Ring of Love

I've talked about my penchant for non-circular shaped wreaths before. And while I really wanted a heart-shaped wreath for my Valentine's door, I settled on making this little lovely.

It's so fun to make. I wouldn't say it's easy (but it is) because it takes some patience to make each of the pom poms. Note: I actually refer to them as fuzzy wuzzies because in my middle school days, we used to make fuzzy wuzzy necklaces (these pom poms on a string), and we'd pull out individual strings to give one another a warm and fuzzy "hug." So if I refer to them as fuzzy wuzzies, I'm not crazy; just reaching for my younger days.

So here's how you do it. You can get the kiddies involved in this too!

What You'll Need
circular wreath form (I got this one at the dollar store.)
yarn
scissors
Love sign or other decoration - optional
hot glue
galvanized wire

What You'll Do
Step 1: Wrap the wreath form in yarn. You could also use cloth, ribbon or paint. It's totally up to you. It's just important to cover it so the green doesn't show when you're finished.



Step 2: Make a fuzzy wuzzy. To do this, you wrap yarn around your hand. I went around about 50 times. The more you go around, the thicker your pom pom will be.


Step 3: Take your pom pom off your hand carefully, keeping it in its form. Cut a length of yarn about 12 inches long. Tie it into a very tight knot, splitting the wrapped yarn in half.



Step 4: Cut the loops of the yarn. Gently shake the pom pom to get rid of loose pieces and to form the pom pom.



Step 5: Tie the pom poms on to the wreath in alternating colors or in a pattern of your choice. When the wreath is full, cut off any long strings in the back of the wreath.



Step 6: Use hot glue or epoxy to attach galvanized wire to the back of the word. This wire will help secure the decoration to the wreath. I used the wire because I had it in my toolbox. There are multiple ways you can attach the decoration to the wreath.


Step 7: Gently push the wire ends into the wreath. And you're done! Time to hang it up for display.


It really is fun to make and has lots of possibilities for Valentine's and other holidays. I got the "Love" sign in the wood working department at Michael's. It was only $1, and it was already painted the perfect shade of pink! All in all - this wreath totals up to be about $3.

See where I'm showing off...

Hair Love

Make a fun little hair clip for Valentine's Day. Perfect for any young girl in your life. Or, well, let's be honest -- any 25 year old girl as well! :)

What You'll Need
Foam hearts (You can find these in any craft store right now.)
Hair clips (Look in the bridal section of craft stores.)
Hot glue

What You'll Do
Pick hearts in whatever pattern you like and glue to the clip. That easy!



Tip: Glue the hearts to the pin while it's closed. That way the foam hearts will curve with the pin and your head.



For another fun hair clip idea, check out my pal Lauren's jazzy clip at Laurenmakes.

Valentine's Napkins Rings

I found some great Valentine's Day napkins at Hobby Lobby right after Christmas, and while I could have gone with some simple silver napkin rings, I chose to -of course- make my own. It was so fun to do! You could easily repeat this process for lots of holidays and lots of napkins all year.


What You'll Need
Toilet paper or paper towel rolls
Scissors
Hot glue gun and sticks
Fabric -- half a yard will cover about six rolls
Flocked brads (Find them in the scrapbooking department.)

What You'll Do
Step 1: Remove, as best you can, any stuck-on toilet paper or paper towels. Cut the rolls into 1-inch rings.



Step 2: Cut the fabric into three- to four-inch strips. I started cutting and then ripped to get the "worn edge" look on the fabric's edges. Fold the fabric in half. I used hot glue on each end to help keep the fabric folded. Folding the fabric makes it thicker and covers the cardboard of the ring better.


Step 3: Wrap the fabric around the ring, hot gluing in place as you go. When you meet the other end, cut any excess off and hot glue in place.

Step 4: Using a craft knife, carefully puncture a hole through the fabric and cardboard ring. Push the tabs of a flocked brad through the hole and open the tabs to keep the brad in place.


Step 5: And you're done! Repeat the process for all the napkin rings you need.



Have you made any fun things for your table this Valentine's Day?

I'm sharing this post in lots of places!

Great Giveaway

In honor of the plethora of Valentine's Day postings you've already seen (and the many more to come), I found this piece of art from Red Letter Words and wanted to share. Despite not having a "beloved," I love the sentiment of this piece and know many of you will love it for your beloved as well.


And good news... Traci at Beneath My Heart is sponsoring an amazing giveaway! You can get one of these amazing pieces of art! Click here to find out how.

This is my absolute favorite - His Eye is on the Sparrow Brown with Blue Bird. So beautiful and so very dear to my heart.

Go enter, won't ya?

I'm a Sucker for You!

How much fun is it to get a valentine? I still remember making a Valentine's box with my mom in elementary school. We'd take an old shoe box, cover it in wrapping paper and glue on fun decorations. And as much as I love getting a Valentine, I love giving them! So this year, I had to come up with something extra lovely.


What do you think? So fun, right? And so easy! Here's how you do it.

What You'll Need
Suckers
Scrapbook Paper (Reds and Pinks)
Scrapbook Paper (Green)
Heart Punch
Scissors
Tape
White Glue

What You'll Do
Step 1: Punch hearts in red and pink scrapbook paper for the flower.



Step 2: Tape suckers to the center of the paper hearts.


Step 3: Cut 1-inch strips of green scrapbook paper. On one end, fold paper one inch. Cut leaves.

Step 4: Put glue on inside of leaves and wrap around sucker stick. Repeat for the second leaf.


And you're done! That easy.

I posted this idea...

[Craft] Hope for Haiti

Many of us are searching for ways to help with relief efforts in Haiti. I stumbled across an outstanding project on Craft Hope. They have opened an etsy store to raise money for Doctors Without Borders, a very worthy organization who lost a lot in the earthquake themselves but are still working around the clock to help however they can. One hundred percent of proceeds will go to DWB.


Stop over to read more about what these great ladies are doing here. In just 24 hours, the Craft Hope for Haiti Etsy shop has had 162 sales and raised just around $4,000. Amazing! And in two days - $7,000!!! They have hundreds of donated items up for sale.

Shop here. Then go grab a button here and share with your readers and friends.

Help Wanted

Hi fellow bloggers - I have found myself hooked in the horns of a dilemma. After a weekend full of crafting and making and baking, I sat down to load pictures and realized all of them were bad. They were too bright, blurry, too dark, out of focus, just all around not good. It takes brilliant pictures outside, but inside -- well, not so much.

So I'm left wondering - what's the best camera I could buy for my blogging adventures? What advice do you all have as I'm looking for cameras?

I have got to get something as I feel so much is lacking in my photos. It's enough to post, but I think it'll definitely help Attempting Creative be that much more pleasing.

Thank you all! Can't wait to read all your good advice.