~Memories of Love~

Lollipop Flower Valentines {Arts & Crafts} A How-To

These were so simple, and would be great for all kinds of occasions. I think they would be so cute for a baby shower craft, having everyone write words of love on each flower petal. Or a wedding reception!

I found my inspiration here at Martha Stewart.

I started out with several sheets of thin scrapbook paper (do not use card stock it is way too thick).

I made a template by drawing out a small heart which measures about 2 1/4 inches long at the widest side of the heart, and 2 3/4 long, to the point of the heart. Now you will cut off 1/2 inch of the bottom of the heart tip, making it 2 1/4 long. You wont need the bottom and you will see why in a minute. Once you have your heart template cut out you are ready to start tracing!

Start with your first sheet of paper and fold along one edge (be sure you can fit your heart template on fully. Trace as many of each pattern on several sheets of paper as you want. Each one will equal to half of your flower, so two will make one complete flower.

So now you see why you don't need the tip? Its on the fold of the paper, so once cut out it makes a double heart connected in the middle. Each sheet of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper allowed me to create 4 whole flowers. Once you have cut all of the hearts out (this is the most time consuming part, but it goes quickly) you are ready to start gluing.

This is where your little ones can help. I used an Elmers glue stick and had my daughter put a dot in the middle of each bend and stack oppostie direction the other heart. She loved this part!

You'll end up with something like this. See its coming along nicely now!

Now at this point you can simply punch a hole in the middle of your flower (I used a skewer-because my hole punch was way too big and you dont want the lollipop to fall out) and label a flower petal with names. And your done. OR you can create another template for a 2 inch leaf and cut them all out. Which is what we did. She labeled each one with her friends names and signed them.

Add a dum-dum lollipop to each one (and attach leaf label to lollipop stick). I bent the flower by creasing the middle of each heart and turning up a bit, to give it a 3-d effect.

Now you are ready to give them away!

Or set them around the house on display, because their so darn cute!

February 14th 2011 {V-day}

Memories from the last couple weeks around here.

My mom brought me those red tulips.

Display of vintage valentine cards on cake stands.

Got crafty with the little girl one afternoon. I made that one above.

She chose her material and made this all by herself (i tied the ribbon for her)! I was so impressed. And how cute is her note?

We also made up these homemade lollipop flower valentine cards.  I will post a how to soon.

This hangs in my kitchen window all year. So pretty when the lights shines thru it.

Why yes you are dear.  {those are her first grade friends in the background at the class party}

Those are my gifts to my kiddos. Just a mega huge Hersheys chocolate bar, I wrapped in newspaper & a velvet ribbon. {there is one more-i wrote personal notes with a sharpie on each of them.} cheap, easy, and they loved them.

and i mailed them valentines cards. Hers was a vintage kitten. {I was too tired to take any more photos! It was late-which explains the low light}.

We celebrated by heading to the movie theatre tonight to watch Gnomeo & Juliet. Really cute movie.

XOXO

Cupcakes full of {Love}

Love can come in all sorts of packages. Saying the words often to your children is necessary. Even if they are a 13 year old boy. Giving them boundaries and saying "no" even when they see you as the bad guy, that is love too. Staying up all night because they have a tummy ache. Holding their hand when you walk across the street. Feeding them nourishing meals. Reading the Bible to them. Photographing the memories of their lives. That is all love.

I have this written on a note card on my mirror amongst the photos ( i still line them up the sides of my mirror just like when I was young):

                                                    The most beautiful things cannot be seen

                                         by logic or reason, they have to be felt by the heart!

 

i dont remember where i found that quote.

 

Sometimes love can be found in a batch of cupcakes. Its not really about the item itself. Its more about the time spent together. They joy of watching your little one bake with you. And there's nothing they love more than licking the bowl. Seriously they will stick their head in that bowl and licking it clean.....

She and I spent a snowday in our pajamas (dont you do that when your stuck in?) making what turned out to be valentine cupcakes. Vanilla with chocolate frosting-her favorite. And later we read the story of "Pincalicous".

this is a cupcake holder. I would not recomment leaving it on the table lookin' all cute. Unless you plan on watching for cupcake thieves 24/7. Lets just say my children should have changed colors like pinkalicous.

a plate full of love

Happy Valentines Day!

Pure {JOY}

Even though I am sick of the snow, and wish it would go away and take Winter with it, my son see's the beauty in the weather. To him it means 1. No school (4 days in a row-plus they are out again today a week later). 2. Ice skating! 3. Hot chocolate. 4. Watching Spongebob All. day. long. I can see why he loves it so much. I must admit I had a blast watching him, he sure put a smile on my face.

I have taken hundreds of photos over the past week. Amist all the ice, snow, crafts, baking, valentines activities, we had a lovely 65 degree sunny day (thank you Lord) and spent it at the pond feeding the ducks. We played in the yard and had a picnic. It was Heavenly. It reminded me that even though we are in the midst of a harsh winter, spring is just around the corner.

                                                          For behold, the winter is past, 
                                                            The rain is over and gone. 
                                         'The flowers have already appeared in the land; 
                                              The time has arrived for pruning the vines, 
                                And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. 
                                                        'The fig tree has ripened its figs, 
                                  And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. 
                                                     Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, 
                                                                      And come along!' "
                                                                   Song 2:11-13 (NASB)

 

 

{Snowed In-Part 2}

When you read other peoples blogs do you forget where you are for just a little while? Do you transport yourself somewhere else? I do. And today I wish I could transport myself somewhere tropical and warm, with the sound of waves slowly crashing onshore, and the smell of salty water. And sand between my toes, the sun warming me. In a hammock, a pina~ colada with a hot pink umbrella in hand....ahhh, thats nice.

Reality, its now 19 degrees at noon. Its pure madness over here. We are all stir crazy. Its suppose to be 52 on Saturday..cant wait.

~Ice skating~

eta: My son just came in and said "Thank you God, for making this the most perfect week ever". Guess its all in perspective!

{Snowed In-January 2011}

Its 18 degrees outside. Rare for Dallas, Texas. Even more rare, the kids have been home for three (help me)days due to school closing(and we live directly across the street from the school). Even though its cold outside, and the wind is whipping, the sun has managed to shine every day here and there. And that helps.

Day one was lovely. We were all so happy to sleep in and lay around in our pajamas all day. Shaylee came up with a list of ideas to keep us busy. "Lets make a tent mom"! Then, "Lets make chocolate cupcakes mom"! And "Lets go play in the snow mom"! (It was more like a sheet of ice, not snow-but she didnt care).

Day two was a stretch. She asks "whatrwe gonna do today mom"? Me, "crafts"! So thats what we did. She colored and drew and make noodleroni, and I worked on a yarn wreath (which is not finished). And the electricity went out 5 times. Which was annoying to say the least. And I came down with a head cold, which was more than annoying. Esp. since my kids have unlimited energy (might have something to do with those cupcakes?) Which reminds me. When I told my mom we were baking cupcakes her response was "I hope you put veggies in those cupcakes". The boys spent there time rough housing against my wishes. Why? why? do boys do that? There like bear cubs from the Travel Show.

Day three is survival. And I have a full blown cold, stopped up head. And she wants to know "whatrwe gonna do today mom"? Me, "your gonna clean your room, thats what your gonna do today, little miss" with my hand on my hip. Her "your no fun".

 

She made her tent over the dining room table.

Hope your warm and enjoying the simple blessing of life wherever you are right now.

{Vintage Summer Strawberry-Themed Birthday Party}

Im going to pretend like I never abandoned my blog. Can you pretend with me? It will make the guilt much easier to bear. Thanks friends.

When I left off I promised some photos of my daughters 6th birthday party. This party was just as much fun to design as it was to throw.  This may end up a two part series....I took far too many photos. But thats okay, right? I want her to have fond memories of her 6th Birthday.

 

The cake came from Cold Stone Creamery. And let me tell you...it was delic! The strawberry cups came from The Dollar Tree (for $1!). The small wind up toys came from Michael's craft store. The red gingham plates came from Target. The vintage glasses are filled with candy buttons, skitlets, and strawberry cheescake jelly bellys. The tablecloth is vintage.

The honeycomb strawberry came from the Dollar Tree as well. The others came from Martha Stewart for Michaels.

We played fun 50s music on the radio, songs like My Girl and Under the Boardwalk..It really set the atmosphere.

I made the banner using scrapbook paper, ribbon and paper doiles. Very simple.

I added paper straws to the glasses of jelly beans. And the tiny tea cups with tea lights added to the warmth.

Chocolate dipped strawberrys and pink marshmallows....yum!

Izzy pops chilled in a large bucket (found that at Targets).

And one happy little sunburned 6 year old. More to come.

 On another note, I am posting these photos taken back in August when it was 102 (which is why it was an indoor party and not outdoors under some shade trees like i hoped). Its 13 degrees outside right now! Yep, a record low. Posting these has really lifted my spirits. And i hope it has yours too.

 

Flight of the bumblebee

 Wouldnt it be nice if we mothers were more like the Queen bee? A team of workers at our demand getting all the work done for us? Yes it would. Not only are we the Queen Bees but we do all the work ourselves. And more so if your a single mom like myself. Well my point? Im busy or buuzzzzy (sorry about that I couldnt help it). Blame it on the loss of brain cells during childbirth.....And there has been alot going on around my house.

Trying to squeeze in as many summer activities before the summer ended (way too fast in my opinion).

Birthday parties (more on those later)

New Baby (Ryan K.)

Dilon had a 72 hr eeg which was a little stressful for momma but he was a real trooper. We are hoping for good results and some answers to some epilepsy issues he has. He's had seizures since the age of 2 but only has them at night (rolandic epilepsy). Hoping he has the type children grow out of.

Preparing for Back to school which started on Monday. Taking tons & tons of pictures. Lots of work to do to catch up. Ive got several new PS actions I am just dying to play with. I cant wait to post some of them.

For now heres a sneak peek into Shaylee's Vintage Strawberry Party. She turned 6, and Im sure her legs grew a full inch the night of her birthday!

ps. if you happen to stumble across my blog please feel free to love my photos, just dont steal them unless you have permission:-) Thank you Blogland!

 

Newborn sweetness

Just a quick one of my new nephew. I took tons of pictures of this little fella at the hospital. Cant wait to take more. I just love him to pieces. Look at those big bear paws!

It's her Birthday

Woke her up early this morning, her brothers and I with handfuls of presents. Can you imagine a better way to wake up on the morn of turning 6? She opened her eyes and smiled, a great big smile. And was so excited to get two tiny Furreal kittens, some books (all about kittens), a pink lego set, and some Crayola glow in the dark markers.

We went from that to get breakfast donuts, which is a tradition and happens every Birthday morning. (I took pictures & will post soon). Then we headed to the movie theatre to see her choice of a movie. Id say that makes for one fine birthday! Her party will be on Sunday so more later, but for now here's a few pictures of the birthday girl I took for her invitations.

She was turning me into a frog.

She was trying to tickle me here:-D

And I just adore this one, because she was telling me a story and I can just see the way she talks with her little lisp...this is why I love photography. A sweet moment I will have forever to remind me of something that melts my heart. Notice the bokeh? Love that too.

And time for some tickles....

& I promise to post some pictures of the boys I managed to wrangle out of them soon!