Happy hearts...

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Valentine's Day around here was low-key. The great snowstorm of South Carolina cancelled our dinner reservations for Thursday night. So on Friday, we treated ourselves to Mexican food and curled up on the couch to watch the Olympics. My kind of celebration!

Although this holiday usually seems all about the girl, I wanted to make sure that I celebrated my own valentine. I gathered a couple of random, but totally Rob gifts.

Not necessarily the traditional Valentine's Day gifts, but he loved all of them.

• LOVE YOU... this perfectly honest card from Emily McDowell
• The Recipe for Love = YOU + ME... plastic cereal bowls with measurements... we went back to Target this weekend to buy another set
• How can I MEASURE my Love... a bamboo digital food scale... Rob's been weighing food all weekend
• We are PERFECT for Each Other... Pitch Perfect on Blu-Ray... we've watched it twice already this weekend

I'd say it was a hit!

Valentine's Day 2013...

"It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together… and I knew it."
-Tom Hanks, Sleepless In Seattle

Last year I was so good with my Valentine's Day craft week. But, this year between work and more work, I wasn't quite feeling it. However, I couldn't just let the day slip away without any craftiness at all.

Despite my silence here on the blog lately, I've still been "pinning" away and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to actually make something out of all of that inspiration.

Last weekend, I whipped up some Heart-Shaped Soft Pretzels, inspired by those posted over at Say Yes to Hoboken. Rob was thrilled with the idea of homemade pretzels. When he saw them, he exclaimed, "Hey, look! They kind of look like hearts!" I just had to grin... that was sort of the point!



I also fell in love with these Date Idea Arrows over at Sugar & Cloth. It was a bit of a challenge to think up ten different easy, unique, creative date ideas that we would both enjoy.

If you need hints on date ideas, here's are some of mine:

• At-home spa night
• Read a book together*
• Hike at a local state park
• Go out just for dessert
• Visit the local planetarium show
• Go on a downtown walking tour
• Order Chinese takeout
• Watch a TV show marathon on Netflix
• Take a picnic to the park
• Spend the day at the lake

*I was afraid Rob might think this was a corny idea, but I loved it, so I went with it anyway. What do you know... after he read each one to himself, he said, "I really like the idea of reading a book together."



Rob and I tried to think back and reminisce about all of our past Valentine's Days. We did pretty well, but for the future days when our memories are not so swift... here's a record of this year's festivities:

After work, we changed clothes and went to dinner at Red Bowl (a new Asian restaurant in town). I had "Beef a la Szechaun," while Rob enjoyed a "Sesame Chicken Bento Box."

Then, we walked the mall to kill time before the 9pm USC-Upsate/Mercer basketball game. [It was way past our bedtime, so we yawned through the game.] The Spartans lost the game, but it wasn't a total loss because Rob and I made the "kiss cam" during one of the timeouts!

Canvas Photo Tutorial

"Love is when you can be your true self with someone, and you only want to be your true self because of them."
-Terri Guillemets

Want to see what my husband's getting for Valentine's Day?? You have to promise to keep it quiet for a couple of more hours until he gets home from work.... pinky swear??

My tradition is to make my Valentine's Day gifts for Rob. And, sometimes that's tricky, given that we're not a super-duper, lovey-dovey, smooshy-mushy couple. Here are a couple of ideas that I've used previously: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

This year, I spiced up a favorite photo (from our 2010 Washington trip) with a favorite sentiment and then took advantage of a project I had been wanting to try: canvas photo art. There are lots of tutorials out there, but I thought I would show you what worked for me. Despite my initial apprehension, it turned out great. Just need a house with walls to hang it on!

Supplies needed: photo printed to size (I used a 12x12 matte photo from Persnickety Prints), canvas, acrylic paint, Mod Podge, foam brushes.

Step One: Paint the edges of the canvas with dark acrylic paint. Make sure to blend the color over to the front and back edges of the canvas.

Step Two: Trim your photo to size... be careful because canvases are not always exactly the dimensions they say the are. I trimmed enough so that the image was just the slightest bit (I mean, less than a millimeter!) smaller than the canvas. Just enough so that it didn't overlap!

Step Three: Paint an even layer of ModPodge on the back of photo. You want to completely cover then page. Turn over and adhere to the canvas. Lightly rub a clean cloth (or your sleeve!) over the surface to remove any air bubbles.

Step Four: Even after my coat of ModPodge, I found that the edges didn't stick very well, so I peeled up the edges to reinforce the corners. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Step Five:  Carefully paint a thin, even layer of ModPodge over the top of the photo. Make sure to go in the same direction and to avoid globs of glue or little crumbs of dried glue. This is the part that had me scared... it goes on milky white, but I promise it dries almost clear.

Step Six:  I wasn't totally happy with my coverage the first time around, so a couple of days later, I added another coat of ModPodge on top. After this dried, all of my "problem areas" were fixed, so I'm really glad I took that chance with the second coat.


And, a Valentine's Day gift from me to you... the boot photo for your own use. Maybe you use it as your desktop background, print it for a frame, or maybe even make a canvas of your own.

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

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!!