Lion and Monkey Valentines plus CPS Sketch #153

My "No Lion" card is totally inspired by Aaron Brown's card HERE, or at least the mane on this cutie-patootie lion is! This card is made especially for my nephews. Can you guess what the lion's mane is made of?

...a Creme Brulee Just Blooms paper flower, sponged with a bit of Cocoa ink!

This 4-3/4"x3" card is based on the Diamond Duo sketch (Originals). I used Cocoa textured card stock (Hearts for Haiti special!!!) and a piece of Creme Brulee B&T (with the diamonds) from the Veranda paper pack. After stamping the lion twice on Creme Brulee card stock, I cut him out and adhered the base image (colored with a Creme Brulee marker for a bit of depth) to the diamond, then the sponged flower, and then the cut out face (also shaded a bit with the marker). I also distressed the edges of the focal image diamond with Cocoa ink and an edge distresser.

BTW, at Wal-Mart last night, I found the cutest round box that looks like a lion's head filled with fudge-covered animal cookies. Of course the boys are getting a box Sunday!

My second card is for my little monkey (DD#2)! (All the animals and sentiments in the post are from the Life's a Jungle stamp set.) I was inspired by the current sketch over at Card Positioning Systems. It took a little work to hide this one from my monkey and to make the card, but it wasn't too difficult. I started by adhering the B&T and Tulip card stock from the That's Amore paper pack to a 4"x4" Vanilla Cream card base. I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of Vanilla Cream card stock and punched the edge with my new spiral punch (30% off @ Michael's!). I couldn't resist adding the little Tulip heart (from the Grown with Love stamp set).

I cut a piece of Chocolate textured card stock (again, think Hearts for Haiti!), sanded it a bit, stamped my monkeys, cut them out, and then adhered them. I thought it would be fun if one of them "hung" from the Chocolate ribbon. Though they didn't have a monkey box, I got her a lady bug box of fudge-covered animal cookies. I can't wait until Sunday!

(Do you think these also qualify for Cute Card Thursday's Challenge #99: In the Name of Love?)