Life Lately

1) Donuts!  And lots of sweets, as usual
2) and 4) We've been working out a bunch lately!  I got a new medicine ball that has really changed up my workouts, and we also got a hangboard, which is great training for rock climbing.
4) Of course, I've been hanging out with this sweetheart too!

1) Valentine's Day started with a delicious living room picnic
2-4) and it continued with a terrific fire, marshmallow toasting, and delicious s'mores (we made them with fudge graham crackers!)
5) and 6) The beautiful bouquet John gave me.  I love flowers!

February has been a great month!  And I'm looking forward to next month even more- it's my birthday month!  I've got lots of DIYs, recipes, and fun birthday ideas lined up to share with you all :)  What have you been up to this month?

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Saturday Snapshot: Red Carnation

Be Mine: DIY Bumblebee Bookmark

I can't help it, I think this little guy is so cute!!  And super easy to make, too, I promise!

You will need:

• Sculpey (or any other polymer clay) in black, bright yellow, white, and pale pink
• Large paperclip (I found one in pink that I thought was a perfect match to the pink clay)

First, roll out a ball of yellow for the bee's head.  Then, roll out 2 yellow disks (I made one more than I needed to!) of approximately equal size.  You'll also need a smaller, square pyramid of yellow clay.

Next, make two small pink balls for the bee's cheeks.  Press them gently into the yellow ball.  I know bees don't really blush... but he looks pretty cute with rosy cheeks!

Then, make two oval disks out of the white clay.

Now, take your black clay and make two disks about the same size as the yellow disks.  Then, roll out one long, thin snake of black.  Use this snake to outline the wings, add a smile to the bee, and give your bee eyes.

All that's left is the assembly!  Press the disks together, alternating black and yellow, and place the yellow pyramid on the end for the stinger.  Make a small divot at the end opposite the stinger to attach the head.

Press the wings on either side.

Now, stick your paper clip up into the belly of the bee.  If you're using a plain metal paper clip, I think this can stay in while you bake it.  But, if there is any plastic covering on the paperclip, remove it before baking, but keep the slot it makes intact.

Bake at 275 degrees for 15 minutes for every quarter inch of thickness. I baked mine for about 19 minutes.  Finally, glue your paperclip in place.  Ta da!

Will you BEE mine?

Stuck On You: DIY Magnet Valentine

Valentine's Day is coming up soon!  If you still need a sweet little craft, try making a magnet for whoever you're "stuck" on :)  I think these are great teacher or co-worker gifts, too!

You will need:

• Sculpey (or other polymer clay) in white, light pink, and bright purple
• A slim stick of some sort (a toothpick could work, or a carving tool found at craft stores)
• Magnets (the bigger your clay heart, the stronger it should be)
• Hot glue gun

Start by rolling two smallish balls of the white clay.  I like to use the white clay as a filler and then cover it with colored clay- this way you use less of the colored clay :)

Next, roll the ball into a point on one side- it should look like a raindrop.  Join the two raindrops so their points touch, forming a heart.  Smooth the two pieces together with your fingers.

Roll out a piece of the pale pink clay next.  You can use any sort of rolling tool, but truthfully I used a Sharpie because it was nearby.  Hah!  Place the heart on top of the pale pink and cut away the excess.  Smooth the pale pink around the edges of the heart.  Then, repeat the process on the other side so that the heart is completely covered in pink.  Smooth out any bumps or ridges with your fingers.

Now, take your pointed tool and press it into the heart, creating ridge lines on a diagonal all the way across.  Repeat in the opposite direction, creating a quilted effect.

Finally, roll out tiny pieces of purple and place them into the corners of the quilting.

Bake the heart at 275 degrees for every quarter inch of thickness.  I always like to err on the side of under baking, however, or you run the risk of browning the clay.

Finally, hot glue a magnet to the back of your heart.  Use a glue dot to affix it to a card, and you're done!  So simple!

DIY Valentine Vase

I saw these pink vases at the dollar store, and I thought they were so cute!  I think pink and gold are an adorable combination, so I came up with this little idea.  This is such an easy project, and it makes a perfect gift for anyone you want to give a flower to as well :)

You will need:

• Pink glass vase
• Heart shaped stickers
• Painters tape
• Gold metallic spray paint

First, tape off the top and bottom of your vase with the painters tape.  Make sure you cover the top hole as well!

Next, stick on those stickers!  If you want, you could do a pattern, but I went with something a little haphazard.

Then, simply spray paint it!  Since it was too cold to spray paint outside (it should be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit), I placed my vase inside a cardboard box and spray painted in the unfinished part of our basement.  This helped contain the paint.  Unfortunately, there wasn't anything I could do to contain the fumes.  So, do this in a well ventilated area!

Wait for the paint to dry, and then remove the stickers and tape.

Ta da!  Now, it just needs a flower...

Polka Dot Heart

Last week, I showed you a little polka dotted monogram project you could make for your home decor.  Today, I've got the Valentine version!

You will need:

• 5x7 canvas
• Fresh pencil eraser
• Red paint (I chose a pearl finish from Martha Stewart's craft paints)
• Gold paint
• Printer paper
• Scissors
• Glue dots

Trace and cut out a piece of paper the same size as your canvas.  Then, draw and cut out a heart from the middle of the paper.

Affix the heart to the canvas with a glue dot (I'm obsessed with glue dots- I feel like I've been living in the dark ages before using these!)

Use your eraser as a dotting tool and polka dot a grid of gold over the whole canvas.  I recommend lightly dotting over the top of the heart.  This way, you don't lose track of where your polka dots should be, but you also don't crinkle the paper from too much paint.

Remove the heart and let the gold paint dry.

Place the heart outline over the dry gold dots, and dab the red paint inside, being careful to line up the overlapping dots.

Remove the stencil, let dry, and enjoy!

I love how this color combination turned out!  What Valentine crafts are you making??

You Rock! Valentines

I tried to save my Valentine posts for February... but I just couldn't resist!  This is beyond easy to make, and I think it happens to be pretty darn cute :)

You will need:

• River rocks (I get mine at the dollar store!)
• Metallic Sharpies
• Heart shaped cards (available at Michael's)
• Glue dots

This is really as simple as drawing a heart on the rocks and sticking them on the card with a glue dot or two.  Add a "You rock!" message, and you're done!

I think this might win the prize for easiest DIY I've ever posted...

Are you in the Valentine mood yet?