The Story of Us minibook...

"I don’t wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone."
-Javan

I've been waiting all week to share the "little love note" that I created to hide inside the Love Mailbox and Fabric Valentine's Envelope.

I wanted to tell the story of Rob's and I relationship through Instagram-like photos and doodles, and I was totally inspired by the Matchbook Valentine at My Sister's Suitcase and the adorable Hello Blank Mini Book by superflymollie.

Materials needed: kraft paper, graph paper, square photos, adhesive squares, acrylic paint, paintbrush, good black pen, thread, twine

Step One: Cut three strips of graph paper (3.5" x 6") and one strip of kraft paper (3.625" x 6.625"). Fold the graph paper strips in half. Fold over 0.5" of the kraft paper, and then fold the rest in half.

Step Two: Find 11-12 photos. If they're not Instagram originals, use Photoshop actions by dbox to get that vintage look. Crop to 2" squares, and print on photo paper.

Step Three: Use a dry brush method (brush the excess paint off on the palette before painting on paper) to paint a light area of color on the bottom of each "page." Make sure to get both sides of the fold as well as both the front and back of the strip. Let dry.

Step Four: Use a medium thickness, dark pen to write/draw captions on each page.

Step Five: Stack up the papers, making sure the folds are lined up. Use a wide stitch to sew a seam down the fold. I used the sewing machine, but you could hand-sew it as well.

Step Six: Use adhesive squares to adhere the photos to each page.

Step Seven: Wrap twine around and around the book to hold it closed.

What are the highlights of your love story?

Fabric Valentine's Envelope...

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
-Helen Keller

It's always such a surprise (and a moment of serendipitous joy!) to find a personalized note in the mailbox. Do you need some pretty mail for your Love Mailbox??

I had been planning this fabric envelope project in my head for several months, but couldn't decide on a theme-- should it hold letters to Santa, notes of gratitude, or photos of special memories?? In tomorrow's project, we will make a special Valentine's-themed love note to fit inside!

Materials needed: khaki linen fabric, patterned fabric, white fabric, lightweight interfacing, Steam-A-Seam, thread, buttons, letter stamps, stamp pad, sticky-back velcro, bone folder, scissors.

Step 1: Cut out two pieces of khaki linen fabric, using the pattern below. Cut out a piece of interfacing just smaller than the pattern. Cut out some scraps of white and patterned fabric to use as the "stamp" and "label."

Step 2: Adhere the interfacing to one of the pieces of linen fabric, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 3: Use stamps, zig-zag stitches, and buttons to embellish the "stamp," "label," and even the closure button. This part is very similar to the Valentine's Fabric Tags tutorial from Monday.

Step 4: With right sides together, sew around the sides of the linen envelope, leaving one side open. Turn right-side out, and use a bone folder to push the seams out.

Step 5: Top-stitch around the whole flat linen envelope, closing the open end.

Step 6: Fold the bottom edge up to the line where the flap begins. Top-stitch the sides again. Or you can use a blind-stitch if you don't want the extra seam to show!

Step 7: Add a square of sticky back velcro to the flap to keep the envelope closed.

To download the envelope pattern, right-click the image below, and click "Save Image As."

Love mailbox...

"To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever."
-Henry Drummond

Alternative title for this post: "I love the Dollar Spot at Target!"

My favorite part about Valentine's Day in grade school was decorating a "mailbox" or "mailbag" to collect all of the cards and goodies from my classmates. So, when I walked into Target last week and spotted these adorable metal mailboxes on the shelves at the Dollar Spot, I knew one would jump into shopping cart. Well, to be honest, I really wanted to buy 3 or 4, but with no kiddos at our house yet, I couldn't justify it. (And, even at $1 apiece... we're on a pretty strict budget these days!) But, I had great plans for the one I did bring home.

Materials needed: metal mailbox, wrapping paper (my "LOVE" paper is also from the Dollar Spot), ric-rac, matching scrapbook paper, glue dots and/or adhesive squares, ruler, pencil, scissors

Step 1: Trim a sheet of wrapping paper to match the width of the mailbox. Measure and cut a slit/hole in the side of the paper to fit around the mailbox flag.

Step 2: Trace the edges of the mailbox and cut out two of those shapes. Cut out small squares that fit the top of the mailbox flag as well.

Step 3: Use glue dots and adhesive squares to adhere the paper to metal mailbox. Around the curves, it takes a little bit of guess-and-check to see where the adhesives are best placed.

Step 4: To kick the craftiness up a notch, add matching ric-rac around the edges of the body and cut out a heart from matching scrapbook paper to add to the front.


Here's another adorable tutorial for decorating mailboxes that I found on Pinterest. I love the candlestick stands. They're making me wish I had splurged on more than one mailbox!

Valentine's Mailboxes from the anderson crew

And, if you're wondering what goodies you should hide inside these cute mailboxes, stay tuned! Later this week, I'll be sharing some ideas!

Valentine's Fabric Tags Tutorial

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

Today is Day #1 of Valentine's Week here at Dancing Commas. Here is the first project of a whole series I have planned for the week. Three different fabric tags to express your love. Use them to top your sweetheart's gift or just send along to your best friend. Make one, or make them all!

Materials needed: khaki linen fabric, patterned fabric, white fabric, lightweight interfacing, thread, matching buttons, Steam-a-Seam, pinking shears, bone folder, letter stamps, stamp pad

Step 1: For each tag, cut two of each shape from the khaki fabric. Also, cut a piece of interfacing just smaller than each shape and attach (according to the manufacturer's instructions) to the back of one of the khaki pieces.

Step 2: Stamp a love message on a small scrap of white fabric.

Step 3: Use Seam-a-Seam to adhere the patterned scrap and the stamped scrap to the center of each khaki tag (the piece without the interfacing).

Step 4: Embellish the tag with zigzag stitches and mini buttons.

 

Step 5: Cut a 8" by 2" piece of patterned fabric. Press in half. Then, press each end toward the center crease to create a 1/2" fabric ribbon. Top stitch both edges of the ribbon.

Step 6: Pin the khaki pieces with right sides together (the fabric ribbon should be looped towards the middle and sandwiched in between). Stitch three sides with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving an opening to turn right-side out.

Step 7: Turn right-side out, using a bone folder to push all of the seams out. Pin flat, and top-stitch around edge.

Don't mind our brass doorknobs in the photo below. There's not a single doorknob in our whole apartment that doesn't have paint splattered on it!

To download the tag patterns, right-click each image below, and click "Save Image As."

A lovey dovey round-up...

"Love makes the wildest spirit tame, and the tamest spirit wild."
-Alexis Delp

Did you know that Valentine's Day is a mere 11 days away? Did you know that approximately one billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually?

In honor of this lovey dovey holiday, I've got a week of Valentine's Day projects and tutorials planned. To kick-off the week, I've gathered a round-up of some of my favorite projects that I've spotted in the blog world.

Valentine's Love Notes Garland by Bugs and Fishes

LOVE mini-quilt tutorial from kelbysews via Sew Mama Sew

Felt heart garland from Betz White via Craft

Simple Valentine's Heart Banner from simple as that

Valentine's Wheel printable from Martha Stewart

Valentine's Goody Bags from That's My Letter

Matchbox Valentines from inchmark

Love Pillow tutorial from Ucreate

I Love Everything About You printable from tried & true

Painted heart bag from V and Co.

Valentine's Treat Bags from Twig & Thistle

What other inspiring Valentine's crafts have you seen lately? Leave a link in the comments!!

And, don't forget to come back tomorrow for more projects!!

Holiday recap...

"I shall make of this day–each moment of this day–a heaven on earth. This is my day of opportunity."

-Dan Custer

The good thing about freelancing is that I can take my work on the road. I just returned Monday night from three weeks away. Although it has taken a couple of days to get back to the grindstone, I have such wonderful memories from the time spent in Louisiana with my mom and sister.

Here are a few highlights:

Practicing the manual setting on our cameras. We may have had a tiny breakthrough... although it doesn't always seem to work. See more.

Lots of cooking and baking: sugar cookies, pork roast, pecan pie, bread, etc. And, then of course, we ate it ALL!

Celebrating on Christmas Eve after the Candlelight Service. Yummy feast, thoughtful gifts, and wonderful family.

Freezing our tushies off as we sat through the rainy and foggy Independence Bowl. We stayed until the middle of the fourth quarter, when we were able to convince Callie that there was no hope left for UNC, her alma mater. See more.

Putting Mama's sewing room back together after it was remodeled. It even spurred a couple of sewing projects. See more.

One of which was a camera bag insert for our DSLRs. Now we can be stylish and functional!! See more.

Digging through the piles of junk at the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, TX. I had been wanting to join my mom on this adventure for years. And, now I can't wait to go back! See more.

Lots of exercising and aerobics at Mosley's Movements... Good thing, since I ate half of a batch of cookies all by myself.

Eating at some of my favorite places and seeing some of my favorite people. Sometimes at the same time!!

Driving down to Baton Rouge for Camp-Crop-A-Lot, a weekend scrapbook retreat sponsored by Memory Mania. Another place I've wanted to go with my mom for several years. I worked on a scrapbook journal of our wedding planning activities. I hope to put the final touches on it in the next couple of weeks so that I can post it here. See more.

And, most importantly, lots of quality time with my mom and sister! I love and miss you girls!! See more.