Love Shack

OK, I'll admit that I totally had "The Love Shack" lyrics { . . . is a little old place where we can get together . . . } going through my head the entire time I was making this card! Who else remembers the B-52s? Raise your hand!


I know it's a little racy, which is not my usual style. The person I had in mind for this card the minute I dreamed it up is not who you might expect: it's for my aunt!! Well, and my uncle, too. You see, my aunt (who is now 80) has always said she thinks I should write a book. Of course, I have written a book--actually many, but all of them are math text solutions manuals and study guides and the like, so those don't really "count" as far as she is concerned. She always wants to know, "Emily, when are you going to write me a steamy, juicy romance novel?" I truly don't think that is in the cards for me, but I thought I'd have some fun and send my aunt and uncle their own little love shack, complete with two tickets "for a fun time." They will hoot and holler over this for days! I'll write a little note inside, something like "Have a Happy Valentine's Day, you lovebirds!" One day brightened? Check!

Some notes about making this card:

• Stamps: I used Hero Arts Snowy House (CG212) and Hero Arts Sparkle Clear: Tickets (CL171). The "love shack" text was stamped from a Studio G alphabet set.
• Colors: these were inspired by the January 2012 Hero Arts Color Challenge, which was to use the color palette below
• The house is watercolor painted using dye inks. (I stamped the image in Versafine Vintage Sepia ink and heat embossed it with clear EP before painting.)
• The dusk sky was created with a brayer and Meg's fantastic Poor Man's Spectrum Ink Pad technique.
• That fabulous crocheted mat was part of a RAK from my sweet friend Jessi. Is that fabulous, or what? She is one multi-talented gal, for sure, with a heart of gold. Thanks, Jessi! It totally makes this card!
• The background paper is a random page that I ripped from a circa 1960 Webster's Dictionary and sponged with pink ink around the edges. Here's a tip: scan any randomly ripped-out pages for appropriateness before gluing down on your project! My page prominently featured the definition of "maidenhead." There is such a thing as too racy for a card! I simply flipped the page over where one can find much more innocuous definitions for things like "Main Street" and "make." Disaster averted!
• And, yes, the smoke coming out of the chimney is a pulled-apart cotton ball.

Because I used my favorite colors for Valentine cards--pink and brown (with some purple and red thrown in for fun!)--along with kraft, I'm entering this in the Make It Monday with Kraft Outlet challenge to use your favorite colors.

I had such fun making this card. Thanks for dropping by to read about it! I hope your weekend is swell. :)

Emily