January 2011 Control Freaks Blog Tour – From the Heart

Welcome to the January 2011 Tour de Freaks Blog Hop! We are so excited to have you join us today.  I have been a Control Freak stamper for nearly five years.  Our "Mom", Lisa Martz is the best swap hostess I have ever been associated with.  Thanks so much Lisa for starting this group!!!

This month we are featuring Projects From the Heart — Cards, Gifts and Projects for Valentine's Day!   Our tour is nice and short and features some of your favorite Control Freaks Stampers. You may have just come from my dear friend Dawn Olchefske's Blog, you may be one of my blog stalkers or you may have just stumbled here…however you got here, you’ll be very glad you did!  Be sure to take the whole tour!  Note:  If you are arriving here on the 19th, please note that not all links may be working yet.  The tour officially begins on January 20th.

My first project is a Valentine's Day card for my wonderful husband.  The key can hook to his key ring so he can take it everywhere he goes.  Not to worry, he never checks my blog so this card will remain unseen by him until February 14th. 🙂

I used the Trinket Keys, First Edition DSP and my greeting is from You're A Gem,  all these items are in the new Occasions Mini Catalog. 

I created my black background paper by inking up the debossed side of my Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with Basic Black Craft Ink.  I ran my Very Vanilla card stock through it, added Clear Embossing Powder and Heat set.  It is very impressive in real life.  I punched a Full Heart out of a 3×3 piece of Real Red, stamped the dotted flourish from Style Beautiful in Real Red and added my Heart Treat Cup.  The key is held in place by a rolled up mini glue dot strategically placed on the back of the key.

While doing some heavy cleaning and organizing in my Stampin' Studio over the holidays, I came across a Diorama card I made three years ago and it inspired me to make this one.  I used the Love Impressions Specialty DSP, my heart punches, some Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink and my Timeless Type Sizzlit Alphabet set. 

See This Post for the Diorama Card Tutorial

I ran the Basic Gray hearts through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Folder and then added dots of Silver Fox Smooch to them.  The white hearts are painted with the Moonlight Smooch and I left the Blushing Bride hearts plain.  I demoed a Diorama card at a workshop last night and the gals were very impressed.  This card will fold flat and fit into one of our Small Open-End Envelopes for mailing.

My final project is a super easy one. I am always looking for a simple treat to give the children in my kiddos classrooms and this one fits the bill.  It uses the Bitty Box from the Itty Bitty Box & Envelope Bigz XL Die.  I cut the box out of Melon Mambo card stock (chosen because it coordinated with the pink and white candy hearts so well…LOL) and stamped the stack of hearts from Loads of Love on the lid, an oldie but a goodie!!! 

I punched a Full Heart out of the lid and backed it with a piece of Medium Window Sheet.  The kid friendly greeting is from Beary Nice Wishes (this treat is for one of my kiddos of course!!) I will use the "Happy Valentine's Day" stamp from Teeny Tiny Wishes for their classmates.

That's it for me, the next stop on the Control Freaks Blog Tour is the uber talented Gretchen Barron.

Thanks for visiting!!!!