Valentines Day | Grey House Harbor

Feb 10 2015

handmade hearts

Posted by hayley

After seeing Bug’s stamping explosion, Songbird decided she wanted to do something similar for her friends’ Valentines this year. Here’s a quick run down how we put together these cute laced hearts for her classroom celebration.

(My apologies for the terrible lighting in these photos. It’s pouring rain and dark skies here today, so natural lighting was non-existent. Unfortunately my studio space doesn’t have great overhead light either.)

Songbird began by stamping gold hearts onto construction paper using the toilet paper roll method.

Once dry, fold the paper in half “hamburger” style.

Then fold again in the same direction, “hot dog” style. (Did anyone else learn paper folding by these terms?!)

Trace a half-heart template on the second folded edge and cut out. If you make it the right size, you can get two complete heart sets out of one page.

With two hearts aligned, punch holes around the outside edge.

I had some bakers twine from the Target dollar bins on hand, so we used that to lace her hearts together. Roll one end of the twine in tape – it makes it stiff and easier to push through the holes.

Start the lacing at the top middle. Don’t pull it all the way through – leave a few inches for tying. When you’re almost all the way around, stuff a few treats inside. We found that two Laffy Taffys fit perfectly!

Finish up the lacing and tie a cute bow.

Sign a small tag and hot glue it to the front to complete the look. Songbird can’t wait to share the handmade love!

Tags: diy, handmade valentines, kid stuff, Valentines Day

1 comment

Feb 5 2014

diy valentine pouches

Posted by hayley

Procrastinator Extraordinaire – it’s on my resumé.

I will never be a blogger who is awesome about posting holiday ideas a month out. The mere fact that we made something for Valentine’s Day a week before is a miracle in itself. These little pouches are so awesome that I couldn’t help but make them early and share. You know, in the event that you need a last minute idea too!

Supplies:
– 8.5 x 11 cardstock (you can also use just printer paper)
– printed Valentine’s messages – click HERE to print the one I created
– tulle
– scrapbook paper
– paint chips
– filler

Cut the letter sized cardstock in half.

Cut the paint chips, tulle, and messages down into strips. Cut heart shapes from your scrapbook paper. We used flocked red paper for a velvet effect. Sign all the message tags.

Give your child the cardstock pieces to decorate one side as they wish. Handmade goodness at its finest!

Bend the pieces in half (hamburger style) and straight stitch down the edge. You can do this in one continuous string to save time, then just cut them apart.

Next, sew one short side closed.

I let Songbird do all the short sides. My sewing machine as a very slow setting and she was giddy at learning to sew. There is something magical about the pride instilled in a child when they learn a new skill. She’s already pumped at the thought of telling her classmates she sewed them herself.