Valentine's Cards Coming!

Good morning everyone!! I hope everyone is well!! And I hope you are staying warm! :)  Let's see.. what have I been up to? Well... I made it a goal this year to work on my Etsy shop... to REALLY work on my Etsy shop. That is exactly what I have been doing. I have been trying to network and really get myself out there. I spend a bit of time on it each day and we will see how it goes! I've sold my first item.. yay!! :)  And I'm hoping that if I stick with it I will have a successful store.

We have started up the Open-Minded Challenges again, so that is another thing I've been working on. I've gotten all of the posts ready for the year for the most part. We just have to fill in a bit here and there. The team is amazing! It has been a joy to see everyone joining back in and the new members that have found us!

Next, I've been working on crafting! I have a handful of cards finished, but I took my time getting photos done. Last night I managed to do that and I'm going to post my first Valentine's make today. I've made a nice set of five mini cards. I've made three sets of those. I'll post them one at a time :)

It has been a roller coaster of weather here in Georgia. We got some sleet yesterday afternoon; no snow here. My oldest daughter is more north and she did get some snow up in the mountains. We are supposed to get another round of it on Friday afternoon I guess. I would LOVE to have some snow! I love snow and I love the cold! Although... if you live in Georgia the whole city comes to a standstill with just a 1/4 of a 1/4 of an inch of snow LOL  Really, the problem is that everything freezes here and you not only have snow, but you end up with a thick layer of ice on everything and ice is just treacherous. We don't have the equipment to handle it and people definitely don't know how to drive on anything cold down here... not snow, now even rain and certainly not ice LOL

Here is my first Valentine's card!!







This is my first little 3 x 3 Valentine Card! I've used "I Chews You!" from Drawn With Character. I've colored this awesome image with my Copic Markers. I've done a small amount of layering on it. I covered the gumballs with some clear Wink of Stella to give them a bit of a shine. On top of those I've covered the glass part with Diamond Glaze. That piece is also layered up a level and curved to give it a dimensional look to it. I've done a bit of dry embossing on the red card stock inside and out. I've  also distressed the edges of the pattered paper. I "Chews" You! was printed and I used a die cut to cut it out. I inked the edges of the white with red ink. I've added a couple of gems as well. This is the first card in my set of five. There are five different cards in the set and I've made three sets. I hope you like!!

Copic Markers Used:

• I'll be back later to put this in! I left my list at home

Challenges:

• Challenge #159: Anything Goes w/Twist of Create A Stylish or Elegant Card @ 613 Avenue Create
• Embossing (1/2) @ Come And Get It Challenges
• Challenge #295: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Craft Your Passion Challenges
• Challenge #176: Pile It On (1/3) @ Eureka Stamps
• I is for I Love You (1) @ Fun Cuts
• Embossing Technique (wet or dry) (1/1) @ The Outlawz Greeting Card
• Valentine (1/3) @ Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog
• Challenge #61: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Inky Chicks
• Retarte #68: Anything Goes (1) @ Stamp Art Papel Retarte
• January 19th-25th: Anything Goes (1/2) @ Through The Craft Room Door
• Challenge #69: Anything Goes (1) @ Inspiration Destination
• Love Is In The Air (1) @ Mod Squad Challenge Blog
• Challenge #232: Rough It Up (1/3) @ The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog
• Challenge #12: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Crafty Girls Creations
• Challenge #12: Anything Goes (1) @ A Bit More Time To Craft
• Challenge #12: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Crafting With Friends
• Challenge #21: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Simply Papercraft
• January: Anything Goes (2/3) @ Your Scrapbook Place
• Challenge #23: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Crafty Friends Challenge Blog
• Anything Goes (1/3) @ That Craft Place Challenge Blog
• January Showcase #6: Anything Goes (3) @ 2 Creative Chicks
• Challenge #148: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Artistic Inspirations
• January: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Crafting By Designs
• January: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Crafts Galore Encore Challenges
• January: Anything Goes w/Patterned Paper (3) @ Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge
• January: Progressive Challenge (Love You Kitten) (1) @ Gerda Steiner Designs Challenge
• January Challenge #28: Anything Goes (1) @ Not Just Cards Challenges
• January Challenge #5: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Our Crafty Corner
• January Challenge #43: Anything Goes (2/3) @ Paper Creator's Crafts
• January Challenge #34: Prosperity (1) @ Path of Positivity Challenge
• What prosperity means to me... this one is close to my heart! My family prospers through love. I prosper from the love of my children and my wonderful husband. My kids and my husband fill my life... leaving me filled and wanting to do my best each day. I also prosper from the love of Jesus Christ. He fills my cup to overflowing. He died for me and that is more love than I can even fathom. To me, prosperity is not about money or anything physical... to me... it is living life fulfilled and full of love. You can't go wrong with that. And with the love I receive I pass that love along. I pass it along through Random Acts Of Kindness when I can. And I try to do those acts that allow me to not be recognized. I want someone to feel happy and loved by a stranger. And in that it just gives me joy and love completing a full circle :)
• January: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Sisters of Craft
• Challenge #270: Anything Goes (1) @ Stamps & Fun = Creativity
• January Challenge #5: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Where The HeART Is... 
• Challenge #7: Anything Goes (1/3) @ Lemon Shortbread Challenge Blog
• Challenge #218: Anything Goes (1/5) @ Word Art Wednesday
• Challenge #147: Anything Goes (1/5) @ AUD Sentiments Challenge Blog
• Challenge #12: Embossing (wet or dry) (1/3) @ Moving Along With The Times
• All You Need Is Love (1/3) @ Oddball Art Stamp Co. by Lizzy Love
• January/February Challenge #90: With Love (1/3) @ Whimsy Stamps Challenges