Inspired by Pinterest: A Valentine Tree

 I needed a fast and easy Valentine's craft for my stamp club on Friday. I admit, I procrastinated a bit--lots of excuses but no need to go into those now. So where do I go when I need inspiration at short notice? Thank heaven for Pinterest. What did we do before we had it? Anyway, I found this darling idea (check out the money tree link--brilliant!) and I made a Close to My Heart version.

Isn't this cute? And fast and easy and something you could do with paper scraps! The bottom piece is 3x6, the next 4x5 1/2, then each piece after that is either 3" or 4" tall, getting a 1/4 inch smaller (yes, I know the first one is a half inch smaller--you don't have to do that, It's just what I had done before I decided I liked a 1/4 inch smaller better). Score the 3" tall pieces at 1/2 inch and fan fold, score the 4" tall pieces at one inch and fan fold. Wire it all together (this link has instructions) and you are done!

The Heartstrings paper is perfect for Valentine's Day. I stamped the pieces with black ink and the January stamp of the month, This Moment. (Remember, the stamp of the month is only available during January.) Sponge with black ink if you like.

I topped it all off with a pink glitter heart and a cupid from the Heartstrings assortment. This would be darling with a little arrow through it, but I procrastinated so I had to improvise last minute. Pretend the heart pin is an arrow.

This now sits in my entry way and I love it. It's darling paired with my mixed media project using the same papers and colors.

Happy Valentine's (a little early) and Happy Paper Crafting!

Simply Inspired Blog Hop: Seasonal Expressions 1

I am so excited! It's the Holidays. And there is a new Seasonal Expressions full of fun new stuff. And because of that, we are blog hopping again. Time to share some great ideas with new product that will inspire you!

You should be arriving here from the lovely and talented Michelle Snyder's blog. Should you get lost along the way, simply go here to find your way. And now on to it!

Valentine's is right around the corner and I don't know about you, but my house always seems a little bare after Christmas and I don't have that many Valentine decorations. The Seasonal Expressions is full of great Valentine's stuff so I dove right in to make some Valentine decor.

I started with the Heartstrings Paper Packet and the Forever in My Heart stamp set. I've been experimenting a little bit with mixed media lately so I grabbed a canvas and started getting messy.

  

I embossed this little cherub in white and sponged around him. He didn't pop as much as I hoped so I shaded around him a bit and added a cute little puffie bow. 

I love the way this heart turned out embossed. And yes, the multi-medium made the black ink on Love Struck bleed just a little but I don't care. This is supposed to be messy, right? And I love the arrow badge from the Heartstrings Assortment. I loved these badges so much I used two.

More puffies (these are so stinking cute) and a few stickers from the Heartstrings complements...

  

And ta da! A finished canvas. This was so much fun. I used the Heart embossing folder and some Whisper cardstock to add a little more texture. I almost can't wait for Christmas to be over so I can display this (I said almost). 

I hope I've inspired you. And now on to the wonderful Lisa Stenz's blog. Happy Blog Hopping!