Valentine Cookies and Homemade Cards

The girls and I got to create a little bit of Valentine's fun.

On Sunday, Miss A and I finished her little valentine's cards for friends.  We'd looked everywhere for Pop Rocks to give away, but settled on a homemade shovel with "I dig you!" and a packet of Fun Dip.  By the end of writing her name all 22 times, she said she was exhausted.  Next year, maybe we'll have to "stamp" her name on the card. Hate to think she's got writers cramp at seven!

Monday night as a way to escape going to the Skating Party (it's cold and flu season, yuck), we made homemade sugar cookie cutouts.   I'll be the first to admit I'm not really a baker, but I think I've finally found a cut out recipe that I like for sugar cookies.  Again, it was the blogoshere to my rescue.  Nonly have I found a great new recipe, but a great resource for all things cooking/baking!

As the cookies were baking in the oven at one temperature, Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast was cooking away at a different temperature thanks to my new oven!  The aromas of the Roast and the Sugar Cookies made the kitchen smell wonderful.  The cookies were perfect for all the frosting and sugar crystals the girls put on them.  I mean "all."

Thankfully, we have some great neighbors who received a delivered plate of cookies.  That way the sugar overload could be spread around.  Next time, we are going to try dipping some Easter Cookies into melted chocolate on the end just like they do on Pioneer Woman's Food Network show.  At least, that's what two girls in our house think we should do (the boys would probably definitely agree)

The pot roast was perfect and was paired with the best mashed potatoes ever.  It was a pre-Valentine's dinner that made all the boys in the house fall in love with me again. I'm just saying!

Finally on Tuesday, Miss A had her Valentine's Day party at school and she loved it.  We had some great games, an easy craft, and more cookies to decorate. She has the sweetest little girl friends. First grade is the best!

Got My Crafting Gene Working Again

I have been wanting a "Screen" front door decoration for months.  I've seen them in cute boutiques and coveted them for my home, but have never felt the need to spend 40 or 50 dollars on something that hangs on a door for a weeks at a time.

You know the ones I talking about; the cute Snowman, Giant Pumpkin and the adorable Heart for Valentine's Day.  Deep inside I kept thinking I could make one.  I could create my own for tons cheaper.  I guess you could say I'm a closet crafter, but often my dreams are bigger than my abilities. 

Thankfully, I had a good friend who decided to make the jump into making a Valentine's Door Hanger with me.  We figured we could commiserate together.  Can I even tell you how much fun we had on our "Crafting Day?" We are all ready thinking of the "next" project we want to make.  Who knows where this will take us!

Here are the details on the project:
1/2 yard of Red Burlap
Ribbon with wire
Wire from hardware store (to make the Hanger)
Grocery Sacks for stuffing
Craft paint and Foam Paintbrushes

The simple instructions: Take a Template of a Heart, trace on the burlap and cut out with fabric scissors.  I folded my fabric in half so I only had to cut once. Paint around the edge to make a border, paint dots on the heart and let it dry. Sew together the two pieces with embroidery floss leaving a hole to stuff.( My friend used her sewing machine to do this step) Take grocery sacks and scrunch into balls and stuff. Finish sewing.  Take wire and make a loop for hanging. Have your friend make an adorable bow as a finishing touch and then hang on your door.

D and I each made a heart for our front door and then made one to give away to a dear friend.  If I do say so myself, this was a fun and easy project that I will definitely try again.  I see a cute Easter Door Hanger in my future!