Happy Love Day!

Happy love day lovelies! I hope you are all feeling the love on this sunny Sunday? We are spending it quietly at home today. The last two weeks have packed a few painful punches! We've all had colds, sickness, and general season fatigue me thinks! Mummy bear (that's me!) has been suffering with a tooth abscess, and mixed in with all that the car decided to misbehave too! This all did not bode well for a challenging work schedule! So, hence we are taking time out to take a deep breath and adjust our sails!

The one thing that relaxes me, is spending time at the helm of my sewing machine. Or so it should! I set to work today to sew a little cheerful house, but it wasn't without the odd hiccough! I recycled a beautifully embroidered vintage hankie, making a decorative hanging house by combining it with some favourite fabric. After adding some hand stitching of my own to the front of the house, I set to work to sew the shape for the house. Note to self: Always, always pin right sides together! Grrr...Rookie error! I ended up having to unpick it, and start again! But, I finished it, and I did enjoy getting round to doing some sewing again. How I've missed it!

I also got round to doing a little painting this week. I picked up this sweet metal lantern house in a sale. It was considerably reduced, as it was leftover Christmas stock.

Not to keen on the maroon roof, I took a paintbrush to it, and now it looks a little more cheerful and perfect for spring!

Blessings

Happy Love Day...

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. How will you spend it? Over in our corner of the world, it will kick off with a nice family breakfast. Hubby is working the night shift, so he will come home to fried eggs, and pancakes...the pancakes are more for mummy and the kids...It will be a normal day, just like any other, with a little bit of love shown with small gestures...tiny tokens of 'I love you's'...

♥Handmade with love♥...

Some treat envelopes for the kidlets...Yip, I'm no Monet, but then they don't ask for much! Hopefully my efforts will cheer their day!

And inside? A few sweet treats...

The house has also had a little 'love' sprinkled in places...The dresser is dressed in hearts, and the colour of love...red...♥

To me, nothing says 'I love you' more than a thoughtful bit of 'handmade'...

So, no grand gestures here...just little celebrations on 'Love Day'...May you know that you are loved too...

Blessings

Little I love you's...

How do you say 'I love you'? Do you like big gestures, long sentences, maybe warm hugs? Every year Valentine's day comes, and I look the other way, ignoring it as if it's an irritating nag. I don't like the commercialism surrounding it, and certainly won't be told when to indulge in romance. I get bored easily with the predictable, and so choose not to participate in the supermarkets' idea of romantic gestures. But, this year I've decided to embrace a little of the sentiment behind it, and to use the 14th of February to show  my loved ones that they're loved, in a fun and inexpensive way! I have spent pennies on a few treats for the kidlets, and have crafted them into something a little more interesting, and decided that hubby would be treated in the same way! Some ideas have come from the lovely online community out there, and some are just my own silliness, but I'd like to show you that 'I love you' doesn't have to be accompanied by big expense. Here are some of the treats they'll be enjoying throughout the day. I have decided to hide them in places where they are bound to find them...pants drawers...inside their shoes, hanging on the key rack...etc. You get the idea!

Treat no. 1...

Banana sweets in cellophane bags...'I'm bananas for you!'

 Some Millions....

'Million's' made into butterfly, saying 'You're one in a million!' (I made blue butterflies for the boys)

Nothing says 'I love you' like flowers...well, lollipops do just just as well!

Hubby likes nuts...

Some chocolate of course!

And what about some jaw-breaking fireballs to spice up your love life?

I added a little love note saying 'Come on baby, light my fire...' (Cheesy enough you think?)

So, saying 'I love you' need not break the bank! All the little treats have been eagerly hidden for the kiddies and hubby to wake up to. I'll let you know how it all goes down! Night-night! ♥♥♥

Affairs of the HE♥RT

As Valentine's day is fast approaching, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to talk hearts! I'm sure you all know by now that I'm partial to this symbol of love, and have quite a few dotted around the house. Today I thought I'd share some old ones, and some new ones that I have made to add some loving cheer to just about every nook and cranny in our house! Firstly, one I made today...

I painted a plain wooden heart using a stippling effect. Once it was dry I simply decorated it with some lace and transfers that I had in my scrapbooking stash. I added a button for a little dimension. Done!

I made this one a little while ago,  also using transfers. I did also use a stamp for the word 'Celebrate', and added some tiny gems...

A stitched variety....

A selection of hearts on a wooden stand...These are not just for Valentine's day, but stay up all year round!





Will you be making some hearts? Let me know which gets your blood pumping! 

A 'no-sew' Valentine Quickie

For those of you who don't cringe at the mention of Valentine's day, I thought I'd share a little project with you, which in all fairness, might 'deck the halls' all year round as I like it so much! Who doesn't like hearts? I personally love them, and have quite a few scattered around the house. I wanted to make something for Valentine's day that could go in the kitchen. I always have a wreath hanging on the door (that's inside!), and so needless to say I thought of making one for the 'month of love.' The best thing is, it only took about half an hour! Okay...so it's not a complex, time-consuming work of art and craftsmanship, but that's what's great about it! Anyone can do this! So, a list of goodies needed:

1.  One polystyrene wreath base, size...whatever tickles your fancy! It really doesn't matter. I used one that measures 30cm diameter. 
2.  A pair of knee-length socks or tights in your choice of colour, pattern or designer. I really don't think it matters whether they're from Ralph Lauren or Poundland! As long as they're clean!
3. Scissors: For cutting the toes off the end of the socks. (I believe cutting the ends off Ralph's socks hurts more!)
4. Pins...LOTS!
5. Co-ordinating papers in your choice of colours and patterns. I used some scraps I had left over from previous projects. TIP: Never throw good, usable scraps away! You just never know when they'll come in handy!
6. Ribbon, to make a bow
7. Lastly, and this is where your 'quickie' can turn into a saga:  I used a Big Shot die-cutting machine with heart dies to cut out the hearts. If you don't have anything like this handy, you simply have to cut the hearts out by hand! It might take a little longer...okay, it will take a little longer, but it will be worth it!

So, method...

1. Firstly, you cut through the wreath with a scarp knife to create an opening. This is where you'll thread the socks onto the wreath.
2. Cut the toes off the socks, and feed the socks onto the wreath. You'll have to play and fiddle to get it looking tidy. I pulled the socks tight for a smooth fit, but you could also use two pairs to create a ruched effect.
3. Cut out hearts in different sizes.
4. Pin the hearts to the wreath. Let your imagination run wild!
5. Use the ribbon to create a bow. Add a bow to the bottom, or top, or not at all. It's up to you.
6. Hang it up, stand back...and gasp in admiration of your handiwork!

I hope you will have a go at making one yourself. Come on, give it all your heart! Lol...till next time!

P.S. It goes without saying that pins are sharp, and therefore dangerous. Take care when using, and put out your wreath out of reach of children and those bearing a grudge!