Valentine's Day

How I Love Valentine's Day!

Do you love it, too, or is it just another day? It is odd because I'm not really all that fond of heart motifs, for example: on a shirt or jewelry. But I still love Valentine's Day. No idea why....

Today's post is a roundup of old Valentine ideas.

Heart shaped cinnamon rolls - the complete post here. Yum-o!

Next is this fluffy easy to make Valentine Wreath, made with coffee filters! The complete tutorial is here. This is the third year I've displayed these, outside no less, and they still look great.

Just a quick book heart...so sweet! It only takes thirty pages to make this.  Link to the original post here. Or directly to the tutorial here.

Be sure to check out the Sweetheart Tatted Heart post with a FREE pattern to make it here.

More soon...
XOXO

First Ever Christmas Post:

Oh Christmas time is here!

Usually I love to shop, but this year I think I will try to make it a completely home made Christmas and forego the shopping. I haven't done that in years, and it is quite the challenge. The decorating is also scaled back...I love the lights and tree and do dads, but I am not going quite so overboard in 2017.

I learned to tat two years ago and tatted sixteen of these star snowflake beauties. Gave most of them away as presents last year! This year I'm doing a different pattern and am planning to give most of them away again. It is so magical that just a simple knot can make something so beautiful.

The house is dressed in traditional colored lights.

The front door deck is decorated with my old sled and red wagon.

The stockings are ready and waiting for Santa.

Handmade coffee filter and Epson salt snowflakes are glistening in the sun.

And quietly falling on the windows.

Shortbread snowflake cookies are baked and ready to eat. YUM! Yes, I will have to make another batch before Christmas Eve. 

My very first quilt is ready to cuddle under with a mug of hot cocoa and a cookie. Then I think I'll settle down to a long winters nap! And just enjoy the sparkle of the season.

Spring Wreath

Yeah! Today is the first day of Spring! And to welcome the season I have an easy Spring Wreath for you to make. 

It was made with items that I already had on hand...so more or less for free.

I purchased the tulips several years ago from the dollar store. I think that I bought eight bunches at a dollar each, then snipped them apart using some old tin snips.The grapevine wreaths I've had for about ten years...and keep changing them to suit my mood and season. The ribbon I got at Walmart two years ago at an after Easter sale for just a dollar. There was fifteen feet of ribbon on the roll and I used it all except for about two inches. Shown in the picture below are two pipe cleaners (chenille stems) one for each wreath that I had on hand from another project. Divide the tulips and start weaving them into the grapevine base. I used seven per side, leaving about two inches for the ribbon in between (fourteen for each wreath, twenty-eight total). No glue needed!

Cut the ribbon in two equal pieces.  Make four loops of ribbon to make the bow, then cut the ribbon,  take the rest of that piece and use it for the tails on the bow. Wrap it around the loops (two on each side) and secure in the back with one pipe cleaner. Secure the pipe cleaner to the grapevine wreath. Cut the ends of the tails on the diagonal and tweak the ribbon to show some movement.

Here are the finished wreaths guarded by Tilly my Havanese guard dog. She might lick you to death! So quick and easy!

Valentine Wreath

Valentine's Day is almost here! Can you believe it? Today I have a quick and easy wreath tutorial using items you might already have. I'm sure you have seen versions of this wreath around the web...hope you like my version and find my tutorial easy to follow. There are several options to make this wreath completely your own!

Items Needed:
Cardboard  (Amazon Box?)
Scissors
Coffee Filters (about 65 total - 35 pink and 30 white. Wreath size approximately 14 inches by across by 11 inches tall by 2 inches wide to fill in) 
Permanent Double Sided Tape
Optional Items:
Rotary Cutter
Self Healing Mat
Freezer Paper
Red Food Color
Low Temp Glue Gun
Tabs From Two Soda/Beer Cans (no judgement here!)
Ribbon

Step One - optional: Color your coffee filters...they only take a few minutes to dry.

Use a small bowl and add a few drops of red food coloring then add some water and mix well. Just dip the fluted edges of the filters (10 or so at a time) in the bowl and watch the color move up. Separate and place on paper towels to dry. Note: If you make a larger cardboard form you will need more coffee filters.

Step Two - optional: Cut the fluted edges into petals as pictured below.

This makes the filters look a little like roses when they are gathered and placed on the cardboard form. Iron the filters if needed then stack them together and cut away!  You get a slightly different look when you don't do this step. Note: You can also use natural colored coffee filters.

Step Three - optional: Make the template for the cardboard form.

My finished template is approximately 14 inches across by 11 inches tall by 2 inches wide.  Cut out the template, iron to the cardboard and mark with a pencil or marker. (I like the pencil better because it makes a tiny indent for your rotary cutter...just a little easier.)

Step Four: Make the cardboard form.

If not using a template make a heart shape approximately 14 inches across by 11 inches tall by 2 inches wide. Cut out the cardboard using a rotary cutter or scissors. Note: If you make a larger cardboard form or one to fill in completely you will need more coffee filters.


Step Five - optional: Make the hangers for attaching the ribbon to hang the heart.

Yippee, you get to use your low temp glue gun. Bend your two soda tabs slightly and glue the portion without the hole to the cardboard form. Make sure to have the hole side of the tab on the top and place on the top portion of the heart with the hole flared away from the cardboard. Use lots and lots of glue and let it dry before proceeding.

Step Six: Gather the filters and make a flower shape.

Step Seven: Tape to cardboard form.

Apply your permanent double sided tape to the cardboard form then press a gathered filter onto the tape. Continue taping then gathering and pressing more filters until the form is completely covered in the design of your choice.

Step Eight - optional: Add ribbon to hang the heart.

I used two pieces of 1/2 inch satin ribbon, each about 22 inches long. If you skip this step then just push your cardboard onto your nail, still cute.

Step Nine: Admire!

I would love to see a photo of your finished wreath!