DIY Valentine Decor

Hello World,

My latest Etsy Treasury and this video inspired the DIY project below.

When I began this project, I just started making paper roses, without a plan for what I was going to glue them on. I figured once I made a decent pile of them, it would dawn on me.

After making it through a few episodes of The Originals (I actually like it way more than Vampire Diaries), my coffee table was covered with paper roses and scraps. Fast forward a few days, and those paper roses were still piled on my coffee table, waiting to be utilized.

I wanted to glue them to something inexpensive, so I went thrift shopping and to a dollar store (where I picked up a shelf liner). I originally was going to glue the roses to the shelf liner, but just ended up making more roses with it. I just love the textured roses!

Fast forward a few more days and it dawns on me. I have a pizza box in my recycling bin. I could glue all these roses to it instead of a canvas. Thankfully one of my New Year's resolutions wasn't to avoid carbohydrates. Check out the inexpensive tutorial below:

1. Gather your supplies: paper or various materials (lace, burlap, a shelf liner, etc), a hot glue gun, glue sticks, scissors, a base to glue the roses to (hello pizza box!), and spray paint.

2. Make all your roses by cutting out paper swirls and twirling them into a rose shape. Check out this video tutorial for a better explanation.

3. I spray painted the lid to my pizza box white. This way if there were gaps between my roses, the brown cardboard wouldn't be visible.

4. Trim your cardboard, draw out your design, and start hot glueing your roses down.

5. Continue glueing until the cardboard is completely covered.

6. Tada! You have some super inexpensive Valentine decor!

I think I'll make another version of this, and glue burlap roses to some old barn wood. Maybe I'll make a giant cursive monogram.

Happy Crafting!

Etsy Treasury- February Neutrals

Hello World,

I can spend hours on Etsy just browsing for handmade goodies and gaining inspiration. While my house is plastered with pink and red decorations, I must say the rustic/neutrals are really staring to grow on me. Below is my latest Treasury:

'Ti Amo' by Laura Olphie

Burlap Bunting Banner, "... CarolinaVintag... $23	open heart knuckle ring,hear... LETTERSEARRING $11	Heartbeat Charm Necklace, Go... catherinebrawn... $30	Large rustic Twigs heart dec... OldPretties $7
Be Mine Mug // Long Distance... AvonnieStudio $17.95	Hammered Heart Earrings, Lon... ATwistOfWhimsy $32	Wedding Garland, Gold Heart ... MailboxHappine... $12	Valentine Decor - Wood Slice... thesittingtree $40
Mini Wooden White Heart Shap... theStationeryR... $6	Painted Cork Coaster Set of ... limefishshop $15	Leather Journal with Heart L... CLWorkshop $25	PATCHOULI Votive Candles (4)... AWAK $8
Personalized Heart Pillow / ... AwayUpNorth $13	nesting hearts earthcrums $14	PRE-ORDER: 8.5x11 To Love an... thesmittencoll... $25	Green Jersey and Cream Lace ... patriciavalery $65

Happy Crafting (and online shopping)!

PS- Today marks the one month mark until my 24th birthday... Feels like just yesterday I was in elementary school mass-signing Disney character valentines for my classmates and receiving them in my carefully constructed construction paper and scented marker decorated envelope.

Oh hey, he gave me a lollipop along with this Lion King Valentine? He MUST like me. Better chase him on the playground at recess later. #ElementarySchoolReasoning (And in all reality his mom made all his valentines for him.)

Hearts. Paper Hearts Everywhere.

Hello World,

It's that time of year again! Time for pink and red decorations everywhere!

My birthday is in February, and my mom would always plaster paper hearts all over the house when I was little. I continue this traditional in my own house now that I'm older, as it reminds me of happy childhood birthdays, and also because I just love decorating for holidays.

I hung up my sheet music garland and pom pom yarn up again this year. See the tutorial to make the paper garland here. I hung paper hearts all over my kitchen cabinets, and some of them are even made from Victoria's Secret shopping bags!

Now the snow just needs to go away so summer can hurry up and get here! Happy Crafting!

PS- Any other single ladies like Valentine's Day too?

Darby Smart (December TO DIY FOR Kit)

Hello World,

Have you ever heard of Darby Smart? They partner with designers to launch DIY kits based on current trends. Their kits come with materials and instructions, to help crafters avoid all those Pinterest fails. They have subscriptions for their kits, or you can just buy them individually.

I recently purchased my first kit from them, the December TO DIY FOR kit. I picked this kit because the contents were a mystery, and I do love a good surprise. So if you were planning to order this kit, sorry for the spoilers below!

I absolutely love their packaging.

How cool is this DIY kit? I was really excited to make the marquee sign, as that was a craft that never crossed my mind before. In the kit they give you two pieces of foam core (so you have one to practice on). I instead cut my extra foam core into three long horizontal strips, and then cut one of the long strips in half. This gave me four strips of foam core that were about the same lengths as the four sides of my sign.

I hot glued these to the back of my sign, creating a backwards shadow box. This helped to create a sturdy frame, so that the sign can stand on its own. Check out the kit here for more info.

This kit actually has inspired me to possibly make more marquee signs. Maybe I'll make a bigger one with an entire quote.

PS I was not paid to write about Darby Smart. I just think their kits a cool idea. Birchbox sends you beauty items, and Darby Smart sends you DIY kits. And I love all things DIY. :)

PSS If you sign up for their emails, they let you know the moment new kits launch (some of them go pretty fast), as well as coupon codes!

Happy Crafting!

DIY Feather Ornaments

Hello World,

I have a confession. I love Christmas. I love the lights, decorating my tree, playing "Sleigh Ride" by the Spice Girls- pretty much everything involving Christmas. Maybe you can blame it on my past retail experience, but I am one of those crazy people that decorates for Christmas before Thanksgiving.

So with that, I have a very simple DIY project for you! Last weekend, my local Goodwill put out all of their Christmas decor, and I picked up some inexpensive glass ornaments. I already had feathers in my crafting stash, so this was a pretty inexpensive holiday project.

This project is great for creating ornaments to match your holiday decor palette, or could be great to give as a gift. Check out the instructions below:

1. Gather your supplies: glass ornaments, feathers, and scissors.

2. Remove the ornament topper.

3. Gently feed your feather into the glass ornament.

4. Trim feather if it is too long.

5. Replace the ornament topper and hang that baby up!

Happy Crafting!