Longing for Spring!

We haven't had an extreme winter but it has been appropriately wet.  Soon the crocus will begin to emerge, the cherry trees will burst forth.  The robins have already returned to the yard; a welcome harbinger of spring.



Apparently terrariums are all the rage this year.  I found this image on Google.  I was inspired to to try an abbreviated adaptation and to share with you what I call the 'Grandmother of All Cloches".

Our local grocery markets are selling English Primroses.  Primroses are very hearty perennials in the Northwest.  In fact the primroses in my outside beds are already blooming!  I bought a good supply of pink ones and planted one in each of the Dollar Tree cylindrical vases I had left over from Christmas decor.  I embellished them with the ribbon that I used for my pink baby shower on Sunday.  My mini-terrariums really boost my spirits on an otherwise gloomy day.

Now, the bell jar {cloche}  

Ha ha ha.  This is a big bell!  On display next to it is my valentine from my sweet husband.

It's OK to 'heart' something on Valentine's Day.  I heart Bombay Company and am so glad they resurfaced at a few stores.

Larry also bought me this cute little easel to display my lovely box.

I'm joining the collective creativity at Wow Us Wednesday!  See you there.

Hugs, Dana

Love Actually

Remember the old Pilsbury jingle, "Nothin' says lovin' like somethin' from the oven" ?  Well, that certainly rings true in our house!  Decadence!  Up close and personal!  Larry will be in heaven.

Larry is getting up early to make me some very special pancakes which are acceptable on my very special (and restrictive) diet.  So, I decided late this evening to create one final accent to make him feel special.

I have been interested in creating something with coffee filters; just something small to begin with.  I didn't like anything I found online, so I decided to figure something out on my own.  I am really pretty good at copying ideas from women more creative than I, and I usually don't have a whole lot of original ideas.  I rather like my paper roses.

Start with these~

I like the unbleached rather than the pure white.

I very randomly cut the coffee filters into spirals and rolled them up to form roses.

I applied hot glue on the bottom of each rose so that they would hold together.

I used a few other things I had on hand~ some shreads that came in a box that was recently delivered and a Dollar Tree candle.

I layered everything in an old Pier One hurricane that I unearthed.  Instant ambiance for our Valentine's breakfast.  But while I was in the crafting mode, I made the cutest little card for Larry~

Awww.  It's a day for warm fuzzies.  I hope yours is filled with love!

Linking up with Marty at A Stroll Thru Life~

Love Is In The Air!

I don't usually decorate the house for Valentine's Day.  It's not that I don't appreciate the sentiment~ but February 14th is such a fleeting occasion.  Here today, gone tomorrow!

But since I'm having a baby shower on the 12th, a very pink party to be sure, I felt it appropriate to add some touches of  L*O*V*E to the mix.

I love layering beautiful papers when I create banners.

I have about 3 Scrabble games.  I buy them at thrift stores whenever I can find them.  I like using Scrabble letters to express my feelings.  Though, it's not as if I'm ever at a loss for words!

My friend lent me her heart punch from Stampin' Up!  I used it to craft a little heart garland.  I then draped it over my all season stick-tree; a consignment shop find.

Here is one of the most labor intensive projects I have ever undertaken!  65 crepe PINK crepe paper camellias on a Styrofoam wreath which I wrapped with white gross grain ribbon!  I do like it; so much in fact that I am going to leave it hanging all the way through Easter Sunday.

There's not a lot of overdone fuss for Valentine's Day.  But there's just enough to remind Larry of how happy I am to be his wife.  I guess Valentine's decorating will become a new tradition for me.  I have to admit, it was kind of fun.

Joining the party at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie.  Enjoy!

You can also find me at Dear Lillie's Valentine Party.  See you there~