Valentine Wish Bracelet

I made lots of valentines this year but I wanted something I could send to all of the ladies I love and give to the young women I work with at church.  I needed something inexpensive and not too time consuming, so I came up with this heart wish bracelet.

I ordered the open heart charms here off Etsy from Lorettas Beads.  She has hundreds of different charms and beads and other jewelry items.

I had the other items, like red twine, in my stash.

I looped the twin onto the charms, mounted them on some card stock and had a cute valentine ready to share.  The young women last night were so excited about them and I'm hoping to see wrists full of them on Sunday.

Be My Valen(twine)

I whipped up a few valentines this morning and this is probably the EASIEST valentine I've ever done.

I gathered a few things I bought from CuteTape: 

bakers twine (pink, white & red)
gift tags
washi tape
an old clothes pin from my grandma

I simply wrapped up some twine around the clothes pin, made a little tag and I had a quick, simple valen(twine). 

Weathered Wood Sign

I wanted something a little "aged" to put on my mantle for Valentine's Day so I whipped up this weathered wood heart sign last week.

I started by tearing apart this old weathered crate.  I've used it on the porch in the fall but it was starting to fall apart and the wood was perfect for my project.

I lined up several pieces and hot glued them to two boards on the back.  Quick and simple.  Then I white washed them with some craft acrylic.

 

 

 

Last I painted a heart on with acrylic then sanded it down to give it a little distressing. 

 

I love how it looks on the mantle!

Felt Ball Garland Giveaway!

I whipped up some Valentine's garland this afternoon to giveaway as my first act of love for our 14 Acts of Love.

My friend bought the felt balls and we split the reds, pinks and whites.

I bought the bakers twine over at CuteTape.  She sells all sorts of twine, washi tape, gift tags, bags, paper goods and embellishments.  I love that it's three colors: red, pink and white. 

I threaded the twine on a large needle then pushed it through the balls.  This one measures roughly 3 yards.  This is such an easy, fast project to add some cute pop to your holiday décor or party.

The best news is.....I'm giving this one away!  Head over to my Instagram { www.instagram.com/sometimescreative } to sign up to win this garland.  I'll take entries until Sunday night and mail it out Monday morning!

Good luck.

Until Next Time Notes

I'm excited this week to tell you about Until Next Time Notes.

 

They sell greeting cards, gift tags and fun party decorations.  They are a one stop shop for all of your party needs.  They'll customize things specifically for your party including invitations, banners, flags, straws, gift bags, cupcake toppers, place cards, table numbers and party favors.

They have great ideas posted on their blog including a really cute Valentine's Day Party as well as a free Valentine printable.

Ariel sent me some cute thank you cards for my guests at my upcoming Ladies Valentine Exchange.  I'm excited to share her products with them.  You can find more of her cards here.

She sent some fun cards and cute paper bows for me as well.

 

If you have an upcoming party, check them out for sure!  Be sure and follow along on her Facebook and her Instagram to see what fun products and party ideas she's sharing.

 

 

Valentine Activities & Crafts for Kids

Here are a few Valentine things we've done in the past.  Enjoy!

1.  Heart sun catchers to hang in the trees
2.  Kids Valentine's Party
3.  Crayon hearts {complete with my secret to easily unwrapping the Crayolas}
4.  Valentine Snowflakes
5.  Shaving cream marbled hearts
6.  Valentine count down

Let me know if you try any of them out!

Play-Doh Valentines

I've seen cute Play-Doh Valentines all over the web and I knew they'd be an easy, quick valentine this year.  I was still feeling pretty nauseous in February so I was all about simple.

I purchased the Play-Doh in a 24 box for $15.00. 

I found a cute printable label over at Random Thoughts of a Super Mom but I couldn't get it to print clearly for me.  So, I recreated my own.

I printed the labels on card stock.  Then my son just punched out the circles with my EK Success Whale Scallop Punch.  {Love those!}  He glued them on with a tape runner and we were done!

 

I volunteered in his class on Valentine's Day and there was much buzz about the Play-Doh.  They were so much more fun than the paper ones from the store and so simple.

Valentine's Party

The kiddos invited a few friends over on Valentine's Day for a little party.  Keeping with my theme for the year {Keep It Simple} I kept it pretty simple. 

First everyone decorated a bag to put their valentines in.  I laid out crayons and stickers...mess free.

They played a few games like Duck, Duck, Goose, Hot Potato and Freeze Dance.  They love these games as much as themed ones I spent time and money making up.

They played Valentine Bingo with candy hearts.  I printed the bingo cards off at Crayola.com. 

My friend, Julie, made cookies even though her kiddos got sick and missed the party.  She makes the best, soft, thick sugar cookies {recipe below.}  She even brought icing and sprinkles and the kids all decorated their own.  Thanks, Julie!

I kept the food minimal as it was after lunch.

I made up a pink punch with raspberry sherbet, pink lemonade and sprite.  I also cut up watermelon and cheese with a heart cookie cutter.  Then I put out a few bowls of candies.  That with the sugar cookies was plenty for these little ones.

Last they exchanged valentines.  I love seeing what people came up with and they loved looking at their valentines and showing them off to their dad when he got home. 

We ended Valentine's Day with sushi and then chocolate fondue.  Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day yourself!

Now for the recipe.  These sugar cookies are soft, thick and have a hint of lemon flavor.  Try them.  You won't be sorry!

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies*

2 1/4 cups sifted flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten well
1 Tbsp heavy cream

Sift flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg and then sift again a second time, set aside. Add lemon rind to butter and cream thoroughly. Add sugar gradually and cream together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and cream then beat thoroughly. Add dry ingredients gradually and blend. Chill overnight. Form into balls or roll then cut shapes.  Bake at 400*F for 10 minutes.

*My friend got this recipe from another friend.  We do not know the source.  I claim no rights to this recipe, I just wanted to share it with you.

Valentine Mixed CD

I made up a mixed CD to leave in my husband's car on Valentine's Day Morning. 

I found this great printable CD cover via Design Mom here.  It was actually designed by Danielle at Dandee Designs.

I wanted to find some love songs that we don't hear over and over.  So, I turned to my good friend, Eden.  She's a music resource queen.  Not only does she have an amazing voice, she hosts "Music Monday" each week on Facebook and posts all sorts of great music.  She has a few songs on Youtube that she's recorded and a super funny parody about being "Mom of the Year."  I think we can all relate, don't you?

 

Here are the songs I burned for the CD:

• A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
• As Far As It Goes by George Strait
• I And Love And You by The Avett Brothers
• She Is Love by Parachute
• The Scientist by Coldplay
• Turn Your Lights Down Low by Colbie Caillat
• The Reason by Hoobastank
• What If You by Joshua Radin
• The Only Exception by Paramore
• Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
• My Infinite Love by George Strait
• Without You from Rent
• Lucky by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
• Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti

 What songs would you include in a LOVE mixed CD?

  

Out of this World Valentine

My son picked out these little glow-in-the-dark aliens to give out as valentines.  His preschool specifically asked not for candy or treats so we headed to Party City and this is what he found.

I created a background and printed them on card stock. 

He attached each alien with glue dots and then signed his name.

We packaged them up in clear envelopes from ClearBags.  Check them out for any paper, envelope, packaging and cellophane needs.  All sizes and colors.  Seriously.  I have stacks of colored envelopes in many sizes sitting around for projects just like this one.  I like the envelopes because they are flat and are self sealing.

Picture Perfect Valentines

Wandering through Party City this weekend, my daughter picked out these Hello Kitty cameras to give as Valentines.  They were $0.35 each and we only needed 12.  They have little pictures of Hello Kitty inside like a ViewMaster. 

I printed up a message on white cardstock and glued on a black square to look like a Polaroid picture.

She placed each camera on with glue dots.

We packaged them up in clear envelopes from ClearBags.  They are self sticking and close flat. 

a-MAZE-ing Valentines

I saw this idea on Pinterest and followed the link over to the Jac o' lyn Murphy blog by Alexis.  I completely copied her idea because it was so simple and cute.  This could easily be modified with other shaped mazes for goodie bags or parties.

I found my mazes in a package of 9 at Dollar Tree.  LOVE the Dollar Tree.

I printed up the valentines on cardstock, rounded the corners and turned them over to my son. He used glue dots to put the mazes on.

Then we packaged them up in clear envelopes from Clearbags.  They are a great resource for cellophane bags, gift packaging, envelopes and more.  I mail cards in the clear envelopes often.  You simple address and stamp the back side so the cute side of your card shows through.

Marbled Hearts

We've had some unusually warm weather here in the Midwest but it turned COLD again last week.  So, we spent a day in our jammies doing crafts. 

We made marbled paper and I made marbled hearts using vellum.  I love the way the light shows through them in the window.

Anytime we paint or get messy, the kids start off in their aprons from Stubby Pencil Studio.  They are kid sized, cute and coated in acrylic.  They wipe off so easily that I rarely even wash them.  They cook in them, paint in them and make plenty of messes in them.  Little Miss was wearing this cute frog one when we did this:

First the kids spread shaving cream around in a pan.

Next we added drops of food coloring then they swirled the colors around.

They pressed down card stock and vellum into the shaving cream.

We scraped off the shaving cream and were left with some great swirls and marbleized designs. 

I cleaned up the food coloring mess then added Elmer's glue to some shaving cream and we painted pictures.  They busted out the glitter for these ones.  The mixture dries puffy and looks like snow.

It was a very messy day and we all had food coloring stain on our hands for a couple of days, but I'm okay with that.  Because we had fun and we were creative!