Valentine Printable

A Valentine's Day quote to frame.  Click Here for a Printable.

Paint Chip Valentine Decor

I have seen hundreds of crafts, games, and educational tools being made from paint chip samples.  Being Ms. DIY, I had to try my own craft with these fun & free paint chips; however, there should be a warning label with all these crafts:

Walking to the paint section in Home Depot, I felt confident and ready to claim this free, golden commodity. This confidence faded quickly when I an employee asked if I needed help finding a color.  My answer, "No thank you, I am just going to take all your pink and red samples, so you have to refill each one after I am gone" (Okay, that is not exactly what I said).

Here is my paint chip DIY:

Print off Valentine patterns (I love Valentine birds like the one above) on the paint chips, but remember to place the chips face up in the printer so it prints on the back.  

 Cut out the pattern and add to picture frames.

Then find a place to display your simply beautiful Valentine fun!

Valentine XOX

This weekend I got the Valentine bug!  I decorated the house from top to bottom, so this week will be my Valentine week.  

When I think of Valentine's Day, I always reminisce.  In elementary school, I made a big heart candy box that I treasured, and wrote out my Valentines carefully, so the best love one would go to my crush.  In middle school, friends bought suckers from the student council to be given secretly to their Valentine.  Then in high school, they would write the girls' names on a big chalk board who received flowers and gifts.  

Valentine's Day is always a warm day in the middle of a Wisconsin winter.  Here is one of my fun projects:

All you need is a 10" wreath and two wooden X's ($3 from Micheal's).

I sponge painted the wreath white.

Then I covered the wreath with berries.  These particular berries were from a Christmas berry string, so I just cut off the green ones.

Find a place to set or hang for a lovely Valentine design.

Run Wild

January has a theme for Living the Teaching Life, Subway Art and Sayings.  It must be the New Year's resolutions that have motivated me to share inspiring words.

Click Here for Your Own Printable

I May Not Be Perfect...

Click here for Not Perfect Printable.

Running Blog

Check out my running blog Run. Eat. Pray.  I wanted to begin sharing my running adventures with everyone, but did not want to overload Living the Teaching Life.  Click here to find motivation to keep on or start running!

Inspiration

I found this inspirational quote and wanted to share its power with you.

January Printable Quote

This Japanese proverb is a perfect way to add warmth to your winter decor.

Click this link for your free printable: January Quote

DIY Ironing Board

This year for Christmas, I received a new sewing machine, so I have been busy gathering tools and materials to get started sewing.  One of the items on my list was an ironing board.  I went to several stores and attempted to find a board that was not too big or clumsy or expensive.  After searching for a bit, I realized that I had the ability to make my perfect ironing board.  I went to Home Depot and Joann's to gather the materials, and it end up costing only $12 ($3- Plywood; $3- Fabric; $4- Batting; $2- Skid Proof Matting). Here is my end product...

DIY Ironing Board Instructions

Plywood 2x2 (you can use any size that works for you)

Cotton Batting

Fabric

Skid Proof Matting

Staples

Scissors

Cut batting to fit the piece of plywood with about 4 inches hanging on each side.  I also doubled the batting to create a better cushion.

I cut the corners, so when stapled, it is not bulky.

Pull all the ends tight, so there were no wrinkles, and staple.

Next, I added the fabric on the top of the batting (before placing fabric, iron or steam it, so there are no wrinkles).  I folded the top and bottom pieces like a present and stapled.

Finally, I stapled skid proof matting to the back to help the ironing board stay still while I am using it.