Home Run to Valentine's Day!

www.MiaPuPe.etsy.com

Welcome to my last Valentine's Day blog for the year!

I sure have had fun!

vintage song sheet cover, c.1912

Today will be a mish-mash of fun things I have wanted to share,

but just haven't had the time!

So....

let's gooooooo

(my favorite phrase in the Peter Pan's Flight Ride at DisneyLand!)

www.FairestLJ.etsy.com

"Camellia Girl", Alice Gratz artist

'Polly Pratt Had a Valentine', by Sheila Young

www.coolmompicks.com

If you have twitchy fingers tonight,

and want to do some last minute Valentines,

here are a few ideas!

found on Martha Stewart Crafts site

I cannot take any credit for this really cute idea!

You can find the full instructions on Martha Stewart's web site.

I can tell you it involves 

a circle of felt

glue

typed or hand written little notes

and mini kisses if you want.

Super easy.

Very unique!

Here's another Quick and Easy but Super Unique Valentine -

one that even the boys can give away!!

found on www.tipjunkie.com

Now how cute is that?

I'm thinking black cardstock,

(because construction paper has a way of bleeding...)

print out your words

or

have your kid help hand write them,

a hole punch,

attach a 'Dum Dum' sucker with a bit of tape -

or even better rubber cement

and

off you go to the Class party!

If you have little girls at the age of paper dolls

and of course I think that is at any age....

Try one of these for Valentine's Day cards!

Joan Walsh Anglund - a wonderful artist!

Mary Engelbreit - another favorite!

Note the addition of a Chinese New Year costume!

(We are in the Year of the Snake, or Little Dragon now).

a cutie I found at www.cottonartsboutique.com

Do you have treats you need to supply at the school party?

Want to do a little something fun for the office?

Know a shut-in who would love a little Valentine Love?

Here we gooooo.....

I do not have a credit for this yummy photo,

but let's break it down.

Candy pokes or plastic toothpicks

assorted sprinkles and chopped nuts

candy melts in different colors/flavors.

You can get the first 3 items at your local hobby store like Michael's.

individual Caramels

(oh, you know where to get those!)

Carefully melt some different colors/flavors of the Candy Melts (like Wilton's)

in a zip lock plastic bag in the microwave.

Don't do a huge batch, just a few to start.

Don't cook too long!

Stir well.

(you can do this by squishing the bag around in your hands)

Stick a toothpick in a caramel,

room temp works best,

and then dip each caramel into the (melted) candy melts .

Quickly dip ends into the sprinkles or chopped nuts.

Set on rack to dry/harden.

(waxed paper underneath to catch drips...)

They will harden very quickly if you put them into the freezer,

or quickly if you put them into the refrigerator.

Now, take a contrasting color of candy melt,

melted in the zip lock baggie,

and snip a TINY corner off the bottom.

You can then drizzle this color on top of plain caramels,

caramels dipped in a different color candy melt,

or on top of the chopped nuts.

Refer to the photo above!

www.vintageholidaycrafts.com

It took a lot of 'splainin',

but it goes super fast, and really is easy.

The big danger with these is over cooking the melts in the microwave.

No microwave?

You can easily use a double boiler instead.

No double boiler? Make a substitute -

One large saucepan and one smaller saucepan.

Put in an inch or so of water in the larger one, bring to boil.

Reduce heat. 

Place smaller saucepan inside, drop in candy melts and melt.

Stir frequently, and keep the steam away from the melts!

I like to use plastic spatulas to stir.

Enjoy!

These look really pretty on a paper doily on a paper plate,

or one each in a candy wrapper cup (Wilton's).

Since I've been talking chocolate,

here is a tutorial I found on pinterest,

on Janelle Cataldo's board-

How cool is that?!!

Remember this for Easter,

you could fill the bowls with jelly beans

or little Peeps and green coconut

or???

a matroyshka doll card made by inkspired

from Sandra Lounsbury Foose's

"Papercrafting In No Time"

Nerdy Mug by www.Mugsleys.etsy.com

Here's another simple food idea for a Valentine's Party.

Better Homes & Gardens web site

Adapt:

frost the cake white and use red and pink suckers

frost the cake white, and use pastel suckers for Easter or Spring parties!

Want a 'cleaner' Party?

Use Red and Pink Tootsie Roll Pops in their wrappers!

or...

blue and pink

or pastel Tootsie Roll Pops (yes, they make them!)...

or

how about white cake with green suckers for Saint Patrick's Day?

really

your imagination is the limit with this very simple and easy idea!

a Kokeshi Valentine Doll by Jacque Davis

vintage valentine found on 

www.collectdolls.about.com

I'll finish up with a few coloring pages.

Print off multiples,

as those kids high on chocolate are going to get bored easily

and need a 

'let's quiet down now' activity!

and maybe you do too....

all courtesy of Dover Publications

and one from Jan Brett's web site

which is FULL of other great fun...

Have a super sweet rest-of-the-day!

inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

and

pinterest - karenkloberdans

vintage Valentine

Great FREE craft site

Hi!

personalized hangings and more

http://www.prettypinkhouse.etsy.com/

Having a really tired day.

I got up early to go meet a friend for breakfast.

Before 10am.

I usually don't speak to anyone, much less be dressed

and ready to go anywhere

Before 10am.

yawn.

Then when we were saying goodby,

I was getting into the trusty red van when

ooww!

something poinged in my back, and now I hurt.

ouch.

It's hot again today, but not nearly as hot

as elsewhere in the states.

I shouldn't complain.

It's hot.

mosaic mirror by http://www.laurawinzeler.etsy.com/

Today I am going to be brief

(is that possible for me?)

and just share some cool things

and a website where you can find tons

of free craft patterns.

soda can purse with ultra suede lining

http://www.monicamarie.etsy.com/

travel house pocket with peeps

http://www.feevertelaine.etsy/

dragonfly doll from a wooden spoon

www.munieca.etsy.com

spoon herb garden markers

www.lilfoolery.etsy.com

vintage suitcase redone to a picnic getaway

http://www.heartfeltvintage.etsy.com/

The following website has tons of free craft pages.

http://rubyglen.com/crafts.htm

You can easily spend an hour or two just grazing.

Here are some samples of what she offers.

It is a very random, very small sample!

Terra Cotta Birdbath

Handmade Mulberry paper Card

Milkweed Pod Poinsettia Ornaments

Easy Potpourri Pie

Round Crochet Rag Rug

How to Air-Dry Flowers

Decoupage Plant Markers

Make candles from Old Crayons

Girls Journal

Unique Gift Wrapping Ideas

Coffee Can Container Gardne

Homemade Beaded Candles

Homemade Scented Bath Salts

Flavored Vinegars and Oils

Beautiful Balloon Wedding Decorations

Soap Crayons....

the list goes on and on and on!

Have fun exploring today!

Better yet, go get a glass of

Celestial Seasonings Tea, cold or hot

and a small bowl of M&Ms.

Or mixed nuts if you can't do that chocolate thing.

sigh.

Relax.

Take 3 Deep Breaths

and go!

see you tomorrow,

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com



A Crafty Rosy Day

Aloha!

Since the Rose is June's Flower of the Month,

and there are like a bazillion things to read, inspire, decorate, etc. with roses, I thought today it would be fun to do some

Crafty Rose Things!

glassgemsbychristine, etsy

she handpaints all these!

Marvelous talent!

Let's get out the super duper crayola box

we should all have:

illustration by Alfred Parsons,

Austrian Brier Rose

You could also use watercolor pencils easily with any of these color-your-own designs.

This dress will fit yesterday's paper doll.

courtesy Liana's blog

courtesy Dover Books

Next is a lovely Rose pattern to use

 with the iris folding technique.

Use different shades of papers to get beautiful roses

of all different colors!

Remember to choose 3 - 4 different papers,

but in the same color group.

rose pattern removed at the request of bergkaarten

Redoute Rose painting

Here is a bead pattern of a rose:

Here is a lovey cake with roses on top.

You could easily do this with silk roses,

or be elaborate and make frosting roses!

Next up is a charming paperdoll

to personalize and color yourself:

Lots of Roses!

Thank you to OrigamiBears

for sharing her fabulous collection of paper dolls!

Take a peek at these lovely beaded felt roses for sale

by www.beedeebabee.etsy.com

Her work is just gorgeous!

Next I have a couple of vintage labels.

You can purchase fabric that will go through your printer! Download any rose picture, or vintage label like this one, and print it onto the printer friendly fabric! Then simply applique the print onto anything of your choice!

Some ideas:

t-shirts

aprons

pot holders/tea towels

curtains

child garments

a fabric parasol

vest, or shirt

pillow

tote bag

The Vintage Workshop has many different kinds of fabrics and papers that you can print on.

They also sell beautiful designs to use.

vintage labels

vintage illustration

That should be plenty

to get your creative cap on!

Be bold.

Fear is not in our vocabulary.

Try something new!

Try something outside your comfort zone,

outside what you already know how to do.

Experiment!

Play!

and most of all,

don't forget to giggle.

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/