Welcome to my crafty blog. I thought I ought to start making a few cards for Valentine’s Day as I usually get asked for some, so here’s my first offering. I’ve gone for a less traditional colour scheme, as these are my current favourite ink shades – I seem to be using them all the time! The design is inspired by the sketch over at the current As You See It Challenge – hearts and flowers.

I’ve had this ‘garden heart’ stamp from Claritystamp for a little while and not used it very much, so it was a good reason to get it out. I started by inking it up with Distress Oxide in ‘speckled egg’ and then used a make-up sponge to dab a little ‘chipped sapphire’ around the edge and onto the two birds before stamping it onto white card. I then cut the heart out with scissors, and lightly blended ‘chipped sapphire’ around the edge of the card using a brush.

I decided to stamp a patterned background directly onto my card front using Claritystamp’s ‘floral forest’ three way stamp set. I masked off a narrow border on a 5×7 card blank with low tack tape and then used ‘speckled egg’ to stamp the number 2 image from the set several times across the card to cover the front.

I stamped the sentiment onto a scrap piece of white card and cut the end into a banner shape, before attaching it to the heart. Both pieces were then mounted onto the front of the card using foam pads.

Thanks for dropping in. The little birds in this image have reminded me that it’s the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch this weekend, so I must make sure I plan my hour in the garden (and keep the cat indoors!)