Hearts a Flutter for a challenge

I feel like a schoolgirl making valentines for my friends.  I just love the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and the matching Framelits from the new Stampin' Up! Spring catalog.  I tried a little of the chalkboard technique that is so popular these days.  I'd forgotten that I had white ink, it's been so long since I've used it, and I was tickled that I could get a bold enough image for the card I wanted to do.  On the outside I stamped an assortment of hearts on the black, and inside I also used messages from my new stamp set Friendly Phrases.  The phrases kind of reminded me of the silly phrases that were on dime store Valentines we used to get.  I stamped the flags in Basic Black and Real Red, and punched them so I could add bakers twine to string them up.  I attached the twine with a couple black brads.  I embossed the red card stock with my striped embossing folder, which reminded me of of an old schoolhouse. 

 This card was prepped for a couple of challenges.  The layout came from Freshly Made Sketches challenge #69, and the colors were from Dynamic Duos Challenge #36 to use Basic Black and Real Red, with a Dessert Option to make a Valentine themed card.  At the SU-Only Challenge #62 they asked us to show off our new toys.  I loved showing off my new toys using new stamps and Framelits for my Valentine Card. 
I can hardly wait for the big brown truck to arrive today to bring me some more new toys.  wait til you see what's coming. 
Nothing could be more exciting than the last two weeks I have had.  I got the flu the weekend after Christmas, so I was sick over New Years, and through the end of the week.  I was fretting over the fact that all three of us in the household had the flu, and nobody was fit to clean house and prepare for our coming guests. 
My son and his wife, and my little grandson were coming from New York to spend time with us.  My son lost his job on Dec. 29, so we and the baby were able to stay for 10 days, but his wife had to go home on day five.  They came after Christmas, because they wanted to celebrate my granddaughter's first birthday.  Little Olivia took the birthday very seriously as we all sang Happy Birthday.  That's little 14 month old Kol peeking around on the right.  Olivia took her time tasting the cake one little pinch at a time, and she generously shared bites with whoever asked.  Then, all of a sudden she decided to play pat-a-cake with the cake, and began smashing it down, as my granddaughter, Emily looks on and encourages her. 
We had a great time, and we were so lucky that we all felt well enough to party, and that nobody got sick from us. 

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by.

Mary Alice