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Here are my top 3 favorite, unique ideas for your Valentine.
A Little Valentine Tutorial - "A Ticket to Love" from It's in the Details. Don't you love her banner? Look familiar? :-)
How to Make Your Own Valentine from Craftystylish
Teeny Tiny Valentine from the World's Smallest Postal Service on Leafcutter Designs. Check out the other amazing things that are tiny in the shop.
Make your own Bird of Change Materials:
fabric scraps in various patterns
sequins
needle and thread
sharp scissors
stuffing - cotton, cotton-wool, scraps, etc.
fabric glue
colorful cording
colorful beads that will string on the cording
bell
plastic ring (hanger)
Do this:
Click here to find a pattern View this photo
Trace or duplicate the pattern, cutting the number of pieces shown on the pattern from various colors of scrap materials. Cut out the wing patterns from various scraps and glue to the body pieces. The winglet lays on top of the wing in a contrasting pattern or color. Glue the sequins on the body to serve as eyes. Cut the cording to the desired length and lay between the cut outs of the body vertically with some above and below the bird body. Leave enough at the top to string beads and hang, leave enough below to sting beads and add bell. Pin the body pattern and cord together and sew, leaving the cord in place, Sew right over the cord, securing it. Leave an opening to stuff the bird. Fill the bird body with stuffing and overstitch the opening closed. Cut several strips of scrap materials in various colors and patterns. Sew these strips together on one end to form the tail of the bird. Stitch the tail to the body. String a few beads on the top of the cord then tie the ring on the top end to serve as the hanger. String a few more beads on the bottom of the cord and then tie the bell to the bottom to hold the beads on.
And the winner is.....
And the winner is:
Blog-wide Birds of Change Giveaway started by Createive Kismet. I giving this handmade bird away, and many other bloggers have offered to giveaway a bird as well. Here they are:
Sewing Magpie
Life in the Lyon’s Den
Affectioknit
Lexi Art & Design
Montessori Mama
Joyously Living Life
Mariek Uniek
Sistermama
Red or Gray
Calicodaisy
Tales at Wayne Manor
Sweetina
Wagging Tales
Olivethebeach
Girlville
Ashlee and Nathanael
Patchwork Pottery
Spinster Handmade
Heidi Stitches When She Can
Moreart, Less Housework
Crafty oz girl
Norico
A New Path
Cultivating Magic
Deborah’s Journal
Mary Jo
Build~Make~Craft~Bake
And Another Thing
Hopfaldera
Kleas
Ledanna
Please leave a comment on this post by Sunday at 5pm (US Central Time) and the winner will be announced Monday night. Visit the other great blogs for more birdy fun.
Here is the bird I am giving away:
I do not usually post about movies on my blog beacuse my taste is quite different from main stream. (Think black comedy or scary japanese ghost story.) But, last night my hubby and I went to see Defiance. Some reviewers have said this movie was too "muted," but I disagree completely. I must say the movie is not for all especially if you are feeling like this before you go:
Fallen
I found this movie engrossing, amazing, and a thoroughly human reflection of how real people might react when placed in a horrifying situation. The film ranges from brutal to tender, and the respectful applause from the entire theater after the credits indicated others felt what I felt.
Daniel Craig is excellelent.
I am looking forward to reading both books about the Bielski brothers and the partisans
These crafts will help you get started early with your handmade Valentine creations.
Heart boxes http://crafts.kaboose.com/heart-boxes.html Puffy Hearts http://crafts.kaboose.com/puffy-heart.html Sweetheart wreath http://www.bhg.com/holidays/valentines-day/crafts/sweetheart-candy-wreath/ Vintage image http://www.vintageimagecraft.com/valentine-crafts.html Choco strawberries http://recipes.kaboose.com/valentines-day-recipes/index.html Chain of hearts http://wisdomhastwoparts.typepad.com/wisdom_has_two_parts/2008/01/chain-of-hear-1.html
Paper collage
Creative Kismet is having a Birds of Change exchange. There are so many of us signed up, and we all love birdies. A perfect swap for me, since I am a nature and bird-a-holic. Here is what we are swapping:
Handmade birds only. Made to hang, all year long. They can be sewn, embroidered, felted, painted, stamped, decoupaged, beaded, recycled, stuffed, knitted, crocheted, or made from paper, etc.
I have made some upcycled bird mini-collages for the swap.
I cannot wait to see what everyone else comes up with. There is a flickr group here. Check back on the Creative Kismet blog for a list of others participating in a bird giveaway on Jan 20. Here is a tiny peek of what I am giving away that day, come back here on the 20th to enter.
If you're into those year-in-review lists, here's a good one: The Long Thread, as compiled the Top 100 online craft tutorials of 2008. Check it out.
In my etsy shop here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=19319921
And my dog, who is staring at me as I type, probably thinking "look at me! not that computer!."
