So Many Valentines!

Prompted by a suggestion on Elizabeth's blog, Creative Breathing, I decided to trade Valentine's with a few gals in blogland.  I shared two of the Valentines last week and I thought I would share a few more.

I'm sure the crocheted hearts give this one away, but this was the heart send to me from Heather at Vintage Grey!  A felt heart, mini crocheted hearts, crocheted coasters and a Valentine with a crocheted trim! Too cute!

I also traded Valentine's with Meri who blogs at ImagiMeri....she really is too amazing!

Meri sent an email saying she was doing something a little different with her Valentine...well, she was right and it's beautiful!  I think she used decoupage and then added a starched piece of lace...

And the colors!

And the back is just as lovely!

Meri also sent me some vintage Valentines....I don't think I'll ever have enough of them! And the best thing about them is they are soooo easy to store!

I also received a surprise in the mail from Kim who blogs at Musings by Kim..... one of her shadow boxes!

Don't you just love the ice skaters?  If you have visited Kim's blog in the last couple of weeks, you've seen the ice skating rink her husband built in their backyard! 

And how sweet is the back??

Stay tuned, I have a few more to share tomorrow!!

Aren't blogpals the best????

chris

A Sweet Box!

Last week the postman dropped off a pretty good size brown box.......like usual I can never wait to open any thing that arrives for me in the mail....well except for bills of course, I could live without opening another bill.....

Any Who......

Opening this package was sooo much fun!

It was the decorated Valentine Candy Box from Shirley at Zetta's Aprons!

Can you believe this box???

But Just wait!!!!

Stuffed full of Valentine fun!

Buttons, glitter, embellishments for crafting, vintage Valentines including a special one that belonged to Shirley's Aunt Jane.....if you've ever visited Shirley's blog, you know how important her family and her family history is to her...I am so fortunate to have received such a special Valentine!

Of course some candy too, and a small Valentine ornament made out of a section of a egg crate!

Shirley hit a home run with this swap!!!  I love my Valentine Candy Box!!

My Valentine Candy Box for Shirley is in the mail today.

chris

A Little Lace And A Few Buttons!

A favorite fabric, a little lace, a few buttons, and my hearts for Debby's Heart Swap where done and in the mail.



Several years ago I saw this fabric and fell in love with it......only half a yard not really enough for a project but I just loved it! This swap was a perfect time time to use it.

I used vintage buttons, lace and a few scrap fabrics to embellish the hearts.

Here's hoping my swap partners enjoy them as much as I did making them!

chris

Trading Cards!

I have started to receive Valentines from the ladies I am swapping with!

The first one to arrive was a Valentine from Laura and Michele who blog at My Vintage Bettys

It's a darling felt Valentine...I love felt, and I love bikes and trikes!! And how about those eyes???

The second Valentine arrived from Elizabeth  who blogs at Creative Breathing

This cute little guy is rocketing his way to his Valentine! He too has amazing eyes!! 

What is it about vintage Valentines that make me swoon? I love sorting through them, and I especially love the ones that are signed and dated!

I was able to spend most of the weekend working on the Valentines I'm sending out.....

I also worked on and finished, (insert a big yahoo here) my candy box for the Valentine Candy Box Swap, hosted by Erica who blogs at Golden Egg Vintage. I will share pictures later, I want it to be a surprise for my swap partner!

chris

The Wreath That Stayed!

Last week I shared the Christmas wreath that hangs in my kitchen window and how much I liked having it in there.

And this weekend I spent a little time changing the wreath from a Christmas wreath to a Valentine wreath.

I tried my hand at making felt flowers, a first for me, and added a pearl to the center of the flowers....a vintage valentine, a little lace and and a silver heart finishes it off.

Not too much on this small wreath, just enough I thought!

It's not hanging in the window yet, I'll do that when I get home from work today....I was already to hang it  and thought why miss a perfect opportunity to wash the screen and window...

Does that ever happen to you? Start a project and it takes you to another project?

chris

Valentine Swap Update!!

OK, so my little Valentine Swap is full!

I will be swapping with the following ladies:

Lisa - A Peaceful Place to Be

Meri - ImagiMeri's

Laura & Michelle - Vintage Bettys

JoAnne - The Patriotic Quilter

Heather - Vintage Grey

I should have added in my original post that the Valentine can be made with paper, fabric or any other medium you can come up with.

I have emails for a couple of the ladies swapping, but not for all of them. 

Please email me so we can exchange addresses.

mckinleychris31@yahoo.com

Remember, the Valentines should be 5" - 6", and in the mail by January 25, 2013.

Remember, you send me one, and I will send one in return.

Can't wait to get my scissors, and paper out!!

chris

Valentine Swap!

I have often thought about hosting a swap of some sorts but, it does seem a little scary....would I do it right? would people want to join the swap? what if I missed the deadline to mail?

So................

I decided a One on One Valentine Swap would be a great way to test the water!

I will swap with 5 people.....

You make me a Valentine and I will make you one!

Let's have a few ground rules...

The Valentines should be 5" to 6" in size

and

In the mail by the 25th of January so we can enjoy them for a couple of weeks.

Oh, and I'm happy to swap with international friends too and you don't need to have a blog to swap!!

Please leave a comment on this post if you would like to swap Valentines with this California Girl!

chris

This Wreath Is Staying!

Like many of you I took down my Christmas decorations this past week.  And when I look around the house it feels a little empty.

But I have decided to keep one wreath up and change it for the different holidays and seasons.



This is my kitchen window decorated for Christmas.  As you come up to the front door you see this window.....the wreath is decorated on both sides, so you can see it from outside and inside.

I picked this wreath up several years ago at the Alameda Flea Market, and added the greenery and larger ornaments.

Next up for this window sill and wreath?????

Valentine's!!!

Happy Monday!!

chris