The Control Freaks are Sharing the Love!

This month the Tour de Freaks have Love on the brain - whether it's a Valentine for our sweetie, wishing someone a happy anniversary, congratulating the newlyweds, or just sending love to a dear friend, that's our theme!

I'm the first stop on the hop (there are seven of us), but you may have landed here from Wendy's blog, Wickedly Wonderful Creations. Isn't she just awesome??? Be sure to follow the links at the bottom of each stop to go on to the next one!

I think the Parisian Beauty bundle (part of the Parisian Blossoms Suite) is to die for! I really wasn't so taken with it at first, but the more I saw it the more I fell in love with it. I decided to make a different kind of Valentine for my honey using just the Parisian Dies. Yep, there is no stamping involved at all! Since he's not into the pink and red Valentine theme, I chose Pool Party and Basic Black with a gorgeous copper Eiffel Tower.

I tried to keep it simple, but felt the 'Amour' needed something to set it off. After embossing a piece of Pool Party with the Parisian Flourish 3D folder, a heart was cut and some Pool Party ink sponged on, then it was glued to the Subtle 3D embossed background. Et voilà! Layering it behind the greeting and tower was perfect! Champagne Rhinestones and an embossed envelope flap completed the project.

My next card is for my BFF who has been with me through thick and thin ever since we were in junior high many decades ago. Love her like a sister! This card uses items in the From My Heart Suite, which includes the Heartfelt photopolymer stamp set and Heart Punch Pack, along with From My Heart Specialty DSP and ribbon.

After stamping the small heart image in VersaMark down the edge of the Flirty Flamingo card base, the DSP was matted in Whisper White and adhered to the base. I cut three equal lengths of ribbon and attached them to the DSP (the lines made it easy to space evenly!).

The greeting and polka-dot outline were stamped in Real Red, then punched out. I thought it needed an attention-grabbing background, so a label from the Stitched So Sweetly Dies was stamped with the same small heart image used on the base, and then embossed with the Subtle 3D folder. And, wouldn't you know it....I just happened to have an extra flourish from the Parisian Dies to take it up a notch!

Added DSP to the envelope flap, stamped those same small hearts on the envelope front and it's ready to go!

Up next on the tour is Tami Hewlett, over at Swimming In Stamps. I love her style, and can't wait to see what "love" she is going to share!