Craft Night- *Luscious Wreath*

You've probably seen these wreaths all over by now. When something like this becomes so big, it's clear that it's stinkin amazing! I told my friends about how I just HAD to make one. They immediately discouraged my doing so, which was so weird! I found out a couple days later at a little birthday party they did for me that they had already bought the supplies for us to make them at the party! Such sneaky little girls. :)

There are a few tutorials out there, and I really like this one from The Idea Room.

Here's Sarah's, after just a few minutes of pinning... so much excitement!

Such sweet friends!

Just luscious...

Chalkboard "Welcome" Board

I'm a teacher, but you'd never guess by my yucky chalkboard penmanship! But I love this sign because I'll be able to change it for each holiday and event happening. How many times have I been hosting a shower or meeting, and had someone knocking and knocking on the door without my hearing it!? I'm stoked about this quick and easy piece!

All I used was:

one fat quarter
one rectangular board (mine came from the picture slot of a wood frame from JoAnn's)
thread and machine
chalkboard paint
ribbon

Step 1: Cut fabric into five 1 and 3/4 inch strips. Then sew each strip to the next to make one long strip. Press, and finish all edges.

Step 2: Baste (or stitch a long stitch) down the middle of the strip. Take the bottom thread, and pull it to gather fabric into a ruffle.
Place it around the border of the chalkboard and decide how tight to pull the ruffles. Attach the ruffles with hot glue, and you're ready!

Hot glue the ribbon to the back of frame, and you're set!

Ruffle Valentine Burlap Runner

Over at Tatertots and Jello, she did a tutorial on a Spring Burlap Runner.

I fell in love, and did my own version for Valentines Day! It's dimensions are 72" x 14" made with burlap, muslin, bias tape, and 4 different coordinating fabrics. Very easy, just takes some time. I love how it turned out!

So much ruffley joy!

Valentine Subway Art

Isn't this a beautiful Valentine spread? Visit Craftily Ever After to find out more, and for a Felt Rosette Decor Tutorial! I will be making these, stat! Gorgeous.

Felt Flower

Here's a really simple way to make these fun felt flowers you can clip to your hair or pin to your favorite sweater or coat.

All you need is:

• a flower cookie cutter
• a piece of paper
• a straight pin
• a sheet of felt
• a stapler
• a hot glue gun
• an alligator clip
• a pin to pin the flower to your clothes
  

Get a flower shaped cookie cutter and trace around the edges.

Cut out the flower and use it as a pattern to cut out 6 felt flowers.

Be sure to save a few of the long pieces left over. I usually end up with 3. One longer than the other two.

Take 4 your flower cut outs one by one and fold them in half twice.



Next, staple the flower toward the pointy edge.

Do that with 4 of the flower cut outs.

Next, take the remaining 2 flower cut outs. Fold them the same way, but staple closer to the middle.
Take the 2 folded and stapled cut outs and cut off the pointy edge.


Take your longest left over piece and make it into a scalloped edge. It does not have to be perfect. I think it's cuter if it's not. :)

Roll it up.
Like this... AND staple it!

This is what you should have. 2 rectangle pieces, 2 folded with points cut off, 2 folded with points and one rolled up piece.

Clean up the edges of one of your rectangle pieces and begin to place the pointy ended flowers on the rectangle. Hot glue them in place.


Next, take your two pieces with the points cut off and glue the ends on top of the previous 4. Glue them upright and more toward the center. This will help the flower start to be rounded and full.

Next, take your rolled up piece and glue it right in the middle of the previous two. It should be in the center of the flower. You should have a beautiful little flower.

Take your last rectangle piece and clean up the edges. Prepare your clip and your pin to be glued between the felt rectangle and your flower.


Drag a strip of glue down the back of the flower.

Attach your last rectangle strip to the flower with the pin and clip.

Wa-la! Done!
You can wear this beautiful flower in your hair or you can pin it to your clothes. Very versatile and fun!

{XOXO} Blocks

Valentine Blocks

{XOXO}

{LOVE}

{HUGS}

{KISS}

Look what our mom {Mama Mo} made us! We love these Valentine blocks, and they're great because you can change their message to say: XOXO, KISS, HUGS, or LOVE.

I love the embellishments and paper she chose.

Cricut letters, scrapbook paper squares, modpodge, and wood cubes. You're set!

Check out the other fun XOXO letters at Craft-O-Maniac's link up party!

Heart Burlap & Felt Rosette Wreath

Who doesn't love Valentine's Day? Well, apparently a lot of people! I, however, am hopelessly devoted to the traditions of the holiday. Never one to hate Valentine's Day (a.k.a. "Single Awareness Day"), I'm totally stoked to decorate for it each year!

I've proudly jumped on the burlap bandwagon, and love the organic-chic look of it! I know this stuff has a loyal following in many places. However, St Louis is not one of them, so this stuff is way hip to me!

So, for my first official burlap decor project, I made this ca-ute heart shaped wreath, inspired by this one on Craftaholics Anonymous. I wanted to add a splash of color with the felt rosettes. Here's what you need to make your own:

• wire (I used a wire hanger)
• wire cutters and pliers
• 1/4 yard of burlap (there are many color choices)
• 4 pages of felt
• ribbon
• scissors
• hot glue gun

Cutting burlap can be tricky, so I learned a lot from this link, also from Craftaholics Anonymous.

Step 1: Using pliers, take your wire (or hanger) and form into shape of a heart. Leave a little extra for twisting it closed when you're finished placing the burlap. The closure can be at any spot on the heart.

Step 2: Cut your burlap into several 2 1/2 inch strips. I used 6 strips for mine. Take the strips, and thread them (accordian style) onto the wire as shown below.
Do that for all the strips, and choose how full you want your wreath. After you've added the burlap you want, arrange it and decide where you want your rosettes. The rosettes will be placed permanently in their spots, so keep that in mind.

Step 3: Begin making your rosettes by taking one piece of felt, and cutting it into a large circle, using most of the rectangular sheet of felt. Then take that circle, and cut the edge into a random wave-like pattern all the way around. After you make the whole circle wavy, begin to cut about a half inch strip inside the circle, following the outside of the circle (only no waves this time). You'll cut the circle into a spiral. When you approach the end, stop cutting and leave a small circle of felt attached to the spiral.

Begin rolling the top of the spiral as shown below, and place dabs of hot glue along the way. Note that you have a wavy side of the spiral strip, and a flat edge. Be sure to line up the flat edge, as the bottom of the rosette.
When you get to the end (or desired size) of the felt, you'll come upon the circle you left uncut. Flap that over the bottom of the rosette as a cover.
Step 4: Spread the burlap flat on the desired spot of the wreath, and hot glue the rosettes to the wire and flat strip of burlap.
Step 5: Twist the wire closed, and wrap ribbon around the top of the heart, tie a bow, and hang up your wreath! Quick, easy, and fun! I linked up to Craft-O-Maniac, so check out the other great stuff over there!