St Luke's Challenge - Love & Lace ....

.... Can you believe it's already 1st February and time for the new St Luke's Charity Card Challenge?  Well, it is!!  The main event in February is Valentine's day, and so we've taken amour as our theme this month.  We would like you to use some lace and make a card filled with love for someone you love, or an anniversary card, or wedding card - or something else if it fits the theme of LOVE and LACE.

I decided to make a card for my Mum - it's not specifically for Valentine's day or anything particular, but just because I love her.  I used some papers that I got free with Simply Homemade - the colours and patterns are just fabulous.  I started by sponging a touch of colour to the edge of my card base.  Next I cut two pieces of paper to make the base layers.  In my stash I found this really pretty cream wavy lace and attached two pieces side by side.  I used my Spellbinders dies to cut a couple more layers; on the top layer I stamped this fabulous frame and heat embossed it with clear powder.  I wanted to send Mum some flowers that would last, and I found these lovely stamps (that have only seen ink a couple of times).  I stamped the corner flourish in brown as it gave a much softer feel than black.  I then stamped a selection of flowers onto different papers, heat embossed them and then cut them out and attached them to the card.  I finished the card off with some faux stitching.

Stamps:  Creative Expressions - Floral; Spring Stamps - free with Crafts Beautiful; Waltzingmouse - Very Vintage Labels No 10, Sweethearts
Inks: Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Memento - Rich Cocoa; Distress - Antique Linen
Spellbinders:  Labels Ten (S5-022) # 4 and 5
Accessories:  Kaisercraft Gypsy Sisters Paper free with Simply Homemade; Clear embossing powder; Lace and card from stash

For more inspirational cards with our Love and Lace theme, check out the Design Team's blogs:

Tara Cardwell

Jenny Mullens

Anne Forrest

Sylvie Colledge

Lynne Atkinson

Our prize this month has been donated by Sasha who was our winner in November with this wonderful snowflake card.  Not only has Sasha kindly donated the prize, but she is also joining us as our Guest Designer this month, so do visit her blog and leave a comment.  The prize?  Oh yes, Sasha has donated some fabulous stamps for February's lucky winner.  Sadly, I can't win them!!!

I'm submitting my card to a few other challenges:

• Crazy 4 Challenges - C4C121 where the DT would like us to use lots of layers (done)
• One Stop Craft Challenge - #167 - they would like us to use stitching - faux or real (done)
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - #170 - the team would like us to use ribbons (lace ribbon, done)
• Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge - #113 Handmade embellishments (I stamped all the little flowers by hand and then cut them out, I hope this counts)

Don't forget, if you can spare your card (s), then please send them to St Luke's Hospice for the next sale - full details on the blog here.

That's all for now, but I'll be back later today.  Hope you all have a super day.