Handprint Hearts

Super easy.

The kids loved getting their hands all squishy with the paint.  I love that they were able to make a keepsake for the family AND that my Kindergartener was able to write her Valentine's message. 

I used acrylic paint because I had it on hand... but wouldn't this be a cute idea to use fabric paint on an apron, onesie, or Valentine's day gift bag?!?

I believe in giving credit where credit is due, but I can't seem to locate the blog that I saw this on... if I find it, I will link up!

Yarn Wreath with Felt Flowers - #1 | Valentine's Day Decor

I decided to try another project I found in the blog world and am now officially addicted!  I am not joking when I say that I am making one of these for every room in my house. 

Here was attempt number one, sort of Valentine's Day inspired. 

Check out the tutorial for the Cheery Yarn Wreath at Mrs Priss

iLoveToCreate: Love/Luck Reversable Blocks

These blocks are great!  Two holidays in one decoration!

One side says Love... 

and the other Luck.  Yes, those are the same blocks!  Basically, three sides of each are devoted to each holiday... and I am going to do my best to explain how to make a set of your own.

Supplies needed:

• Four wooden blocks (mine are a fence post cut down to 3.5/3.5 squares) sanded down
• Collage Pauge decopauge and a foam paintbrush to apply
• Decorative scrapbook paper, three Valentine's patterns and three St. Patrick's patterns.  Cut paper to the size of the blocks - four of each pattern
• Cut-out letters, either paper or vinyl - I cut white cardstock using my Silouette machine

Follow the diagrams below to figure the best way to arrange the paper...

I did my Valentine's paper first, applied my collage pauge and let it dry, then turned the blocks upside down to figure the best way to do the St. Patricks Day paper.  [The words for the opposite holiday will be upside down and not in the same order.  If you get to this point, you will understand.] 

It is very important to plan exactly where the paper will go!

I wanted to make sure I could see the proper holiday's color when the blocks were both set out four across (as above), and when they were set up on top of each other (as shown below).

• Once I figured out where the paper was going to go, I painted a layer of the Collage Pauge onto the block and another onto the back of the paper then stuck them together and smoothed the paper out.  I have found this to be the best way to do Collage Pauge to avoid bubbles under the paper.
• Repeat until all six sides of each block have been Collage Pauged...
• Sand the corners and edges of the blocks with an electric sander. 
• Distress the corners and edges with some distress ink or wood stain. 
• Add another few coats of Collage Pauge to each block, allowing time to dry between each coat.
• Voila!  Cute block decor for two different holidays!! 

Felt Rosette Ball | Valentine's Day Decor

I was very inspired by the Valentine's Day Heart Wreath from The Idea Room.  She does a great tutorial on the process and there is another great tutorial at Design Sponge. 

I was not quite up to trying an entire wreath, but I did think I could handle covering a ball, and I am so glad I did!  It is one of those little decorative items that makes a BIG impact :)

All you need is:

• Felt (1/2- yard, $4.99/yard at JoAnn's)
• Styrafoam ball, I think it was 4 inches, about the size of an orange
• Flat-head pins, the long ones if you have a choice
• Scissors
• Something to trace a 3-inch circle (I used a kids cup)

Process: I would be a good idea to follow the tutorials I have linked to above...

• Cut a TON of felt circles, I used the whole 1/2-yard of felt
• Fold each cirlce in half, and then half again creating a pie piece
• Push a pin through the point of the felt and into the styrafoam
• Repeat (about 100 times) until you no longer see any of the styrafoam

I think I might go for the full wreath next.  Maybe in a nice bright spring color?

Project: Old Window Sign

John found this old window at ReStore, and got to work on a little project...

We both really liked this font, so he printed out our names and the 'est. 2004'. 

He covered the back of the window with contact paper and taped the printed words to the front. He then traced the letters and cut them out of the contact paper with an Xacto knife. See the photo below. (This was a very tedious process, possibly not the most efficient either, but it did ge the job done.)

He sprayed the back of the glass with some Frosted Glass Spray, and carefully peeled the contact paper away. 

The spray worked, but we thought it was a little light so John painted a piece of cardboard black and added it to the back of the window to make the frosted part of the glass stand out more.