{ valentine wreath }

I really had no idea what to do for my Valentine wreath. 

So I was easy on myself.

Look familiar? 

Yep... this is my Christmas wreath! 

I just removed the ornaments and added mini flags!

These mini flags are no sew as well! So

easy is probably an understatement! 

What you'll need:

* Fabric

* Scissors

* Fabric glue

* Ric rac

* Fabric paint

I used the scraps from my Valentine inspired banner. My flags are 

only about an inch wide. Cut out as many as you need for your project. 

I used 21. 

I used Aleene's Fast Grab tacky glue to attach the flags to

the ric rac.  

Put a small glue strip of glue across the top of your flag.

Lay your ric rac on top of the glue strip.

Continue until your strip is long enough for your projects. Leave

some extra length on the ends to attach them.

I used some fabric paint to put a small heart on some of the flags.

Now remove the glass and backing from your frame.

I left the burlap that was in there before.

Lay your flags out on top of the glass.

Tape the ends to the backing.

Put your frame back together.

Add a bow on top!

( this is even the same bow from Christmas)

This frame is cute as wall art or...

A door wreath!

Total cost: Free! 

You can see my Christmas frame wreath here

{ valentine inspired banner }

I recently made a flag banner for a friend of mine. It turned out so cute

that I couldn't help but make something similar for myself! And since I haven't 

done any decorating for Valentine's Day, my theme was pretty much

chosen for me. So, without further ado.... 

What you'll need:

* Fabric

* Scissors

* Sewing machine with coordinating thread

* Paper ( to make your pattern)

* Bowl 

*  1" wide ribbon or bias tape

I started by making a pattern. I went with a half round shape instead of

the more traditional triangle. Set your bowl down on your paper

so it is right up against the bottom and one side of your paper.

Trace it here.

Now fold the paper so your circle is exactly half. My paper is

slightly transparent so I could see where I traced on the other side and

just lined it up. I've marked the top so you you can be sure of the way

I folded.

Now cut off the bottom section of your paper following your circle.

Cut straight up the edge of your paper (no longer following the

circle, but the raw edge) on the top section.

Unfold your paper. 

I folded down the top squared part until it looked "right". 

Then trimmed the extra straight across.

This completes your pattern.

Grab your fabric. I used 7 different fabric patterns/colors.

 I went to Wal-Mart yesterday and 

found some really cute fabric! I bought a quarter 

 yard of each fabric and that was well enough to make 5

banners this long! 

Fold your fabric in half so that the wrong sides are together. 

Pin your pattern to the fabric so you are cutting 

out two layers at a time( front and back).

Do this twice  for each piece of fabric.

Now sew the fronts to the backs of each flag. Use a zigzag top stitch so your

raw edges are still showing. Wrong sides should be 

together. Your fabric should already be paired up this way because you

cut it out this way. Clip your strings.

I added a heart on my solid pink fabric. I made a duplicate

paper pattern and folded it in half. I cut out a heart shape

from the middle.

Now you fold your fabric piece in half as well and pin the pattern

to it. Cut out the heart on the fabric.

Zigzag stitch around the heart. Take your time. It will be pretty easy
to get out of control going around those curves! Start at the top center.

Now organize your flags in the order you want them. Stack them

this way so you don't have to worry about finding the right fabric when

you start sewing them into a strip.

Fold your ribbon in half and start sewing about  12" 

from the end of your ribbon using the same zigzag stitch as before.

( this tail will be a way to tie up your banner in the end)

Add your first flag in front of your presser foot and fold the ribbon

in half over the straight edge. Hold it in place and sew down. 

Stop at the edge of the flag.

Add your second flag the same way as you did the first, leaving a 1/4 inch gap

between it and the first flag never cutting your thread.

Continue adding flags in the same manner as above until you all flags

are attached. Back stitch. Cut ribbon about 12 inches beyond the 

edge of the last flag.

Now you're done! I hung mine on the wooden shelf and used

pins and tape to hold it up! 

These are so cute to use as photography props! 

I'm seriously considering making one of these for every holiday!

They are so easy to store and easy to put up!

Enjoy!

   

{ princess party hats }

I couldn't find party hats that I liked for Kaj's birthday. 

So, I improvised! 

I wanted to have an activity for the girls to do  that

wasn't just a game. So we made party hats for them to 

wear during the tea party! 

What you'll need:

* Party hat

* White paper

* Pencil & scissors

* Crayons & glitter glue

* Tape

* Strips of tulle

I bought the cheapest hats I could find. I paid less than

$2 for 8 hats (the pack came with matching bags and noise makers). 

It doesn't matter what they look like! 

You are just going to cover them up!

.

Start by opening up your party hat. Don't worry if you damage the
tab a little while opening them. You won't need the tab to put
it back together

Trace your hat onto white paper.

( you really can use what ever color you want! Pattern

paper would be so cute!)

Cut it out

Put some glue around the edge of your party hat and put

your traced piece on top.

I prepared these the night before the party. When the girls got

to the house for the party, I gave them crayons and glitter 

glue and let them decorate any way they like.

You may want to help the little ones with the glitter glue! 

It takes quite a while to dry when there are huge globs of it! :)

Once the glue is dried, add strips of tulle to the point of the hat.

Tape it onto the inside. These are just extra pieces from

a tutu I made a while ago! 

Now just roll it back up and tape it together again! 

They loved these hats! Some girls showed up a little late and

saw these hats on the other girls and couldn't wait to make their own! 

Enjoy!