For this week’s Inspired By challenge, I wanted to capture the joy of happy mail and handmade love. I was inspired by the soft Valentine colors and love letter theme in the inspiration photo, and the clean lines of the sketch.

I created these Valentine cards for my sisters with a cheerful mailbox filled with love notes and surrounded by spring florals. I added subtle texture to the background using a heart stencil, while keeping the design simple and cohesive. I made these in assembly line fashion but each card has subtle differences based on the assorted die cuts I had available and mistakes that needed to be covered up. I know we’ve all been there. As you can see, I chose not to add a sentiment to the front of the card and I’m happy with that decision.

The majority of the dies used are from Spellbinders SNAIL MAIL POST. The postage stamp die is from Penny Black Stamps, the lace edge is Lawn Fawn, the twine is IOS, and the stencil is MFT.

Do you send Valentines to family and friends or do you keep it intimate and only give one to your special someone? We would love to see how this week’s photo or sketch has inspired you. ~MarDi

Oh my gosh, I love hot chocolate and sweets so the gallery last week was soooo good!

Jenny Engelke

So many good things about this! Love the colors, all the detail, the layers and that texture background! Well done and congratulations Jenny!

Now don’t forget to play along this week:

Sharing my take on this week’s challenge. Yep, I loved to make shaped cards…so this was just instant inspiration with a love letter. I found a cute little svg file that was perfect for the challenge and used some adorable Doodlebug papers and embellishment. A sweet little note for someone special!

Hey everyone, Laurel here. I am excited to share my take on this week’s challenge. I was inspired by the theme and the envelopes. I used the Be Mine collection for the pattern paper and ephemera. To create the envelope, I used my envelope punch board from WR Memory Keepers. Love that it can make so many different sizes. I figure I could tuck a gift certificate into this.

The heart die is from Elle’s Studio and the XO is cut using my Silhouette.
Have you played along with us yet?

This week’s Inspired By Challenge is all about heartfelt charm and sweet, handcrafted details 💌✨

Our “Love Letter” inspiration is a dreamy mix of Valentine vibes and textural delight—think soft felt envelopes sealed with love, blush-toned bows, and cozy strands of ribbon and yarn. Whether it’s the romantic palette of pinks and reds, the layered textures, or the simple joy of sending (or receiving) a love note, there’s plenty here to spark your creativity.

Will your project focus on hearts and hugs? Or maybe you’ll interpret the pretty fibers, vintage-letter theme, or delicate trims in your own way. However you’re inspired, we can’t wait to see your take! 💕

📸 Don’t forget to tag your entry with #IB374 and #inspiredbychallenge

How are you inspired? Create a project and in your post, let us know what inspired you from the photo, and don’t forget to display our inspiration photo and link back to our challenge 😊

Now for our Design Team’s inspiration:

Von Marie

Laurel Seabrook

Kelly Schirmer

Cathy Harper: Inspired By… Love Letter

Amy Tsuruta

MarDi

Now it is your turn! We can’t wait to see what you do!

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My project was inspired by the newest Inspired by Challenge: Hot Chocolate

I was inspired by the theme + colors! My card features the following products:

• Pretty Pink Posh – Winter Mug | dies
• Pretty Pink Posh – Valentine Banner Greetings | stamp
• Pretty Pink Posh – Banner Greetings 2 | dies
• Pretty Pink Posh – Valentine Mug Addition | die
• Pretty Pink Posh – Valentine Holder Additions | die
• Pretty Pink Posh – Fringe Heart | dies
• Pretty Pink Posh – XOXO Pierced Plate | die
• Pretty Pink Posh – Twinkle | stencil

I used the Twinkle stencil for the splatters on the ceramic mug.

See the Fringe Heart? I used my crepe paper stash on that!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Hello everyone Happy Tuesday! Von Marie here and I’m so happy to be on the Inspired by…Blog today.  This week our theme is Hot Chocolate Yummy and we also have a fun card sketch.  I love the inspiration photo and card sketch aren’t they great?  How are you inspired?

I was inspired by the photo, the hot chocolate mug, chocolates, colors, and card sketch.  I chose this fun stamp set from my stash by Unity Stamps Co. called It’s A Mug Hug. This stamp set has a lot of nice sentiments too so I will use one for my card also.  I stamped and heat embossed my mug and sentiment with Versafine Onyx ink and clear embossing powder from Hero Arts on watercolor cardstock.  I then colored my image looking at the photo using my Karin Brush Pro markers, water, and a paintbrush.  I also flicked some brown paint splatters onto my image like the photo. I let it dry and then fussy cut my mug out using some detailed scissors.

I also used a Layering stencil set from Pretty Pink Posh called Layered Chocolates.  I had really wished for one of these Hot Chocolates or I would settle for some chocolates in real life as I was making this card I used Distress inks in Spun Sugar Distress oxide ink, Vintage Photo, and Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide ink.  I used watercolor cardstock and white cardstock.  I then fussy cut some of the chocolates.  I found some pattern paper in my stash and cut my paper according to the card sketch.  I then put my card together popping up some chocolates with foam tape and adding everything to a A2 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card base.  I had so much fun making this card.  

You still have time to enter.  Link your card to the original challenge post on this blog.  It’s fun to be a winner as your card is shared so I hope you play along with us. It’s so much fun and I cannot wait to see how you are inspired!

Affiliate links may have been added at no extra cost to you when you click on the links.

Crafty Hugs

Von Marie

Today I am sharing a cup of chocolate love for this week’s Inspired By challenge HOT CHOCOLATE.

I was inspired by the pretty speckled mug, the chocolate treats, the pink, brown, and creamy tones, and I loosely followed the sketch. This card came together with a mashup of many different brands from my stash but the main elements, which are the mug and XOXO are from Honey Bee Stamps.

I wonder if there is anyone who does not love a cup of decadent hot cocoa. I like mine with whipped cream but hubby loves to load his with mini marshmallows.

We hope that you are inspired to join this week’s challenge. It’s the perfect opportunity to pull out your cocoa/coffee/tea crafty tools or maybe you’re inspired by the treats, colors, or sketch. However you’re inspired, we are eager to see your creativity on display. ~MarDi

Love all of the mittens in the gallery last week. I actually finally had to wear mine the other day, but now we are back to rain..

Lisa Elton

This is just so pretty. I love the textured mitten and that cute little button is a nice detail. Congratulations Lisa!

Don’t forget to play along this week