Happy February!

Well it appears I've dropped off the face of the earth!! HAHA, but I really haven't... I am pregnant, and have been focusing on my health and my family. We are super excited for a little boy or girl in August! So expect some fun baby ideas in the next few months! There is little energy at the end of the day, but I have still been thinking about fun crafts to do for Valentine's Day! It's one of my very favorite holidays to decorate and design for! But since I have a bit of a lack of creativity right now, I knew I could count on all you other great bloggers for ideas and inspiration (thanks!)

I am LOVE-ing (pun definitely intended :)) these clothing ideas from make it and love it. I DO NOT sew clothing. But embellish already made clothes I CAN DO...

I think it was so kind of her to include a fun idea for a boys shirt, girls shirt, baby shirt and Mom shirt! Thanks Ashley!

This idea for a jar full of lovely acts from Make and Takes couldn't be easier to create. The printables are ready to go, and what's less expensive than a jar, some rice and straws? I LOVE creative and cheap projects (especially ones that have an uplifting affect on the family!)

I love how easy this project would be! I saw tons of great ideas on pinterest and in the blogging world, but I can't imagine that I'll have tons of energy or time to do anything elaborate. This is right up my alley! Thanks Marie!

Well that's it for now, although I will try to post some fun ideas again soon... Here are a couple projects I did last year that I'm enjoying again!

Easy Glass Gem Art (along with my V-day Fav's from last year) and Fabric Heart Topiaries

and just to prove I am not being TOO lazy & non-creative, here are our fun Valentine's themed projects available on etsy:

Darling Mini Treat Bags- I could make these for every holiday! Oh wait, I have: Christmas, Halloween... These would be great to fill with candy for a special friend or let your little one take her Valentine's to school in it! There's a link on the halloween post for the pattern if you want to make them yourself!

Sweetheart Super Hero Cape Set! Includes the cape with custom initial (we love personalizing!), wristbands with hearts, pink masks and darling matching tutu... great for your sweet little someone on Valentine's Day!

Valentine's {Favorites}

Here are a couple of my favorite Valentine's projects, crafts, decor and accessories:

LOVE-in' this heart made out of red glass gems. I painted a wood frame white and then decoupaged a cute paper on the front, glued the gems in a heart shape to another piece of decorative paper. Super easy... (I'm not sure where I found this idea- please let me know if you've seen it so I can give proper credit to whoever it is that inspired me!)

These darling hair clips from Eden's Flower Garden. The matching flower is actually a baby bracelet!!

I found these mailboxes at Target ($1) right after Christmas. I knew I needed some and could somehow dress them up. When I saw this post from the Crafting Chicks, I knew what to do!

Here are my mailboxes:

And I found little Jackson's the other day jammed full of cars and airplanes. I think he likes it :)

{Here are a few of my favorites from other craft blogs:}

Valentine frames from Eighteen25. She switches these frames out for different holidays all year!

This heart garland from Sweet Bee Buzzings. SO darling! I will definitely be making one with my sewing lesson girls next week!

Heart Wreath from Wise Old Owl Designs. I love the look of ribbon and tulle!

These pillows from Felt So Cute are darling- and wouldn't be too hard to make. Some of them are from used sweaters!

This conversation heart frame by Simply Crafty would be so easy to make and is so fabulous.

And a couple free printables to feature:

This darling frog printable from Shindig Parties would be perfect for handouts to friends or a Valentine party.

I love these holiday spins on Keep Calm and Carry On, this free printable from Lolly Jane would look great in any frame (but I especially love that one)!

Thanks for the fabulous blogs out there that keep me inspired and excited to try new things.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Valentine Fabric Heart Topiaries

After seeing this post from Craft-O-Maniac, I decided I had to make my own and tweek it a little. Instead of stapling the fabric together, I actually handsewed (is that a word?) it, and added my own embellishments. Plus with this super fab. fabric from Michael Miller, you just can't go wrong. I made one for my new house (yay!), one for my mom and maybe one for my swap partner. (Don't want to ruin a surprise or anything.)

So here's what I did, full of details and pictures so you can make one (or two or three) sets for the ones you love.

MATERIALS:

heart template

(4) pieces of 5X6 coordinating fabric

(2) wooden dowels or meat skewers

(2) terra cotta pots

cross-stitch thread

large needle

polyester fiberfill

foil or styrofoam or newspaper to stuff pot

white paint

shredded paper

ribbon

I used this heart template from family fun (cut largest heart for template)

Start by cutting 5X6 pieces of two different fabrics (twice). Place two different (so it's reversible) fabrics with wrong sides together, pin.

Trace it in disappearing ink (love that pen- if you don't have one and you sew often, get one.)

then cut outside the line with pinking shears.

Pick your favorite coordinating color from the collection of friendship bracelet string you still have from 4th grade and thread on thick needle.

Leaving a tail at the start, sew along the (almost) disappearing (but hopefully not yet) line.

sew all the way around, leaving a 2-3 inch gap to stuff with polyester fiberfill

then continue sewing and stick a dowel or skewer in the bottom, then tie a knot around it and clip the tails.

Then paint a couple of terra cotta pots (I used both 1.5 inch and 3 inch pots and like both sizes!) white- or whatever color you want.

Wrap foil around dowel and stuff pot so it stays in the middle (styrofoam would work too, but I didn't have any, so foil it is)

Then put some paper shreds in the pot, add ribbon embellishments and/or buttons and you're done!! (Sorry about all the parenthesis, I got a little ( ) happy...)

These were so fun and easy to make! Hope you enjoyed the tutorial!