Frilly and Funkie Challenge #2; Vintage Valentines... My HEARTS will go on!

   February always makes a person think of hearts. Well...for myself, it does, anyway. In fact, there is not a room in our home that does NOT have hearts all over in it in some way. That's because this Primitively Americana decorated home relies on the Red, White, and Blue, along with stars and hearts. Some people say my décor never changes, but others will notice small changes take place very often. It's the furniture, basically, that changes much less often- partly due to having more basic primitive items (or Colonial, if you are so inclined to note in several places here) that are considered "stay put"s. After taking so many years of flea markets, festivals, bargain hunting and yard saleing to find these items...as long as I am this home's decorator; it will all stay put. As often as we have been keeping our eye open (most savvy homeowners will always keep an eye open for a real-estate bargain they cannot refuse because land is always a good investment)… I have never wished to move to any other home. I LOVE my own home and we are always doing something more to add to, or change it, to just what we want. I guess while others think their 'dream home' is out there somewhere and they MUST find it; this homeowner/crafty chick has been happy just to make her own. So, then.....HEARTS it is! Now, I am not about to be silly enough to demand that (should we both perish sooner than we hope- GOD forbid) our children MUST keep all these things we have now. Since our likes and treasures throughout our home run into what I've always called "eclectic" (Tim Holtz stole that from me, I tell ya!), and each of our kids has their own likes and treasures, there is just no logical reason for them to save all we have collected in our lifetime. Some Parents/Grandparents DO expect that, and most of those would probably be disappointed to know how rarely their 'wishes' are carried out after they are gone. We have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to choose from our Grandparents' treasures; real hand-sewn quilts, holiday baking do-dads and pans, cookbooks, and especially photos! And those photos have kept me VERY BUSY on the computer for very literally YEARS; scanning for copies so that everyone can have them- not just some or even one person, as often happens. ALL family members have the right to see who they came from, in moho. I think it is just awesome when youger people in the family want to learn about their family members who lived before them- and even more so if they want to keep track of who is who! Afterall, GOD always comes first (in everything) since HE is LOVE itself, and FAMILY/PEOPLE are all about LOVE!! And LOVE is what brings us to think of hearts- with Valentine's Day as the most thought-of day that represents those.
         "Vintage Valentines" is the perfect theme for Challenge #2- so that we crafters can share our makes and then get them out in time for that special holiday. Immediately, what comes to my mind when I make Valentines...my KIDS and Grands (Cole's Baby Sissy is due in March, so I'm entitled to use the plural form here). The "empty nest" thing never sat very well with me. And not being able to have more kids was something I had to work hard to get through. My ChiefHubby and our 2 sets of married kids (we consider each Son's Wife as our Daughters- not Daughters in Law, but we often say DiL for clarification when explaining to new people we meet, or folks we catch up with) are my very LIFE. My own schedule being at home is often catering to all of their schedules. Momma is intent to just 'always be there' in case they need me for anything. So when the boys first each moved out (the older to his own rented house and work/school at age 18 &1/2, and the younger to Purdue), that emptiness hit HARD. Over the years as they grew- and it's still so- I always "did" the Birthday things, the holiday things, and any other 'thing' that came up- all the way up to age 18 in their Senior Years of HS! Yep- SpongeBob SquarePants was a theme and cake and I can remember still making special Hershey Bar wraps for to go along with ice cream bars for the entire class. The teachers knew me well, since I was a Helper Mom, Room Mom, Cafeteria Aide, and just about any other title if they needed someone for it. And I loved A LOT of kids in there, helping them feel loved and treasured as much as my own kids. Holidays were Party Days and I usually had something for each of them, as well. So if you think I am 'missing that part of life'...Nah!!! Because now it's THEIR turn!! I get to be just Meemaw and finally sit and watch it all!!

           But no one ever said I had to stop making things for my kids..... VALENTINES!!
                                                                       So, let's go...

I started out with some plain tissue paper (from a roll given to me quite a few years back).

And then went through all my stamps until I was satisfied with the ones that would make a cute collage to use as a background for the front sides of each Tag. I would need 6 Tags,

and of course; each would have a Front and a Back.

Tim Holtz's Stamp Platform ( the regular larger one) came in VERY handy for this project!

I started with the Red Rubber stamps- from various TH Stampers Anonymous Sets.

NOTICE: In the upper left corner, you can see the words RUBBER in red lettering.

If you can read it (the cover is right side up and the lettering is left to right readable), 

then you have the correct side of the 'glass'. 

I chose the places for each stamp and then placed a blank tissue sheet on the platform's base.

I used Archival Ink in JET BLACK for all of these stampings.

Yes- I DID need to restamp a few times to make the ink stand out clearer on the tissue,

so the Platform did an AMAZING job helping me make 6 copies of the same collage!

Here, I re-situated the first tissue (already Red Rubber stamped) onto the Platform base,

then set the CLEAR STAMPS onto the tissue where I wanted them.

Now, it's time to turn the 'glass' cover over and switch to the red lettering readable as

"CLEAR" in the same left upper corner you saw "RUBBER" last time.

Closed the lid and the clear stamps (again- from various TH S's A sets)

stuck to the 'glass' cover in just the right places for each tissue!

I never had to touch any of the stamps until I was completely finished with all the sheets.

They were all inked in, BEAUTIFULLY SO!

All I needed to do was place each  tissue onto the Platform's base, moving the tissue

around just to match up the spaces where  the stamps would meet perfectly!

Note: After about the 3rd sheet; I found the crown clear stamp was looking "messy" and as I feared- it was backwards! Since I didn't want to tangle with more time; I decided this was one

of those "embrace your imperfections" time. Indeed: that was one of the TH Word Bands

I had already picked out to use on my own Tag copy!

These are shown as only all- Tim stamps...

Then I added one more Tim stamp (on the glass block) and 2 more by hand.

The TH Filmstrip Stamp was only 3 frames, and I repeated it to make it longer.

The other 2 stamps were 'wiggled' so they gave some 'motion' to the backgrounds.

What's Valentine's Day without the DATE?!

I stamped this randomly all around several times on each sheet.

If you have a Martha Stewart Scoring Board...

you'll find a corner helper (envelope maker) on the Board- nestled neatly into the backside.

I used this to help me make each slant and fold to be in the same place on each of my Tags.

NOTE: I cut extra-long Tags by folding my 8 1/2x11 manilla cardstock (using the scoreboard to fold) and settling the folded edge as close as possible to the cut edge of the TH Tags and Bookplates Die-

but not allowing the bottom edge to cut the folded paper at all.

This gives you a Tag that is extra long- but the bottom is folded upwards to double it somewhat.

I didn't double the entire Tag...just a few inches from the top. 

Now, another straight fold at the end of the slanted fold,

having two straight folds connected by one slanted fold.

This is what I ended up with, before...

...folding the first time...

...then folding again to make a slanted pocket.

It is fully open on the right side of this photo. 

On the left side- that back tab is adhered to the front of the longer tag's 'back'.

This is what I ended up with … 6 of them. The completed FRONT bases of the Tags.

Here, 6 more Tag cuts (die cuts as usual from my TH Thinlits Tags Set),

using a random number of heavier cardboard die cuts from the two TH Alterations Dies (Movers and Shapers Hearts, and Bigz Love Stuck) making a few different patterns from different sizes of

hearts- and in 3 different LAYERS!

Set those aside and make more die cuts from the...  

TH Alterations Love Struck Die: to make 3 sets of Cupids for each Bookmark.

(The Bookmarks will be the gift inside the Tag for each of my avidly-reading family members.)

Making MORE die cuts from TH Dies (the crown comes from the TH retired Heart Wings die).

Piling them all up, got me organized for 'mass production'.

(I later tossed the die cuts of the arrows from the Love Struck Die, and decided 

instead, to add some TH IdeaOlogy Arrows.)

The first step of tissue collages is to make sure you've got a GOOD amount of Ranger GlueNSeal

on the base, and then as you crumple the tissue for a worn look, use that wonder tool: 

TH Remnant Rub Tool, to help 'shape' the paper to the forms of die cuts adhered to the base Tag.

That tool makes this step easy and SO FUN!! 

After I cut around the edges, I noticed I still had some of the fave parts of the stamped

areas leftover. Waste not; want not! So....

I clipped as much as I wanted and just layered it on!

I LOVED this look!!

You can add another coat of GlueNSeal, if you wanted, but I chose not to....

and went straight away into adding COLOR.

The thing is: each of us has a "color code" that I know is not only their favorite color,

but in both Sons' case- it was the color I always chose when it came to purchasing TWO of the same things. They could automatically know which belonged to who- by color.

And most of the colors are also their Birth Stone color, so I mixed in a bit of that, if it didn't already have that color as the basic background.

Then, instead of that GlueNSeal coat which I skipped....I put on a coat of the 

Ranger Collage Medium in Vintage.

Cutting the crowns out of soft cork sheets...coating them with Gold Distress Paint and 

some Collage Medium Crazing... then some various gems from my stash boxes- including TH IdeaOlogy Roses- to mix in their fave colors and Birth Stone colors.

I was all finished, but for the last main item...

Finally on January 28th- yep; MONDAY:

my order of the TH Thinlits new addition of Faceted Hearts got here just in time!

This is what I ended up with for everyone...

The mix of our colors always makes me smile- we truly do represent colors of the Rainbow

(Aka: GOD's Promise) !!

My own crown in October's Pink (or Opal) Rose Zicron.

That Tim has done it again: these new dies just ROCK!!!

 I can't wait to get the rest of the ones that will perfectly fit for my Mechanical/Electrical Older Son,

and my Nuclear Engineer Younger Son- they really DO match those!!!

I added some rust, because my love for my family may be 'old' but each day, it 

really DOES refresh anew for them!

That wooden heart is from my Niece's wedding last fall. Her Dad (my oldest Brother on my Dad's Rush side) died just before her wedding. It was a bittersweet time. I saved 2 of those tiny

wooden hearts from the middle of our table waiting to use them specifically for this Valentine's Day.

I found these little treasures on clearance for just over $1 from 

The Funkie Junkie Boutique (the Sponsor of the FF Challenges)!

I also ordered several other sets of different embellies- esp a set of TH IdeaOlogy Pinecones

as well as TH Snowflakes for the same bargain prices !! 

Here's a closer look at that little wooden heart from my Niece's wedding.

The Bookmarks have a frontside and a backside.

The finished full look of my own Tag...FRONT...

… and BACK.

All packaged up -with my 'signature' yearly Americana Tags- and ready to:

1) mail the Younger Kids Set (Brett and Holli) to Red Wing, Minnesota

(where it's been LESS of a winter up there than down here in Indiana).

2) pass on the Older Kids' Tags during one of our drop off/pick ups for Wittle Peanut.

(Cole already has a Valentine gift appropriately for a Grandson- 

waiting for him in Meemaw's hideaway spot.)

3) Give the ChiefHubby his before he takes off for work-probably on another

Ch-ch-chilly-willy day on Valentine's Day at 4 am- his wakeup time.

You'll find several other awesome makes - and meet their talented

Crafters, along with some WONDERFUL Designers who lead these Challenges

at The Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog .

You are more than WELCOME to join in and have a shot at a Badge for your Blog,

or even be chosen for the $25 Gift Certificate Drawing from

The Funkie Junkie Boutique - Sponsors of each Challenge.

I'd like to thank all those who have been checking in on my Blog and yes- I see the counts!

Those counts all help spur on my Muse to create more things, and even go outside my 'usual' 

neutral/tan likes into that great color wheel unknown....lol!

I also wish each and every one of you:

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Please

Be Safe &...

HAPPY BLOGGING!!