Be My Valentine

It’s my annual Valentine’s Day post; a photo tour of valentines I sent as well as those that Tom and I received. To see more of our family valentines, check out Patti Wagon’s website
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Here’s the outside of the one from Tom to me


inside (Hoodoo photos were taken this fall in Bryce Canyon)


Mine to him had a political flavor


and the inside


From Laurel


inside




From Patricia outside


Inside, an adorable hand knitted scarf


More from Patricia
outside


and another knitted embellishment


The ones Tom and I sent to Patricia are on her website, along with the ones she sent and the one she received from Laurel.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Clayton Valentines 2011 Edition

Well here it is, photos of our family’s annual valentine exchange. Over 20 years ago, our daughters who were then in grade school wanted to purchase valentines to give to the family. Tom and I suggested that we each make a valentine and the idea caught on. Through the years, the valentines have had many messages, heartfelt, poignant, silly, corny, political, cultural, and of course those involving sports. Although not photographed, I heard there was a Justin Bieber themed card this year. Here are some of this year’s editions.



Love the pun and the 3D effect of the Biden figure. It had to come in a special box



Like I said, every theme, even the kitchen sink



My valentines usually show the techniques I am practicing in my studio



I had to alter the front of the card to avoid copywrite infringement



Now the inside, definitely a homemade appeal



More corniness



From our daughter who works with iPads in the classroom



sketchbook practice



front of card


and inside. Those are silly bands attached to the card.

I don’t know how many more years we will do this, but we are still having fun.

Valentines for my family

For at least 20 years, my husband, daughters and I have exchanged home made valentines. They are all far more clever with words than I am, so I have to compensate with art or sewing skills. For this year’s valentines I bought three decks of cards, pulled out the hearts and jokers and began embellishing. I had made a big piece of stitch paper which I cut and glued to chipboard, and that became the front and back covers. I then put stickers with sentiments on the hearts and bound them all together with a ring.

Since Tom makes my lunch most days after playing tennis…

He is an enabler of my art addiction…

Signature page

Back cover

I didn’t get photos of the ones for my daughters before I sent them out, but they were the same style with different sentiments.

Over the years we have had some great valentines, it is an event we all look forward to.

This fantastic idea came from Heather at Dollar Store Crafts