You may or may not know about my undying affection for Valentine's Day.
I have no good explanation.
But I can tell you this: I have already spent more time crafting for V-day than I did for Christmas.
It's serious.
It's sur-rious.
Perhaps you recall the Great Valentine's Day Book Wreath of 2010?
It's still a mystery why we opted to photograph this beauty under the cloak of night.
We got a little excited.
And who can blame us?
And who can blame us?
I've come to believe that a large heart-punch is a terrible thing to waste.
So, I did what any respectable girl would do.
I started punching anything that breathed.
Let me rephrase that.
I started punching anything that breathed.
Let me rephrase that.
I started punching anything that arrived in my mailbox, even though I canceled it months ago.
It was ever-so-fun and relaxing to search the pages for fun colors and prints.
I've always been a sucker for prints.
(And seersucker, but that's another story.)
I've always been a sucker for prints.
(And seersucker, but that's another story.)
Just when I was done folding, I folded some more, with the help of my trusty side-kick, Ugly Blue Blanket.
Using double-sided tape (or those little scrapbooking squares), I taped the back-sides of three hearts together, to make a 3-dimensional heart.
I resisted the urge to plan which hearts should go together, cause that would be, like, totally OCD.
I have a "friend" who probably would have done something like that. She wears. me. out.
I resisted the urge to plan which hearts should go together, cause that would be, like, totally OCD.
I have a "friend" who probably would have done something like that. She wears. me. out.
Once I had about eight-thousand 3-D hearts, I threaded regular, white thread down through the middles and taped it in place on one of the hearts (on the inside), making sure to space the hearts somewhat evenly .
(There is probably a better way of doing this, but I often work backwards or sideways, and this was no exception.)
See that aqua heart with the brown stripes?
Hello, Sundance catalog napkins. Thank you for playing along.This garland was love at first sight, for me.
I wanted to hang it up, even though we had two showings schedule for this week, but then I thought better of it.
And then I thought better of thinking better of it and I HUNG THAT GARLAND.
Oh yes, I did.
The Garls may well prove to be our good luck charm.
pretty and sweet - I so totally HEART this project! :)
ReplyDeletei LOVE this!! love all the fun prints you found to use.
ReplyDeleteYour garland is fabulous. In fact, I ♥ it. (I just figured out how to do that...all by myself)
ReplyDeleteI think it should be getting its acceptance speech ready...it's fixin' to win all sorts of awards...tis the season, and all.
: )
Julie M.
oh, sista friend. You are too good. I love it! I have no energy for heart punches. Or garland. I think you need to come to Colorado and make one for me. lol :)
ReplyDeleteThe garland is so adorable! I don't think I heart Valentine's Day to the extent that you do, but I'd still love to have this garland hanging in my home :)
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love this garland. Should I daresay I HEART your garland? Yep. I said it. And wouldn't you know I posted a heart garland today myself? But I love how delicate and pretty yours turned out.
ReplyDeletei love them and i am so glad you hung them! people will love them! i want to make some now soo cute!!
ReplyDeleteSomeone's gonna want that house w/ the garland. She'll say to her husband, "Of all the houses we've looked at, the house w/ the heart garland is my favorite!" And then they'll make an offer! I really believe it!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
HBY
These are brilliant.
ReplyDeleteIf everything in the house was all wrong for our family, I'd be that wife who said, "I want the house with those paper hearts."
Let's pray someone as illogical as me comes to look at your house.
Heather
I think I need to get one of those big heart punchy thingys.
ReplyDeleteHeart garland: stinkin' cute.
ReplyDeletePhoto essay on heart garland: even more adorable.
Love your hearts. And your heart.
oh yes you did. love the upcycled heart garland shannan......
ReplyDeletelooks like the perfect craft for us.....
ReplyDeleteprobably NOT gonna do it this week. :)
but, trust me, we'll make it.
Beauteous, Farmgirl. Craft number one? Does that mean we can look forward to a whole crafty Valentine series? I can't wait to see what else you've got up your heart shaped sleeve.
ReplyDeletei hadn't even given valentine's day a thought yet and now suddenly I feel like I'm behind... Love the garland.
ReplyDeleteSo, I was a bad girl and stored last year's book wreath with the chucking method, hence the tousled heart book wreat. Needless to say, it was in need of a fresh replacement. Heart garland to the rescue! You rock. Looking forward to crafts 2 through 709.
ReplyDeleteupon further review, cupid does not want to mess with you. you are a valentine rock star.
ReplyDeleteLove the heart garland... I may have to give it try myself...
ReplyDeleteAs for the seersucker, well 'nuff said.
~Chris
Love it! And I think your way is great - it worked for you, didn't it! I may just have to do some of those myself!
ReplyDeleteSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
ReplyDeleteWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Shannan,
ReplyDeleteIn a series of unfortunate events the Toothfairy FAILED to show up three nights in a row during the week of Christmas just this past year. What was really pathetic was that she didn't just forget for one tooth, there were actually three separate teeth involved in the same week. By the end of the week the little tooth pocket was bursting at the seams.
What was I to do?
I proclaimed that the Toothfairy doesn't work during the week of Christmas. Nobody bought that.
Then I proclaimed that she was so busy because so many other children had also lost teeth. That also failed.
I'm sorry to tell you, but in my desperation I may have possibly blamed the whole incident on your beloved Cupid. I may have said that he was so jealous of the lime light the toothfairy and Santa share that he took the toothfairy out with one of his arrows. Maybe.
Mr. Toothless bought the story and never questioned the possibility that his precious Santa could also be in danger. I gave him $5 bucks and we called it even. That was that.
Clearly, after a month of no sleep due to the colic you could understand I was at my whits end. I so hope you'll understand and we can still be friends.
Sincerely Yours,
Joy
(still snowed in and strung out on cabin fever)
be still my heart! I still love the wreath of 2010. I have not forgotten it's beauty! The garland is pretty cute, but not sure I have the patience. I don't have the punch, either :(
ReplyDeleteThat garland is going to sell your house. I can feel it!
ReplyDeleteyum. It almost makes me want to live somewhere were I am snowed in and forced to make crafty things.
ReplyDeleteInstead, I was out in the sunshine (YES!) pulling weeds and wild strawberry and thinking of you.
Cuuu-uuute!
ReplyDeleteNow this has the makings of a fun craft for Hope and I to do...may not turn out quite as nice but it sure will be memorable :)
ReplyDeleteI ♥ your ♥ garland!!! You're sooo clever!
ReplyDelete♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥
Emi J.
If am TOTALLY doing this with my girls! Heck--we get enough punch-out-able junk mail to wrap the house (twice) in garland. You are so clever.
ReplyDeleteoxoxoxo
Lara
I love it. Simple. Yet powerful.
ReplyDeleteso cute.
ReplyDeletei, for one, would love to buy a home from someone who cares so much about the atmosphere. so, no, a heart garland would not be a deal breaker. i think it's endearing!
I need to get me a heart punch!
ReplyDeleteI am also a lover of Valentine's Day. :) Love the garland...will make soon!
ReplyDeletesuper cute Shannan!!
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE this garland idea, Shannan! I was thinking about doing a heart garland with single hearts sewn in a row, but I love the 3-d look of these hearts. Thanks for the inspiration. And I'm glad you hung the garland for your house showing!
ReplyDeleteLove the heart garland. Check out the give a way at allthingsvintage88.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteVery cute! I love it! And I'm glad you decided to hang it up. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the perfect craft to combat our January Doldrums. Thanks! The only drawback? I have haul my butt out into -4 windchill to go buy a heart punch. Maybe tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteLOVE. why are you so fabulous? :) i am doing this!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog today. LOVE it! valentine's is my fav too! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis garland is going to make your house sell!!
ReplyDeleteI need to make one of these. Really unique and soooo pretty!
****My giveaway is over tonight at midnight!!!
Come by and enter!!!***
Beth
Very cute! I like the heart punch.
ReplyDelete-FringeGirl
I need a heart punch!
ReplyDeleteThat's so sweet. I LOVE your paper heart wreath. I may have to action one for Vday this year. And please, do tell the very good reason for your love of Valentine's day.
ReplyDeleteThat is so beautiful!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYour garland is fantastics!! I'll be copying your heart wreath for sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the much needed inspiration. ;)
Hugs~
T
I love valentines day, and your garland is perfect. I need to look for the one I strung all over the shop last year-hmmmmm. Did you get my email about coming to First Friday?
ReplyDeletexoxox
Char
fabulous! I love the photo of the wreath in the nighttime--makes it more romantic~
ReplyDeleteCutest little garland...I need to do this...
ReplyDeleteyou are brilliant! love, love it!
ReplyDeleteOh I also Love your garland. You have more patience than me. I love the punch thing i could do that part all day love to punch.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea
Janice
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteConsider the garland just an advertising banner that whispers: This is the house that love built!
Your Friend,
Deborah
ahh love this...soo much! I think we need one! and i think those little hearts will swoon potential buyers and if not, they aren't meant to have a house like yours full of love!
ReplyDeleteSo cute - makes me want to decorate for Valentine's day :-)
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeletePlease leave the garland up for me - even if it's March when I get there - and I'll turn the Gingerbread men I made for you into Valentine cookies somehow - or Shamrocks - or Easter Bunnies...
ReplyDeleteyea for showings! I think the hearts will do it!
ReplyDeleteI love crafts like this because I don't have to run to my nearest craft store and buy everything shown! So cute. I love Valentine's Day too :)
ReplyDeleteA. I'm WAY behind on blog posts here! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteB. LOVE this! (the garland. not the being behind)
C. Copying it!
D. Praying for your showings!
just love the valentines stuff. i just went craft shopping today to complete my valentines show case :)
ReplyDeleteI've got this green tree upstairs that may or may not be still up from Christmas and it's totally going to be our Valentine Tree...with this garland! I. Luvvv. It.
ReplyDelete~Holly
I know I am just one of many....but I ~heart~ you and everything that you do.
ReplyDeleteCheers~
e
I am still lovin' my heart wreath I made last year! I put it away temporarily during Christmas, but now it's back! I am itchin' to make one of those garlands! So glad I didn't toss my latest Boden catalog!
ReplyDeleteI must have missed the boat somewhere. Where are you all heading? New home or location? Love the garland. Perfectly simple!
ReplyDeleteOhhh. I have always hated V-Day. (Yes, It's even my B-Day and I still hate it) But you may have just made me love it for a moment maybe...
ReplyDeletei L.O.V.E. garlands. we (garlands and i) found each other when i made one to decorate for my sister's baby shower last may, and kept it up until christmas decor infested. now that christmas decor is gone, i have an empty space just waiting... for this kind of inspiration. i might actually remember valentines day this year!
ReplyDeleteA) I'm buying a heart punch. Tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteB) I'm making fifty feet of that garland and stringing it all over our house.
C) This post not only inspired me to create, it made me laugh out loud AND taught me a fun new word. Garls. I LOVE IT! :-)
I love that garland...and I'm really in love with Valentine's day too...but I haven't started a thing yet for it
ReplyDeleteThis is the sweetest little garland. We are on our first No Spend month or I would rush right out and buy a heart punch. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from your guest post at The Lettered Cottage and then I saw a comment you left on my friend Ellen's blog, Handmade Recess AND I had no idea you lived in Indiana. I am an Indiana girl living in Virginia. Most of my family is still in Indiana.
geez a lou, now i need a heart-punch.
ReplyDeleteRemember that time you said you weren't crafty? What-ev. Love your garland. Now I'm wishing I knew where the heck my heart punch is.
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I love my Sundance catalogs and hate to throw them away. Anthro and Sundance catalogs provide regular eye candy at my house. Now I have a reason to save them...for a project like this. I'm new to your blog and I'm so happy I'm following :)
ReplyDeletemaybe someone else has asked this already, but um . . . am I that "friend?"! hahaha
ReplyDeleteOk, seriously love it! Now where would you get a heart punch in lil' ol' New Zealand???
ReplyDeleteWhy in the world have I not been following you?!? And why oh why did I not find this 30 minutes ago? I just threw out about 15 catalogs. Dare I go hunting through the garbage to reclaim them????
ReplyDeleteI just love your "recycled mail heart garland and newspaper Christmas Tree" ascetic! I wanted to thank you for inspiring me...we had just bought a heart punch for making Valentine's and punched our hearts out of recycled maps and made little ornaments with our hearts, hanging them from the fireplace mantel and the light fixture above the kitchen table. Who knows where else they will end up! We too have recently been influenced by David Platt and are going to pray through "Operation World" with our kids this year. So, the map hearts are reminding us to love His world and pray.
ReplyDeleteOk, I laughed through that whole post! :) "And then I thought better of THAT..." Too funny. What a clever idea! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh, these are absolutely beautiful. I love it! So I just went to the craft store to get a heart punch and there were so many sizes there I didn't know what to choose! I'm making the wreath- would you mind sharing what you used? Or maybe how big the wreath is so I can gauge what size it was?
ReplyDeleteThe heart punch I use is about 2.5" at the widest part of the heart, although that is just my estimate, so...
ReplyDeleteI do recall that it was the largest one Michael's sold. I think.
:)
Great! Thanks! I really appreciate it. Sometimes I need a little hand-holding through my crafts. :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE THIS. And your words. xo
ReplyDeletesuper cute idea!
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing :)
i think im gonna have one for my store on val's day .. :D
XoXo ..
Loving this idea! Definitely going to have to see if I can get my hands on a huge punch like that...otherwise I will just have to wing it with scissors. Gah! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love it! Very beautiful!
ReplyDeletehugs from Brasil
Cidinha
Wow, I'm hooked now, how cute! And I'm not really the cutesy type! I have sooo many ideas running thru my head now just from this one post and if I ever find the time(which will probably be never) I'll have to make these! Now I have to subscribe to your blog, just for those cutesy hearts.
ReplyDelete-Gwenevere
I love that heart garland idea! And the photos of the snow, lovely!!! We don't get that down here in Florida, sadly. You have a very homey and lovely blog...I hope my blog grows up to look like yours one day! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVE the garland! Can't you just imagine a pretty little white tabletop Christmas tree on your valentine table with your little 3-D hears floating from the branches? Or just some pretty twigs spray painted white in a vase with these floaty hearts? I can't wait to get my hands on a heart punch! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSo simple and classy! Very very pretty!
ReplyDeleteJo-Anna
ohmigosh... love it. and i have a whole pile of magazines waiting to go to the art room at school....
ReplyDeleteWill be doing this to-mor-row!
ReplyDeleteLoved it so much that me and my girls made one this week! Blogged about it and linked back to this post!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much sharing! I am now a follower!