Marigold Studio | Retro Valentine's Day Card-Truly Smitten

This Valentine's Day card literally got designed around the oh-so-cute retro typewriter image that I had stamped and fussy cut out with a pair of scissors but didn't have a clear idea how I would put to use!

So this stamped element was lying around my crafting desk for a few days and every time I looked at it, I felt like I wanted to start designing a card with it. However, the actual flow of the design just wasn't coming to me, so I decided to wait a little before starting my design. You know how it is!

Then yesterday I decided I was just going to start "building" around the image and take it from there. And I was happy to see that it was surprisingly smooth going after that point! Sometimes not having a plan upfront works like a charm, doesn't it?

I die cut a piece of red card stock with an Art-C Hello Stamp and Die cut label shape, stamped with my Hero Arts wood grain background stamp and clear heat embossed it for some shine. An arrow die cut from craft seemed to fit perfectly with the evolving design, so I stamped and heat embossed it too with the wood grain background. A square from the  Little B nesting sqaue dies with their darling cutouts neatly held all the elements which I raised with dimensionals to give it added emphasis.

A strip of  red and white dots washi tape, type patterned paper and a black mat created the perfect backdrop to the arrangement. But something seemed lacking- so I added a Heart Garland die cut using Lil Inkers die from patterned light blue paper and a cork embellishment as final touches.

I added a Kraft card stock square die cut inside with a sentiment that matched the "Type" theme of the card from the Avery Elle Lots of Love stamp set and also added more arrows to continue the design inside. I think it came together fine! I actually had a lot of fun coming up with various ideas and placement options.

I hope you liked my take on a Retro Valentin's Day card! I would love to hear from you- do you design your cards as you go or do you have a set idea before you begin and follow it pretty much to the T? Thanks for visiting with me today!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
PDE Linky Challenge- Anything Goes

Marigold Studio | Valentine's Day Contemporary Card

Hello there! I had this desire to create a Valentine's Day card with a contemporary vibe that had all the fixings of a Valentine's Day Card like pink and red colors, a warm tone and yet was different in the way it used the various elements. I was rooting towards a modern, somewhat edgy card with the tag as the focal image. So this is what I came up with...

I started with a Kraft card base and used a  Hero Arts background stamp which I clear heat embossed to create an interesting backdrop. Then I die cut a soft pink scalloped rectangle from the WPlus9 Sunshine Layers Die, stamped the inner layer of brown card stock with a Heidi Swapp Arrow Background Stamp and clear heat embossed the pattern. 

I added a tag die from Avery Elle Simply Tags Dies, the die cut scripty "love" from white cardstock, and die cut the word YOU from the tag. I also added a starburst light pink die cut (using Avery Elle Pinked Elle-ments dies) that shows through the cutout and hangs off the tag for added emphasis. Finally I added the twine bow, faux stitching details, red buttons and a star garland in silver foil to complete the look.  

I decorated the inside of the card with a couple of sentiments from the Avery Elle, Lots of Love stamp set, as I think that really completes the experience of the receiver. Earlier I used to keep the insides of my cards blank, but I think I like the feel of continuing the visual experience inside better. 

I hope you liked my take on this card! I would love to hear from you. What kind of Valentine's Day cards or goodies are you planning on coming up with, this year? 

P.S: I don't put up all my cards and creations for sale in my Etsy Shop, Marigold Studio, but this one made it there! If interested, please find it here. 

#averyellestamps #wplus9 #reverseconfetti #lawnfawn #heidiswapp

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

PDE Linky Challenge- Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create- Anything Goes with Optional Twist- Something From Your Stash