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My precious grandmother (now in heaven) gave me this little cup. She told me it was her "hot chocolate cup" when she was a little girl.
Vintage Valentine Sentiment:
Just a little sunshine,
Just a little yearning,
Just a little heart-throb
Once again returning;
Just a spark of memory,
Just a rosy ember,
Just a little greeting
Saying..."I remember."
Random Vintage Valentine Sentiment:
I like the little things you do
That happy loyal way of you.
Your tender smile, your words of cheer,
Because I love you, love you dear.
My husband is working in China where it is freezing cold!
Meanwhile, here in AZ, the boys are enjoying blue skies and perfect weather at The Phoenix Open. 
Just another vintage collection. So sweet!
Random Vintage Valentine Sentiment:
Maybe you are bashful
But it's the proper day,
To say you'll be my Valentine
And turn your face this way.
Over a hundred spools of vintage Belding Corticelli Silk Buttonhole Twist!
Random Vintage Valentine Sentiment:
I am sure that you will be
Safe right from the start,
If you will be my Valentine,
And let me have your heart.
This project was a lot of fun. The background is gingham-print paper. Can you find the handkerchief? The little square item at the bottom right is a box of vintage valentine seals.
It was hard to get a good photo because of the glass (and the reflection!) but I hope you like it!
Happy February!
Random Vintage Valentine Sentiment:
Of course you may be bashful
But think how much t'would please me
If you would be my Valentine,
And try no more to tease me.
Okay...everyone pick up something from under the tree...
Now look at Mommy and smile....
PERFECT!
Can you identify the three guys in this photo?
Can you find me in this "Winter Wonder 2011" cast photo?
(Click to enlarge.)
This year I remembered to take step-by-step photos to share with you "my way" of creating this style of wreath.
I'm not saying it's the only way. I'm not saying it's the best way. It's just "my way." It uses NO HOT GLUE and it is completely reversible. So, you can remove the ornaments and store them safely if you like.
Also, after seeing the pile of ornaments that I had collected this year, I realized that I had enough to make at least two wreaths, so you will see a "green/red" version as well as a "pink/blue" version in the tutorial.
Please note - this design takes TWO DAYS to complete.
Start with your stash of ornaments. I work on a towel on the floor so that none will roll around. Each wreath requires about a hundred ornaments.
No, I am not kidding. A Hundred Ornaments.
When I was in college, my roommate worked at a Christmas store. Their ornaments were wired to the tree branches. Before attaching them, each ornament hanger was secured with "spackle." The metal tops were removed and a smear of spackle was spread into the top opening of the ornament and then the top was put back on. After the spackle dried (the next day,) the ornaments were wired to the tree. I always remembered this trick and have used it here in this design. Instead of spackle, I have used this constuction adhesive which is purchased at Home Depot. It takes about one tube of adhesive per wreath.
A picture is worth a thousand words, isn't it? Just remove the top of the ornament, squeeze in a little adhesive and replace the top. It takes 24 hours to dry - trust me.
Here are the additional supplies that I used - a 14-inch straw wreath (DO NOT remove the plastic wrap,) two 15-foot garlands and a package of floral pins.
Secure one end of the garland with a pin and wrap the wreath. It takes two 15-foot garlands to cover the wreath form. Secure all ends with floral pins.
Now I know you are dying to begin pinning your ornaments, but first, create a wire hanger for your wreath by securely wrapping a length of wire around the wreath and then fashioning a loop for hanging at the back. Trust me, it is hard to add this later, please do it now. Also, this wire will "mark" the top center of the wreath, which comes in handy as you are working.
Now for the fun part! Secure the ornaments to the wreath with the floral pins. Be sure to push the pins in all the way. No glue is required. The pins are very secure in the straw wreath. I usually wear gloves for this because my fingers get sore! Begin by pinning the largest ornaments around the outside of the wreath form.
Also, some ornaments are designed to "hang down" like bells. I usually place these along the inside of the wreath.
I keep the wreath flat on the floor as I work.
Continue to fill in the ornaments working generally from largest to smallest sizes. I fashion a "starburst" from skinny pointed ornaments as a focal point somewhere on the wreath. You can use anything you like ( a bow? a topper?) as a focal point.
Do your fingers hurt yet? Glad you are wearing those gloves?
Hang your wreath on the wall and step back to see if the colors and arrangement are pleasing. If not, it is no big deal to switch a couple of ornaments around.
TA DA!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
I hope you will give this a try!
Oh yes, FFF2011 finally arrived! Woot!
Mo, Amy, Leah, Joanna, Beth, Lindsey, Sarah, Kaitlin, Molly and I had lots of fun making our feather fairies....
Sarah came directly from a cheer showcase. (Love the make-up, Sarah!) She is inspired to create a 1980's aerobic instructor feather fairy....
Amy is working on "Edgar." Oh yes, he will have a calculator.
Here is newlywed Beth and her fairies,
and Molly creates a gift for a friend. Love those purple pompoms...
Lindsey creates two MASTERPIECES!
Joanna created a caroling fairy. "Oh Holy Night!"
Kaitlin created FOUR? Is that even possible?
Molly and Mo - Mother and daughter - so adorable!
Leah created a Green Bay Packer-themed fairy...
Click on photo to enlarge. You know you want to see that calculator.
SO MUCH FUN!!! THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING!!!!
