Valentine Craft Ideas

Valentine's day is right around the corner and today I have a little grouping of some ideas for crafts, easy decor and party decorating!  

1.  Scrap Fabric Garlands are one of my favorite things to make for events, holidays or just because

2.  Paper garlands are another easy project, especially if you don't have extra fabric lying around.

3.  These Mailbox centerpieces are so easy and cute!  And you can make them for $2!

4.  If you are hosting a Valentine party or banquet I have some ideas for decorating on a budget.

4.  These paper pinwheels are so sweet and easy to make

5. A little fabric, embroidery hoop, some scrap paper and a hot glue gun and you have a sweet fabric wreath

I think this year instead of making anything new I will reuse some of these items I have made in the past.  Sometimes its best to go with what you already have!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Dollar Store Chalkboard Ornaments

A few weeks back a came across a christmas ornament diy that I just loved from Emily at 52 Mantels.  I love to chalkboard just about anything so this was right up my ally and I'm all about adding in some black this year to our christmas decor so this was perfect!  Oh, and its cheap - score again!  So here's my take on this little chalkboard ornament.

So first thing you need is a package of plastic ornaments from the dollar store in your choice of color.  I loved the idea of red and black together so I went with that.

Since they are cheap and plastic you just use the line that runs down the middle as your tape line.  I used a wide blue painters tape and it ended up setting up perfectly for me to paint.  Oh, I also removed the little gold tops so I wouldn't get paint all over them.

I just used chalkboard spray paint because I already had some.  I ended up doing two quick coats.

After a little dry time, I had a cute little chalkboard ornament!  I liked the idea of adding a little red and white bakers twine to hang them.

Super easy, super cheap but really cute!  Love these kinds of projects!

Take care and have an amazing Thanksgiving everyone!

A Few More Party Things

I'm continuing with our little party project theme today and sharing with you a few more diy party decorations that we did for my niece's sixteenth birthday.  Last week I showed you the signature board and table centerpiece I made from items I already had and dollar bin finds.  Today I'll let you know what I did with all of this ribbon (which I found either in the dollar bin at AC Moore or at the Dollar Store).  I know you just can't wait.

I tried to make things that my niece would want to use again and maybe even put up in her room.  It's tough to gain the approval of birthday decorations from a sixteen year old but I got a huge thumbs up from Ashleigh on these next two.  She actually got down right excited when she saw them, and I'm not even exaggerating.

These are both so easy and inexpensive.  The first little project was a ribbon garland.  I'm sure you've seen these all over pinterest and blogland.  I think they are so cute.  In order for this to work for my niece though it had to be a bit funky.  Ever since she has moved in with us she has talked about wanting a room painted lime green, orange and purple.  Even though we haven't busted out the paint brushes one this on yet I thought I'd give her some things in those colors to make her room more fun.

In addition to cutting my ribbon strips I also cut up a bandana to use with this as well.  All this took were my strips of ribbon, a piece of yarn and me tying the ribbon on the yarn.  Simple.  

So while I was making this, Justin thought that this was something I was making to actually leave in our kitchen for decoration - like all the time.  When I asked him what he thought he said, ummm, well it's a little kermit the frog, haha!  He kept asking me questions like, Where exactly are you putting this? and What exactly is this again?  I finally realized he wasn't getting that this was a birthday party project so when I filled him in he let out a huge sigh of relief, realizing that I hadn't gone all wacky and kermit the frog on him.  Although, Ashleigh thought this was the coolest thing ever and that was all that mattered.

Ok, next up is a little bandana wreath I made from a beaten up old wreath form from the Dollar Store, a bandana (that I just cut in strips) and a few felt flowers.

Just a little hot glue was all I needed.

I have a little tutorial on how to make felt flowers, don't worry they are easy and it involves no sewing!

For some reason, this is the best picture I took of the final wreath.  But, you get the idea.  I also used a little flower cut-out I made to finish it off and make it birthdayish.

Once again - I scored some cute lanterns at the Dollar Store in our perfect colors.  Always check there first!!!

I think I'm all partied out now between this and the Senior Salute event.  Don't forget to join us tomorrow for the first story in our new Share Your Story series!!!  Can't wait!

DIY - No Sew Felt Flowers

We're getting crafty again today with felt.  I love felt flowers, they are so easy and fun to make and you can use them in so many ways.  Felt is really inexpensive, you can even find it at the Dollar Store in packs of 12 or you can get larger sheets at your local craft stores for around $.30 each.  Ok, let's get started.

All you need to make these flowers are felt, scissors and a hot glue gun.

First Flower - start with cutting your felt into a strip, about 1.5" in width.

Fold your felt in half length-wise and hot glue your felt across the top to keep is secure.

Next, cut slits all the way across your felt - but not cutting all the way through the glued edge.

Start your flower by rolling the end and gluing secure.

Continue rolling and gluing along the way as your flower starts to form.  You really just need a dot of glue here and there.

Yay!  You have a cute little felt flower.  You can add another strip to make it larger, cut your slits smaller or larger to create a different look, add leaves - go crazy.  

Ok, next flower is a little different.  Start by cutting out a circle in your felt.  Obviously from my example the circle doesn't have to be perfect - it was just a quick free hand cut.

Next, begin cutting on the edge and around the circle, like a spiral.

Until you have one long curly strip.

Start your flower the same as before, turning in the edge and rolling around.  Make sure you start at the narrow end of your strip.  Continue rolling and gluing just like before.

Now you have a sweet little felt rose.

Add a different color, add beads or pearls to the center, whatever your heart desires.

I can't wait to use all of my little felt flowers on all sorts of projects.  I think these would also be really cute on presents instead of bows.  How sweet are they?

Thanks for stopping by today, hope you are having a wonderful week!

PS - Dont' forget to enter our giveaway!