heart-shaped happiness to buy & DIY

Okay. I know you have likely had it up to here with all of the hearts, roses, pink, red, glitter, lovey dovey, Valentine crap that the world has been throwing at you since Christmas. I get it. I can understand your frustration. 


BUT today is the day when everything heart-shaped or heart-printed goes on sale. C'mon. The day after Valentine's day is my favorite non-holiday! This day needs to be celebrated. And don't even get me started on the discounted chocolate... Oh, the chocolate.


Last year I posted a little round up of heart things I owned and admired from afar. This year I've swapped out my heart things for things you can make. Nothing like some fresh lovey-dovey DIY ideas to get your blood pumping in the morning, right? I really wanted to type eh? right there but decided to pay homage to my American readers (hi!) with the second-best word to get people to validate your thoughts.

Right! So, after a bit of Googling, Pinteresting & blog-hopping, here are my picks for the best heart-adorned things to BUY & MAKE. 

1. big & bold | black & gold tote | AlphabetBags, $21.96
2. sassy-pants quote | silicone/glass water bottle | bkr, $32
3. i need to stop thinking about buying this | silk scarf | BRIKA, $98
    use the code MAKEITHAPPEN before Monday & get 20% off!
4. comfy | gray heartbeat tee | BurgerAndFriends, $24 
5. even our toothbrushes are in love | mint green toothbrush holder | urbanoutfitters, $12
6. someone have a baby, so i can buy you this | printed swaddle blanket | JuniperWilde, $42

7. irresistible | black & gold enameled ring | f21, $5.80

I think I might have to cave and buy the ring. It's small, cheap and I've been obsessed with black & gold lately. It's probably meant to be.

1. unique take on a heart tote | hand-stamped tote bag | V and Co
2. a rainbow of little hearts | mini geo gift boxes | MiniEco
3. great alternative to open heart back shirts | lace sweatshirt | PearMama
4. cuddle up | stamped throw blanket | A Beautiful Mess
5. i have one of these in brass | wire ring | ISpyDIY

I found some other sweet round-ups while I was preparing this post. Check out Down & Out Chic for material goodies (the red pillow & gold mug are my favorites!) and DesignSponge or WhimseyBox for crafty/DIY inspiration overload.

Happy shopping/crafting! If you made something heart-y this year and want to share, feel free to link up in the comments.

xx Janelle

FYI - I was not compensated for including any of these products in this post. These companies don't even know me or my blog. Free promotion!

last-minute washi tape valentines (for the young at heart)

Do you guys know about washi tape? I started noticing some projects pop up on Pinterest last fall and being the craft supply hoarder that I am, I had to get my hands some ASAP. Washi tape, in case you are still in the dark like I was, is a thin, decorative masking tape that looks like this.

It works really well to tack up photos/art instead of framing and is great for gift wrapping too. All major creative supplies stores like Michael's, DeSerres sell it and many small, local craft shops too. It should come as no surprise that it originated in Japan - every cute fad was big in Japan 5 years before it ever became cool in North America. Proof? Hello Kitty, maxi skirts, Harajuku style, bows. Case in point. On to the Valentines!

Most of you probably stopped giving them out years ago, you know, like, when you started grade six. I did too actually, but I made some on a whim last year to mail to a few university friends who I missed. This year, I got the itch again. D's niece and nephew were also coming to visit so I wanted to be able to give them a little something for the holiday. Here they are:

These are super-easy to make. All you need is washi tape, cardstock & pens. 1. Trace around a business card to make your base. 2. Press down a strip (or two!) of tape. 3. Write a lovey message. 

That's seriously all there is to it! These probably took no more than 5-10 minutes to make. The hardest part is deciding what to write on them. Once you get into a rhythm, it's easy to make a bunch at once. I think they'd be great for kids to bring to school or you could give them to your neighbours. These ones will be going to my co-workers - shhh! Don't tell.

Do any of you still give out Valentines or make a special card for your loved one? Got any washi tape projects for me to check out? Let me know!

xx Janelle

PS - I took these photos at night, which explains the laughable white balance. Forgive me! It's winter and it gets dark before I even get home...

valentine's confession.

Fact you may not know about me: I am obsessed with hearts.

Show me almost anything with hearts on it or heart-shaped and I will probably squeal. Is it attractive? No, but that's me. Haha. And although I think Valentine's day has been twisted into a commercial holiday, I love that there's a day dedicated to love. Love of all kinds. Friend love. Puppy love. Romantic love. Just love. Despite my cynicism about marriage (ask me about that another time), I am such a cheesy, hopeless romantic. So in honor of Valentine's day coming up, I figured I'd share some pretty heart things that I love. Yes, love.

My (almost) favorite t-shirt (H&M).

My hanging paper heart art.

This gorgeous chair.

 A handmade ring I bought last summer. It never leaves my hand.

This style of heart necklace.

These glasses from ClearlyContacts. I'm pretty sure I'm buying these, even if I only wear them around the house. Maybe not in this color, but they have tons to choose from. I mean, come on, they have hearts on the sides, how can I resist? Seriously.

What do you think? Do you love Valentine's Day or hate it? Stay home watching chick flicks and pig out on chocolate?

I personally love all of the heart shaped things on sale a few days later. I've always said that's my favorite part of the "holiday"... Haha. We don't really do anything extravagant, just give each other a card & go out for dinner....

xx Janelle

DIY Paper Heart Headboard

To everyone visiting from Pinterest. Thank you! I'm planning another heart paper craft for this year, so please follow this blog via GFC, BlogLovin or RSS or my "my blog" Pinterest board if you don't want to miss it.

Hey everyone! So I'm finally sitting down to write up the tutorial for the craft I mentioned last week. I made a collection of hanging paper hearts to hang above our bed.

More close-ups below.

I know it might look a little bit, maybe a lot, childish but when it comes to hearts I can't help myself. It's simple: hearts just make me happy. I'll have years to have a formal headboard and serious, adult art. But for now, I'll choose hearts. The best part about this craft is that when I turn the fan on at night, the hearts sound like rain as they hit the wall. Maybe, it's a little romantic? Oh, and I like it much better than my half-assed attempt at an art clothesline. Don't you?

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Here's how to make one.

You'll need:

- a few sheets of cardstock in whatever colors you like. I used yellow, cream & white.

- a paper punch. Mine was heart-shaped, but you could do leaves, stars, dots, squares etc.

- a safety pin or needle

- scissors
- fishing line. I used .25mm.

- a plastic or wooden dowel

How to:

First, punch out as many shapes as you need from the cardstock. I used about 144 (12 hearts per strand, 12 strands). If you cut strips and punch in opposite directions, you can get more out of each sheet. 

Once you have all the shapes punched, gently poke a hole at the top and bottom of one heart with your pin/needle. You can also choose to hang your shape on a diagonal or sideways.

Cut a length of fishing line. I cut mine the length of my dowel. String the fishing line through the top hole away from you and then through the bottom hole coming toward you.

Repeat with as many shapes as you need. Then cut another strand of fishing line and repeat, repeat, repeat. I found it helpful to tape my strands up on the wall as I went to prevent them from tangling.  

Once you have all of your strands completed, tie each one to your dowel leaving at least 1inch 1-1/2 inches between each strand to keep them from tangling.

Tie two short lengths of fishing line near each end of the dowel and hang using a couple of thumbtacks. And now, all that's left is to enjoy your new, cheap, easy art.

The view when laying in bed :)

I still have a bunch of hearts left over and have visions of making a mobile for a nursery. The only problem is... I don't know anyone with a baby to give it to. To my friends, can someone have a baby so I can make you a mobile?

Love and hearts,

 Janelle

Heartfull

I'll be posting a fun craft project tomorrow if I get it finished in time. I just started to assemble it last night after a month of cutting out hearts. Any guesses on what it is?

Hint: it's for the bedroom.

See you tomorrow for the big reveal,

xo Janelle