Valentine Garland

Years ago, I saw this garland in Country Home Magazine. I have tweaked it a bit. That is the fun about finding projects. You do not have to do it exactly like the directions say that is why I always add other ides...i.e. paper clips work just as well as Christmas ornament hangers. I have included the link for some of the heart shaped cutouts and letters. The other thing that you can add that I did not are the heart shaped paper dollies that are usually available at most craft stores this time of year.

Things to gather:

A deck of cards (if you have some on hand, great...if not the Dollar Tree has a two pack for $1, that is what I am using).

Heart Pattern from http://www.countryhome.com/projects/holiday/valentinedecor_3.html (print out as many as you think you will need)

Cardboard (I collect cardboard from all sorts of places so that I have it on hand)

Hole puncher

Glue

Heart and Valentine themed stickers

Glitter (I ended up not using glitter on anything but use if you like)

Chain (Home Depot or look around in the garage I happen to find one on an old hanging lamp that we had laying around)---or a ribbon---your call

Christmas ornament hangers or paper clips (which is what I ended up using)

Instructions:

Print out your hearts. I cut mine out first then glued them on the cardboard and cut them out again. You could just glue the paper down on the cardboard but I wanted to save space on the cardboard. The other thing you could do is print out the hearts on card stock. You need the weight so the paper won't curl.

After all hearts are cut out, hole punch each and instert the paperclips in the holes and hang the paper hearts and cards on the chain.

Get creative and glue cards onto cards and hearts on hearts. Hang them however you see fit.

Then hang your garland wherever you want. I like the way it turned out.

If you do this project send me a photo. Or if you have any ideas on how to make it better. This was a fun project.

Vintage Earrings

While I was New Mexico last November (2009) I stumbled across some really cute 1950's earrings. I have done this before, turned the clip on's into regular earrings. If you have never done this before---do it! It is one of the best ways to make some really fun, interesting, cheap earrings. These ones cost me .50 cents and maybe .50 cents to turn them into pierced earrings (of course this is if you have the stuff on hand---if you don't you will spend maybe $5-$8 buying the glue and backs (maybe less)---FYI Beverly's usually sends out a flyer and you can get 40% off one item---it is not much but it helps or go to Beverly's website---if you have Michael's nearby, lucky you---all we have around here is Beverly's).

Here's what you'll need:

Vintage clip on earrings (you can find these anywhere!)

These are the ones I found in New Mexico.

Jewelry pliers

Jewelry glue (super glue works, too)

Earring backs (you can get post or the fish hook kind---depends on earrings and what you want)

Instructions:

Take the clip on backs off gently with the jewelry pliers.

Then glue on the new backs

Let dry for a couple hours to be sure you have a good stick.

Then wear them...