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Heart Mobile Valentine’s Day Decoration

Heart Mobile

Originally uploaded by StampingMad

This heart mobile has been hanging around for three years or so now. I still love it just as much as I did the day I made it.

I used a Mary Engelbreit page a day calendar filled with charming images, a package of wooden heart ornaments, gold thread, a piece of bright ribbon, a wire hanger, ModPodge and paint to create the mobile.

First, I painted all the hearts and let them dry. Then, I selected images to go on both sides of the hearts, cut them to fit and decoupaged them on. After they dried, it was simply a matter of assembling the mobile.

This Valentine’s Day decoration idea could be altered for a fun family tree display - just print photos of people you love and use those images instead of the calendar pages on your hearts.

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By Katelyn Thomas -- 0 comments

Recycled Stocking Heart Garland

I had a felt stocking with a plastic front left over from a dog toy stocking someone gave the dogs for Christmas. I wasn’t interested in keeping it, but I didn’t want to just throw it away either. So, I decided to recycle it into a heart garland for Valentine’s Day.

I pulled out my Sizzix die cut machine and a heart die and cut out what felt like a thousand hearts. I ended up using 5, so I have a lot left over. I just cut a piece of rick rack and hot glued the hearts on. I decided it looked a bit plain, so I pulled out some vintage buttons to dress it up a bit. I tried hanging it horizontally, but decided I prefer the vertical look. I don’t know if it is really a garland if it hangs that way, but I like how it turned out.

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Vintage Christmas Ornament Guide - Felt Soldiers

My grandmother had a whole set of these musical felt soldiers, but some of them were ruined over time. They’re so perky and cute. I’m thinking late 60s, but I’m not absolutely positive. I found a similar looking set of made in Japan ornaments from that time period, but they’re not identical. They’re pretty big - seven inches tall. The colors haven’t faded at all, which is downright amazing after the storage conditions I found them in!

photos by me

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By Katelyn Thomas -- 1 comment

Valentine’s Day Treasure Hunt Activity for Kids

Remember the fun you had doing Easter egg hunts as a child? Well, we decided that we wanted to have hunts on other holidays and added Valentine’s Day treasure hunts as a new family tradition. I put a “treasure” of foil covered chocolate hearts in a box and then created a set of clues simple enough for our beginning readers to solve. Since we had some non-readers, I followed along to make sure everyone understood the clues.

Here are the clues we used last time. As you can see, they are very simple and I kept the treasure hunt fairly short:

#1 - You see yourself in me.

#2 - I keep things cold.

#3 - You like to watch me.

#4 - You open me to let the dogs out.

#5 - I have a big dragon on me. (The bed the treasure chest was hidden under.)

The kids love doing this so much that they wanted a new treasure hunt right away. I guess I should get started on clues for this year’s Valentine’s Day treasure hunt pretty soon!

Photo by Steve Woods/Stock Exchange

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By Katelyn Thomas -- 1 comment

Valentine’s Day Recycled Sweater Heart Ornament

Remember the sweater I used for napkin rings? You didn’t think I’d waste the rest of it, did you? I decided it was the perfect red for some nice Valentine’s Day heart ornaments. I cut two matching hearts out, did some random flower embroidery on one, cut a piece of ribbon for a hanger and sewed them together around the edges.

It was really easy and only took a few hours total. I think I’d try applique instead of embroidery next time, though. All the hills and valleys of the ribbing were kind of tough to embroider. I also might stuff the next heart for a fatter, happier look.

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift idea, add a little lavender, rosemary, or other favorite herb to your stuffing to make sachets.

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By Katelyn Thomas -- 0 comments

New Year’s Resolutions Poll

Are you making a New Year’s resolution or two this year? If so, you’re in good company. A new year is a clean slate, filled with life changing possibilities. People often feel a little burst of extra will power and determination on January 1st and decide that they’re going to seize the chance to get rid of some annoying habit or trait that has been bugging them.

I thought it would be fun to do a poll about the resolutions everyone has planned. I set it up so you could add a choice if I didn’t cover your resolution, too. Oh, and mine? To get in shape again. I’d probably have to be carried back on a stretcher if I tried to do my favorite Smokey Mountain hike today, so I’m working out  to rebuild my endurance!
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Photo by Steve Woods/Stock Exchange

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