Pink Box

Over the weekend I made this Valentine box. It is made from a little paper box that I painted a pretty shade of pink. I painted a few Popsicles/craft sticks the same color. Then I dry brushed a little white over the pink and then added some pink glitter. I noticed while searching for Valentine ideas that there were a few ideas using craft sticks. I like the homemade look of Valentines. I guess you could say vintage. Something you could of made in school for your Mom.

The couple image is just perfect for Valentine's Day. A few cut out hearts, flowers, beads and the box is ready to fill with a few Valentine treats. I bought the heart shaped cards at "The Dollar" store, how cute. I must say the thought of actually using them to play a few card games never entered my mind. I know they will be used for paper crafts. I am just not sure how they will be used.

I wanted to show you that there really is a box under all those sticks. I used a paint pen for a little detailing. Then I noticed that I only put one coat of paint, it needs two. Oh well, that is easily fixed.

Enter something New

To some you see a diffuser, to me, a blank canvas. So, with a few pieces of paper, a bit of glue, a button and a little time and I still have a diffuser! No miracle here, just a little creative fun.

I love burning candles, who doesn't? For as long as I can remember (20 years or so) on Christmas morning I received a basket full of candles. They would come in all shapes, scents and sizes. Three years ago, enter something new. A diffuser was in the basket. When I took the new diffuser out of the box the other night I noticed it could use.............paper!

I do like using pages from old books in a lot of things I do. They make great backgrounds.

Note to self, when in doubt use a heart with a button for a little something extra!

Thursday

Welcome to my lazy Thursday afternoon. I bought a few books the other day using a gift card from Barnes and Noble. I love to go to Barnes and Noble and look at all the books and other irresistible things they have to offer. There is a small Starbucks too, so it is like one stop shopping! I also have become a big fan of Hallmark magazine. These two books were given the Hallmark seal of approval. The book title that you can not see is "The Lost Recipe for Happiness". I am reading that one right now, so far, so good.

I thought I would make a bookmark, instead of folding over the corner as I usually do. I put together something quick, using the papers that were on the counter. I could easily get lost in paper crafting if I started taking out everything . I still have to take my trees down! I just love the way they look at night, but they will be gone tomorrow. I was not even thinking about Valentine's Day when I added the red heart, it just added a punch of color to the bookmark.

The other day I came to the conclusion that winter is here to stay. I may want spring to be just around the corner, but the fact is it isn't. I have decided not to wish away the long, dark, dreary, cold, bitter days of winter. A nice cup of tea with whipped cream and cinnamon is something I do enjoy about winter. I can not see myself wanting one in the summer. So there, I found something to like about winter! A major break through!

My favorite tea, really the only tea I like is Chai. I like it hot or cold!

I am off to read a few pages and enjoy my cup of tea. I do use a cup and saucer for my tea. I think I am worth it, and I can put a few cookies on the saucer! Not today though, I ate a few too many chocolate covered clementines. I made a few more yesterday. Please, give them a try.

Mitten Garland

On New Year's Day, it hit me. The Christmas season is over, what am I going to blog about now? I thought, this might be the end of my blogging. Can I really post about the Christmas ornaments I didn't finish? I have since decided yes, on that. I have a few more to finish and I may just post them! I came to the conclusion, I was done, finished. I didn't think I could make one more cute thing. Well, at least I could visit my favorite blogs. So I began reading and some had already moved on to Valentine's Day! How could I have forgotten about Valentine's Day.


I started to google Valentine's Day images, there are many. I began to realize, I may just be back in the blogging business! I found a cute mitten garland that I just had to make. I guess it was in the Valentine images because it had a heart in the middle of the mitten. It is from the blog "Two Straight Lines". It was posted February 20, 2007. Her garland was all mittens. I knew I had to make one. I could not just copy hers, I would have to give it a little twist. I decided to put a star in the middle and put cuffs on the mittens. I distressed it a bit, added some glitter and a few buttons. I would of never come up with the idea of using mittens for a garland, so I would like to thank a fellow blogger for inspiring me.

I took down my Christmas Joy garland and replaced it with the mittens. It should stay up for a while. I left all the snowmen on the window sill. They will be there for a little while longer. I worked too hard on them to just put them away just yet.

Chocolate Covered Clementines

We received chocolate covered clementines as a gift this Christmas. My husband's secretary made them along with chocolate covered pretzels and marshmallows. They were all outstanding, but the clementines were exceptional. The clementines she made were covered completely in chocolate. I had a few minutes today, so I thought I would make a few. I wanted to show you that they were clementines, so I only dipped half. I like the way they look. They are very pretty and so easy to do.

I wish you could all have a few pieces. They are not too sweet, just right! I am thinking that I may make them for Valentine's Day.

I bought these cute little toothpicks last year. I put them away and I forgot to use them this Christmas. Maybe, they are too cute to use! There is always next year!

Moving On

It seems that without missing a beat, many bloggers have moved on from Christmas to Valentine's Day creations. I still have unpainted wooden snowmen, unpainted light bulbs, unglittered Christmas cards and a few other projects, yet to be finished. They are now in the basement. I want to finish them, but honestly I am all "Christmased Out". I spent part of New Year's Day looking for Valentine ideas on "the net". My other issue is that I like having a clean kitchen counter. It has been a "craft supply free zone " for over a week now. I do know that it is only a matter of time before pretty papers, scissors, glue sticks and buttons start to make their 2009 appearance. One more weekend of a clean counter maybe just what I need. As you can see I went out Friday and bought a few Valentine supplies, took a picture and put them back into the bags. A clean counter for a few more days, yes. Then, I have to start making things or I may have to stop blogging!

Happy New Year 2009

We had another snow storm yesterday. Not as big as the one before Christmas, just about 5 inches fell. It is so bright out right now, that I could wear my sun glasses in the house. The bright sun shine and all the white snow! I will enjoy all the pretty snow, for the next few days. Monday I will start my unofficial countdown to spring! I hope everyone will have a wonderful 2009. I have not been feeling very creative since Christmas. I hope I will have something to offer next week, I am just not that sure! Again, Happy New Year 2009!