Valentine's Day.....

is almost here and I still have a few more items that I would like to finish.  But as usual, I seem to think of things at the last minute and run out of time.  I always say to myself, I'll have to do that next year, but then I usually forget or put it off until it's too late again.  This is why I have accumulated so much crafting stuff, in the hopes that I will one day actually complete all these projects! Does this sound familiar to any of you?  But I have finished the other heart box I said I was working on, and here it is:

For those of you who can't find a heart shaped box already made, this one is fairly easy to make.  Just trace a heart shape onto chipboard(you will need 2) that you like (I found one on the internet- just search "heart clipart" and check off "images" on the left of your screen).  On one of the hearts draw a smaller heart inside, about 1/4" smaller around the edges.  Cut out the inner heart and you are left with a heart like the photo.  Next cut two strips of thinner chipboard for the walls of your box (like the thickness of a cereal box) about 1 1/2" thick or however deep you want your shadowbox.  I started at the top in the center of the heart and glued the edge of the strip to the bottom chipboard with small strips of thin paper (usually photocopier paper or thin paper bag paper, about 1/4 inch by 1 inch strips) down to the bottom of the heart.  Do the same with the other side.  Cut off the extra pieces of chipboard at the bottom where the two meet.  I covered the inside bottom and sides with patterned paper before the top was glued on.  Next, cover the top with the tissue tape, tucking the tape on the inside underneath and the outside of the taped edge will go on the outside of the box bottom, attaching the two together.  After the top is taped to your heart bottom, cover the sides with paper.  I used My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found 2" patterned paper, brads and sticker, My Mind's Eye Valentines diecut and paper, and Maya Road thin spools.
I also made these two cards:

This card was made with the My Mind's Eye Valentine collection.  I love the patterned paper with the banners which I stitched and then cut out.

I used Basic Grey's Kissing Booth collection for this card.  The folded doily was cut from a coffee filter using a Cheery Lynn die and the "forever" charm is from Prima.
I also had my monthly tag exchange to do which was supposed to include hearts.  Urban Scrapbook just got in another Memory Box order and I was happy to use their new heart dies.

The dies I used were:

            

After cutting out the flourish heart, I glued it to the cut out plain heart.  I then covered it with a Metal Foil Tape Sheet from Ranger.  Using a paper stump or stylus I rubbed the entire heart, getting into all the corners.  The heart now looks like its been embossed.  I then painted a thin layer of black paint, then red, and gold. I let this dry, then rubbed off the paint on the raised parts with a paper stump.  Next ink the the heart with red, and emboss with clear embossing ink.  I'm not sure if I'm explaining this very good but Tim Holtz did this technique on his 12 tags of Christmas (I think it was tag 3 or 4). I gathered up tissue and glued it to the back, then cut out a black heart a little bigger and glued it to the back. The fine gold coiled thread wrapped around the heart is antique gold bullion angel hair. (purchased at Tinsel Trading -an amazing store in N.Y)  The tag itself was embossed with Tim Holtz's Valentine folder on glossy paper and then inked.  I cut out the cupid with Tim Holtz's smaller die, then inked and crackled with Rock Candy.  I then cut out the Valentine border (love this die!) and attached it to the back with ribbon on the side.   Love those new dies, I will be finding reasons to use those hearts!  The plain heart has a clear plastic center that has a grid for accuracy.

That's all for today, have a great week and Happy Valentine's Day!