Valentine Fun

Valentine's Day is nearly here and I wanted to share a few goodies for the occasion.

These darling cupid's arrows were made by our daughter, Mia, for our Valentine's Day gift!

 She said they are easy and all you need are sturdy sticks, from your yard, felt and hot glue.

Aren't they darling? I hung them here and there among my Valentine decor.

I bought this awesome Mickey Mouse Club Scrap Book at a local flea. I opened it and

was amazed to see the fabulous valentine card collection. They were glued in

by a 9 year old girl and some have stickers attaching them, as well.

Check out the date and price back then.

Here are what the pages look like. They are chock full of retro Valentine fun! I want to keep it intact

and share some of the cards, over time, here and on Pinterest. There are a few from other

holidays too but mostly sweet valentines.

I love them all! Look at the detail and the funny sayings back then. Remember the joy

of getting special valentines from your classmates and teachers?

Why didn't we all save them? I am a saver and I didn't.

This lion, with a collar and tie, is accented with silver glitter!

And this sweet girl has a red flocked trim on her pinafore. Flocking was used a 

lot on the cards back then. The hearts with the birdies are flocked too.

Follow me on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/wrenlizgifts/

to see more vintage valentines like these and craft ideas.

WE wish you a fun and fabulous Valentine's Day!

Melin

xoxo

Fabulous & Free Summer Fun

 

I love the Today Show and watched the most fun segment, with Elizabeth Mayhew, this morning.

She told us how to "Beat the heat and have some fun with these 8 summer freebies"!

Written with all the links for you plus the video on Today's show. You can watch the video here, http://www.today.com/video/today/55503074 

or see the written list,

http://www.today.com/money/free-fun-brutal-summer-days-1D79841732.

 

 

I searched the web for you and found even more fun and free projects for you and your kids.

 Here are a few websites to check out. Most offer both online projects for free and in-store

 classes for free or  a fee. Hobby Lobby seems to only have online fare.

Check them out at http://www.hobbylobby.com/projects.

 

Joann Fabrics has both in-store and online projects at http://www.joann.com/projects/. With most of

 these links, you put in your zip code and check out the details of their in-store Events.

What fun party decor ideas!

 

Michael's offers both project types for free, plus they offer a unique type of child sitting service. While you shop, your kid can make a project. It is a 30 minute class and is just $2 per child.

  It is a win, win! Go to http://www.michaels.com/find-a-project/holiday-and-seasonal/815811865

 for a list of their projects, like these glittered jar candles, and to search local Events.

 

I love books and stories and Barnes and Noble is a great family adventure destination.

 They have Events and classes for free! Find your local store and Event list at http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/. You can also have your little one read to by the author online at

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/online-storytime-books-toys/379003588. We all love to be read to.

 

The projects shown are for the Fourth of July but most of the links  have projects for all types of

 fun, crafts, cooking, holidays, seasons, skill levels and time to complete.

Please feel free to add any freebie that you know about in the comments section here

on my blog. Sign up to an email links to my new blog posts.

Happy crafting and Happy summer!

Melin

Trick-or-Treat Fun

I thought I would share a few treats I have been putting together for Halloween. They can

 all be done fairly quickly, so there is still time. The first is a cool way to share your

favorite full size chocolate bars. You simply wrap them in crepe paper from the roll,

glue the end and glue on googly eyes for a silly treat that would make your mummy proud!

 

 

 

Besides the mummys, I am setting up a self serve candy mini bar using our cool milk bottle holder.

 I filled the bottles with various kid candies and retro style Halloween bags to fill up. This will

be a fun option for the kids we know that will have their parents with them.

 

 

 

Lastly, I made popcorn drizzled with white chocolate and sprinkles. I melted some Almond Bark

white candy coating in the microwave and drizzled onto the popped corn, which was in a

single layer over wax paper across my kitchen island.

 

 

As I worked, I quickly sprinkled with orange and black sprinkles. The coating dries fast!

 

 

Isn't it festive for Halloween! I bagged it up in cute bags and passed them out at a

 Trunk-or-Treat night of celebration.

 

 

Wishing you and yours a great family time this Halloween!

Melin