Best Valentine ever!

The mailperson delivered a belated Valentine from my dear husband yesterday, and it is the best Valentine I have ever received!

Here's the backstory: He saw online that people working in the tourism industry in Mali, a country on the west side of Africa, were hurting. The tourism industry was once particularly strong in Timbuktu, a major city there, and it is now in dire straights. My husband saw that some tourism workers were trying to maintain their incomes by offering to send postcards with a personal message from Timbuktu for $10 each. My husband saw that as an opportunity to send me a unique Valentine and to help someone out (he has a very big heart!), so he ordered one online.

It was mailed on January 8, and yesterday I received my "Valentine" postcard from Timbuktu.

This is the picture on the front of the postcard. The structure in the background is a mosque. My husband had them write this message: "I love you from here to Timbuktu!" 

Isn't that an awesome Valentine? I told him it was the best one I had ever received. If you'd like to order one, you can do so here.

Here's a photo of the stamps on the postcard. Notice how they stack the stamps on top of each other, making sure the value of the stamp is visible. I wonder if the USPS would allow us to do that?

I hope you enjoyed my little Valentine story.

Here are my makes for today. I created the colorful backgrounds by using 1/2" strips that I have cut off of 8 1/2" wide patterned paper to make envelopes. Every single one of those strips represents an envelope that I have made, and I have a LOT more strips than this. I love being able to make envelopes that coordinate with  the colors in my cards. I almost always turn the color to the inside, with the white on the outside, so that it's easy to address them. 

I wish this picture didn't go out of focus on the far side so that you could see my little dryer image more clearly. It's just a fun card to send to someone you know well.

Here's the interior of my card. I colored the letters here and on the front of my card with alcohol markers.

My "Happy Birthday" frame included the cupcake image attached to the bottom of the frame. I actually cut it off, then die-cut another cupcake and glued one on top of the other for a little extra dimension. I also glued on my little flower sequin and added a center to it with Nuvo Drops. I also added some Wink of Stella to the frosting, but it's just not visible in the photo.

I used a really old stamp for my inside sentiment. Both of these cards will go to the thrift store to be sold there.

I have more stripey backgrounds to use, so you'll be seeing more cards like these in future posts.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl