Valentines Day

I spent the past week getting all my Valentines crafting done.

I made wreaths for my front door with rolled felt flowers and a big felt bow on each one.

Kennady got a new V-Day shirt.

Since I don’t have a mantle, I decorated the top of the piano.

This frame is one of the easiest things I have ever done, but I am in love with it’s simplicity.

I saw this fabulous idea for mason jars on Pinterest and had to “borrow” it.

The garland is made out of old book pages. My kids were astonished that I would do such a thing to a book (the school librarian has obviously been effective when teaching about how we should treat books), but it was really old and falling apart anyway. I have to admit that I cringed a little bit when I started cutting out the first page.

Finally, I made a felt “Be My Valentine” pillow. The hearts are machine appliqued on and the wording and string for the hearts to hang on are embroidered. I have never done much work in embroidery before and this project made me realize that I could really use some practice.

I think we are all ready to show some love around here, that is if my kids would ever stop fighting.

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Pinwheels and Prairie Points

A really good friend of mine back in Las Vegas is getting ready to welcome a new baby girl into her family. I am so sad I can’t be there for her baby shower, but I enjoyed spending some time these last few weeks making her baby gift. Here is the coordinating onesie, skirt, shoes, and burp cloth I sent her.

Gotta love the shoes!

Here is the blanket/quilt I made. I don’t know if I can technically call it a quilt because it only has a top and a backing, but no middle batting layer. I used a nice warm fuzzy backing so I didn’t think batting was necessary. The top is pieced and I bound the edges like I would do a quilt.

I have never done prairie points on a quilt before and I absolutely love them on this quilt. They were definitely worth the extra effort.

 

Her baby shower is a book shower and everyone is supposed to bring books for the new baby. I love the idea, especially for a mom who is not a first timer. Although I never pass the opportunity to make fun baby items for my friends, I also wanted to stick with the theme of the shower. I found this vintage book from 1960 at a little bookstore near downtown Orlando. I loved this story as a kid and it didn’t hurt that the colors/fabrics in the quilt totally remind me of Raggedy Ann and Andy. Other than a little wear on the corners it was in amazing condition, there is no writing or torn pages in the book, and the colors in the photos are still vibrant. It was an awesome find!

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Baby Shower Decorations

These onesies and bib were made to be hung on a clothesline bunting at a friend's baby shower. I can't be there since it is all the way across the country, but I am so happy to be able to be a part of it in a little way. The baby's colors are light pink, bright pink, and grey.

Check back in a day or two to see the actual gift I made her.

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Quick Valentines Decoration

I usually don’t do much for Valentines Day as far as decorating the house goes, but my house feels so empty after taking down Christmas that I think I’m going to start working on a few projects to make it extra sweet around here for V-Day.

My first, and only, decoration so far was really quick and simple. I use this same frame for every holiday and just switch out what I have in it. I found this printable art online (she has it in a bunch of different color combos), printed it, cut it out, and inked around the edges. Then I just glued it to some cute Valentines paper, added ribbon and jumbo ric rac to the bottom. It needed a little something extra so I just made a ruffle flower out of a strip of old pink t-shirt and added a button to the center and glued it to the strip of ric rac. So easy.

How much would you pay for

• 18 used T-Shirts (to make a rag rug for the play house)
• 4 vintage pillow cases (for a patchwork quilt)
• 1 brand new set of designer cloth napkins (to make some cute aprons)
• 1 vintage set of lace curtains (I’m thinking dresses for the little girls)
• 1 used book (just because)
• 1 brand new Battleship game still in the cellophane wrap (because Hailey begged for it)

I went to two different Goodwill stores in town looking specifically for t-shirts and sheets or pillowcases and I came home with all of the above for only $35 and some change. Best deal ever! Time to get crafting…just as soon as I finish washing it all.

Sweet Shop playhouse

Several months ago, I saw a pattern for sale for a card table playhouse that looked like a bakeshop. I knew a card table sized playhouse would be nowhere big enough to fit my youngest girls and I also knew that I could easily do it without a pattern. I bought the fabric back in September and started working on it by October. I finally finished the day before Christmas Eve. It is 54 inches tall and 58 inches long on each side.

The front of the shop (the open sign can be turned around to say “closed”)My favorite part is the little birdie in the window.

One side has ice removable ice cream cones that are attached with Velcro.

The other side has cupcakes attached the same way.

I also made them matching chefs hats, oven mitts, and aprons.

They tell me it is the best Christmas present ever and have spent every ounce of free time playing bake shop. They have already come up with menus, order tickets, and have even thrown a grand opening party, which you had to “pay real money to get into, unless you have a coupon.” Luckily they were kind enough to give me and their dad a coupon to get in so we didn’t have to fork out the cash.

 

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Tatertots&Jello

I heart Nap Time

Christmas Card Wall

I have had a big empty wall in my living room ever since we moved in and I decided that I would fill it, at least for the Holidays, with some Christmas cards. Either the wall is way too big or I don’t have nearly enough friends (at least ones who send cards) to fill the whole thing with cards alone so I found a few ideas online, combined them with my own and came up with my Christmas card wall. I still want to get a star to put up above it all, but who knows if I will ever get around to it so here it is, for now.

For the big sign in the middle, I cut the letters out of vinyl and put them on a canvas. I spray painted red over the entire canvas, waited for it to dry, and peeled off the vinyl.

For either side of the canvas, I printed off some old looking Christmas music and mounted it to foam boards that I had wrapped with festive scrapbook paper. I punched a couple of holes in the top of each board, threaded ribbon through them, and tied the ends of the ribbon.

Once the canvas and the songs were hung, I strung some twine in the shape of a manger around it all. Finally, I attached my Christmas cards to the twine. I can’t wait to watch it fill up as we get closer to Christmas.

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