Stenciled Love

It’s Easter today and I’m spending the weekend with my fun Italian In-laws.  It’s always a memorable weekend when I’m visiting in Canajoharie, New York.  Today I have one of my favorite cards for you – a giant stenciled and stamped heart.  I made this card a while back and have been waiting to share with you.  Since my weekend is busting at the seams with love and laughter, I thought I’d share my special heart with you. 

This weekend has been filled with food, laughter, more food, great stories, more food again, and lots of love – oh…and then more food!  When we sit down at the dinner table –a bout 6 or 7, we don’t get up until 1 or 2am usually!  The kids start to fall asleep (me too – figures, right?) and I roll off to bed thinking…why oh why did have that last dessert!

Our weekend is filled with Easter traditions, one of them is on Saturday night  – it’s Grandma Amelia Ritacco’s Pizzagaina recipe which is held tightly under wraps (took me 10 years to get the recipe. And before you ask – since I’m not even allowed to give it to either of my girls – don’t even try and ask!).  And let me tell you – we look forward to this meal ALL year long.  If you aren’t familiar with Pizzagaina (aka Pizza Chena)– it’s stuffed pizza (more like a calzone, but it’s pizza).  It’s stuffed with meats, ricotta, cheeses and has not a pizza crust, but a sweet bread crust to hold all that yumminess in.  Here’s a photo just to make your mouth water.

Most of all, I just love hanging in the kitchen, hoping that I get to help in some small way (not usually likely…lol), listening to stories of the old neighborhood, and spending time with my sweet Mother-in-law Vigie, and my Sister-in-laws Claudia and Donna.  There’s laughter from the other rooms as the kids play games, and the house is filled with loud Italian voices and more love than you can imagine.  It’s a great day.

I hope your Easter weekend is filled with love and laughter like mine!

To make this card, I cut a stencil out of a piece of scrap paper using my heart framelits and my big shot.  I sponged the sides so you could see the heart shape on my card stock and added some stamped images.  I sponged the sides of a banner with the greeting to match my heart.  To continue the theme, I had a matching embossing folder for my stamp which I ran just along the bottom edge for a little interest.  I sponged the raised portion as well.

Instead of ribbon, I used some fabric scraps to tie across the bottom.  They give it a cool look, right?  How many do YOU have in a drawer somewhere?

I love this card – it really makes me smile every time I look at it, I think I’ll send it to my Mother in Law when we leave.  That way I can leave my heart behind with her.  Have a great weekend!

Join me for a journey in Watercolor techniques!  This class begins May 17th, but you can save today.  For more information click here.