Valentine Kisses and Hugs

Here we are, the last day of January, and I'm reflecting on where the month went. There's been so much going on! My husband and I have been celebrating birthdays, enjoying dining out, and yesterday and today were extra special because I got to stamp and spend time with two of my team members. What fun! 

Creating and sharing are just the best medicine for getting your mojo on a roll.  We made some fun projects, learned some new skills, looked at some of the pre-order products from Stampin' Up! and just had so many laughs.  These gals bring me pure joy when they come for a visit.  I'm looking forward to sharing some of the projects I made this week. 

The first project is a Valentine's Day card based on the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #666 designed by Michelle and digitalized by Brandi.  Here's the sketch: 

Here's My Card: 

I was a bit intimidated by this sketch when I first looked at it, because of the boxes.  Once I got over that intimidation I was able to envision what I wanted to create.  Here's what I made: 

I love the paper designs in the Valentines Kisses designer paper pack, and used this sketch as an opportunity to mix several of the designs.  Because I'm such a fan of the oval/rectangle died from the Unbounded Love die set, I decided to use three die cuts from this paper as the horizontal bars in the sketch. The rest was easy.  

Supplies and Instructions: 

Stamps and Dies: 

• Jan 2022 Paper Pumpkin Kisses and Hugs for the sentiment "sending you love"
• Jan 2025 Paper Pumpkin Hearts for You - small solid heart  inside panel 
• Valentine Kisses #167027  for the inside sentiment "Sending Lots of Love your Way to celebrate this special day". 
• Stitched Hearts dies for two heart shapes
• Unbounded Love #163378 for three rectangular panels

Card Stock and Designer Paper:

• Basic White Card base - 8 1/2 " x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
• Basic White mattes - cut 2 at 5" x 3 3/4" for front and inside.  Emboss front layer with Hearts of Love 3D embossing folder. 
• Basic White Scraps for small heart and flower die cuts 
• Scraps of Poppy Parade for red heart and small flowers 
• Cut three 1 1/4" x 3" designer paper rectangles using Made With Love DSP
• Cut a matte 5 1/4 x 4" for card front from Made With Love DSP, cut a second matte for inside card using the same designer paper.

Ink: 

• Poppy Parade

Accessories: 

• Dimensionals
• Hearts of Love Embossing Folder (3-D)
• Sticker red gems 

Well that's it for this week's AHSC #666.  This was a fun and easy card to make.

Let me know if you enjoy making Valentines cards and if so where you get your inspiration from.  I'd love to hear from you.  

HAPPY STAMPING
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 online shop 

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Love You Valentines - AHSC # 665

This week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #665 was designed by Michelle and digitalized by Brandi.  The challenge began on January 19th and runs until the afternoon on Sunday January 25th.

Here's My Card: 

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• PP Jan 2025 Hearts For You
• Banner Dies #132173 (R)
• Stitched Hearts Non-SU 

Cardstock and Designer Series Paper:

• Basic White 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" base scored at 4 1/4" 
• Inside Matte 5 1/4" x 4"
• Scraps for heart and sentiment
• Real Red cut two 5 3/8" x 4 18" for front and inside mattes
  
• DSP Most Adored (retired)
• 5 1/4 x 4" front matte gold and white plaid
• 1" x 5 3/8" strip on front red with white hearts
• 3" x 4" Pink hearts banner 

Ink:

• Real Red

Accessories:  

• Sequins Gold Pastel self adhesive
• Dimensionals

I enjoyed this sketch and had fun adding my personal touch to it.  I'd appreciate your comments on my version so I have some feedback on how I'm doing.   Let me know what type of cards you have difficulty doing or which type of cards are the ones you need the most.

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

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Friendly Hello Birthday Card #AHSC#664

This past weekend we had another atmospheric rain storm but fortunately that has passed on and we are now seeing the sun and feeling much warmer weather.  Snow may be on the way though by next weekend so I'm taking advantage of the change and getting some walking in.   

Oh well, I'm going to try and put some more sunshine in my life by playing along with the Atlantic Hearts Challenge #664 this week.  Here's the sketch that was designed by Michelle and digitalized by Brandi.  Wow it's impressive.  

Here's my card: 

I made a feminine birthday card using this sketch that incorporates blending and images.  Here is my card:

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies: 

• Friendly Hello #158075 R-SAB set No Dies
• Stitched Circles Dies for sentiment 
• 3 leaf punch (r)

You don't always have to take blends and colour in a whole flower.  I used a sponge dauber to add subtle colour in a circular motion to the center of these flowers.  The glossy effect in the center is made by adding a small amount of Nuvo Drops.  It forms kind of a dew drop effect when it dries and gives the flower some depth and dimension. 

Cardstock and Designer Paper:

• Basic White Card base 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
• Basic White mattes cut two - 5" x 3 75" for front and inside
• Basic White scraps for sentiment and two sets of double flower
• Basic Black cut two mattes 5 1/4" x 4" for front and inside
• Scraps basic black for leaves and circle frame
• Scraps Lost Lagoon for floral die cut stems 

Ink:

• Memento Basic Black ink
• Lost Lagoon

Accessories: 

• Blending Brush
• Four square decorative mask #161285 (R)
• Nuvo Drops for flower centers
• Circle template
• Adhesive backed Black Studs x 3 #160767

Well, what do you think?  I'd love to hear from you so let me know if  this card works for you and if so what do you like about it. And, if you're thinking of joining in the AHSC for this week, I'd also love to see what you've made, so send me a message.  Cheers and have a great crafting week!

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Valentine Bear Hugs and FMS#719

 Freshly Made Sketches #719 the first sketch for 2026 is hosted by Judy this week.  Here is the sketch:

Here's My Card: 

It's mid-January already and time to get busy with some Valentine cards for friends and family.  I recently purchased Stampin' Ups! new Valentine themed set called "Valentine Kisses".  When I looked at the FMS challenge, I knew instantly it would be perfect for showcasing the super cute die cut kissing booth.  Here's what I came up with: 

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Valentine Kisses #167027 
• Valentine Kisses Dies #167029
• Stitched shapes Large and smallest ovals

I purchased mine as a bundle and saved 10% off total cost.

Cardstock and Designer Paper:

• Card base Basic White 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" 
• Basic White matte for inside 5 1/4" x 4"
• Basic White scraps 3" x 4 1/2" for Oval and 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" for sentiment
• Flirty Flamingo 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" matte on front, 4 1/8" x 1 6/8" matte for dsp band on card front
• Crumb Cake scrap for bears 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" 
• DSP Retired Most Adored #162976 cut x 2 at 5 1/4" x 4" for front and inside mattes.
• DSP coordinating piece of Most Adored DSP for band 1 1/2" x 4". 
•  Real Red scraps for small die cut heart and trim on kissing booth. 

Just look at those sweet little bears.  So stinking cute.  I added some translucent pink self-adhesive sequins to give some shine.  

Ink:

• Strawberry Slush 
• Pretty in Pink Stampin Blends for cheeks and belly on bears

Accessories:  

• 3-D Basic Hatched Design Embossing Folder for Oval 
• Dimensionals
• Pink Self-Adhesive Sequins 

Thank you for dropping by and checking out my card for the challenge.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this card or on the stamp set.  Were you inspired to make some Valentine's Day cards?  If so there's still time to play just click on the FMS link in the first paragraph for details and sketch.  Cheers! 

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

Masculine Birthday "Kilt" Card

Only a few days to go until Christmas Eve. I'm finding the time has spun out of control since we returned from vacation in late November.  I was getting anxious and wondering if I would have time to do all the things I planned to do, but since I didn't need all that stress in my life, I reassessed the long list and did the important things.  Now we are spending the rest of our December enjoying time with family and friends.  Mission accomplished! 

Before I show you today's card I thought I'd share a few Christmas pictures.  This one is of the beautiful Christmas light display at the entryway to our townhouse complex. So many of our owners have put up wonderful decorations but a couple of volunteers really went all out decorating the entryway fountain and path to the pond this year.  How festive!  

This is my fireplace mantle in my rec area which I always enjoy decorating.  The stockings still need hanging, but that'll get done last thing on Christmas Eve.  Ho! Ho! Ho! 

Usually we haul all the ornaments and the big box with this tree upstairs and assemble it in the kitchen. This year we decided to give ourselves a break and instead of lugging all that stuff up and down our long flight of stairs we decided to put it up in our rec room.  Such a simple change, but a great decision.  Now we're enjoying this Christmas tree even more this year in its new location.   

  

And finally, I wanted to share a picture of these very special bunny ornaments we received as a gift from a very special couple we met on our 45th wedding anniversary cruise. Unfortunately our friend passed away and his celebration of life was held on December 6th.  This is our tribute to him and his wonderful soul mate.  

 

Here's My Card: 

I'm still managing to sneak in a bit of time in for stamping but haven't had time for weekly challenges. I spent some time finishing some December birthday and anniversary cards.  Here's one I photographed that I'm quite proud of.

One of our very good friends is celebrating his 77th birthday on the 27th of this month, and I wanted to make him a special masculine card.  As he is a very proud Scotsman I felt a kilt might be in order.  Thank goodness for the influence of Pinterest as I was able to find some pictures of cards with kilts and figure out how they were assembled.  

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies: 

• Arched Wishes #165428 for "Cheers to another year of you" sentiment
• Everyday Arches Dies #164629 for Mossy Meadow and Lost Lagoon arches on front of card. 
• Beautiful Balloons #161450 sentiments for inside card 
• Brewed for You beer mug and foam and sentiment on front 

Cardstock and Designer Paper:

• Basic White "8 1/2 x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" for card base 
• Basic White 5" x 3 3/4" for inside matte 
• Basic White scrap for sentiment "Another Round for Your Birthday"
• Timeless Plaid #164678 tartan paper "5 3/8" x 4 1/8" for front matte
• Timeless Plaid 3" x 5" strip for kilt scored at 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4" on both sides
• Scrap of basic black for waistband 
• Scrap of silver for buckle 
• Mossy Meadow cardstock 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" for largest arch
• Mossy Meadow 5 1/4" x 4" for inside matte 
• Mossy Meadow scrap for backing on sentiment for front layer 
• Lost Lagoon 5 1/4" x 4" for second largest arch

Inks and Blends:

• Momento Black for front sentiment and beer mug and foam on inside 
• Mossy Meadow for inside sentiments 

Accessories:  

• small piece of silver chain 
• two silver brads
• dimensionals and adhesive dots 

So although I didn't add the sporran to the chain on the kilt front, and the tartan wasn't exactly the same as my friend's I was pleased with the end result.  

Well that's it for this week's card. It's time to get it to the Post Office so it'll arrive on time for his birthday. I hope you enjoyed today's post and will drop by again before the year is out.

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Store 

Words of Encouragement - FMS Challenge #708

Freshly Made Sketches #708:

The wonderfully talented Jen T is the hostess for this week's wonderfully basic card sketch on Freshly Made Sketches.  Make sure you check out her own card design, it's stunning!  Also, why don't you play along.  Don't be intimidated by the blank canvas and simple design.  You  can choose any element to replace the circle and make it your own.  

 Here's My Card: 

Clean and simple cards are one of the biggest challenges I face as a papercrafter.  I never know when is enough or if I've done too little on my card designs.  After I finished this card I thought I could have possibly done more by dry embossing the white matte after I stamped the sentiment on it.  However, I didn't because I was concerned it would affect the lettering.  Oh well.  

I love the floral wreath die cut on this card.  Its a bigger image than I was going to use however it worked out well on the card. I die cut the image from a piece of Meandering Meadow Designer paper and then used the cut piece that was left, as a matte.  This combination of matte and design compliments each other quite effectively without having to do blending or other means of adding colour and design.  

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Encircled in Natures stamps and dies #163623

Cardstock and DSP:

• Basic White card base - 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" 
• Balmy Blue matte  5 1/4" x 4 1/4" 
• Meandering Meadow DSP matte 5" x 3 3/4" - die cut taken from the center of this piece before adhering
• Basic White matter 4 3/4" x 3 3/4" 

Ink and Blends:

• Misty Moonlight

Accessories:  

• Adhesive Backed Shiny Sequins #163484 

Well that's it for this challenge.  I'd love to hear your comments.  Do you use designer paper for mattes?  What are your thoughts? 

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Store 

Masculine Birthday - AHSC #650

Here's this week's sketch from Atlantic Hearts Challenge #650  I really like the diamond focal so decided to do the same for my card.  I don't know about you but October is such a busy month.  Almost every day there another' birthday and most of them this month are male friends and family.  This clean and simple sketch presented me with another opportunity to get a masculine card in my stash.  

Here's My Card:

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Happy Hour #126642
• Brewed for You Stamps #159087
• Brewed Dies #159092 
• Stitched Squares Dies 

Cardstock and DSP:

• Whisper White 
• 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4" for card base 
• 3" x 3" scrap for Whisper White Diamond and 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" for inside circle 
• 5" x 3 3/4" for inside matte 
• scraps for glasses and mugs 
• Basic Black 
• Cut 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" for front matte 
  
• Tartan Foil Designer Series Paper #162332 
• Cut two pieces 5 1/4" x 4" for front and inside mattes. 

Inks and Blends:

• Pebbled Path 
• Merry Merlot
• Crushed Curry 

Accessories:  

• Dimensionals 
• Nuvo Clear drops to add shine to wine and beer mug. 

Well, there you have it.  Nothing like a clean and simple design to make the focal point stand out.  Thanks for dropping by and checking out my card this week.  Make sure you stop by the Atlantic Hearts blog as well, the designers really outdid themselves this week.   

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

Men and Their Love of Cars - Masculine Birthday Cards

 Freshly Made Sketches #707 

Here Are My Cards: 

Recently we had lunch with some old friends who just happen to be car buffs. They're into the speedway and going to the show and shines during the summer months.  I'd forgotten just how much these guys are into cars of all vintages and how enthusiastic they get when the conversation turns to cars, which it inevitably does.  So with that in mind, I made three birthday cards featuring some of my old car stamps and this wonderful sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  

  

Supplies and Instructions: 

Stamps and Dies:

• Geared Up Garage Stamps #148590
• Garage Gears Dies
• The Route 66 Stamp Set by Carta Bella 52830

Cardstock and DSP: 

Whisper White

• Cut three card
• Card base in Whisper White cardstock measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is scored at 4 1/4".Scrap pieces for sentiment layers 
• Whisper White matte for inside card 5" x 3 3/4"
• Real Red for card mattes inside and out 5 1/4" x 4".  Scraps for circles or rectangle mats for focal point 

Inks and Blends:

• Memento Tuxedo Black 
• Real Red 
• Daffodil Delight Light and Dark, Smokey Slate, for car details. 

Accessories:  

• Dimensionals 

Thanks so much for dropping by and looking at my interpretation of this weeks FMS challenge.  What fun!  See you again soon! 

HAPPY STAMPING!
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006