Valentine's Day Mug Swap

Happy Valentine's Day Friends! One of my favorite days of the year. Everyone's expressing their love for one another. Everything seems to be pink and sparkly and everywhere you turn there's chocolate!    Have you heard about the Valentine's Day Swap or #VDAYMUGSWAP everyone has been hash tagging? Alissa from Rags to Stitches and Caroline from Sew Caroline but together this awesome idea! Everyone who entered was blindly pared up with someone else. No rules, just make someones Valentine's Day extra special.    I was partnered with Skye from Neathering Our Fest. She is such a doll. I was SUPER excited when the box arrived! She had it cutely wrapped in pink tissue paper and popping bubbles. It was filled with all my favorites... Sweetish fish, licorice, a cute little journal and this ADORABLE mug! I don't know how she knew I was a little country at heart, the rooster had me cracking up!

This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting to know you Skye! Can't wait to do it again next year.

Valentine Ideas!

 I heart Valentine's Day. {Sorry I just couldn't resist.}

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This year I promised myself to make Valentine's Day creative.  Here are a few ideas I ran across this week...   1. Canvas button heart. You could have fun and personalize it.   2. Mason Jar. Red Hearts. Twine. Simple yet super cute. I thought of filling this with tiny strips of paper, each saying a reason you love that person.  
3. Scrabble Pillows. Obviously it doesn't have to save LOVE. Maybe its a special word the two of you share or a nick name and the numbers are a date?   4. Marshmallow Heart. Yes this is a super cute idea but the more meaningful idea would be to have an outdoor hot-coco picnic together. Maybe where you first met?   5. Cork Stamp. Could be a heart, a monogram or something that means something special to the two of you. It also could be the cork from wine bottle that holds a meaningful memory.   6. Milk Heart Cubes. I just thought these were super cute. They could go in  glass of milk or bowl of cereal and as they melt, the milk turns pink.   7. Love Album. Each page contains a letter from the alphabet and warm words pertaining to that letter.   8. Root Beer Float Kit. Adorable right? I can just image surprising your  special someone at work for a lunch date and bring this along.   9. Mobile. I'm loving how this is hanging from a ladder but obviously you could  use anything. Then add the XOXO cutouts and old photos of the two of you.   10. Love Map. Where you got engaged, where you married and where you live now.   Are you font crazy like I am?  Check out my previous post of my top 12 FREE Valentine fonts HERE.   Love Never Fails. If you ant to see more of my Valentine ideas, visit my Pinterest board HERE.

Framed Button Heart {Getting Crafty}

This week we got a little crafty {totally out of the "norm" for us}. We do a lot of baking in our house but when it comes to arts and crafts, sewing, putting things together with our own hands, it just doesn't happen. Who would have thought this simple craft project would totally changed my way of thinking. I don't have to be an artist or seamstress to do these things with my kids. We'll learn together {and probably laugh A LOT along the way}! I treasure those moments I can spend one-on-one time with my daughters. Sometimes I need to remind myself, everything else can wait, family comes first. My kids are growing fast and if you don't take the time now, I might not get that chance again. Gosh, I never intended this post to turn into a cry-fest {as tears run down my face}.
Framed Button Heart {Under $5.00}

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Don't get overwhelmed by all the photos. I'm a photographer so sometimes it gets the best of me. {I seem do better visually that verbally.}

Here is what you need:

• Frame {you can get from the dollar store}
• Buttons {we purchased from an antique store for $2.00}
• Fabric {we used an old scarf from the antique store for $1.00 or burlab fabric would work}
• Cardboard {we cut an manila folder in half}
• Hot Glue Gun {any super glue would work}

First we spread everything out and warmed up the glue gun.

 Opened up our piece of material, put the piece of cardboard in the center and

cut around the cardboard, leaving 2" of extra fabric around each side.

We then used the hot glue gun and glued the fabric around all the edges. 

{Yes I burnt my finger!} Our first laugh of the project. 

 We then opened the frame, removed the glass, inserted the fabric covered

piece of cardboard, and put the frame backing back on.

 Then the fun crafting started. I had my daughter Charlie (age 6), choose any

buttons she wanted to use and make an outline of a heart in the center of the frames opening.

We chose pink since this was a Valentine's project.

Once the heart outlined was created, I had her start filling in the middle.

 She was so engrossed this project. I loved her attention to detail.

 After a little rearranging, the heart was complete.

 Then I stepped in with the hot glue gun and began gluing the

buttons down exactly where she had placed them.

 Charlie is just as particular as me, she corrected every millimeter I was off. Again we

were laughing hysterically until we both couldn't talk and tears we running down our faces.

 And voila, our master piece was complete.  Miss Charlie was so proud of her work

{as she should be, it turned out beautiful}.

It now has a permanent spot in our living. The heart is a constant reminder of the love of our family and for me personally, to take more time for the little moments.

And for all your not-so-crafty moms like myself, I hope this was found helpful.

Now let's go get our crafty on!
Join in our DIY Valentine's Craft Link Up Party!

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Blessings,