Clothespin Panda Valentines

If you know me at all or have gotten a sense for the goofy things that make me laugh in reading this blog, you know I love a good, cheesy pun! Its one of the reasons I insist on having my daughter make her own valentines. That, and, I recently came across the valentine below in my local store and the grammar police inside of me went a little crazy! This year, we decided to channel our love for pandas into valentines for our cousins. While I'd love to say I came up with this adorable clothespin idea, I was actually inspired by these shark valentines and decided to use the same concept with pandas. The options are really limitless, as far as the animals you choose, and I'm actually hoping to try using pictures of the people I love to create the next set, so stay tuned...

Find out how you can make your very own panda valentines here...

Materials:

-white cardstock

-panda images (I searched for "free clipart panda face" through Google images and copied and pasted onto a Word document)

-scissors

-glue gun/glue sticks

-green cardstock

-fine point, permanent marker

Directions:

1. Print out pandas onto white cardstock.

2. Cut out pandas. Then, cut across the face of each panda and around the mouth, creating two separate pieces.

3. Turning the clothespin on its side, use hot glue to adhere the top of the panda face to the side of the clothespin facing upward. Place the bottom half of the panda face into the bottom of the clothespin.

4. Using the green cardstock, cut out leaf shapes. Place your valentine message on the leaf using a fine point, permanent marker.

5. Clip the leaf in the clothespin and send the valentines off to your faves! We will also be adding a small bag of Valentine's Day treats to our valentines.

Wishing all of you a happy and cheesy, pun-filled Valentine's Day!!!

Pennsylvania State of Mind

If you haven't yet signed up for Pick Your Plum, DO IT NOW!!! The items they sell are at a ridiculously reduced price and unlike other items you've seen before! Recently, they sold unfinished, wooden plaques shaped like all 50 states. Since my sister lives in Virginia but will always call Pennsylvania her home, I knew I had to decorate a state for her! Since she also loves Chevron patterns, I decided I would incorporate that, as well! Here's the simple way I decided to decorate this plaque...

Materials:

-plaque

-scrapbook paper (I used a Chevron pack I found at Michael's and used purple and green Chevron, but the options or limitless)

-Mod Podge

-foam brush

-scissors

-glue gun/sticks

-ribbon (about 6")

Instructions:

1. Using a foam brush, coat a thick layer of Mod Podge onto the plaque

2. Lay purple Chevron paper on top of the Mod Podge, making sure to smooth out the paper so that there are no bubbles (I had to use two pieces of paper and match them at the seems but would highly recommend using a piece larger than the plaque itself

3. After the paper has adhered completely to the Mod Podge, use scissors to cut the excess paper around the small details on the plaque to maintain the state's shape

4. Cut out a small heart in green Chevron. Place Mod Podge on back of heart and adhere to center of plaque (or, if you'd like to designate a specific part of the state, place it in the corresponding area).

5. Paint a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the plaque. Let dry.

6. Using hot glue, make a loop with the ribbon and adhere to the back of the plaque. Be sure to use a large amount of glue to allow the ribbon to stay in place and hold the weight of the plaque when hanging).

2x4 Steelers Snowman

Hi, my name is Shannon...and I'm a craft-o-holic! My husband has been reminding me lately just how out of control my obsesh tends to get in the wintertime and, in looking at my receipts as of late, I must say he's got a point (I hate that)! The solution??? Find random stuff and transform it into something else! I decided to start by using one of the pieces of wood I had recently found in my grandparents' shed. Here's how I turned a boring piece of lumber into a decorative snowman boasting my favorite, football team...

Materials:

-wood of any shape or size

-sandpaper

-white, spray paint

-black paint pen

-spray sealant

-orange felt

-black, permanent marker

-1/4 yard of fleece

-fabric scissors

-glue gun and glue sticks

-buttons or beads (I used plastic, football beads I happened to have on hand!)

Directions:

1. Sand the piece of wood, in order for paint to adhere effectively

2. Spray two coats of white paint, covering the wood completely.

3. Draw eyes and a mouth using a black, paint pen.

4. Spray one coat of sealant over the painted wood and let dry.

5. Cut a carrot shape out of orange felt and add detail using a permanent marker. Adhere to the face using hot glue

6. Cut a 9"x6" piece of fleece and wrap around the top of the wood to create the hat. Hot glue the seam where the fleece overlaps to secure it to the wood. Roll up about an inch of the fleece at the bottom of the hat and glue in place.

7. Cut a thin piece of  fleece about 6 inches long and tie around the middle of the hat. Using fabric scissors, fringe the top of the fabric into about 1/4" strips

8. Cut a piece of 4"x18" fleece. Wrap around the "neck" of the snowman and adhere to wood using hot glue. Cut fringe into the ends of the scarf.

9. Hot glue 3-5 beads or buttons to the wood

There you have it! Success! I just wish I could say the same for the football team it represents. Maybe next season...