Shop Update: Valentine's Day 2020

Valentine's Day is creeping closer (hopefully not like a creeper), and it's time for the shop to start thinking about all those cards and gifts that you'd like to give to the ones you love (because this is totally different from Christmas). While all of your favourites are still available (find them here), there are a couple of new cards in town: one that was inspired by Sharon, Lois and Bram (hello Canadian childhood!), and one that popped into my mind after my husband helped me find something that I was searching for for 10 minutes and he found within a few seconds after I started having a meltdown.

Underneath the Moon card 

Love You Because interactive card

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Pokeheart: A Pokemon Inspired Valentine

I created these pokeheart valentines for my son to give to his classmates after spotting it randomly on Pinterest one day, and thought I would share with you how I went about making them if you happen to be looking for a last minute Valentine's Day idea.

What you need:

Red construction paper

White construction paper

Black construction paper

Glue stick

Scissors

Hole punch

Paper cutter

Heart stencil

Using the heart stencil (I used a cookie cutter), I traced out the heart shape on both the red and white construction papers. By measuring the red heart on top of the white heart, I was able to figure out exactly where I wanted to cut my red heart in half -- all you need is the top part of the red heart. 

I then glued the top of the red heart onto the white heart (which I kept whole for ease of gluing), using the glue stick, and then trimmed down any part of the red heart that could be seen sticking out from beneath the red part that had just been glued on.

The black construction paper was cut into a 1/4 inch strip (roughly 1 centimeter), and then measured for the length that would be needed to cover the middle of the heart where the white and red paper joined. I made sure it was a bit longer than the edges of the heart, and then just used my scissors to trim it up to the edge once it was glued on.

The white circle for the middle piece was hole-punched out of a piece of the white construction paper, attached to a small square of black construction paper with the glue stick, and then the square of paper was trimmed down into a circle slightly larger than the white circle in order to create an edge around it. Glue it on to the middle of the black strip and you've got yourself a pokeball in the shape of a heart!

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Unique Last Minute Valentine Gifts

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Write a love letter on a typewriter to give along with one of the books from this list -- Pride & Prejudice is one of my personal favourites. If you don't have access to a typewriter, there's nothing wrong with writing a note with pen and paper.

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Grab a sassy valentine card from one of Julie Ann Art's stockists -- it's too late to order one. There's even a shop in Saskatchewan that has her cards available. This would be a nice addition to a bouquet a flowers.

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If you like to do embroidery -- or have dabbled in it recently -- then one of these simple designs would be quick and easy to make. You just might have all of the items you need to make it laying around the house, and would go nicely with some chocolates.

If your loved one loves flowers, but can't handle the smell, a beautiful botanical print -- that can be found on Google -- printed off and framed would make a lovely gift. This would pair well with a bottle of wine.

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5 Things: Favourite Valentines 2014

Check out these amazing Valentines from some other shops on Etsy. They are so fun and unique, and each shop has other fantastic Valentines available. I've already purchased the little puppy and rabbit Valentines for my son to give to the other children in his class -- I hope he gives me one too :)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Don't forget to enter the shop giveaway!

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Etsy Favourites: Purchases

Rather than just sharing a few of my favourite things that I have found on Etsy, I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourite things that I have recently bought, or have been bought for me, from other shops on Etsy.

Naughty Card

I bought this hilarious card from the lovely shop Julie Ann Art -- have you heard of it? -- for my husband for Valentine's Day. He laughed :)

Fog

This lovely photograph from the shop bomobob can be found hanging on a wall in my bedroom. Although I haven't quite finished my bedroom yet, I have a vision of serenity and calm for it and this photograph fit in perfectly.

I know that I've shared these lovely yellow shoes from the shop The White Ribbon before, but I finally bought a pair of my own and I love them. They are so beautiful and feel like heaven on my feet. They are a new favourite shoe.

These beautifully simply earrings were a gift from a fellow shop owner as part of a fun exchange that we did at Christmastime. They have since become a favourite, and a go-to for any outfit as they are perfect for all occasions. These earrings can be found in the shop Sparrow Grey.


 

Little Wooden Trees

These lovely little trees from the shop Saw It For You decorated my home during the holiday season. They added an extra touch to a Christmas display, and are among my new favourite decorations.

What are some of your favourites that you have recently purchased from a shop on Etsy?

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The Best Part of Valentine's Day

One of the best parts of Valentine's Day, for me, is that I get to share in the excitement of the children that I work with. This year, one of the kids was hopping up and down excitedly as each child in the room pulled his Valentine out of their mailboxes. "It's mine! It's mine!" He would shout.

It reminded me of my days in school when we would walk around the classroom dropping Valentines into each giant paper envelope hanging from the desks, and then I would open them and judge what the kids in the class thought of me through the Valentine they chose to give me.

Time have changed, though. I don't judge what the children at work think of me through their Valentines, but I did get a good laugh out of a few of them, and I wanted to share them with you.

Apparently, I'm fierce, but I'm really just curious about what that dog is thinking, and why the cat is laughing so hard, or even if the cat is laughing.

Ha! Hot Rod.

This child made special Valentines for each person in the room, and each one made me smile. I will treasure this one forever :)

Even though he doesn't understand Valentine's Day, Little Boy enjoyed playing with the pink play dough he received as a gift with one of his Valentines. He also enjoyed eating a lot of the gifts that came with his Valentines.

I asked him to show me his tattoo so that I could get a photo. He was not a happy camper as I was trying to put it on his arm, but he though it was pretty cool after a few minutes.

Did you receive any special Valentines this year?

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I Like You...

I am so excited for Valentine's Day this year because it is my son's first year giving out Valentines. I found the cutest little Valentines at a shop called Hello Small World. They have a really cute selection of cards available in their shop, amongst other goodies.

I Like You Big Time

I found a simple recipe to make crayons on Pinterest a while ago, and decided to make crayons for all of the kids in his classroom at daycare. I also picked up some bubble wands from a craft store, and attached them all to the envelopes as a little goodie for all the kids on Valentine's Day. We've been having fun playing with the extra bubble wands.

On another note, I found some vintage Valentines at work a long time ago, and this one is my favourite. There's something so strange about it, but I still find it really cute. What do you think?

Do you hand out Valentines at all?

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