A Very Victorian Valentine for Frilly and Funkie Be My Valentine Challenge
Hello Friends! Welcome to the month of February! I’m kicking the month off with a Very Victorian Valentine that I created for the latest challenge over at the Frilly and Funkie blog. Since it’s love month, our challenge theme is “Be My Valentine.’ Here’s what our lovely host, Zoe, has to say about this delightful challenge.
Love is in the air, and with Valentines Day just around the corner, this challenge is to make a card for your sweet Valentine in a vintage or shabby chic.
A Very Victorian Valentine Pocket with a tag and sweet surprise
This pocket card is a different size from my usual creations. It measures 8.5″ long and 4.25″ high. Instead of opening like a typical card, it has a pocket secured to the back. I’ve filled the pocket with a little tag and a sweet little Valentine treat.
The papers and images I used are from the February papers in Graphic 45’s Place in Time Deluxe Collector’s Edition. An Ivory Staples tag plays the role of sentiment, and there is room on the back to write a properly mushy note.
A Little Valentine History
Did you know that the exchange of Valentines reached its heyday during the Victorian era? In fact, Valentines were more popular and more widely exchanged than Christmas cards! Victorian valentines were incredibly ornate and so dimensional that they often had to be presented in a gift box. It was not uncommon to include a small gift or piece of jewelry as part of the design.
I took all of that history and tradition into consideration while designing and creating this Very Victorian Valentine.
A Look at the Details
Victorian Valentines were adorned with dried flowers, feathers, embossed papers and all sorts of glittering goodness. To mirror that, I created these very frilly fabric flowers using crinoline, assorted fabric layers, and vintage pearl buttons from my grandmother’s button box. I cut the flower layers using Tammy Tutterow’s fabulous Frayed Posie Die. The crinoline was white, of course, so each layer had to be custom dyed with Festive Berries, Fired Brick and Victorian Velvet Distress Stains. While I was all inky, I went ahead and dyed some seam binding ribbon for the bow.
I tucked special details everywhere. To mirror the jewelry that was often attached, I created a faux cameo using this antique bronze charm. It was filled with a trimmed image from Place in Time, Glossy Accents and some seed beads.
A Touch of Mixed Media Mayhem
I painted the edges of my Very Victorian Valentine with Tattered Rose Distress Crackle Paint because I wanted everything to look antique. The dried crackle popped when treated with a skim coat of Victorian Velvet Distress Stain. (You can actually see that better in the above photo.)
Tarnished Brass Distress Paint spatters create the illusion of having used really old, foxed paper. The edges of the rusty hearts are softened by a brush with Tarnished Brass or Tattered Rose Distress Paint.
Can you see the tiny die cut envelope peeking out from behind the flower cluster and the Victorian girl? I die cut that with Tammy’s Mini Envelope die then filled it with fussy cut images.
Now It’s Your Turn!
Putting this Very Victorian Valentine Pocket together was great fun. And here’s the really exciting news: you are invited to play along!
Just create your own vintage or shabby chic Valentine and link it up on the Frilly and Funkie Blog before midnight on February 14th. (How perfect is the timing on this challenge?)
The design team will visit your blogs and choose their 4 favorite projects. The creator of the top project will be given a chance to serve as Guest Designer on the F&F blog. The other 3 will receive badges to display proudly on their blogs. And everyone who plays along and follows the guidelines will be entered into a drawing for a $25 shopping spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!
So break our your pretty papers and embellies and join the fun!
I’m linking this Very Victorian Valentine up in the following challenges:
Rock the Red Challenge at Emerald Creek Dares (red crinoline flowers, red paper)
Thanks so much for joining me here today!
Cheerio,
kathy
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What a gorgeous Valentine, wonderful details and fabulous red accents, thank you for joining us at Emerald Creek Dares for our Rock The Red challenge! Deb Riddell ~ Emerald Creek Dares DT
Kathy, this is beautiful and a valentine I would love to get. If only I could get my Hubby crafting LOL
Kathy, you already know how much I adore this card! Thank you so much for sharing it with us in our Rock the Red Dare at Emerald Creek Dares! What a treat it is to see your lovely talent in our gallery! Hugs! (Sara Emily, DT)
Gorgeous just gorgeous love it
This is magnificent Kathy! I love the treat and adore the lovely blousy flowers on this treat of a card xx
I absolutely love your victorian valentine Kathy! The valentine in itself is a treat, but the sweet treat is the icing on the cake. Lucky valentine. 😉
Gorgeous, and love the added chocolate. The pull tag is wonderful too.
Super pretty Kathy. Anyone would be delighted to receive this valentine. Thanks for sharing.
What could be more perfect for Valentine’s than Victorian romance? Your combination of items and papers is just right for a special day. Thanks for sharing it.
What an absolute delight this is, Kathy. The images, layers and colors all work together to make a thing of beauty. I especially love the dyed crinoline flowers and seam binding. Truly a feast for the eyes, better than Valentine’s candy! And the little pocket is the crowning glory. Another beautiful done project – thank you so much!
Hugs,
Linda
This is beautiful! So many details to see! You are so creative!
Love this vintage beauty with its sweet surprise. The crinoline flowers are stunning and all the little elements you added from the paper collection are perfect. It is such fun to see what you have tucked here and there – like playing papercraft hide and seek.
Hugs!
Cec
Absolutely gorgeous! Who wouldn’t love to receive this Valentine. Your creativity amazes me. Looking forward to more beautiful creations.
Girl!! You kill me with your creativity!! I have run out of words to express my awe and amazement at what you come up with!! This is gorgeous!!
Be still my heart! Kathy, i think you’ve just outdone yourself,if that is even possible! Love, love, LOVE the vintage layers and the bit of crackle! Your crinoline flowers are so gorgeous, as is your fluffy seam binding bow. And of course, I’m squealing over that pocket and the treat inside! Love this one, Kathy! Big applause and big hugs!
Beautiful Kathy! The vintage valentine’s images are so wonderful. I keep finding more peeking out in your gorgeous design. The tag is fabulous too!
Wow Kathy! This is absolutely gorgeous…you are amazingly talented!
WOW! You never fail to blow my mind with all your talent! Gorgeous!