Very Cute Valentine Ideas

 

   Have been looking for some cute and original Valentine Ideas to do for my children.  I have found some really cute one that I wanted to provide links so that you too could see these fun things to do.  Here is the first one that I found.  It is soooo cute and would be cute even not hanging with a berry wreath behind it.  I have put this link below the image.  To see it closer, click on the image 
http://www.lilluna.com/2011/01/tutorial-tuesday-valentines-wreath.html  There is a complete tutorial of how this was made and it only cost $4! 

Now I found this next one in my search for really cute and creative things to do for Valentines at this site: http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/01/whimsical-valentine-wreath.html  I can't believe just by looking at the picture that it is made out of cupcake liners.  The tutorial on how to make it is on the blog, so be sure to go to it and have a look see!  My mind of course went wild with this one, because think about all the other holidays that you would like to have  a wreath up and you could buy the cupcake liners for St. Patricks Day ( which I have a hard time finding decorations that I actually like for that holiday) of for any other holiday or time of year!   SO CUTE!  Make sure to scroll down below the instructions, because displayed on that blog are a bunch of other cupcake wreaths!

When I find some ideas from blogs that I like, I usually find that their tastes are like mine, so I really enjoy looking at the other cute things they have created, and I make sure to save them to my favorites list so I can find them again when I need another project.  So.... I kept looking around on this same blog and found this other cute idea for Valentines Day....  They are playing cards made into Valentine Coupons.  Now how cute and cleaver is this?  She even has the printable coupon link on it so you can benefit from her work and ideas.  It is so very cute.  Here is the direct link to this project http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentine-project-playing-card-coupon.html  You will need to go look at other projects on this blog because she has so many other ones that are just darling!  So here is the link that will take you there http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/search/label/crafts 

and as I scrolled down I came to these darling flowers made out of felt or leather, but I also thought you could buy some vinyl and make them too.  http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/11/1-leather-or-felt-flower-gift-idea-with.html is the direct link to the tutorial to make these but what a versatile project.  These could be given as a gift to someone or made for yourself to have a purse clip, a hair clip, a belt clip, a shoe clip or any other kind of clip that you came up with.   I absolutely love this site and the ideas that she has so cleverly come up with that are new and fresh.  You know, I have seen cute purses that have cute flowers and ruffles all over them, and you could make one using a plain purse or bag pattern and adorn your purse with these darling flowers.  We have a store in Utah that is called Home Fabrics, that have bolts and bolts of fabric that can be used for draperies, upholstering  furniture, and they also have large rolls of vinyl and leather for really cheap per yard.  I think this must be a seconds store, but looking at these darling flowers tutorial, my mind went wild about where I can go to get the materials to make something really cute like this. 

This image came from this blog http://ptskjohnson.blogspot.com/2010/09/jizdani-designer-bags-giveaway.html and gives sort of an idea of what you can do to decorate a purse with flowers.  The one on the image aren't the same ones as above, but you can find a pattern for those as well online.  Look how she has added a cute button to the center of the flower to make it even cuter!
Here is a link to a site that has all different kinds of free patterns for making purses that you can use.  There is even one that is made out of duct tape if you can imagine!!!!
http://pursepatterns.com/free_bag_patterns.html    Here is one that looks very simple to make, http://tinyhappy.typepad.com/tiny_happy/2006/06/shoulder_bag_tu.html and would be darling with flowers all over the front of it.  I would make the purse in a vinyl and then put darling fabric or vinyl flowers all over the front of it.  I found this purse at this site http://craftstew.com/sewing/free-purse-and-tote-bag-patterns and it has lots of other purse patterns too.  I think just alittle clutch purse with a zipper would be so cute decorated with these flowers.  Can you tell I like these flowers???

 
           One last thing... Don't forget to go to my own Valentine ideas on this site that I have created in the past years for ideas too.  (go to the Labels section on the right and at the bottom, click on "Valentines" ..They are still cute and current ideas and there are printable things that make it so much easier, that is if you own a printer.  Enjoy!  Katie G.

Mothers day ideas and printables

I found a darling site with tons of printable things on them that could be customized for many things.  Here is a PDF template for a Flower.  You can print this off and cut out and make, or you could just use it as a pattern or template, and create your own flower by selecting your own craft paper and creating your own flowers.  It is darling.  The image shows what it will end up looking like if you use the exact template to print found at http://a.dolimg.com/familyfun/assets/cms/large-files/pdfs/printables/0507b_mothersday_flowers.pdf


This is a cute printable basket from the same site as above, that you could fill with something cute.  The pictured basket is a fall basket, but you could fill it with just about anything to make it apply to whatever holiday, or season you would like.    You just print off the basket, cut it out and fold it and glue or stapel. http://a.dolimg.com/familyfun/assets/cms/large-files/pdfs/printables/1008b-Holiday_Basket.pdf

Here is a site where you can find a darling printable purse template.  This site had such darling ideas, you should go and take a look see at all the fun things.  Thanks http://melstampz.blogspot.com
These can be added to make darling purses and all dolled up.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12298213#post1229821  and here http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384852
and here is another http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2008/11/flourish-purse-box-with-snowflake.html  Now fill the purse with fun things!

My Valentine Post Card

I made these Valentines up to give to my friends who are coming to visit for a Valentine luncheon. I invited my old girlfriends from highschool and on one of the little cute
Valentine gifts I have for them, I have put these cards. By the wasy if you are wondering
they were made 2 per page and are not the normal size post cards. Anyway, I thought you might like to use them for the sisters that you Visit teach or some friends as well. Make sure to sign the backside of the card with all your contact information.

Enjoy yet another Katie G. creation and Happy Valentines Day!!!

REALLY CUTE IDEAS OF THINGS HANDMADE!

Do you want some really cute ideas for some fun handmade crafts and things? Since I can't make them because I am still recovering from my Carpal Tunnel Surgery, I will give some great links for you to go to directly and see the fun projects and crafts for yourself! Enjoy! Katie G.

1. Scripture Covers http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2009/12/scripture-cover-tutorial.html
2. Valentine Fortune Cookies made out of felt http://deckthehalls-christmas.blogspot.com/2010/01/sending-fortune-cookie-to-you.html
3. Cute Valentine or anytime decorated box tutorial http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/gablebox/
4. Very cute ideas for all kinds of giving ( I love her ideas!!!) http://barbschram.blogspot.com/
5. Valentines Day darling ideas and gifts to make ( my favorite is the conversation hearts attached to a sand pile shovel that says..."I Dig You!" oooh, so cute!) http://deckthehalls-christmas.blogspot.com/search/label/Happy%20Valentines%20Day
6. Darling Star project http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/cg_display.asp?g=1&seed_id=22545
7. Melted Flowers tutorial http://seamseweasy.blogspot.com/2009/11/melted-flower-tutorial.html
8. A Variety of Cute free printable templates http://cuddlybuddly.com/freebies/free-templates/

I am making my "Family Tree Magnet Board"

While I am trying to recouperate from my surgery, I have been thinking of ways to make my resting time spent, more useful. I have been thinking about a project that I have almost all the necessary items for, but have never completed it. It is something that will be a family treasure or heirloom one day, but I have to make it first. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT IT...

Back in about September of 2009, my daughter and I went to Swiss Days that is a huge boutique and Celebration held in Midway, Utah, a little town boardering Heber City and just outside of Park City, Utah. This is what I feel is the biggest and best boutiques held in Utah and I try to go to it every year.

One of the best finds of booths that really struck my fancy was the "Stories by Me" booth. This is the link to their website http://www.storiesbyme.com and their blog http://www.storiesbymeblog.blogspot.com/

This project will be a good one for Ward Relief Societies as they come up with monthly activities and things that can enrich the lives of the women, with something useful, fun and with a good focus which is family history.  The top photo is temporary and from the site of Stories by me, but I will replace it with my finnished project and how I did it.  They also have other darling ideas and projects using family photos, that will help create memories and fun.  I plan also on making the puzzle blocks using the faces of my grandchildren to make the puzzles.  It will be lots of fun! You should also check out their darling calendar that can be used monthly with pictures of the birthdays in the family.  Such cute ideas and worth while  projects to do!!!!!

April - Happy Easter!

Don't you just love Springtime, buds, bulbs popping out of the ground, new life begining again everywhere you look. I love the colors of Spring, and they go hand in hand with Easter. I was walking in the store the other day and I went past the bathroom towels. The colors were so bright and vivid that it almost lured me into buying new towels. Well as I sit down to try to figure out something new for you to do for the Sisters you visit teach, I thought about making something out of some of those beautiful and colorful towels and boy did I hit the jack pot. I remembered some cute ideas that I have done myself in the past and then I googled some ideas. I found some really cute ideas to give as a simple and inexpensive but creative little Easter/Springtime gift. Have you ever made those cute little Bunnies with your kids out of a wash cloth? Well here is a new twist on a wash cloth bunny. The bunny can be unwrapped and used as a wash cloth after using it as a holiday decoration. How about making one out of a colorful wash cloth and wrapping a small bar of soap in the back of the bunny. If you go to this link it will show you the directions how to do it.
To just make a simple Bunny wash cloth you can find the directions at: http://www.thefabricofourlives.com/Eco-Friendly-Lifestyle/Sherri-Osborn-Easter-Bunny-Craft
You can find the directons to make another cute little bunny out of a wash cloth and a Poofy Shower Scrubber by going to this site:http://www.instructables.com/id/SM8SQZ8FMZADHV1/
There are so many other darling things that I found online that you can make with a simple wash cloth.

Wash cloth cake rolls w/ a cherry maganet to top it off. The ones pictured are for purchase, but how hard would these be to make by rolling up a colored and a white cloth together into a jelly roll? There doesn't seem to be any directions that I can find to make these, so my directions to make a jelly roll cake out of wash cloths would be to fold two wash cloths in quarters and put the colored one down first and the white or cream one on top of it. Then Roll. YOu could probalby cut a strip of card stock paper to help hold it shape. I would also guess that you would need to use a matching colored elastic or 1/4 " ribbon to tie it around the rolled section. Find a plastic cherry or Strawberry and paste a magnet on it. Secure it onto the elastic or ribbon. You could cut a strip of clear plastic transparentcy paper the width of the roll and wrap it around the roll and secure it with a clear cellophane tape strip and I think it would hold it's shape better. Set inside a cupcake cup, and I would think a foil cup would be pretty! Wrap in Cellophane or set inside a cute clear cellophane bag that you can purchase at Xpedex stores or craft stores as well. I have not made this yet, but I am going to go down and purchase what I need and I will experiment and see if I can get some more precise directions for you!

How about a lollipop wash cloth surprise? I can't believe all the ways you can fold a wash cloth and make something so cute! Well if you would like the directions to make them, go to http://www.cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com/baby-shower-craft-idea.html
http://www.cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com/baby-shower-craft-idea.html

There's more.... how about a colorful washcloth folded into a cute little chick? I can see you putting on a little tag tied to the chick and saying something like this..." I am so glad that we chicks can cluck together while visiting teaching!" To get more informaion go to http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPenla9AepnTsrarmYxk9LOU-fqv384jodktLmmQs3J3teh7RVnUXi7_s90h9jdPpMgsT7CN1nS-z3dOOs6_ojzSCHdEp_fM9ULHMvMixgcrAFMnowm2vhyTDJbjKY2WaA1-RvWZ-vKE/s400/washcloth+bird.jpg&imgrefurl=http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2009/02/creative-packaging-bird-washcloth.html&usg=__aOk, ok, I have just about exhausted the folded wash cloth ideas, but for you overly ambitious sisters, here is a very cute idea for using wash cloths. These are wash cloth slippers and they too look very cute.

There are two examples that I found that you could go to find the directions and both pairs of slippers are just alittle bit different from each other. I can imagine how you could create all different kinds of looks with these slippers by adding all kinds of do dads. Go to http://patterns2go.com/Downloads/P2GsWashclothSlippers.pdf and another site is at this location:http://www.pattiewack.com/washcloth_slippers.html

February or March 2009 Handout idea

Make sure you visit my original blog http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com/ to get the March message links, view the cute videos that I found that go so well with this lesson, and to read my own post about the Message.

This is a cute little idea that I have put together for many different occasions. This ideas can be used for the Visiting Teaching handout for February or March, or if you change the header wording, you can even give it out for any other occasion, like Birthday or even wedding party favors, make a dip mix in packet, or just about for any other reason you want to give out a tiny bit of fun to someone. The directions are on each page. The header is self explanatory but the other two pages with printed strips are if you would like to add a bottom outside package to the header.
Just cut it out, and fit around the filled plastic bag and secure the tops by stapling. Then you can attach the header as outlined on the directions on that page. This turns out really cute. If you have some scrapbooking paper, you could use that as well and measure the width to be 4 inches and length to be as tall as you want your bag up to 11 inches, but that is probably too large. If you want to make the bottom squared off so it can stand alone when filled, you can make two folds about 5/8 down both ends of the length which will leave about and inch or two for a flat bottom. Another cute ideas is to cut a window in the front of the bottom half of the bag in an oval, circle or square, so that the candies or treats inside can be seen.

I have prepared for you the header page which goes with the Visiting Teaching message for this month. You can fill it with whatever you want but the focus is to have a Mommy Moment which is the divine destiny of Women and Mothers. Suggest to your sisters that they take a moment with their children to focus on some kind of teaching moment or just some nurturing, togetherness time. This is about the only example I could find online to show you sort of what you will be making this month.

If you are giving this to a women who does not have children, suggest that she might share a nurturing and friendshipping moment with someone she knows such as a friend, a niece or nephew, a neighbor, or even pass it on to those she Visiting Teaches. For a Grandmother, she could have some fun nurturing moments with her grandchildren.

I hope that you enjoy this idea. I will have another idea for a April handout hopefully by the end of this month. Lots of love and happy Visiting Teaching, Katie G.

Conduit Chimes

I am going to make for my family a set of Conduit Chimes so that we can play them on Christmas Eve or whenever we want. I looked up on the Internet and found a page that gives all the directions on how to make them. This site will let you make 25 chimes starting with C - C sharp or D flat then going all the way up the scale two octaves. You could probably just do one octave if you like but the directions will let you make more. Go to http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/e/deb50dun/Physics%20Scan/Physics%20ideas/making%20wind%20Chimes.pdf I recommend that you print out the page.
My Mother recommends using copper pipe ( which is more expensive ) because it gives a more resinent sound, however she has always made them with the regular cheaper pipe.

I am also going to experiment with mallets as the only things I have ever used to strike the chimes with is either a spoon or a large nail. I am going to try to find a wooden bead and a wooden dowel and see what happens. I will let you know.

As far as directions to make a stand to hold them I am going to make one out of plastic PVC Pipe and joints. I don't know exactly how I will make it but if I figure a good one out, I will let you know.

I also found another site where they ahve Conduit Pipes or Chimes and the directions so you can go to either to see which works the best for you. The other site is located at http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wtsmith.com/giffiles/chimes.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.wtsmith.com/rt/projects.html&usg=__RrUrnLJE1dwr9nRV4JcKujPJU_Y=&h=405&w=610&sz=10&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=5rtMnVyg9LUDMM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3DConduit%2Bchimes%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG You can print the directions from the website and make them yourself. Have fun!