DIY Crayon Valentine for Kids

Last year we created cute labels {see here}, and this year we’re channeling our inner Picasso. Crayon art was all over Pinterest in 2012, so for our kids Valentine’s this year, we took our inspiration from the popular, child-friendly melted Crayon art.

We’ve taken that simple idea, and made it a fun, doable and unique Valentine’s Day card for our kids and their friends this year.

The poem, available for purchase can be found here at Fleur de Lis, a paperie on Etsy.

you make my heart melt, valentine
this crayon art is a gift from me to you,
on this valentine’s day, 
it’s the perfect project to do.

find your mom and dad before you start,
this beautiful, wonderful piece of art.

grab a blow dryer and hold close to crayons to apply hot heat
turn on low, and within minutes the melted art will be so neat.

put in your room or on display,
and think of me at the beginning or end of each day.

Here’s How You Can Do It Too…

Directions:
Use a pencil and ruler to measure the size of each valentine ‘favor’ {we decided to use 7 crayons for each child, which was about 4×8}.
Use the blade to cut along your lines {I also tried to use scissors, but the cut was not as clean due to the thickness of the board, so for a clean, more precise cut, use a razor blade}.
Get the kids help in picking 7 colors per friend.
Use a hot glue gun to glue 7 crayons {or as many crayons as you need to cover the width of your foam board} next to each other on the board.
Place in a cellophane bag, wrap with twine.
Cut the You Melt My Heart, Valentine labels, punch two holes in the top about an inch apart from one another, then loop the twine through and tie a bow.

This year, your kids’ friends will have a fun art project to do when they get home, and a Crayola masterpiece to cherish.

{images via Tutto Bella}

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Women

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and if you’re looking for that perfect gift for your lovely lady, we have some fantastic ideas. {Tommy, I’m eyeing the White Poppy Vase and of course the Tory Burch shoes. A ‘kid-free’ dinner out would work too} 🙂

1. Love Letter Napkins, Uncommon Goods {$48}

2. Classic Coffee and Tea Inside Out Heart Cups & Saucers, Set of 6, Amazon {$50}

3. Ceramic Bowl with Black and White Hearts, Ross Lab on Etsy {$26}

4. White Poppy Vase, Anthropologie {$20}

5. Tory Burch Eddie Bow Flat, Nordstrom {$250}

6. Bird Cage Lovers, Salt and Pepper Shakers, Pottery Barn {$34.50}

7. You are Loved, a whispered hand stamped soul mantra locket, Liz Lamoreux via Etsy {$40}

8. 3-D Song Hearts, Suzy Shoppe via Etsy {$75}

9. Mine Design Home Chalkboard Candles, sold and available at Fleur de Lis, a paperie, 303.996.6885 {$14-$24}

{images via AmazonRoss Lab, Uncommon Goods, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Liz Lamoreux, Mine Design, Suzy ShoppeNordstrom}

Love Art Print and Gifts for the Home

all around.

It’s February, so naturally LOVE is on my mind.

The truth is, I love Valentine’s Day. I know, I know, it’s overdone and commercialized like most of the holidays in this country. It’s not necessarily the holiday I love, but I love the idea of celebrating love. I am, and always have been, the eternal optimist and believer of true love.

I love being in love {tommy, love of my life}. I love loving other people.  I love my family and my friends. I love the way being in love feels. I’m the hopeless romantic that believes even if you haven’t found the right person, or even if your heart has been broken one too many times, you can still find love. And, if not with another person, with yourself. You have to love yourself first before you can love someone else. And, when you love yourself, the world opens up and there is endless opportunity to share your love and gifts with others.

I promise I won’t preach about LOVE everyday this month…but today, I just couldn’t help myself! In celebration of my obsession with love, I’m sharing {and have asked my sisters to share as well} a couple of our favorite movie scenes. We hope you take some time to enjoy a little ‘love’ today.

What’s your favorite movie scene about love?? We’d love to hear it.

This scene is from one of my favorite movies {the list is long}, Love Actually.

And who could forget this scene from Sex and the City the movie, one of Jodi’s favorite’s.

And, Jenna happily shared her favorite clip from her favorite movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

We’re going to leave you with one of our all time favorite quotes about love by William Parrish {Meet Joe Black}…and it’s available here in our etsy store, Fleur de Lis, a paperie. I’m going to add it to my Valentine’s Day-themed mantle {which I’m going to share with you this week}.

{images via YouTube and Tutto Bella}

Ampersand Home Decor and Gifts

With Valentine’s Day coming up, there’s a lot of YOU & ME and ME & YOU talk. And, I can’t help but notice and LOVE the & in between it all. I’ve always loved the & symbol. I love the way it looks ~ against a wall, on an invite and on a piece of jewelry. So, today we’re all about the ampersand, &.

1. rustic gold leaf wood ampersand, Edie’s Lab via Etsy {$7}
2. ampersand wedding art print, between everything {$24}
3. ampersand bowl, pure home {$28}
4. ampersand brass letterpress necklace, Gwen Delicious Jewelry via Etsy {$37}
5. small ampersand cutting board, house industries {$90}
6. french style ampersand cushion, the wooden crate {$30}
7. ampersand coin purse, alphabet bags {$22.25}
8. galvanized ampersand single hook, the country porch {$7.95}
9. vintage ampersand marquee sign, saddle shoe signs {$35 to rent and $150 to purchase}
10. ceramic ampersand dish, iron accents {$7.95}
11. DIY mossy ampersand tutorial, two twenty one

{images via House Industries, Gwen Delicious Jewelry, alphabet bags, edie’s lab, the country porch, iron accents, the wooden crate, pure home, between everything, saddle shoe signs, and two twenty one}

meet…saddle shoe signs

You were first introduced to Saddle Shoe Signs with our latest Peppermint Wonderland photo shoot, and today we are going to introduce the company to you, and the fabulously talented Meredith Moran – the woman behind Saddle Shoe Signs. Yes, this is the same Meredith of Meredith Moran Photography. Not only is she a fantastic photographer, but she also makes the signs with her own two hands. We’ve  seen her work up close and personal…and they are beautifully handmade. In fact, we want some of our own!
Saddle Shoe Signs are vintage-inspired marquee lights.  Our signs are rented by the letter so customers can spell whatever they’d like, creating a custom sign perfect for their event,” Meredith said. “There are so many people out there buying “Eat, Drink & Be Married”, or ” I Do”  signs for their weddings, only to be stuck with the sign after the wedding (& we all hope there isn’t going to be another wedding!), or stuck with the hassle of giving it away, selling it, or just throwing it away.  How about the grand opening for your store or restaurant?  No need to be stuck with a “Grand Opening” sign after the “grand opening”.”
Rental prices are $35/letter for the first 2 letters, $25/letter after that. Outside of Denver, there is a minimum 3 letter rental, in addition to a mileage fee for traveling outside Denver. They deliver and install signs. All rental letters are red, but Meredith can make a letter in a different color for an additional fee.
For all you blissful brides out there, Meredith sweetened the deal. If you book her for your wedding, you can get a sign for free. Click here to see her portfolio.
Letters are also available for sale on Etsy {how cute would these letters be in a home…I can just see JOY on my mantle next Christmas}, and are made with heavier/high quality material. You have the option to choose from 20+ colors. Visit Saddle Shoe Designs on Etsy here.