12 tags of 2016 February Jane's Journal card style

We have reached the love month for Tim's 2nd tag of 2016. Not surprisingly his tag for February features hearts and he has decided on the remix of monoprinting and embossed texture paste techniques.

You can check out all his techniques on his blog here

I decided not to make a Valentine's card for my Hb as I have made one for an upcoming GD post coming up soon.  I did need a birthday card for my dear brother. He loves the cards I make so one of my specials seemed perfect for him.

I decided to use my harlequin stencil and vintage photo distress ink for my monoprinting.

 I added some letters via my alphabet stencil using texture paste and gold embossing powder

Once heated the gold shines through. I also added some hearts through my 3rd stencil using candied apple distress ink. I agree with Tim this is such a gorgeous red.

 As you know I use my own family photos instead of the stock photo images Tim uses, they make my cards so much more personal. I have this fun photo of my brother and I circa 1963 ish on a cold foggy day in the park. I can still remember the matching hats we are wearing. They were deep green and hand knitted by my darling youngest aunt who sadly passed away some years ago. She was a champion knitter and knitted everything for us. Don't you just love my woolly boots and my poor brother in shorts!

I bought these cool retro photo corners recently and knew they would work perfectly with the card I had in mind.

So it was time to put on my creative hat......

and this is what I came up with.

 I loved the background so much that I decided that I would not add anything else other that the birthday sentiment.
It's very CAS for my version of Tim's creation.

 My darling brother. We had such fun together as kids, he really is the kindest of big brothers and has always looked out for me. He lives in Wales and we don't get to meet up very often but when we do it's so good.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2016 February
Live and Love Crafts Love is in the air
Pixie's snippets playground 1/3 #215
Noor UK  love
The Craft Barn  triplets I have used 3 stencils; harlequin, heart and alphabet
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday  have a heart
Creative Inspirations  hugs and kisses
That's Crafty  2/3 love
Country View make your own background
Winter Wonderland 1/3 best friends

We had a lovely day yesterday in Southampton with Daisy and Co despite the awful weather. It rained nearly all day. We managed a quick walk but even Daisy declined to go to the swings... a first for her.
Today the sun has been out but it's been pretty chilly. We have been to IKEA and squeal... I finally got the craft trolley which has been on my Christmas list for the last 2 years and Santa obviously thought I had not been good enough! My darling Hb treated me, an early Valentine's pressie. I will share more soon when we have unpacked it.

Enjoy your Sunday evening and keep snug....it's the last War and Peace on television tonight..what a brilliant TV adaption this has been.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x