'LOVE'S GREETING - ELLEN CLAPSADDLE" POCKET LETTER

Created for a "Vintage Valentine" Pocket Letter swap at Pocket Letter Pals.  

Ellen Clapsaddle was one of the most well known and prolific illustrator's at the turn of the 19th century and into the 1920's.   The images are all from her works.  I used a flocked paper on the outside of the pockets and added the felt hears, pearls, gold mirror card birds and Platinum Stickled garland on top of that.  

Thanks for looking!

"GNOME HOME" VALENTINE POCKET LETTER

This Pocket Letter I crafted for Lucy, our 7 year old granddaughter.  I'm looking forward to getting a letter back from her.

I found this image on Etsy some time ago and knew it was the perfect bit of whimsy for a Pocket Letter of a style quite different for me.  Lucy found and picked the puffy heart ribbon from my stash as something she wanted on her Pocket Letter.

It was easy to pick pretty little bits to fill the back pockets and delight a young girl.

"MY HEART' VALENTINE POCKET LETTER

I'm almost always ready to move on to the next holiday, hello Valentine's Day!  I've set up a number of swaps for Valentine themed Pocket Letters, this will be a busy January for me.  I admit to going through my Valentine stash before Christmas LOL

This tag (Paper Whimsy) that I made several years ago was the inspiration for the feel of this Pocket Letter.

Vintage style images from Etsy, Graphic 45 papers, baby blue Dresden scrap, ribbon flowers and lots of glitter.  (Stickles).  It IS the details that make all the difference.

Happy Valentine's gold foil (baking specialty shop), pink Dresden, cupid diecut from red mirror card, sweet vintage style thread winders, tiny sweet library cards among the goodies.

OUT OF THE SCRAP BAG - VALENTINE TAGS

I sat down earlier this week with my bag of Valentine scraps to make a few tags.  Some of the bits have been around for a few years so I won't try to identify their origin.  I have been doing a number of variations on the same themes or structures lately so it was time to push bits around a bit and see what happened.

Note:  I have looped a bit of ribbon through the tags only for the pictures.  I find it much easier to store my tags without ribbon and do that as I use them.

14 HEARTS DAY #14 FAIRY TAG

The last of the 14 HEARTS projects from Nancy Maxwell James!  I had two projects ready yesterday but couldn't capture a decent picture.

I've used a Je T'adore patterned paper for the background,  one of the French text files Nancy provided on another project next, some ephemera bits of my own, Vintage Photo Distress Ink throughout, the pink Dresden wings are from ArtChix, I punched the crown from a bit of pink Dresden frame, used a rose from one of Heather's collage sheets and finished with a variety of Stickles trimming the edges.   I used one of my own vintage photos which you will find below.

14 HEARTS DAY #13 - VINTAGE TREASURES PAPER BAG ALBUM

Nancy Maxwell James has provided so much Valentine inspiration over this project of hers, each project has been just as sweet as the last and has certainly had me looking forward to what each day will bring.

A paperbag album, a first for me.   I have been using my stash of Je T'adore patterned papers from Making Memories for a lot of my Valentine projects this year and using the same to create this album gives me  a way to tie them all together in a sweet keepsake.

Front cover; I used a piece from one of Heather's collage sheets "Here Comes Spring" (available to you at GeckoGalz), the carte de visite and Victorian scrap are my own, the nest is stamped on a bit of muslin ribbon, Prima flower and velvet leaves, Kaiser pearls, TH tissue tape and a variety of Stickles.

14 HEARTS DAy #5 - DAINTY DOILY BUNTING

Another darling project from Nancy Maxwell James' 14 Hearts project!  As Nancy has posted each project and directions on her blog, these projects will be available to you when you have the time.

A sweet little bunting just the right size to go across the front of my china cabinet.  My pictures don't do the sparkle justice.  White doilies smudged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, sparkly red punched hearts, mini chipboard pennants covered in vintage French text and edged with red Stickles, centers are punched from the sparkly red paper and it is all strung together with silver cording.

14 HEARTS - DAY # 11 PRETTY POSIE PENNANTS

Still in the groove with Nancy Maxwell James' 14 Hearts!  How could I "lover of all hangie things" not do the pennant LOL  I haven't yet gotten to the cone but you know that I will.

A piece of vintage sheet music touched with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, and a bit of that ink used on some fancy, coiled trim along the top.  The image is one of my own which I have posted below for you.  You can't see the gold foil greeting I used "For My Valentine", which I got at a local baking supply (you really can build your stash anywhere LOL).  The scrap is a Victorian reproduction from the 1980s.  A carved bone vintage button down there at the point.

Known as a carte de visite, these 2.5 x 3.5 photos were all the rage until the early 1870s when the larger photos known as cabinet cards became the popular collectible.  Don't forget to right click on the image and save the larger one.

14 HEARTS - DAY #9 NOTES D'AMOUR

I am definitely in a Valentine's fever!  Have you been playing along with Nancy Maxwell James and her 14 Hearts project?  I am working my way through all of the projects, there isn't one that I don't want to have a go at.

The downloads Nancy found for this one just might be my favourite.  I have had a packet of large silver doilies in my stash for ages, no need to wonder why now, I really love the pieces together.  A shabby ribbon flower, red leaf pick and simple gem heart, perfection.

For the heart, I used a favourite image from Paper Whimsy, bits from an old paper lace napkin, vintage buttons, ribbon rose and edged it with a vintage bumpy red tinsel stem.

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VALENTINE SPOOLIES!

A favourite new project, I can't seem to get enough of these.  Inspired by a Vintage Dragonfly swap and Lynn Stevens.

The new paper pack "Pocketful of Posies" at GeckoGalz was the basis for this first one.  I love the chintzy and old fashioned look of all of the papers included in the pack.  Again I have used vintage scrap for the figure, lots of stickles, May Arts trims and set it all upon a vintage tart tin.

My Cupid is set against Graphic 45 papers from "A Ladies Diary", May Arts trims, a handcut banner and perched on a vintage tart tin.

14 HEARTS DAY #7 - SCRAPLINGS

Oh I think Sweetlings would be a great name also!  You can find all the details on Nancy Maxwell James' 14 HEARTS here!  Lots of simply lovely projects to make your Valentine's Day all that more special.

Another versatile project.  I loved literally using scraps of this and that to put these together.  I had a packet of bronze Dresden trim which inspired my colour choices.  I am using vintage sheet music and an 1875 Last Will and Testament to create my ephemera.

14 HEARTS DAY #2 - BE MINE GREETING CARD JOURNAL

Day #2 of Nancy Maxwell James' 14 Hearts!  Who could resist this sweet little laddie, not me.

I used an original 1912 ledger page for the background, liked the  name Robt, Duff there at the top for a wee bit of added Scots flavour.  Used Crackle Accents on the heart and greeting for a bit of gloss.  I cut and then folded (at the spine) 5 sheets of printer paper for the inside, the folding makes a neater finish.  A nice card and journal for one of our families!

BE MINE - A VALENTINE SPOOLIE

A VALENTINE SPOOLIE SWAP

THE VINTAGE DRAGONFLY

What a fun swap!  This one was inspired by Lynn Stevens who agreed to let her take on spoolies be the inspiration.   I first saw spoolies a few years ago, little halloween creatures with clay heads on a spool and many variations since.  Now that I have finally tried my own take, you can expect to see these cropping up!   

Here is the one I did for my swap partner Karla.  I started with a sheet of vintage scrap circa 1920, the sheet was wedding themed with little flower girls and boys, cupids and I knew they would be perfect here.   

VALENTINE CARDS

I have a couple of young friends coming over on Sunday for some Valentine crafting, so I have put my mind to creating a couple of simple cards for them to do their take on.  So many ideas on Pinterest!

These  will have them punching, stamping and embossing, and then choosing and putting bits together in a collage sort of way.  They will each bring a snapshot or photo of themselves, it will be interesting to see what we can do with those.

ADORE - A VALENTINE COLLAGE

I am fond of doing these 8" x 8" collages with a holiday theme, nice size to prop up in a display stand and show off just about anywhere.  I seem to always take a quilt approach;  planning block by block, using scraps and trims to create seams and then digging through my stash to find all the sweet bits.

This piece is based around a holiday picture of Olivia, who was showing off one of the shortbreads she had helped bake that day.  A friend of mine commented that this picture should be part of an ad campaign, her mumma said the only thing Olivia is selling is "trouble"!

VALENTINE'S DAY TAGS

It felt like I was overdue to get my hands into something that wasn't Christmas.  Feeling a bit like that yourself LOL

The "stars" here are the images from paperwhimsy, "Salmagundi Suite Ola".   I covered #8 manilla tags with patterned papers from the Making Memories line "Je T'adore"  and 4" paper doilies (I like the grease proof ones from Wilton as they resist ink smudged fingerprints) to create the backgrounds.  All edges are inked with Tattered Rose Distress Ink and Pink, Gold or Platinum Stickles.  Pearls are from my stash.

Do check out the images at paperwhimsy, I love the versatility of this particular set.  There are enough images with one printing of the set for me to do 8 to 10 large tags, all different!  This first tag I used today for my daughter's birthday.

LOLLIPOP VALENTINES - E. ROSEN COMPANY CIRCA 1930s (Silhouette, Farm Boy and Traffic Cop)

Here are a couple more of this "sweet" cards from my own collection.  If you like these images do check out The  Vintage Valentine Museum for more examples.