Valentines Ideas

Last year I created this Love Notes Board for my kids.  I just put simple notes in the envelopes with a small treat.  This year, I am hoping to be more Prepared. :)  So, I purchased the treats I would be giving the kids and started making small valentines to put in their spot every day.  This is the first installment.  I am hoping to have the rest of them ready to post throughout the week.
I tried to keep them simple and purchase things that were inexpensive- but when it comes to things like this I tend to get carried away.  I would say I probably spent $40 for all of the treats and some of the packaging.  But, considering I am getting 56 valentines plus candy left over, I don't think it's too bad a deal.

Here's a close up of the Pop Rocks valentine.  I have been using my Cricut to cut out a lot of the shapes, and trying to make good use of my stash of stickers and rub ons.  I hope the kids like them, and even if they don't "get" the sentiment- I know they'll LOVE the candy.  :)
xoxo,
Amy
Linked up to Look What I Made at Creations by Kara.  Also Linked up to Positively Splendid's fun party. :)

Love-ing {a Mom-day Post}

I just finished my newest block/figurine set.  I have been wanting to do a Valentine's set for a while, but I wasn't really sure what figurines to make.  I DO NOT like cupid- somehow the idea of making a man in a diaper just didn't appeal to me. ;)  My sister suggested to just do a boy and girl and I think she was spot on. :)
And in honor of the upcoming LOVE day- Here are 14 things I am loving:
1. I am loving that I can actually drink Diet Coke again.  Very rarely, but still- it actually tastes good again which is nice.
2.  Love that I have enough energy to actually get the laundry done in one day.  I didn't realize how much I enjoy my one day of laundry per week-then forget about it the rest of the time routine.
3.  Love having close in-laws who welcome my children over to their home whenever they want.
4. Love a husband who will run and get me a breakfast burrito just because I cried. :)
5. Love having so many kind and wonderful friends.  (even though I do NOT love when they move away- I'll miss you Erin)
6. I love that my kids are so excited about having a new baby in our family.
7.  I love my religion and the peace and direction it provides in my life.
8.  I love fabric.  enough said
9. I love blogging, meeting new people, sharing great ideas and improving my life through the inspiration I find on the web.
10. I love an extended family who loves, nurtures and supports me and my family.
11.  I love pinterest.
12.  I love that my basement is getting finished even though it means the rest of my house is a cluttered, dusty mess.
13.  I love the homemade laundry detergent my neighbor sent over for me to try.  And I love that she sent me the recipes she has been collecting for homemade cleaning supplies as well! :)
14.  I love that so many good friends are finding success with their handmade businesses (Way to go Vintage Rose Wraps on hitting 10,000 Facebook fans!)
What are you Love-ing today?
XOXO,
Amy
p.s. I am also, of course, loving all of you- and appreciate so much your stopping by!
Linking up to Look What I Made at Creations by Kara.

January Point of View- LOVE

It seems like you can't turn a corner these days without running into something red or heart shaped.  :)  Well, even though the theme was LOVE and not Valentine's- I don't think these projects are going to disappoint.  Are you ready for the project reveal?
Wait no longer:

Mmmm- aren't they yummy?  Such fun projects to browse through, love and Pin- am I right? :)
Ready to go check out the goodness?  Here are the links to further details:
Jonie at Just Between Friends
Amy- just scroll down
Our very special Guests this month Meg and Steph joining us from DIY Divas
Camilla from Rosy Red Buttons
Michelle at A Little Tipsy
And Gwen from Gwenny Penny
Leanne had to miss this month dealing with a family emergency.  We love and miss her and are glad her daughter's doing better. :)

After you're done checking out all this goodness- head over to Gwenny Penny and link up YOUR favorite LOVE posts. (remember that it's any interpretation of the theme- so link away!)
Now- on to my project:

The Ruffle Heart Pillow

Oh yes- I am definitely in LOVE!

When I made the Wavy Ruffle Pillow last year I had the thought that it would be fun to create other shapes with the ruffles- and this seemed like the perfect time to test out that theory.   I didn't re-do the entire tutorial, because I followed all of the same steps from the Wavy Ruffle Pillow tutorial, but I did document the couple of changes I did.

First, we are obviously going to need a heart shape.  I just folded the paper in half and did it the good old gradeschool way, but you can be more deliberate and use a cutting tool like a Cricut or Silhouette if you want.  The shape does get a little skewed by the ruffles, so don't spend too much time on it- just a general heart shape will be just fine.

Here is where I make the confession of all confessions.  I am an "eyeballer".  I don't measure things very often.  I find that I am usually more accurate if I just eyeball where things go instead of trying to be exact in my placement.  So- center your heart on the front pillow cover panel and trace around it to give you a guideline for placing your strips.  Then take your pink (or colored) bias-cut ruffles, pin down the first layer.  I lined up the center of the ruffle (where the gathering stitches are) on the pencil line, you could also line up the outside or inside of the ruffle along that line as well- it's up to you.  For this pillow, I did sew down one round at a time, instead of pinning all the ruffles and then sewing- but either method would work.  Fill in the inside of the heart with more colored ruffles and you'll get something that looks like this:

Which I think is gorgeous and I was really tempted to leave it like that, but I felt it looked too much like my Faux Chenille Pillow- and I wanted them to look less alike.  So, next I filled in the outside with white ruffles.  Then I finished my pillow with an envelope closure and I was finished.

I'm really glad I added the white ruffles.  This pillow turned out just like I hoped it would.

Now are you ready for some linky fun?  Head over to Gwenny Penny and link up anything LOVE-ly.  We can't wait to see what you've done.

XOXO,

Amy
Linked up to the Be Mine Bonanza link party with At Home with K. Also linked to the Saturday seven at Positively Splendid. Partying with Creations by Kara at her Look What I Made linky.