... but I hope that in a few years we can look at it together and have a good laugh...

At least he liked the store bought card that his Dad got him, with a cute little tiger and bright colors... :-)

Anyway I really love this card, and not just because of the special meaning it holds for me. I had a great time making it and I really like the little green man (isn't he too cute!?) coming out of his flying saucer, and the background paper made with the stamps... :-)

It's a happy card, just like my happy little boy!♥ :-)

We're a great team...

This is this year's Valentine for my hubby.

It might be a little unconventional but I wasn't really into hearts and stuff... ;-) I don't know why but I really wanted to have those little astronauts together... and since I made a card for Noah (see next post) with a little alien, this team card makes more sense... together they tell a story...

I think we are a great team on the planet parenthood!....

You can't really see on the pic but I gave myself little gold earrings and wedding band, and I made my eyes green and my hubby's blue... I love having fun with details... ;-) The stars and accents on the suits are also colored with glitter pens.

I kept being unhappy with the card but couldn't figure out why...I think it is the coloring that bugs me - ah, if only I had copic markers! *sigh* LOL ;-) - or maybe the no-ribbon?....

Anyway, the recipient loved it, and that's all that matters!... :-)

Bouquet of Valentines

Those are Naomi's valentines this year.

I had bought some pencils for the kids in the class, I think they get way too many candies anyway, LOL!

A while back I saw some pencils threaded through paper to look like worms in a catalog and put this idea in a corner of my brain... I decided to twist it to make flower stems instead and have the eraser poke through my flower center...

I stamped Lizzie Anne's "Jolies Fleurs" and had Naomi color them (she complained quite a bit because we had to make 22 of those, so the coloring isn't exactly her best but I think it makes it more "6 years old"! ;-)...) then I cut them out and finished assembling them after having Naomi write the kids' names on leaves... There wasn't enough time to put glitter on the petals like Naomi wanted...

It was slightly time consuming as it is, but I love how they came out.

I brought them to the classroom today and put them in a flower pot that I found there, it looks so pretty as a bunch! :-)

Valentine's day mailbox

This is the mailbox for Naomi, I will put some chocolate inside I think... since my card isn't gonna fit!...

I had some trouble with the flag, finally managed to remove it but not put it back, it was tearing the paper when I was moving it up and down. :-(... so I glued it and removed the initial nail to put a cute big brad instead... :-)

I love that paper, it is so bright and cheery. (it's double-sided gift wrap from Borders, it is thick as cardstock!)

Those cool letters are made with my Cuttlebug using the box of Puffs! :-)

(If you don't know what I'm talking about, check here : http://dare2beecreative.blogspot.com/2007/10/best-recycling-ever.html)

First Valentine...

I made this little card today using my new PaperTrey Ink set "a Punny Valentine".

This little squirrel is just too cute ;-)

I think it will be Naomi's Valentine's day card if she doesn't find it before then!... She loves strawberries! :-)

Several layers are on dimensionals, and the squirrel, pie & big strawberry are heat embossed with clear powder.

I also used the tiny flower from the "Borders & corners (circle)" set.

The scalloped oval is of course made with Nestabilities, now that I am looking at it, it makes me think of a big dollop of whipped cream ;-) LOL

As always, if you click on the pic a giant version will appear! (you'll then see the yellow dots on the strawberries, the funny paper frill on the strawberry-heart, and the tiny strawberry flowers...and the green eye on the squirrel!... ;-) )

I would have loved to add a little ribbon or a prima in there but it was already overcrowded as it is, but I like it that way: bright, cheery and juicy strawberries for my little Mimi, and a little sneaky squirrel that loves strawberry pie so much that he's sitting in it! ;-D

I think she'll love it!... :-)

Stamps : "A Punny Valentine" & "Borders & Corners (circles)" by PaperTrey Ink.

Ink : Versamagic: Sahara Sand, Pink Petunia, Aloe vera; Brilliance: Moonlight white, pearlescent Poppy, Coffee Bean; Versamark.

Other: Markers, gel pens, clear embossing powder.