All You Need is "LOVE"

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's day and got to spend it with someone you love! I got back from my work trip just in time to enjoy my decorations a few more days. They will soon be boxed up and I'll have to wait another year to bring them out again.


A few week's ago I asked Mr. Woodsy to give his scroll saw another whirl and cut out the word "LOVE" for me. I was inspired by the LOVE cut out on the Home Accents Cricut cartridge, and knew it would make for a great wood cut-out.


Mr. Woodsy used literally a scrap of birch wood to create this amazing piece of art! I cut out the word "love" on my Cricut at 5-1/2 inches. Mr. Woodsy then traced it and within a few minutes had the word cut out (and all in one piece). With a little sanding; it was complete! I originally wanted to paint it red, but due to my heavy load at work I never got around to it. I know he's happy to see for once one project stay a natural wood color. There's always next year for paint! 

"Hoo" Loves You?

"Hoo" loves you... that's right! I've made another owl. For those of you who are new to Sew Woodsy I sewed up the cutest owl back in October (a Halloween owl to be exact)! 

If your interested in making an owl of your own you can find the free pattern HERE. I've made a few of these owl's over the past few months as gifts, and now I have my second owl of my own... my Valentine's owl! Isn't it just precious? 

Heart Shadow Box {Tutorial}

Back in October, I made Creepy Critter Boxes that I used as part of my Halloween decor. When I made them I wanted to make sure that I could take the creepy critters out and use the shadow box for something else. I was recently cleaning and found my shadow boxes again! *Yes, our house has been quite a disaster the past few months with the finishing and now completion of the craft room! I started brainstorming a variety ideas when this project came to mind. Ultimately, I'm very pleased with the way this came out! Pictures, just don't do it justice!

Supplies: 

-Hot glue gun

-Glue sticks

-Tissues paper

Scissors

-Hot glue gun helper flat wand(if you have it you will definitely want to use it for this project)

-Single sheet of scrapbook paper (for background)

-Cardstock or adhesive felt that the tissue paper can be glued on to.

-Shadowbox

Cut a heart using the cardstock or adhesive felt. Then cut one inch squares from the tissue paper. *My tissue paper was two toned so it gave for a nice pink and red effect! 

Plug in the hot glue gun, and start glueing! I folded the square in half and then in half again, so that I only had a quarter of the size of the 1x1 piece of tissue paper. I then place a dab of glue on the tip of the square bottom, and use the hot glue gun helper wand (as pictured above) to place it on the heart. I started from the bottom tip and worked my way up. My heart is about 8-10 inches in size, and it took me about an hour of non stop folding and glueing to finish this. 

Place the heart on to scrapbook paper, and then place it into the shadow box. Display accordingly! 

January Craft with Me: Rosette Frame {Mini Tutorial}

I got quite a few craft projects completed this weekend, and one of them is one I've been wanting to work on ALL month! Ucreate hosted a few "create with me" sessions in 2010, and they are planning to host one each month in 2011!  For those of you who aren't familiar with Ucreate you should go check them out--right now! 


This month's "create" session was to create a rosette frame. I bought a very inexpensive frame a few months back at Goodwill. Actually, to be more precise I bought two wooden frames for .69 cents each! I knew I'd make something cool out of it--I just didn't know what. With some mod podge, fabric, and a little help from the cricut I made such an awesome Valentine's inspired frame. I'm super happy with how it came out and of course I love the picture I choose! That's our dog, Lola, aka the furbaby (the closest thing we have to a child, and at times I feel can be even more needy than a child). 

Supplies: 

-Picture Frame

-Scrapbook paper

-Exacto knife

-Mod Podge paper

-Foam brush

Scissors

-Fabric

-Hot Glue Gun

-Picture

*Any other embellishments you please (I pictured buttons, but changed my mind at the end of the project)

First, you will want to cut out your paper leaving a few inches on each side. 

Next, you will want to apply a generous amount of mod podge to the front of the frame, then press down firmly. *If you want your paper to lay perfectly flat you will need to watch your paper and as bubbles pop up you will need to start smoothing the paper. I on the other hand did not want the paper to be flat and I wanted the little bit of added texture. After the paper has dried to your frame {about 5 minutes} you will want to carefully use your exacto knife and cut out the center of the frame. Cut a slit on each of the corners to make it easy to wrap the inner pieces of paper. 

Next you will want to wrap the paper around the frame, applying generous coats of mod podge. Once all the sides are wrapped you will want to start applying a few thin and even coats of mod podge all around the front and sides of the frame. *This is also when I applied the "love" cut out from my cricut. 

Next, you will want to plug in your hot glue gun, cut your fabric, and tie your knots. I follower THIS tutorial, from The Secret Stitch Club, on how to make the fabric rosette (can you believe this was my first time?)! Overall, it was pretty easy and I learned a lot! 

Next, you will want to add on your embellishments. I choose to use some of Jolee's Jewel's Swarovski crystals. I dabbed a little bit of hot glue to the rosette and with tweezers from my awesome hot glue gun helpers I placed the gems on the flower. 

Here is the finished product! 

Heart Garland

Last year after receiving my sewing machine I was starting to practice on paper and scraps of fabric. I had scene this idea on a blog (forgive me for not knowing which one), and instantly went to recreate it. This blogger though, cut there hearts by hand. Since I had also received a cricut for Christmas I choose a few pieces of scrap book paper, choose the size of my heart and began cutting quite a few (a good 15-20 minutes worth of) hearts. Once I was done cutting out my hearts I stacked them in the order in which I wanted them to hang... a pattern of sorts. I then began running each heart through my sewing machine. I made sure to keep a good 12 inches of thread on each end of the garland so that I could hang it. 

Depending on your length will depend on how many hearts you need to run through your machine. 

 Last year I hung this garland above my kitchen window and sliding glass doors. This year I decided to decorate my living room shelves {the closest thing I have to a mantel}. Now, I just need to have enough time and energy to finish making some more Valentine's crafts to fill these shelves! *Pictured is the Believe sign that Mr. Woodsy created before Christmas. I'm hoping to replace this with a Valentine's inspired sign! 

These are easy to store year after year. Just cut a piece of card stock. Cut a slit at the top with scissors place the thread in the slit and carefully start wrapping your hearts! 

Frosted Valentine's Day Vases {Mini Tutorial}

Last year, after receiving my cricut for Christmas (2009) I started seeing all of these blog post about cutting vinyl with the cricut! I was instantly intrigued, but at the same time quite a bit intimidated. I saw on a blog (and forgive me that I did not document which blog) how you could use etching cream, vinyl, and a plain vase to create a frosted glass! I cleaned my vases very well with hot water and soap prior to getting started on the project. I laid out newspaper on my kitchen island, and got to work!

Supplies Needed:

-Vases (I bought mine for a dollar each at the dollar store)

-Etching Cream (about $10)

-Sponge brush

-Vinyl

-Newspaper

-Sink with flowing water

In my mind I mapped out how I wanted this to look. I cut out individual phrases and shapes on my cricut using about 3 sheets of 6x12 vinyl. I can tell you that the person who blogged about this project had design studio where she welded everything together prior to cutting it out. I on the other hand still design studioless cut out each individual shape/phrase and applied it by hand to the glass (a little on the time consuming side). 

After I applied ALL the vinyl by hand I started rubbing a generous amount of etching cream to the vase. Well, I thought it was enough on the first vase--I later found that you really need to cake the stuff on and make sure it isn't streaky or that's the way your vase will come out. 

Me, concentrating on painting on the etching cream. 

Me, posing as I rub on the etching cream. ;) Once you have all the etching cream on you let it sit for about 20 minutes, wash the etching cream off in the sink, and then peal the vinyl off.

Here is a picture of my final product. You will see that they are all a little streaky, but I think it was a great first attempt! I used these vases for Valentine's day as a center piece on the table.  I had flowers in the middle vase, and I placed tea light candles in the other two--too not only set the mood, but give a nice glow to the table. Throughout the year (and to hold flowers throughout the year I use the LOVE vase and the Live, Laugh, Love vase to hold flowers. 

*All pictures were pre-DSLR and pre-blog. I merely documented my project to share with family and friends!