SIMON SAYS CHALLENGE - SHOW SOME LOVE

The Simon Says Challenge this week is Show Some Love.  Well, here is my LOVE.

These wooden blocks are about 3 1/2". I painted them with either a red or antique white base. Then I sanded them just a little bit and touched them up wtih Vintage Photo Distress Ink to give them more of a vintage feel.The front sides of the blocks display "LOVE". I built this side up by using a red foil or white paper heart doilie as the base. Then I layered hearts I cut out from a vintage-ish Valentine paper I had. The letters are 2" chipboard letters from the Paper Studio. I heat embossed them with red tinsel embossing powder and placed them on top of the hearts in the center of each block.

All other sides of the blocks are decorated with retro Valentines. Are they not just so fun? Just looking at these reminds me of the Valentine parties we used to have in elementary school.  We would decorate shoe boxes and cut a slit in the top of them so everyone could drop their Valentines in our boxes. I actually think I remember some of these!

These are either Valentines that I have or images that I found online and saved. I sized them to fit my blocks, printed and cut them out. Then I glued them onto the painted sides and let them dry. Next, I covered each side with Rock Candy Stickles to really make the colors on the Valentines "pop" and also to give them that crystally vintage finish that Rock Candy Stickles provides. Finally, I embellished each side with all sorts of different trims, bling, mini red roses, and other fun items to fit the theme of that Valentine. For example, the cowboy Valentine is encircled by "rope". The shaving Valentine has "lather" made from a liquid applique pen that was heated to make the bubbles "pop". Then I sprinkled some small crystal glitter on the lather to make is sparkle. I made the popcorn "pop" on the popcorn Valentine by using Picket Fence Stickles and kept mounding it on until it created its own realistic looking popcorn. I also did the same effect around the Valentine and added some glitter to the Picket Fence Stickles while they were wet.