Love-ly | February Button Lover’s Club Card

I am a collector or many things- one of my favorite are vintage Valentines.  I have several that I keep on display year round in my studio.  One that lives on a shelf above my drawing desk featuring a sweet English cottage has inspired many doodles and daydreams.  On the day I sat down to draw this month’s Just Another Button Company Button Lover’s Club Art Card, it was the display of the Valentine giving me inspiration.
Many of my favorite vintage Valentines are meant to be displayed.  They have built in stands and have interactive elements and lots of dimension.  They also often include a spot perfect for adding a handwritten sentiment so the recipient of the Valentine can see the message while on display.  I knew that I wanted to incorporate those aspects into both the art card and finished project.

To create this month’s project, a vintage style Valentine to display, begin by cutting a piece of colored cardstock so that it is about 1/8″ larger than the art card on each side.

(Please ignore the terrible lighting in the tutorial steps, I got a new lamp in my studio that was a little too bright for photos.)

Cut a piece of white cardstock so that it is about 1/4″ larger than the cardstock layer on each side.

Use pinking shears or decorative scissors to add a decorative edge of the cardstock.

Place the cardstock on a foam mat.  Use a small piercing tool to pierce tiny holes near the decorative edge of the cardstock. I tried to match my holes to each peak of the pinked edge to help keep them evenly spaced.  You may find it helpful to lay a ruler down to work alongside to keep the holes straight(ish).

When finished, the piece of cardstock will look like an intricate die cut lace mat.

The base of the Valentine is a 5″ x 7″ piece of mat board.  You can cut one yourself from heavy chipboard, mat board scraps from the framing department, or use a handy prepackaged textured mat board like the ones from Ranger Ink/Dina Wakley.

Apply a thin quick coat of pink craft paint.  I am using Ranger Ink Dylusions paints.  This wonderful pink is called Pink Quartz.

When the first coat of paint is dry, apply a thin light coat of white paint over the pink.  Apply the white paint in straight streaks from one side to the other to create a soft whitewashed look.

I often use my ink blending tools to apply paint.  I love the size of them and that the small foam helps me control how much paint I pick up.  You can wash the foam pads out and reuse them or simply pull them off and throw them away.

 

When the paint is dry, use an ink blending tool to lightly brush a brown Distress Ink along the edge of the mat board.  Apply ink to the three paper layers also.

My favorite part of the monthly Button Lover’s Club card is trying out all the buttons in different places on the card.  From the moment I drew this one I knew I would use the little envelope on the lower banner.  I also really love the small ladybug at the end of the top banner.

The base of the first L is perfect for adding one of the clay flowers…

or a fat little bumblebee.

The points on the letters in Love look pretty cute with white Sprinkles on them.

When you have decided on your buttons, place a small dot of liquid glue behind each one to secure it to the card.

When the glue is dry, use a small piercing tool to poke through the card through the button holes.

Use a needle and thread to stitch each into place.

The lower banner is a perfect spot to add a handwritten sentiment to your Valentine.

Use adhesive foam tape to adhere the art card to the colored cardstock layer.  Using foam tape is a quick and easy way to add extra dimension to your card.

Use adhesive foam tape to adhere the art card/colored cardstock layer to the white cardstock layer.

Wrap the mat board with a piece of white ribbon.

Add a “fluffy bow“. (<click on “fluffy bow” to get a full step-by-step tutorial for making the easiest bow ever!)

Use adhesive foam tape to adhere the assembled art card piece to the mat boar.  You may need to set it slightly off-center to accommodate the bow.

Add thread to one of the small Smoothie buttons.

Adhere the button to the mat board where the ribbon shows to the right of the art card layers.

I absolutely love all these layers!  And I especially love how easy it was to add them!

This month’s button box is one of my favorites!  I love how fun each bit is in that gorgeous deep red.  I wanted the colors on the card stayed lighter than the buttons so that the red would really pop!

If you love this month’s box, there is still time to grab one and join the club!  They begin shipping on the 15th so you need to act fast.  Don’t forget, if you don’t want to join in on the monthly kit, the buttons are available ala carte too in the Just Another Button Company shop!  You can’t go wrong either way!

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