Dies R Us: Purple & Gold Valentine

By now you should know that Dies R Us has expended it's product line, and I'm not going to go on and on about all the great stuff they are carrying; I'm just gonna say watch this space 'cause I've got goodies coming! I wanted to create a Valentine without using a speck of red or pink, one I could give my Man without it being too girly. I think I accomplished my goal and got to use lots of yummy dies!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Square Card Base {5 1/4" x 5 1/4"}
Purple Card {Core'dinations Lap of Luxury Paper Pack}
Pale Gold Card
Gold & Silver "Crinkle" Designer Paper
Creative Expressions, Sue Wilson Jeweled Heart, #CED21005
Creative Expressions, Sue Wilson Swirly Lace Edger, #CED6405
Cheery Lynn Heart Chain Border, #B115
Die-Version Complements Everyday, #DVS-4X6-104
Purple & Gold Designer Paper
Gold Background Paper

Making this card is the beginning of fulfilling my resolution to use more of my stash. I've had the purple & gold paper, and the gold & silver crinkle paper, for longer than I care to admit. Back in the day, when I first started stamping, I collected designer papers like mad. I have some that are so beautiful, I can't

The heart is cut from this

ever use them. I used to think I was going to delve into book binding and all these gorgeous papers were going to grace my book covers. Well, that never really happened {although I still have all the stuff needed, should I ever decide to go that route} and I have to start using these papers. Especially since Dies R Us has started carrying paper; and there are SO many paper pads I want! I have to start making some room.

I started this card with the center design, the purple & gold heart. The gold background matches the gold in the design almost perfectly. I carefully cut the heart out and mounted it on the gold paper. The next step was to find a purple paper that matched so I could use it as a mat; luckily, the Lap of Luxury paper worked. I then mounted that onto the square, white, card base. The card was pretty, but I needed to add more, and I need a sentiment. I cut the "Love You" out of the same purple I'd used as the mat and glued that into the middle of the heart.

The corner paper

I literally just got the Swirly Edger Die in the mail so you know I had to figure out a way to use that on the card. Plus, there was some nasty glue residue that had to be covered up; but that's our secret, so don't tell anyone. I found this interesting, crinkly, paper in my stash and decided to use that. I cut it out twice; there wasn't enough room at the top of the design to add the corners there, too. This did mess with my sense of uniformity but I am working on getting over that, too.

The card was looking better to me but it still was missing something. It

needed one more little touch of oomph. I happened to have the heart border die on my desk and I thought that would fit in the border of the card perfectly. Instead of using the same gold with which I had matted the card, I went with a pale gold {another very old stash item} and, in person, it really does perk up the card. It's a shame I can't get a picture of the pale gold card; it looks white {or vanilla} in the pictures, but it is a creamy gold and has a subtle shine to it. Not ideal for pictures at all.

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial {and I hope my Man likes his card; I'm sure he will!} and that you are having a fabulously creative week! Don't forget to stop by all of the Dies R Us blogs for more inspiration and creativity and maybe stop by the store for some new goodies ~ Fondly, Christi

Don't forget to join in on all the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.

There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month

and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to

the Dies R Us Store. For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us

links are provided below.