Three "heart" cards

I'm posting three cards for this week's CAS Challenge (CAS156) - Theme - Hearts.  The first one uses a couple of clear stamps that I got as a gift a few years ago.  I have a tip for using clear stamps as I find some of them (not all) do not take an even coating of ink and I end up with partial images.  Ink clear stamp with VersaMark first (this makes it a bit "sticky") and then the colored ink will coat the stamp better - at least it works for me.  Hope it works for you too.

"Love, Love, Love"

Stamps:  I {heart} Hearts (SU!); pots and stems (unknown)

Paper:  Real Red, Naturals White, Real Red DP (SU!)

Ink:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, Real Red, VersaMark (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  3/8" stitched red ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sticky strips, glue dot and adhesives 

I cut a strip of Naturals White cardstock (2 1/4" x 4 1/4").  I made a light pencil line at the mid point (2 1/8") and a light pencil mark 1/4" from the bottom.  I inked my three pot stamp (with VersaMark first) with Early Espresso and stamped along the bottom line, making sure it was centered.  I inked the stem stamp with Old Olive and stamped it three times (re-inking each time).  I inked the smallest heart stamp from the I {heart} Hearts stamp set and used the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement, stamping it at the top of each stem.  I framed the strip with Real Red cardstock.

I mounted a full card front of Real Red DP (polka-dot) onto a card front of Real Red cardstock.  I wrapped the stitched ribbon around the top and tied a knot off to one side.  I used a glue dot to secure the knot in place.  I mounted the card front onto a card base of Real Red cardstock.  The reason I mounted the DP on a card front instead of a card base was I wanted the ribbon to be secured between the layers, but you could certainly just mount onto a card base and then the ribbon would also be on the inside of your card.

I mounted the framed main image onto the bottom of the card.

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The second card uses the paper piecing technique (I do love this technique!).  Borrowed a stamp from my friend Kelly ... perfect for this technique.  And I used some retired Valentine's Day paper called "Sending Love" - just love the dark brown and pink combination!  Hope you like.

"Hearts on a Ribbon"

Stamps:  Hearts on a Ribbon (Kathy Davis Collection - Inkadinkado); Short & Sweet (SU!)

Paper:  Early Espresso, Whisper White, Sending Love DP (retired) (SU!)

Ink:  Early Espresso (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Tombow glue, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and adhesives 

I stamped the image in Early Espresso ink onto a card front of Whisper White.  I stamped the image again onto two different Sending Love DPs.  I cut out the hearts from the DPs and glued them onto my card front.  I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement and stamped my sentiment in Early Espresso ink.

I mounted the card front onto a card base of Early Espresso.

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One more ... I know, I know - I'm a little obsessed :)

This one has very little stamping - just the sentiment.  I'm giving this card to my hubby for our upcoming anniversary (33 years!).  Hope you like.

"Happy Anniversary"

Stamps:  Short & Sweet (SU!)

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black (SU!)

Ink:  VersaMark (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  20 gauge wire, needle-nose pliers, tin snips, white embossing powder, heat tool, Tombow glue, and adhesives

I cut two  six" pieces of wire.  I used my needle-nose pliers to bend the wire into a heart and cut off the excess with the tin snips.  I repeated and made a second heart.  I dry-fit the hearts onto the Basic Black card front just to decide where they would be and determine the placement for my sentiment.  I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the sentiment in VersaMark.  I embossed the sentiment in white.

I mounted the card front onto a full card front of Whisper White and then mounted the whole thing onto a card base of Basic Black (the black card base is for stability - I find the Whisper White cardstock isn't sturdy enough for a card base).

I used Tombow glue to add a few tiny dots of glue to the backs of the wire hearts and then mounted them onto the card front.