Last spring before Jenea was married her friends threw a shower with the most fun theme, wigs and wine! Each girl picked out a different wig to wear, we enjoyed wine together and then took to the town with the new bright do’s. If you are celebrating Valentine’s Day with girl friends this year it would be an awesome (and easy) last minute idea to pull off.

PS. Another fun girlfriend idea, have a fondue party at home!

In the midst of kid centric Valentine prep I’ve wanted to design something pretty to give away to the people I know over three feet tall. Using leather scraps (found for cheap at local craft stores), a pack of key rings and an exacto knife I put together these leather heart key chains. A little something sweet for the more grown up red heart crowd.

To make these key chains, cut out hearts and strips from textured leather sheets. Use the x-acto knife to “draw” a heart onto a single strip for a guy or other design. Press firmly for a good showing, but be sure not to tear the leather as you draw. Attach your leather piece directly onto the key ring or use a small amount of velvet ribbon to add a girlie touch. Thread the key chains onto simple card stock paper with a kind note for co-workers, teachers and friends.

These heart key chains would also make great wedding favors, see here.

I purchased a small box of plaster last week and went to work dipping a sampling of bright fuax flowers. Mixing + dipping my varieties took about ten minutes and then I hung them upside down for a day to dry. The flowers have become the center of our Valentine’s Day decor. This pink, single stem came out as my favorite! What a perfectly fun (and unique) bouquet they would make wrapped in brown craft paper.

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, I am excited to share a couple projects to celebrate the holiday with subtly and style. These milk heart cubes are a sweet surprise for your man’s morning coffee or a tall glass of milk. As they melt, the milk turns pink (the twins were in love!).

To make the milk cubes, combine milk and a few drops of red food coloring together in a small bowl. Fill an ice cube tray, my heart one is from Ikea and freeze overnight. So easy, right!?!

PS. A few other Valentine favorites you might have missed… individual mini fondue, sweet love brownies, stitched hearts (these would make adorable Valentines), crocheted heart cake toppers and one of my first DIY blog posts painted love bottles.

This is brilliant… pretty dress, clear bag, big bow! A perfect Valentine for your guy.

Photo via Style bubble

A winter white picnic designed by Courtney, editor of the very successful site Pizzazzerie. She styled this sweet spot for snuggling up with a loved one and sharing hot cocoa, sweet treats, and luxurious blankets under the trees. What a perfect plan for the weekend ahead!

Courtney’s picnic featured a few amazing treats, she served mini dark chocolate cups filled with marshmallows and hot cocoa alongside coconut truffles and petit fours from A Perfect Bite in Nashville, TN. They went perfectly with the color scheme and the extra glittered crystals added an extra sparkle. Local Nashville chocolate was served along with heart shaped mini marshmallows. Small “mints” were added to give the hot cocoa a fresh mint flavor!

Keys were a subtle theme throughout the picnic, hung alongside the fence and scattered throughout the design. Keys have such an old, vintage romantic feel which Courtney found intriguing to contrast with the fresh and clean theme. The scrumptious sweets rested on a handcrafted wooden tray, perfect for holding your treats and mugs at a picnic.

Check back later today for this wooden tray DIY project. Plus you have 48 hours to add a comment if you’d like this celebration design to win!

blessings.

A night of glitzy gold, styled by Cyd, editor of one of my favorite party sites The Sweetest Occasion. I had a chance to spend time with Cyd in Utah last month and just adored her passion for blogging and her drive as a stylist, you can check out her fabulous portfolio here.

A night of glitzy gold, a sleek party scene that would be perfect for Valentine’s day, an anniversary dinner, or as fresh look for a sweetheart table. There is so much beautiful interest in Cyd’s design. She mixed the reflectivity of the gold paper with simple textural white linens, sculptural white vases and simple white tableware creating a gorgeous party look. Isn’t that cake fun!?! I just adore how the simple, handmade details stand out against this design contrast to make a table fresh and modern.

White and gold take center stage, with bright pops of color from vibrant red anemones and a few raspberries tossed in with the champagne. The overall look is sleek, modern and a touch glitzy without a lot of fuss.

A pretty gold paper wall instillation served as the backdrop for this glamorous affair. An easy project to create by cutting and hanging wrapping paper in vertical rows from above. When a few extra pieces are left lying about, it instantly makes a sweet way for your guests to write a few congratulatory notes of love.

Check back later today for Cyd’s DIY project to create cupcake liner flowers. Plus you have 48 hours to add a comment if you’d like this celebration design to win!

Photos taken for Cyd by Megan Dailor

blessings.

Popping in amidst the sea of challenge inspiration to share a sweet something from the Valentines party I recently styled. Threaded hearts in napkins give a festively crafty feel any type of meal. They were super easy to make and will be so fun to do for whatever your Valentines Day will include. Five am work coffee, kids lunches, romantic dinner in, just a few of the items on my Monday calendar.

Photography by Jackie Wonders

PS. For those of you waiting for the promised Valentines party reveal, I’ve decided to wait until next week. I just cannot handle anymore amazing parties this week, two more to go with the challenge! Thanks for being so kind to our guests, xoxo from me.

blessings.

Cakes and cute shoes, a party where your closest friends would all show up to eat scrumptious cake in their most stylish shoes. Fabulously perfect inspiration for the upcoming holiday and I would completely gush over this theme at a spring shower. The bright pink paired with a crisp silver brings a sophisticated feel to a festive party table.

The tablecloth designed by Jenn is a great way to lend a modern clean touch to budget friendly DIY style. The cloth was a clearance deal that would be normally quite plain but when lined with $3 a roll silver duct tape it becomes practically a work of art.

As place settings, the very common chalk bubble is given a clean and modern finish when filled in with hand-sewn silver threading. A lovely and surprising touch! I would imagine them as fabulous custom escort cards for an upcoming wedding. The hand sewing of letters continues onto the EAT sign, backing a perfectly set dessert display that includes a yummy Valentine’s version of the popular rainbow cake, so pretty in red and pink!

Check back later today for Jenn’s DIY project to create your own hand-sewn party signs. Plus you have 48 hours to add a comment if you’d like this celebration design to win!

blessings.

To play, fill an empty (or ceramic) egg carton with small pieces of paper using appropriate love language for your group. Buy sweet presents that correlate with each of the words in your game and take turns tossing a small ball into the carton. Whenever a paper is landed on, the player receives the matching present. Play until every person in attendance receives a present or until all the love papers are gone.

Photography done for me by Jackie Wonders

blessings.