Happy Birthday, Friend

Time Out Challenge #307 opens today and runs through March 4th. It is a special Photo Challenge. We are generously sponsored by Kim Heggins of Running Stitch Designs, and a former Time Out DT Member. 

Running Stitch Designs

 

For the past several years, Kim has donated one of her marvelous handmade bags for this special yearly challenge as both the inspiration AND the prize.  

This enlargement of the inspiration photo provides more detail.

Our Challenge Winner, as chosen by our Design Team, will receive Kim's Handmade Bag as a prize, and will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We are joined by the Marvelous Michele Ferguson of I Card Everyone, and winner of Time Out #302 as Guest Designer.  Michele is an incredibly talented designer with a keen eye for design and color, and a great sense of humor.  Be forewarned that a stroll through Michele's BLOG will may cause a little swooning and will surely leave you inspired.

When I was thinking about my design for this challenge, I wanted to use 2 designer papers - one striped and one other with some kind of dots in it. I chose papers from an Authentique  6x6 paper pad from 2013 with a Bee theme. I love the way the 2 papers I chose go together. I went with vanilla cardstock for the card base. I used my newly acquired Plaque Slides Love and Friendship Stamps & Dies from SSS for a simple sentiment. My project need a little zhuzh, so I used another new SSS die to add interest, some twine for the label, and a few Pinkfresh Matte Silver Metallic Pearls.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	SSS Plaque Slides Love & Friendship SSS Winsome Branch Die
Cardstock	Gina K Pure Luxury Pure Ivory  Card stock Authentique Be(you)tiful 6x6 Paper Pad
Ink	VersaMark VersaFine Onyx Black
Embellishments	Pinkfresh Matte Silver Metallic Pearls
Other	WOW Clear EP WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Spellbinders Foam Squares

I'm playing at:

Challenge #846 - Just the Way You Are

A Valentine Hug for Jon

 

This is my Valentine for my youngest son (by 8 minutes). I made cocktail Valentines for most of my family this year... this is due to those awesome Spellbinders Happy Hour Dies! I have been having so much fun with them. Jon loves an Old Fashioned. I think this is a funny drink for the young these days - that drink has been around forever and is suddenly in revival mode. Google tells me that popular lore credits its creation to a bartender at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1881, inspired by distiller James E. Pepper. Jon will love this.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Spellbinders Love on the Rocks Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Real Red SU Brushed Silver Various scraps
Ink	Wild Hone DO Ink VersaMark
Embellishments
Other	Pink & Main Sentiment Strip Dies Brutus Monroe Alabaster Ultra Fine EP Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts EF Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Spellbinders Foam Squares

I'm playing at: 

Make My Mondady - Use 2 Dies

The Cupcake Challenge #634

Just Us Girls #810 - Valentine

Joe's Valentine

 

And my last Valentine of the year - for my husband, Joe. More fun with Spellbinders Love On The Rocks! We love to go to Happy Hour at this wonderful bar/restaurant by the sea called Black Eyed Susan's. One of their Happy Hour special cocktails is called Flora & Fauna made with cucumber juice and garnished with Rosemary served in a glass much like this one. The strawberry garnish on mine is wrong, but I did not have a die for an orange, so it had to do.Very refreshing! He will love this card.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Spellbinders love on the rocks Dies BetterPress Cheers Sentiments Press Plate & Dies Spellbinders Christmas Cocktails Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Real Red and Brushed Silver Various scraps
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black Twisted Citron and Pumice Stone DO Inks
Embellishments
Other	BetterPress System SSS Falling Hearts EF Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Spellbinders Foam Squares We R Memory Keepers Layer Guides

I'm playing at:

Make My Monday #271 - Use 2 Dies

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #634

Just Us Girls #810 - Valentine

First Cup Challenges- February

Luv You So Much

 

I made lots of Valentines this year, and am pleased to have gotten them in the mail. I paid more to ship some chocolates than I paid for the chocolates themselves, but I sure did love the contents of those packages, especially the cards. The two cards above are completely inspired by THESE cards made by laurafadora. I used a different background, ink, edges and papers, but I used Laura's wonderful design for my cards. This was a NBUS stamp & die set for me, so I was glad to give it some love.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	SSS Circle Sentiments Stamp & Die Set Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Dies
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Pretty In Pink, Cameo Coral, Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Pink Passion, Groovy Guava
Ink	VersaFine Onyx Black VersaMark PTI Vintage Cream
Embellishments
Other	WOW Clear Embossing Powder WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool AALL & Create Stencil #134 Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Spellbinder Foam Squares

I'm playing at:

NBUS #83

Die Cut Divas February 2026 - Red and/or Pink

Tic Tac Toe #286

Top Row - Hearts, Die Cutting, Red/Pink

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #634

Valentine Hugs & Kisses

 

While visiting blogs of friends, I came across THIS gorgeous card made by Marcia Hill. I so loved it.  I have been feverishly making Valentines and when I saw it, I decided right then and there I had to make it. First I had to get my hands on some "velvet paper". I found this on Amazon and it was available for overnight delivery. It's actually meant to be used as a liner for things like drawers and jewelry boxes, but it worked perfectly here and looks and feels like velvet. I used a different Embossing Folder and sentiment but otherwise made Marcia's card. I just love it. Thanks, Marcia for the wonderful inspiration!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Heart and Scalloped Heart Dies. Hero Arts Library Card Stamp Set
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SSS Matte Gold Cardstock
Ink	VersaMark
Embellishments	Pinkfresh Gold Metallic Pearls
Other	SSS Falling Hearts 3D EF Brutus Monroe Alabaster White EP WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Tenalleys Self Adhesive Felt Sheets Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press SU Dimensionals We R Memory Keepers Layer Guides

I'm playing at:

Just Us Girls Challenge #810 - Valentine

Just Add Ink #779

Inkspirational #360 - XOXO (Hugs & Kisses)

Little Reed Wagon #845 - I'm Seeing Red

Make My Monday #271 - Use 2 dies

Greg's Valentine

This is a valentine for one of my twin sons. It is really a perfect card for him. There is so much about him to love.

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	CZ Design Noted Heart
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Riding Hood Red
Ink	DO Inks: Pumice Stone, Victorian Velvet, Fired Brick VersaMark VersaFine Onyx Black
Embellishments
Other	SSS Falling Hearts 3D EF Brutus Monroe Alabaster Ultra Fine EP Ranger Silver Fine Detail EP WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/2" White Self Adhesive Fun Foam Waffle Flower Foam Strips

I'm playing at:

Just Us Girls #809 - Die Week - Heart

Festive Friday FF0202

Pink, Gray, Ink Blending, Die Cuts, Love Sentiments, Hearts

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Add A Heart

AAA Colorful

You Had Me At Martini

It's time for a new challenge at Time Out. Challenge #306 is a Pick 2 - pick at least 2 of the 6 word prompts to inspire your project. You may use more than 2, or even all 6, but you must use at least 2. Also, you must mention which prompts you chose in your post. 

The prompts are: Sparkle, Red, Heart, Pink, Aperture and Twine

Lawn Fawn is our wonderful sponsor generously offering a $25.00 store credit as a prize for our Challenge Winner, who will also get an invitation to join us as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

We welcome Jenn Borjeson of StampinAngelJenn, and winner of Time Out #301 as Guest Designer. You can see Jenn's project and link to it on her blog from the Time Out Challenge Blog.

I wanted to make Valentines for my sons' girlfriends. They are lovely women who are well matched with both of the boys, and whose company we really enjoy. They both love a good martini - one favors an Espresso Martini, and the other a Dirty Martini. I have had this Spellbinders Olive Martini set for a long time, and had not broken it open yet. This was the perfect time! The card above is my Time Out Challenge card. I picked sparkle, red, pink and heart. The sparkle did not photograph well at all, but the top layer of the drink is heavily colored with Wink Of Stella. The dirty Martini below features red, pink and heart.

Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog where you can see what Jenn and the Design Team have created for your inspiration. Come play with us! We would be so happy to see your project in our gallery. Please be sure to mention which of the 6 prompts you used in your project in your post. I can't wait to see what you create!

Project Details
Stamps/Dies	Spellbinders Olive Martinis and Love on the Rocks Avery Elle Lots of Love Stamps MFT Blueprints 5 Tag Builder Die-namics
Cardstock	110lb. Neenah Solar Crest 80lb. Neenah Solar Crest SU Blush Blossom, Brushed Silver, Old Olive, Real Red, Garden Green, More Mustard, Chololate Chip, Early Espresso Scrapbook.com 6x8 Smooth Cardstock Jewels PTI Soft Stone
Ink	VersFine Onyx Black VersaMark DO Tumbled Glass and Old Paper
Embellishments
Other	Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts EF Spellbinders Platinum Plus Scor-Pal Score Board Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer MISTI Stamping Tool My Sweet Petunia Precision Glue Press Scor-Pal Score Tape-1/2"

I'm also playing at:

Inskspirational #360 - XOXO (Hugs & Kisses)

Paper Players #771 - Love Is In The Air

Just Us Girls #809 - Heart Die

Second Card in post

NBUS #83