Instructions 

I love the fact that Valentine's Day (and it's variant, GAL-entine's Day) have made February 14th the perfect time to send a little extra love to ANY friend or family member we might be thinking of.

Step 1: Gather your supplies. This project uses Wendy Vecchi's MAKE ART Flower Pot and Let's Shop Stamp, Die and Stencil Sets; Archival Inks in Rosey Posey, Peachy Keen, Orange Blossom, Carnation, Red Geranium and Jet Black; Rosey Posey and Peachy Keen Reinkers, plus an Ink Applicator Tool with Felts; a variety of Ranger specialty papers; Wendy Vecchi Pearl Mica Spray; and Rosey Posey Liquid Pearls.

Step 2: Apply Peachy Keen Archival Ink directly to the Wendy Vecchi MAKE ART Stay-tion Craft Sheet by "smooshing" the ink pad onto the sheet, or by adding some drops from a Peachy Keen Reinker. Use a Ranger Mister to dilute it a bit, then place a 5.5 x 4.25" piece of Glossy Alcohol Ink Cardstock face down into the ink. Slide the paper around in the ink until it's fully covered in Peachy Keen. Allow the cardstock to dry for a few minutes.

Step 3: Using the coordinating stencil sheet from the Flower Pot set, apply Peachy Keen, Rosey Posey and Orange Blossom Archival Ink one color at a time with a Mini Ink Applicator and Domed Foams through the three small flower blossoms on the stencil. Move and turn the stencil after each application, to create a cascade of flowers reaching from the top left corner to the lower right of the glossy panel. Use an alcohol wipe to clean the stencil between colors.

Step 4: Use the small solid heart from Wendy Vecchi's A Million Thanks Stamp, Die and Stencil Set to add a center to each blossom, switching between Carnation and Red Geranium Archival Ink, and changing the direction of the hearts for variety. Set aside and allow to dry completely. Optional extra step: Use a .01 Letter it Fineliner to outline the flowers, if desired. 

Step 5: Using Jet Black Archival, stamp the cluster of blossoms from the Flower Pot set several times on a panel of Wendy Vecchi Perfect Cardstock in White. On a separate scrap of white, Stamp "A Gift for You" from Let's Shop in black; and the small "Love" stamp in Carnation. Trim "Love" into a small neat rectangle and cut out the letters of "YOU" with scissors.

Step 6: Using the coordinating stencil sheet, apply Peachy Keen and Rosey Posey to the blossoms with a Mini Ink Applicator and Domed Foams; then use the coordinating dies to cut them out. Add tiny dots of Rosey Posey Liquid Pearls to the flower centers, if desired. Set aside on a flat surface and allow to dry completely.

Step 7: Use a Mini Ink Applicator and Domed Foam to apply Rosey Posey Archival all over a 4 x 3" piece of white Distress Cracked Leather Cardstock. Trace the solid heart from Wendy Vecchi's MAKE ART Bases and Frames Chippies set on the back of the panel and cut out with scissors. Taking the applicator out of the bottle of Pearl Mica Spray, lightly flick drops of the mica spray onto the heart. Set aside and allow to dry completely. Ink the edges of the heart lightly with Rosey Posey, if desired.

Step 8: Apply alternating stripes of Rosey Posey and Peachy Keen Reinkers to a clean felt of the Ranger Alcohol Ink Mini Applicator Tool.

Step 9: Carefully add drops of Alcohol Ink Blending Solution to the applicator, until the lines of color on the felt start to blend into each other. Swipe the applicator across an A2-sized panel of white Wendy Vecchi Perfect Cardstock until the entire panel is covered. If desired, turn the panel and swipe in a perpendicular direction, to fill in any voids and create a very subtle plaid pattern. Allow the panel to dry.

Step 10: Using the small "Love" stamp from Let's Shop, stamp clusters of three in Jet Black Archival all over the striped/plaid panel. Edge the panel in Peachy Keen if desired.

Step 11: Assembly: trim the stenciled blossom panel into four 1.5 x 2" rectangles, edge them with Peachy Keen and mat them on scraps of white Perfect Cardstock. Attach the rectangles to the Love panel using Perfect Card Adhesive. Add the "Love" and "You" sentiments to the bottom left blossom rectangle with small pieces of Letter It Clear Foam Tape. Affix several clusters of stamped and diecut blossoms to the heart with foam tape and trim any excess at the lower edge of the heart. Attach the heart over the rectangles with foam tape. Adhere the entire panel to a 5 x 6" folded card made from white Distress Cracked Leather Cardstock. Machine stitch around the edges, if desired.

Step 12: Stamp an envelope to coordinate with your card, then address it to someone who could use a little bit of extra love, then mail it ASAP!