Stamping 411 - Red Velvet Valentine

Good evening stamping friends!
It's time for another Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge - and this week's took me down memory lane big time!
Here is my card for this week:

and here is the sketch:

Now let me tell you, I was so inspired by a Real Red Monochromatic card that I saw demonstrated at Leadership last week, I just couldn't get it out of my head. When I sat down to do this week's sketch for the Operator Team, my first thought was to do red monochromatic. And since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, that's the direction I headed.

My entire card is Real Red and I started with a standard cardbase of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" folded cardstock. It's layered with another piece cut at 4" x 5 1/4". On that layer, I embossed the background stamp French Filigree using Versamark ink and Clear embossing powder. Oh, it just looks luscious in real life - I wish you were here to see it!~
That layer was wrapped with Real Red Satin ribbon and the bow was added after I had my focal layers attached.

I am so in LOVE with the Real Red Glimmer Paper - who doesn't love glitter that doesn't come off? Amazing I tell ya'! I cut a piece at 2 1/4" x 4" and then punched the bottom across with the Pinking Hearts Border punch. The next layer is cardstock cut at 2" x 4" and I adhered it with Tombow Multi Adhesive. That works very well with the Glimmer Paper.
The glimmer hearts were cut out with my Big Shot and the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit and each one has a red cardstock heart mounted on top of it with Stampin' Dimensionals. The center heart was embossed before I punched it out with more Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder. I used the large heart image from the Filled with Love stamp set. The cardstock hearts were all punched out with the Large Heart Punch. For a final touch, I added a single Rhinestone Jewel to the center heart - just a little bling for sparkle!

Now here's the Memory Lane part for me. Today is my Dad's birthday, yep, he is 75 years old today and we are so fortunate to still have him with us this year. Anywho, when I was little, Valentine's Day always came on February 15th. You see, we didn't have a whole lot for extra so my Dad, who didn't want Mom and I to not have a Valentine at all, would go to the store on the 15th and purchase us each a heart shaped box of candy for half price. I never cared that he got it on sale, I just loved that he cared about me enough to make sure I had a Valentine's goodie. Making this card today reminded me of the beautiful heart shaped boxes that he brought me as a child. Some were embossed red foil, others red velvet, but all beautiful and truly straight from his heart. My Dad is just a beautiful person inside and out. He would say that he wasn't a very good Dad, but I beg to differ. He worked two, often 3 jobs just to make our ends meet in the middle and never a day went by that he didn't tell Mom and me that he loved us. He missed some events in my growing up years, but I never doubted where his heart was and he was always there when I truly "needed" him. And really, isn't that what counts?
So Dad, if you are reading this today - your special day - please know that you are my hero and I love you with all my heart. Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Now, for all of you folks that have read this far, wipe your eyes and be sure to check out the Stamping 411 blog today. The other Operators have created some wonderful projects for you and you surely don't want to miss them!

Stamped blessings,
~~Robin