All you need is LOVE!

All you need is love, love....love is all you need!

Happy Saint Valentine's Day to you!

Ever wonder about the real history of Valentine's Day?

Valentinus was a Roman priest during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine."   For even more information, you can click here.

Here are my own creations in honor of St. Valentine's Day.

Antique book covers are the sweet beginning for these banners.  I chose deep reds, pinks and creamy layers of lace for this project. The book covers and the laces are beautifully aged and tattered.  I added silver glittery letters, vintage rhinestone jewelry, silk chiffon roses (that I make on long car trips), and pieces of vintage beaded gowns.  I found lots of rhinestone hearts -- and even a rhinestone bow and arrow - straight from Cupid himself!!

Look at these pretty pearl strands and little heart charms mixed into the laces!  Sweet surprises!

 You can find a tutorial on how to make these HERE.

 Life is short - so celebrate everything - especially LOVE!

Cheers! Catherine

Sharing with these fun linky parties:

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Table it at Rustic and Refined 

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 

Fridays Unfolded at Nancharrow.com

Inspire me Tuesday at A stroll through life

Vintage Inspiration Party at My Salvaged Treasures

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farm House

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

You're Gonna  Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E

Vintage Inspiration Party (Tuesday) at My Salvaged Treasures

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

Whimsy Wednesday at Simply Designing

 Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

 Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot

Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes

 What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

 Link Party Palooza at Tater Tots and Jello

Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode

Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events

Prettiest Party Hats Ever!

New beginnings...resolutions...parties with friends...family time --- must be New Year's Eve!

Party hats were my choice for centerpieces.  Since no one really ever wants to wear them, I just made them for decorations.

I used cardboard cones, and covered them with beaded fabric.  I only needed small pieces for this project, so I used left over pieces from making pumpkins last autumn.

For the party hat in the center, I set the hat in a vintage vanity tray, then added corks, clock hands from Hobby Lobby, and an old clock face.

Little clock faces and clock gear clip art is easy enough to find and print.  Then just add glitter and rhinestones!

Gotta love GLITTER!!!

Now let's go over to the other side of the dining room.

A floating candle in a large glass vase covered in rhinestone mesh and a Dom Perignon champagne label....next to little sleds holding -- guess what?  MORE little party hats!!

 The front and back of each party hat was decorated!!

And on to the kitchen where we had snacks ready for guests.

 So, of course, we served chips in....Party hats!!

A broken clock...hmm...my daughter set it at midnight, then I spray painted it in silver glitter!

The New Year wreath that I made:

 I used vintage beaded fabric, an old clock face...which I set to midnight and blinged up with rhinestones.

 Another Champagne label -- adorned with rhinestones and pearls and jewelry oh my!!  Then I added a chandelier crystal in the shape of a drop (of champagne?!)

 Auld Lang Syne label for this record...

 and MORE rhinestones!!

 Kids are welcome at all of the parties at our house, and my 12 year old daughter wanted to do a balloon drop at midnight.  I thought this was a great idea!  So I took two dry-cleaner bags, taped them together, then taped them to the ceiling.  We wrote fun New Year slogans on the balloons, and put them in the bags.

At midnight, the dads stood on chairs, and reached up to drop the balloons on the kids!

So much fun!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Sharing with these fun linky parties:

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Table it at Rustic and Refined 

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Cottage Style Party at Lavender Garden Cottage

The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 

Fridays Unfolded at Nancharrow.com

Inspire me Tuesday at A stroll through life

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farm House

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

You're Gonna  Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E

Vintage Inspiration Party (Tuesday) at My Salvaged Treasures

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

Strut your stuff Saturday at Six Sisters

 Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

 Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot

Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes

Share your Creativity (Saturday) at Welcome To It's Overflowing

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

 Fabulously Creative Friday at  Jennifer Rizzo

What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode

Monday Party at Chateau Des Fleurs

Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events

Snow Angel Wow Factor!

'Tis truly better to give than to receive....
The best way to be happy is to make someone else happy!  It's a great cycle.  Have you ever made a baby smile and laugh?  And then, doesn't that make YOU smile and laugh?  It's a wonderful thing!  God made us this way, and it works so well.  Christmas is a great time to put this into action.
When a gift is hand-made, the recipient knows that you spent time and effort creating something just for her/him.  (And no "Black Friday" required!)  Here is what I made for my husband's mother this year.

My own mother is no longer living, so I've come to consider my mother-in-law as my own adopted mother.

It's a snow angel....but the wings are made of photos in the shape of feathers!  Layers and layers of family photos!


How about this reaction??!!  I live for that happy reaction!!
 

***~~~Happy Dance!!~~~***

I had made snowmen before with the pretty white beaded fabric.  So I thought and thought about how I could make one personalized for my mother-in-law.  How could I incorporate family photos into the project?  (She is all about family, has five children, 16 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.  She remembers everyone's birthday, sends all the grandkids a birthday card, Easter card, Halloween card, etc.  She is the glue that holds the family together.)

 So I came up with the idea that instead of feather wings (which I will do at some point!) on a snow angel, I would use cardboard wings and glue photos on in layers all over the cardboard.

I began with a basic snowman form made of felt, then stapled it to a wooden circle with a wooden dowel in the middle of it.  Stuffed it and sewed it closed.  I added wire inside the arms to keep the arms in the right shape. 

  

Then I added silk beaded fabric from a vintage gown to the body.

Buttons for the eyes, pearls for the mouth, and a piece of a velvet scarf for the nose.  Simple wire wrapped in silver tinsel ribbon for the halo.

I used chip board for the wings, but any cardboard will do.  I drilled holes in the middle of the wings so that I could sew them onto the snow angel.  I used a curved needle to do that---makes it muuuch easier!!

I came up with a few basic feather shapes, then sized the photos to fit on them.  Then just printed them on card stock and cut them into feather shapes.

To decorate the edges of the wings, I considered everything from rhinestone trim to tinsel to ribbon.  Eventually I decided on cutting up an ostrich feather, and using the individual pieces along the edges.  Time consuming - but so ethereal!

Since we visited family at Thanksgiving, I was able to give her the gift then, so that I could see her open it.  I'm still smiling!!

You can see the antique baby shoe angel ornaments I made for her last year here.

Hope this inspires you to make someone happy this Christmas!!

Here's a sneak peek at my next post...check back next week to see it!

Sharing with these fun linky parties:

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Made by you Monday at Skip To My Lou

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Table it at Rustic and Refined 

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Cottage Style Party at Lavender Garden Cottage

The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 

Fridays Unfolded at Nancharrow.com

Shabbylicious Friday http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/

The Friday Flea

All Things Thursday Blog Hop at All Things With Purpose, Glamorous Affordable Life, Posed Perfection, and Posed Perfection

Inspire me Tuesday at A stroll through life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Simply Neutral Tuesdays at http://www.appleapricot.blogspot.com/

Tuesdays at our Home at Our Home Away From Home

You're Gonna  Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E

Vintage Inspiration Party (Tuesday) at My Salvaged Treasures

Blissful Whites Wednesday at Timewashed

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

Strut your stuff Saturday at Six Sisters

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

 Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot

Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes

Share your Creativity (Saturday) at Welcome To It's Overflowing

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

 Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Fabulously Creative Friday at  Jennifer Rizzo

What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode

Monday Party at Chateau Des Fleurs

Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events