Candy Corn Inspired Wreath

Come see me over at Maddycakes Muse this week sharing how to make this Candy Corn Inspired Wreath (with a touch of burlap of course!) and see Michelle's other candy corn inspired ideas!

I can't wait to share more Halloween and Fall crafts with you this month.  Hopefully I will have some time to do so!

Valentine's Day Roundup

The flu has landed.  It it landed hard.  I thought we were out of the woods with just Ethan getting it, but a few days later Grace had her turn, then Chris.  My strategy was just to ignore it - if I ignored it, I wouldn't get it.  I was pretty proud of myself to be the last (wo)man standing in the house - especially since it seems lately that if anyone gets sick, it is me.  I blame the Swine Flu from last year.  I'm convinced it has permanently compromised my immune system.  But early Saturday morning I could no longer ignore the unwelcomed visitor.  Curses the flu.  It stole an entire weekend and continues to haunt me.

Despite the cold and hot sweats, I managed to get a few Valentine's Day crafty projects done.  For some reason, this year I heart Valentine's Day more than any other year.  So here are a few of my projects that I've been working on.

Be Mine Banner

Heart Felt Wreath

Inspired by eighteen25

I have to admit, I cheated and did not cut all the felt circles.  I purchased them on etsy from The Fairy Felt Mother.  So worth it!!!

 Valentine Day Countdown

Chalkboard Heart - Mothology

I made two versions, wasn't sure if the pink or red would show up better.  Chris and Grace liked the red version the best - after I straightened out "countdown" on the bottom of the heart!  Getting that vinyl straight sure can be tricky!  Good thing it's not permanent!

 Teacher XOXO Treat Jars

 

Using my Silhouette, I cut out the XOXO and heart.  It's hard to see from the picture, but I filled the jars with pink caramel filled Kisses and tied a pink ribbon around the jar.  They are super cute in person!

Personalized XOXO Valentine's Mailboxes

inspired by How Does She?

 

 I saw these mailboxes in the Target Dollar Aisle on several trips to Target and pondered what I could do with them.  They were too cute, but I wasn't sold on them until I saw Alison's idea over on How Does She?.  I had to make one for all of us and my adorable nieces and nephew!

 Valentine's Day Treats

Thank You tags courtesy of Green Apple Paperie, downloaded from Catch My Party.

I'm not going to admit where I purchased the gumball dispensers because my union brothers and sisters will de-friend me.  But sometimes, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do!  The reason I started off this post with over sharing out our bout with the flu is because the flu is what caused me to step into that anti-worker rights store.  My husband was in dire need of Gatorade and that was the only place I could get to at the time.  And low and behold, I found myself in the Valentine's aisle and stumbled across these uber-cute gumball dispensers.  I just couldn't pass them up - even if it meant I was violating worker's rights by spending my money in that place.  I've since gone to confession and we are all good :)

So that's my Valentine's Day round-up.  I've decided that I'm going to surprise the fam with a Valentine's Day breakfast/sweets table next Sunday.  But first things first, time to prepare for the Packer's Super Bowl victory this Sunday.  Stay warm and well!



Buckets of Christmas Wreaths

With 4 days to go to Christmas, I thought I'd do a post dedicated to my obsession with wreaths before I bid adieu until the next holiday season.  I've always had a thing for wreaths, why I do not know.  And as I began to decorate my house this year, it began to dawn on me that perhaps my fondness for wreaths may have crossed the line into needing a 7-step program :)

Square wreaths are probably my favorite.  Here are the ones I have for the Christmas season:

These wreaths are from Pottery Barn, many years ago.  I have them hanging on my mirror above my mantle.

 

Another Pottery Barn square wreath from several years ago.  I found these wreaths at the end of the season on clearance and picked up one for each of the doors in our home.  I love the simple look of them.

I just made this wreath today using the Martha Steward Gingerbread wreath as my template.

 

I used my own recipe to make the gingerbread men and didn't quite follow her directions (Shhhh...don't tell Martha.)  Stay tuned for a post on how to make this wreath (Melissa style).

I plan to use my wreath for my Gingerbread party I'm already planning for next year using Paula from Frog Prince Paperie's ADORABLE gingerbread party printables.  Check them out here.

Here are some pictures of my more traditional wreaths.

   

 

I love the look of doubling or tripling wreaths and using ribbon to link them for hanging.

In our home, wreaths are not just for walls (of course because I've sort of run out of walls and doors!) 

I hang wreaths on the back of my dining room chairs.

I've also used them to adorn other home accessories, like these lanterns I purchased from Pier I on clearance. 

  

When I have to pack this all away at the end of next week, I'll look around my house and think it looks naked.  My husband on the other hand will be happy the "clutter" is packed away for another year.