A Valentine Pear...

I was so thrilled to get the news that my advent calendar won a spot as a December Guest Star Stamper that I thought I'd go ahead and submit a card for January (something a bit simpler, but just as fun.) It seemed like a fine opportunity to make a Valentine's Day card for my lovely in-laws. Pears are my mom-in-law's "signature fruit," and she and her husband are still as adorable a couple as they were when they got married.
For this card, I wanted to take some advice out of Nichole Heady's newsletter on adding texture. First, I stamped my pears (overstamping some Blush Blossom Classic Dye Ink over Certainly Celery Craft Ink for some natural shading) and added a teeny, tiny heart between them. I selectively embossed the kraft cardstock with my Big Shot and stamped a border image to frame my twill ribbon. For more texture, I hand-stitched over the little hearts in the border with embroidery thread. The sentiment was created using two stamp sets, a little trick I love to employ to get just what I need. Now I have a perfect pair of pears for a perfect pair!
BEAN NOTES: Papertrey Ink Fruitful, Simple Alphabet, and Simple Valentine Stamps; Stampin' Up Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, and Regal Rose Classic Dye Ink; SU Certainly Celery, Really Rust, and Mellow Moss Craft Ink; PTI Kraft and Sweet Blush Cardstock; SU Whisper White and Certainly Celery Cardstock; SU Certainly Celery Twill Ribbon; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Big Shot HAPPY BEANS: Light Pink Embroidery Thread (generic); Sewing Needle