{Altered Coaster Valentine Art}

We were lucky enough to be asked to take part in Annalea Hart's “Gifts From The Heart” guest-hosting series this week.

I chose to share this craft with all of her lovely readers and now I'm sharing it with all of you!

　

Altered Coaster Valentine Art

Supplies you will need:

* coasters

* ribbon

* patterned cardstock paper

* vinyl or sticker words/images

* glue stick

* glue gun

* scissors

* sanding block/sandpaper

Start by wiping off the smooth face of the coasters you are going to use.

If you get them from a thrift store like I did, you will want to clean them thoroughly before handling them.

Run the glue stick all over the top of the coaster, making sure to get all of the corner edges as well.

Press the coasters onto the back of the patterned paper and hold tightly until the glue starts to dry.  Press all around the edges to ensure a good, tight seal.

Once the glue is dry, cut around each coaster and start to sand the edges of the paper off.  You will want to do this over a bag or the garbage, as the sanding causes lots of paper dust.

While sanding, you can rough-up the edges as well.  If your paper has a white core, it will end up looking like these.  If you want a darker edge, now is the time to ink, chalk or sponge-paint around the edges to get the look you want.

Decide where you want to add your vinyl/stickers and apply them to the coasters.

Now, lay out your ribbon and decide where you want to hot glue the coasters.

If your ribbon is plain, this wont matter.  Since I was using polka-dot ribbon, I wanted to make sure that the dots were spaced evenly underneath and in the middle of the coasters.

Use the hot glue gun to glue the coasters to the ribbon.

Finish the bottom end by cutting out a V-shape and make the top into any hanging shape you like best. Be sure to cut the ends of the tied ribbon in a V-shape as well, as it adds detail and the finishing touch.

Once everything is glued and tied and cut, it is ready to hang!

This project can be altered in so many ways to make it exactly how you like it!

You can change the colors, the paper, the ribbon, the words -- anything for any occasion.

I made a second version with the letters L O V E, so I could keep it hanging in my house all year long!

I chose yellow and white paper with black and white polka-dot ribbon to match the rest of the décor in my house.

This really is a fun and quick craft and is simple enough that your kids can help, or even make their own!

Now go.... be creative!

-Annie

*Click HERE to see all the Linky parties we participate in!*

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{RUBIE - My Rubiks Cube Valentine Box}

Good day, everyone!

I'd like to introduce you to my newly made, *SQUEEEE*-inducing Valentine box, Rubie.

Oh, yeah.  She IS that cute.

I may not have kids, but there is a big one living inside of me that just screams to come out sometimes.  All the time, really.  Luckily, I work somewhere awesome where the whole department still holds Valentine box contests!

You can make a RUBIE with the following supplies:

* 10"x10"x10" square cardboard box

* Craft foam sheets in the following colors:

red, orange, yellow, green

blue, pink, white + black

* Hot glue gun

* Packing tape

*Scissors

*Pen

Tape up the box so it will securely hold its shape.

Then cut a whole in the top so the Valentines can slip right in.

Next, cut all of the foam sheets (except the black and pink ones) into 3" x 3" squares.

Hot glue the black foam sheets to each side and top of the box and trim to fit.  I left the bottom uncovered.

Then arrange the colored squares as you see fit! 

 It's best to keep it looking similar to how a real Rubiks cube would look, because after all, there IS a pattern to the madness.

Once all the squares are glued on, make any kind of eyes and mouth you like.

If your Rubie box is also a girl, don't forget to make a nice, big bow to place on her head!  If your Rubie is a boy, you could do a bow-tie instead.

That's it! 

I was able to make Rubie in about 2 hours total.  Hot glue and easy-to-cut foam sheets make it super quick!  It wasn't, however, as cost-saving as I was hoping it would be.  I did have to buy the square box itself and each foam sheet was .99 cents.  I spent about $13 total.

I'm glad I didn't skimp though, because cute little RUBIE is now a part of our clan.

If you make a Rubie for yourself, PLEASE link up a picture in the comments!  I would LOVE to see it.

-Annie

*Please click HERE to see the lovely linky parties we participate in!*

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{Pocket Full Of Yummies!}

Remember the giveaway we had last month for the red plastic envelopes?

Well, Colleen of HappyLittleArt was one of the lucky winners... 

Check out what she created with them!

{POCKETS FULL OF YUMMIES!}

These are TOO CUTE!  And, they have chocolate inside.

Perfect.

Check out her blog to see more of her amazing creations. 

Let's spread the love!

Thanks, Colleen!

-Annie

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{Love You FOREVER - Printable Art}

I'm sure everyone knows where I got the idea for this printable....

Love You Forever has been one of my favorite books since I was little.

Who can read it without tearing up?  I can't!

So sweet.

I decided to make a VALENTINE version to hang on the wall.

(please feel free to print and use this Valentine for your own personal use)

* * * * * * * * * *

Click on the image above and save it to your desktop.

Open it in Paint (or any other editing program) and adjust the printing page setup so it is centered.

Enjoy!

-Annie

*Please click HERE to see the awesome Linky parties we participate in!*

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{Pillow Sash}

Here is a cute and easy way to decorate for Valentine's Day.

It's a pillow sash!

I bought the ribbon on after-Christmas clearance, and I found the little wooden heart medallion for $1 at Michael's.

I added some velcro to the back for easy removal, and my plain sweater pillow is now a Valentine's Pillow!

If you are interested in making your own sweater pillows, Brassy Apple has a great tutorial. I can't wait to make one like hers...

...the one in front is my favorite! I just found a sweater with ribbing like that at Goodwill last week, and it's burning a hole in my new sewing table. However...we are in the midst of painting our kitchen so it might be awhile before I can start a new project.

While I was at it this morning, I whipped up a St. Patrick's Day pillow sash with more of my after-Christmas clearance ribbon. 

Here is my new Valentine's pillow next to its friend on the couch.

What a fun and easy way to add some LOVE to the room!

--Tammy

p.s. Don't forget to link up to our first linky party...it ends on Sunday.

p.p.s. Don't you just love the word sash? It's just fun to say. Sashhhhhh. Sashhhhhh. Sashhhhh. I'm going to sashay across the room with my new sash....

* Please click HERE to see all the lovely Linky Parties we like to participate in!*

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{An Everyday Valentine}

I wanted to make a Valentine craft that could be left out all year long and I've always wanted to make a scrabble-tile frame, too.

This is what I came up with:

Red, white and shades of brown are perfect.

You can make one, too:

* Grab a frame you love

* Round up your scissors and hot glue gun

* Find some brown-toned patterned cardstock paper

* Gather scrabble tiles to spell the words you like

* Snag some red velvety ribbon

* Pick a pretty white button to finish it off

Then glue it all together.

Place it in the frame and you're done!

Super cute.

Super simple.

Super sweet.

Enjoy!

-Annie

P.S. Don't forget to link up to our Wednesday Linky Party!

Linky is open until Sunday night. 

*please click HERE to see all the lovely Linky Parties we like to participate in!*

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{Yo-Yo Valentine}

A little while back, we were lucky enough to do a guest post on Tatertots & Jello!

We shared the following tutorial on how to make a cute hanging fabric
Yo-Yo Valentine:

First, gather your supplies:

Embroidery Hoop (4 inch hoop used here)

Red fabric

White fabric

Decorative Button

Embroidery floss

Start by placing your red fabric in the embroidery hoop, smooth out all of the bumps and creases, and tighten the screw.

Next, make your fabric yo-yo!

There are many tutorials online on how to make a fabric yo-yo. They are simple to make by hand, or you can purchase “yo-yo makers” at most craft supply or fabric/notions stores.

Heather Bailey has an easy-to-follow handmade yo-yo tutorial here.

Once the yo-yo is complete, it’s time to sew on your decorative button.

Sew the button to the yo-yo, then sew the yo-yo to the red fabric inside the hoop. You can sew it any place you like. Right above the center looks the best when turning the Button Yo-Yo into a flower.

Now it’s time to hand-stitch the stem with the green embroidery floss.

Don’t forget to stitch the leaf in a heart shape -- that’s what makes this a Yo-Yo Valentine!

Once the stitching is complete, you will want to make the edges of the embroidery hoop presentable. Wrap the red fabric hanging out of the hoop towards the back. Hot glue the fabric to the wooden hoop, from the inside, or just tape it all together. Hot gluing it will make it hang closer to the wall, but taping it works fine if you plan on setting it on a shelf to display.

That’s all there is to it!

This is such a quick and easy craft and adds the perfect *pop* of color to any Valentine’s Day display.

Don’t want to make your own?

We've got you covered.

Visit our PeppermintPlum Etsy shop to purchase one of ours, already made and ready to ship!

Enjoy!



 - Tammy + Annie -

....linking to....

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