The little things that make me happy here on Bliss Road~~Emily Keaton

Saturday, January 21, 2012

A Valentine for my boy

He's nine, a third grader. He's sweet: loves his mom, dad, and sister, snuggles with his stuffed animals, thinks baby chicks and puppies are soooooooo cute, likes being hugged and kissed, thinks pink is fun. But he's definitely got his hard-core boy side, too: loves getting sweaty, playing computer and video games, exploring science, being sporty, taking pratfalls, telling jokes, making rude noises. He'll love getting a Valentine (and a handmade one, at that!) from his mom, but this year I thought it's probably time to move away from the cutesy and lean more toward something "cool," something that says "boy."

I saw my DeNami Rocketship rubber stamp and thought that would be a fun angle to take, especially because he studied our solar system in school earlier this year. I started thinking "moon," headed off to look at some photos for inspiration, and stumbled across this stunning photo:

I had exactly the inspiration I needed to make a Valentine for my boy:

As I mentioned before, the rocket is DeNami--and so is the Solid Decorative Crest that I used as the rocket's blast-off flames. The sentiment, "You're out of this world, Valentine!," was computer generated, trimmed into a flag, and adhered to a stickpin from Maya Road. I think this moon was claimed in the name of love!

I'm entering this card in two challenges over at the Moxie Fab World. This is my third entry in The Map to Your Heart Challenge, to incorporate maps in innovative ways. What can I say? I just can't get maps off my mind :). I'm getting lots of use out of that freebie world map from Doctors Without Borders. This time I circle-punched the tip of South America to play the role of Earth in my Earthrise scene. I did some trimming and shading to give it the correct perspective.

I'm also entering this in the Around the House Challenge, to incorporate an element that was created from a "tool" that you have around your house in an innovative way. My household "tool?" Buttons! I used rimmed buttons to "stamp" the craters on my lunar surface. I simply adhered a button to my finger with a glue dot, inked the button with some charcoal gray ink, and went to town "stamping" moon craters!
This one was a fun one to make! I'm hoping that my son will like it as much as I liked making it. :)

Thanks for spending some time with me for a wee slice o' bliss on this snowy Saturday morning!
Emily

33 comments:

Pam said...

Just a perfect card for your boy! Clever use of the buttons for the craters, they look awesome! Glad your getting so much use of those maps!!

Debbie Carriere said...

love it!! So clever and creative!! he will LOVE it!!

M said...

The button stamp idea is so clever! M x

~amy~ said...

Aren't you CLEVER!!!!!!!!!! Genius use of that DeNami Crest! and the buttons...oy vey.....you're amazing...love it and whatta sweetie pie of a boy you have:)

Colleen Dietrich said...

See? That's one reason I love your crafting style: you are incredibly resourceful and clever! Great card, and love that rocket fire too!

Emily (stampingout on SCS) said...

Your son will love this, Em! You are so clever using a button to stamp the circles on your moon! :)

Lisa Elton said...

oh I think this is perfect for your nine year old son Emily. This really is very clever...buttons for craters! WOW ;)

Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...

Love your use of the map, way to think out of the box!

Anita said...

Wow Emily, this is so perfect for a boy. I'm sure your son will love it.

ChristineCreations said...

How fun Emily! I love how you've done your cratered moon :) Perfect for your little guy!

Unknown said...

You are so creative. I love how you made those craters.. He is just going to love this. He's so lucky to have you as a Mom!!!

Hugs, Linda

Marisa said...

Well done on the crater creating!! Great card :)

Suzanne said...

I love what you did with those buttons, and that flag! This is too cute!!

Bonnie said...

Perfect for a 3rd grade boy! This is an awesome Valentine, Emily!

Auntie Em said...

You are such an awesome mommy! Your card is so cute and those rocket flames are so clever. Love your button stamp...now that's creativity at it's best!
Thanks for sharing this great Valentine! :)

(hope your little guy doesn't read your blog!) lol

Tenia Nelson said...

Love this!!

Glenda J said...

Ok, a few things here:
- I'm a science geek, love astronomy so I LOVE this card, it's brilliant
- you are a really great mom
- you have to quit showing us up and doing numerous fabulous entries for this challenge. Now I have no chance of winning with my one amateur entry.

;) Great work, love it.

VanessaB said...

this is soooo awesome! how creative of you. love it! :)

~Tammy~ said...

You are one crafty clever chick! Love this. Your son sounds like mine! I still have a few years of squeezing in some cutesy cards. :-) I think he is going to dig your "cool" and out of this world card for him.

You are really getting use of those maps! Great job!

Noelle Reese said...

You rock star! What a great idea! YOU need to teach stamp classes and save new stampers a ton of money! :)

suszu said...

Such a cool card, great idea

Jessi Fogan said...

oh em gee, how perfect is this card for your little big man? Love the whole concept (brilliant with the map!) and the craters? Genius!

Carol Hurlock said...

How cute and so clever creating those craters in the moon with buttons. I love your inspiration picture. Our planet is spectacular from space.

Karen B. said...

How very clever and cute is this! Thanks for the tips on the buttons too, I've got to try that out!

Sue Lelli said...

LOVE how you made the craters on the moon! Your son will honestly be over the moon with this Valentine's card Emily! You are such a sweet MOM!

Jen W. said...

Fabulous! Great take on the Map to You Heart challenge and your button stamping is brilliant!

Benzi said...

I know your son will just adore this fabulous card, Emily. It is really creative and your use of maps is awesome. Never have I seen better moon craters. Just the coolest 'boy' card ever.

Unknown said...

What an awesome card! Love how you created the craters on the moon! LOL! Your son is going to love this card! ;o)

lisa arana said...

crazy cool. LOVE how you made the moon craters. amazing idea.

Kary said...

Hi Emily! This is such a Fab card!! Love how fun it is & the awesome creative ideas you've packed into this card!! Great job!!

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Editor said...

Hey Emily! Thanks once again for linking this up to the Map to Your Heart challenge in the Moxie Fab World! :)

Marlena M. said...

Emily, your son sounds like a great kid, with a great mom! I love the way you stamped the craters! Your card is so much fun. ;)

Lisa Petrella said...

This is a PERFECT boy Valentine, Emily!! I LOVE how you used the decorative crest for the flames coming out of the rocket and your craters look divine!!! Also thought it was FUN to see your inspiration photo!!!