For you, a free Valentine downloadable card!

Here are two cards you can print and share, featuring our lovely valentine squid. (He needs a name, any ideas?)

You can either snag it from flickr (click on the above image), or grab the higher quality pdf (prints 2 to a page) here.

Aren’t Cephalopods the ultimate valentine’s day theme?

[Edited to remove special valentines deal on artwork – remember, you can always contact me directly for art–I will do commissions, or check out my artfire shop which usually has a few pieces in it… You can also buy prints of any of my work at my Imagekind shop– if you’ve seen a piece you want, and I don’t have it listed there, just email me.]

(It’s Cephalopod Week, see all squidy/octopussy posts here!)

The Peace Squiddee:

Apparently, in trying to be lazy this morning with my links, I got myself into a recursive loop. So, here are your links, now new and improved with 98% less infinity.

Pictured above, from my flickr travels:

Starburst Bracelet from candy_calamity

Valentine’s Day Waffles, in Miniature from bebetoby.

Really neat – you wouldn’t believe those pins and pendants are from plastic bottles! Check out monamivie’s stuff.

Also you’ll wanna check out:

Really neat – Turn an old sweater into a personalized Valentine! (via One Pretty Thing — lots of other great stuff here too!)

Valentine Home Decor ideas at Tip Junkie

Betz White’s Fast and felted scarflet

Art of Can Tabistry’s Corset from pull tabs

Valentine Vermin – a tutorial!

Via Whip up, Felted Soaps!

Party Decor on a Budget at Hostess with the Mostess

Really Gorgeous hand drawn animation
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Recently on Dabbled:
– More cool Robot Art
– Valentine Candy FAIL
– Judges announced for the Anti-Valentine Contest!! (Contest Details HERE)

A partially done cephalopod watercolor

Sketch – In Soviet Russia, Squid eat you!
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Recently on Dabbled:
– More cool Robot Art
– Valentine Candy FAIL
– Judges announced for the Anti-Valentine Contest!! (Contest Details HERE)

PS – Don’t forget to enter the Anti-Valentines Contest! I’m sure some of my ultra talented art friends can come up with a cool illo — maybe an anti-vday card!?

I had this great idea for Macadamia nut brittle hearts. The sugar mixture is ready to pour out when it reaches a ‘light amber color’, right? Hmm, apparently my idea of light amber color was a little different than the recipe’s. (I guess it’s time to invest in a candy thermometer.) The first set I poured up basically never set — the syrup was still syrup!. I tried again, and that was still not right–solid, but very soft. I tried reheating, and came out with my final product (One set is sticky beyond belief, the other is burnt!)

Hmm, well… They’re pretty!

Actually, there was nothing wrong with the idea (just my execution of it). Use a good peanut brittle recipes, and follow the instructions. Just use a candy thermometer to ensure you pour out at the right temp, and you should be fine. Pour into heart shaped molds (silicone is nice) instead of out on a sheet pan.

Plus, I was cleaning up the sugar syrup out of the saucepan, and figured I’d just throw some more water in there, and boil it, then pour it out and wipe down the pan. Easy peasy, right? Unless you get distracted and forget about the pan. Till all the water boils out. And the little bit of sugar left has baked itself on to the bottom of the pan, and all over the glass lid. The clear lid was literally brown/black, where you couldn’t see through it, and the burnt on sugar was melded to it. I really wish I’d taken a picture.
–good news though — I googled for how to clean burnt sugar, and amazingly, in boiling a mixture of water, baking soda and a drop of dishliquid cleaned all the gunk of the lid… it just flaked off like old paint! (takes a while, though, and minimal scraping with a butter knife occasionally)

*The lovely and ingenious Diane, of Craftypod (We interviewed Diane a while back)

*The clever and delightful Alice, of Futuregirl (She has the best sea creatures!)

*And the charming and talented Rachel, of Average Jane Crafter (and Craft contributing writer)

If you’re not familiar with these talented ladies, go check them out. They’ve all been huge inspirations to me over the past few years!

And also don’t forget to ENTER THE CONTEST and CHECK OUT THE PRIZES!

Wanna see your stuff here? Get your entries in early and I’ll be featuring a random sampling!

Oh, coming Monday I’ll be announcing 3 fabulous blogresses (is that a word?) that you probably know (and if you don’t, you should!) who will be judging the Anti Valentine’s Day Contest. They aren’t sworn to secrecy or anything, so you may find out somewhere else first. But if you don’t.. tune in Monday for the announcement!

OK, now for something different…
Some other inspiration links for you:

Pencil sketch, with photographed fabric and photoshop color.*

Hey, fellow artists! Be sure to enter the Anti-Valentine’s day contest!! Fun and prizes!