Love is in the air

Flashback to the early days of January when I had just put the Christmas decorations away. I was looking at our home, observing how the lack of sparkle and fluffy decor made our house feel emptier when it hit. The urge the decorate for Valentine's Day. I've never really decorated for Valentines day much because when I was single I didn't need to - my home had enough pink in it everywhere, everyday! As a teacher I'm sure I put out a couple of heart knick-knacks or something and I really liked to decorate my classroom tables for the annual Valentine's Party. Other than that I didn't do much. I'm honestly not even a huge mushy Valentine's Day person. I want my husband to spend some time with me on some sort of a date but it doesn't have to be expensive or fancy and it doesn't have to be on Valentine's Day. I like it when my dad sends me a Valentine's Day card in the mail that is written in Spanish because it makes me laugh (he started this tradition years ago, neither of us really speak Spanish). And I think it's cute for kids to hand out cards and candy to their friends.

One of my first Valentine's projects this year was to update my canvas chalkboards. I made these from 2 super cheap canvases that I painted in chalk paint. I love that I can update them for the seasons or really whenever. I looked for some cute sayings online and chalked away! One of them is in the playroom (pictured below) and the other at the top of our staircase.

Other than the canvas this wall has nothing to do with Valentine's decor, but I love it! I recieved Hobby Lobby gift cards from all 3 of my best friends and my mother in-law so I've been able to add some new decor to the playroom.  I figure that if I'm going to spend hours a day in here I might as well love how it looks!

I also got this fun cork board from Hobby Lobby. I plan to use it to hang up Eva's crafts or artwork but for now I tacked up some of my favorite photos. I also created the Life's Most Important List using PicMonkey and my favorite Subway Art technique. I will probably frame it eventually but for now it's on the bulletin board. 

And since I had 4 Hobby Lobby gift cards that were begging to be used - I also picked up a couple of yards of burlap. I was inspired by the burlap wreath my sister in-law gifted me (photo below) to make a new table runner. I've heard that you can spend close to $50 on these at some stores and I was able to make mine for about $4. (Always use a coupon at Hobby Lobby!).  If you are wanting to create anything with burlap I'd recommend this link for reading up on how to prepare it. It is a bit messy at first but my runner has mostly stopped shedding.

To pair up with my new runner I used a dessert stand that my aunt passed along to me, 2 cup and saucer stands made from plates and candlesticks that I got years ago as a hostess gift, and the Anthropologie salt and pepper shakers we got for our wedding. I also added in some yellow and red flowers for a fun pop of color. These were our wedding colors and I really like how the look against the burlap and coffee beans. I also like how the glass and metal accents contrast the burlap texture.

Close up of the fringe - did you know that you can make your burlap as fringy as you want it to be? You just pull out threads until everything is the desired look. So easy! I started with less but as the days went by I decided to make it a bit fringier.

I saw a photo of a similar strand of paper hearts on Pinterest so I decided that my next project should be to make this for our fireplace. Unfortunately the photo I used didn't link to instructions so it took some trial and error. I ended up using a tiny stapler to hold everything in place. And be aware that if you want to use fun patterned paper you need to make it double sided otherwise part of the heart just looks white.

So I really like how the twine strand of hearts turned out, but I wish that you could see all of the patterned paper from further away. I guess the only way to get that to happen would be to use bigger paper to create bigger hearts. You can also see the burlap wreath that was pretty much the catalyst to my whole updated decor craze. Thanks, Melody! Also, it is really difficult to get a good photo of this wall. The fireplace tiles are shiny and super reflective so I took about twenty photos that totally show me and everything else in the room being reflected back in the photo. I guess I'm still working at my photography skills. 

Then I decided to make a second heart garland for the bar top overlook into the kitchen. This one was much easier. Just strips of paper and my hot glue gun. 

Eva really wants to touch it but I know that she would rip it so easily. I think next year I will make her one that we can use to countdown the days until Valentine's.

And finally a piece that I did not make. I wish I could have but I found this at Hobby Lobby (where else?) and knew that I was better off getting it premade. I like how it combines the paper, wood, and metal textures.

All this and it's not even February yet! I figured that February is a short month so it was best to decorate ahead of time! Never to early to spread the love.