Valentine Kissing Booth

January 31, 2026January 30, 2026Leave a comment

It was the kissing booth that did it for me! When I saw the Stampin’ Up!®️ artist who designed this stamp & die bundle demonstrate how to build this booth, I was hooked:

This week is a Valentine Project challenge at TGIF Challenges #tgifc562

“Pucker up, buttercup!” is what I imagine this bear saying, who has volunteered to man the booth! Taking the pucker-up challenge are two little blue birds, with all the love you could wish for in one adorable card!

While the bundle is coming back to my store the week of February 2nd, you can save this idea and ask for a reminder to order as soon as it’s back HERE

Looking for a creative Valentine activity with a friend or spouse? Come to the Cookies, Cards & Cocoa class in Hurricane, Utah on Friday, February 6th (save your seat by Monday, 2/2)

As a reminder, Bonus Days ends on Monday, February 2nd, as well, so NOW is the time to stack your savings by shopping in my stampin’ store. ALSO: Save all the coupon codes emailed to you after your order, so you can redeem them in February!

Product List

And in case you think these bears are only for Valentine’s day, let me assure you that they can be used to send smooches ALL YEAR LONG…

Customers who subscribe to my email will be receiving a tutorial with this fun bundle next week, so make sure
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove.

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Short History of Valentine Cards

January 13, 2026Leave a comment

Long before die cut hearts and doilies, Valentine’s Day began as the feast of Saint Valentine, a priest martyred on February 14th for performing marriages for despite a ban by a Roman Emperor. By the Middle Ages, poets were already linking the date with romance, and lovers began exchanging handwritten notes and verses to mark the occasion. Early valentines were intimate, the declarations of affection carefully folded and sealed with wax.

By the 1800s, new printing techniques and affordable postage turned those private notes into something more playful and decorative. Elaborate lace trimmed cards, colorful illustrations and clever verses filled Victorian mailboxes. In America, Esther Howland helped popularize these printed valentines, transforming the tradition into the greeting card exchange we know today.

Something that hasn’t changed is the heart of the practice: Valentine cards focus on taking time to say “you are loved” with paper, ink and imagination.

This card, inspired by the #creativechallengesu January sketch, carries history forward in a fresh way. The soft layers of Stampin’ Up!®️ Love Notes Mix & Match 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper give it a collage charm (nod to the past), while the stamped elements from the Valentine Kisses bundle dish a dash of whimsy (embracing today).

You can play along, as well! Create a card inspired by this sketch and post it on your social media with the hashtag #creativechallengeSU during January 2026.

Paper changes and styles evolve, but the magic of sending love through a handmade card keeps fluttering along, like a blue bird of happiness winging a love letter to it’s intended 💌

Interested in a longer history of Valentine cards? Visit this excellent article by Rare Bird Antiques!

For supplies to create your own Valentine cards, thanks for shopping my Stampin’ Store ~I’ll mail a hand-stamped thanks!

Product List

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Blending Brown Bears for Black Friday

November 25, 2025December 13, 2025Leave a comment

Bah, humbug to BLACK Friday. The only black piece of clothing I own is a pair of slacks I have to wear for the community choir, and would prefer a color, anytime. Can’t we call it “Happy-Shopping-in-your-slippers Day?” Maybe it doesn’t roll off the tongue…however, Stampin’ Up!’s holiday sale on some of our basic blocks of crafting starts today (and ends on December 1st)…and there is plenty of color to choose from!

If I had to choose between Basic White and Very Vanilla card stock, I’d pick Vanilla. It’s just a softer, elegant color. Both are very smooth to stamp and color on, and since the Stampin’ Blends Markers are on sale (and so is Vanilla card stock!), I made a card using a new November Online Exclusive bundle called Valentine Kisses that is unBEARably adorable:

The dies for the hugging bear even cut out a slot to tuck in a heart, a teddy bear or a bouquet of flowers!

I’m going to offer a Virtual Class using this bundle in January, and if you order it from my Stampin’ Store, you’ll receive an invitation to join the class!

And these cute bears aren’t stuck as Valentines, this card could be sent to anyone needing an extra squeeze:

Stock up on during the Black Friday sale on some of your basic crafting supplies, like adhesive and basic card stock. And if you have a newlywed couple, a new crafter or a teacher on your shopping list, snag a paper trimmer at 40% off as a gift!

Product List