A Happy Heart

 
Happy New Year everyone!  I face this new year with peace, hope, joy and mostly gratitude.  I have a wonderful family that I cherish deeply.  Friends that I love and know I can count on as they can always count on me.  A career that presents challenges and pressures that help me learn more about myself and the world around me.  And hobbies that relax me and give me a sense of accomplishment when a project is complete.  I ask you to stop for just a moment ... right now - it doesn't take long ... and really THINK about your blessings.  When you hug your children, say "Good Morning" to your spouse, perhaps finish a good book ... whatever it is for you ... just pause for a moment and THINK.  You're pretty terrific, huh?  I knew you would be.  I've decided to not make "resolutions" this year.  I don't want to make a list of my faults and determine how I could "improve" this or that.  No ... I want to be positive, uplifting, and just happy.  I want to appreciate the little things that happen every day that make my world so wonderful.  Like visits from all of you ...

I had a wonderful time making this for you.  Inspired by the gorgeous colors in this Play Date Cafe Challenge, I thought they were perfect for a Valentine greeting.  Shades of pinks, melon, and tan ... I know you love them too.

My card started with Pretty in Pink cardstock.  I layered it with a fabulous new DSP collection which is only days away from release!  "Springtime Vintage" is gorgeous and there's matching fabrics too!  I have given you a sneak peek at two of the new papers on this card and I'll be showing you more soon (along with a link)!  I stitched around the edges and included a length of vintage lace along the top.  The flourish plaque is from Notably Ornate - it is stamped in Basic Black Classic Ink on Very Vanilla cardstock.  My sentiment is stamped with Melon Mambo Classic Ink.  The bird ephemera has the perfect colors and is from a wonderful book I picked up recently at Borders called "Vintage Collage Works - Artful Ideas with Antique Ephemera".  You should take a look at it - there are some interesting tips and the last pages are filled with beautiful images.

The seam binding is dyed to a lovely shade of mottled pink and I crocheted a little heart to add to my bow.  Here's a link to the tutorial over at Little Birdie Secrets - so simple and so sweet.  Tucked behind the bow is a leaf cut from a scrap of old Designer Series Paper.  A bit of added glitter helped it be seen behind all that bow.   I added a couple pearl beads to my jem-topped pin to give it some "presence".  Lastly, my collection of tiny flowers gave up one of it's blooms for a special spot on this card.

I hope you enjoyed your visit - thank you for stopping by today!

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