Quick and simple gift #2: "Love" Frames

Here's a 10-minute gift that could be used to decorate your home for Valentine's Day or an anniversary.

You need:
- Four small frames in red and pink (or your choice of colors--maybe the colors you used for your wedding, if these frames are to celebrate an anniversary?)  Various shapes look best.  I purchased mine at Michael's Hobbies and Crafts for $3 each.
- Computer and Desktop Publishing Program, or word processing program, that includes some unique fonts.
- Printer and Ink
- Paper

To make:
1) Measure your frames to determine the size of your letters
2) Go into your dtp or word processing program and select a unique font.  Type the letters "L"  "O" "V" "E", allowing space between each letter
3) Print letters; cut them out
4) Insert in frames
5) Enjoy!

They look especially nice on a fireplace mantel.

You could also attach strong magnets to the back and attach the frames to a refrigerator or other magnetic surface. 

Here's a close up of the frames:

Quick and simple heart-themed gift #1: Embellished backpack

Lately, I've been inspired to create a variety of simple heart-themed gifts.   Yes, these would make great gifts for Valentine's Day, but they are also appropriate for wedding anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions.

My first idea would be perfect for tween or teen girls, hip young adults or young moms who need to carry baby supplies with them every where. Actually, I can think of a few older moms who would like this gift too!  It would also be a great gift for a dog owner for carrying a water bottle and treats for her four-legged friend. 

I was inspired by my 11 year old daughter, who loves small backpack-type purses.  I saw a pink backpack on sale for only $3 at Hobby Lobby.  It was pretty as it was, but I wanted to do something more with it.  So I threw some chalkboard fabric in my cart along with the backpack.

Once at home, I set out my supplies:  the backpack, chalkboard fabric, fabric glue, fabric scissors, large heart shaped cookie cutter, and a pen. 

I traced heart shapes on the chalkboard paper like this:

Then I cut out the hearts and glued them to the backpack:

I let it dry for 24 hours, and here is the finished product:

I'll gift it to my daughter with a chalkboard pen.  It's changeable art, since she can scribble drawings, notes and even reminders to herself on the chalkboard hearts!

Starting again

This blog has been sitting in mothballs for the last few years, while I tried blogging on other platforms.  But truthfully, those options were frustrating and time-consuming to update, so I've decided to return to this blog.  I have tons of photos and ideas in my archives that are just waiting to be shared with all of you!


Let's start this month with 'tons of inspiring projects -- simple heart themed gifts.  These would be perfect not only for Valentine's Day, but also for wedding/relationship anniversaries!  I'll be uploading a ton of ideas in the next few days, so keep checking back! 

Cheryl