FREE Valentine's Day Printables!

I {heart} Valentine's Day.

It's probably the chocolate. Or it could be that I have a fantastic reason to Celebrate the day.

Isn't he dreamy?

Of course, Valentine's Day wouldn't be complete without handing out valentine's to your special somebodies. If I happen to be your special somebody a pedicure would be really great right about now.

My mom and I have been creating something very special (that has nothing to do with chocolate or pedicure). Actually, they are "somethings."

In honor of Valentine's Day and the opening of our new online shop (SassyFrass) we would like to offer you a FREE download to one of Mom's zentangle creations.

Isn't it just darling. Of course your download will not have our watermark through it!

There are a few other Valentine's Zentangles available for purchase as well. I have been working on the shop forever and still only have a total of about 10 tangles on the store. Mom and I have created dozens.

Let me know if you are successful in your ability to grab the freebie or not. The shop is not in a format I'm used to working with so I imagine I have mistakes everywhere!

This are wonderful just to color or color and give as gifts. We find that using gel pens and colored pencils work best. Mom and I have both found very good gel pen packages at the Dollar Tree.

This particular Zentangle won't be free forever! But we will offer another FREE design next month. So download ASAP.

Also, I've created just a few notebooking pages that could be used for Valentine's Day. I plan on using these with out little reading club.

Just click each picture and the link should take you to my google drive. The borders I used came from Borders by Kelly. I just used vintage public domain graphics for the rest.

My last free printable I made for my littlest friends at our Reading Club. This is a matching game. You can print it out on cardstock or laminate. Or both. It depends on how hard your kiddos are on game pieces. The pictures are from old vintage valentines. I think they are just as sweet as they can be.

If you click on the picture it will take you to two pages of cards. Print 2 copies on cardstock or laminate.

I hope you enjoy these printables! Let me know how you use them.

I'm part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew Round Up! Go take a look at all the great resources...pretty please.

A Love Story

Maybe you’ve heard my love story before. It’s nothing spectacular. Girl meets Boy dressed as a cowboy. Girl decides she likes boys who dress up for a living. Boy and Girl date for about 2 minutes and get married 10 minutes later. 

So maybe I’ve exaggerated just a bit. 

I saw The Studly Muffin for the first time dressed as up as a cowboy. This much is true. He was walking down the foyer of our church. He was there that Sunday trying out as the Children’s Pastor. During our subsequent courtship and marriage (he obviously got the job), The Muffin has been a knight, a singing song-book, an airline pilot, a pirate, a religious scribe and an earlobe (true story). And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

The Muffin on our Wedding Day

That particular Sunday morning, I was supporting a purple dress and strawberry blond hair. The next time Troy laid eyes on me, I believe I was wearing red and had changed into a brunette.  I think we are well-suited. 

We barely knew each other by the time Troy asked me to marry him. I was very young (19) and he was had just turned 29. I’m not sure why he settled on me…after dating more mature and well-put together girls, but I’m glad he did. I have said this time and time again. I don’t recommend anyone marrying so young. The fact that it worked out for me had to be completely a God thing. Marriage is tough stuff. 

Me on our Wedding Day. I know. I had to be at least 13.

We attended his Ordination service on our honeymoon. He had already completed 4 years in the Air Force and 4 years in Bible College before I came along. He had been a licensed minister even before he left the Service. My life experience included a stint in Beauty School and a part time job at McDonalds. 

I am not going to bore you with the details of our short courtship. What has happened in the subsequent years is the true love story. 

I was blessed with some wisdom early on. Courtesy of Mom. I want to pass it along to you. You probably know this already. Never expect any one person to meet your needs. That is an impossibility. As a Christian, I believe that God is the only source of contentment. As humans, we disappoint one another every day.  My needs are met in God. And because of that, I have been able to be a more complete person for my husband. 

My husband has stuck with me during thick and thin. You might feel that it was his job to do so, but in our world of unmet expectations, it would have been just as easy for him to cut and run. 

He didn’t ask for a barren wife. He didn’t think on marrying a woman who would gain 100 pounds in a year. He didn’t reckon for his wife to experience heart failure. He didn’t figure on his wife becoming permanently altered in a car accident. 

My love story began when this man brushed my hair when I couldn’t do it myself. When he gazed into my puffy eyes and told me I was beautiful. When he held me sobbing in his arms after a miscarriage. When he stayed up all night just be sure I kept breathing.

Our picture with the Ordination group on our honeymoon. I was so proud of my dress with its puffy sleeves and big pink bow. Of course, nothing says romance like hanging out with a bunch of ministers. (can you sense the sarcasm?)

I can never “top” his tokens of love for me. What I can do is tell him that he is loved. I can cuddle on the couch with him when he’s watching the game (even though I could care less). I can make his favorite food. Listen to him when he is frustrated with his job. And give him space when he needs to think.

 I know that he is intense. Moody and passionate. I know that my lack of organization drives him batty and that he doesn’t understand my need for creative outlets. But I also know that I married a committed and loyal man. He is proud of my creativity and will defend my fruitiness to anyone. Most importantly, he loves God more than he loves me. And I know that because of that love he will be faithful to me til the end of time. 

This doesn't mean that The Muffin is perfect. I know he is not. He can't certainly expect perfection from me. I am flawed. I cry during confrontation. I am too opinionated. I let my projects get the best of me. But, I also know that I am forgiven. And that I, in turn, must forgive.

So girls. When you are searching for the love of your life. It matters not if they flatter you…those words of praise can easily turn into criticism. It matters not if they long for your every word and touch. That can easily change when the next object of his obsession comes along. 

Find a man who loves God more than he loves you. Who hangs on the Word of God more than he hangs on your sweet praise and flattery. Who doesn’t need you to feel complete. Those are the guys worth marrying in a minute (or 10).

All you need is love (and a little burlap): Valentine's Crafts

I love making stuff. Some stuff I make better than other stuff.

My favorite way to make stuff is using stuff I already have around the house. Or that I find at the Thrift Store.

There is something very satisfying re-purposing what I already have. Or making something new out of what someone has discarded. Not that I have ever dug in the trash for anything (uninteresting). 

I want to share a few projects that I've made with this and that. Maybe they will inspire you to use your odds and ends to add a little something special to your Valentine's Day. No special supplies necessary.

The picture below is the top of one of our bookshelves. Most everything I keep up all year long. The mirrors, lamp, books and baby doll are permanent residents of this particular bookshelf. The dwarf (from Snow White) was my grandmother's and is older than dirt. As is the baby. The red letter "T" is one I found at the Thrift Store. It was a country blue, but I grabbed the craft paint and made it mine. The red polka dotted flower actually is one I wear. I love polka dots. They make me happy.

I had originally stuck my wreath up there just to look at it from a distance and decided I liked it where it was.  I used a purchased foam wreath (it was the only thing I bought this year) and my leftover burlap to wrap around it.  Doesn't everybody have leftover burlap? I thought about using leftover sheet music (yes...I have some of that, too), but the burlap was calling my name. "Beke...Oh, Beke." Man, I need a nap!

Pay no mind to that hand. Unless you want to come give me a manicure.A few years ago, I purchased one of those large containers of paper flowers at Hobby Lobby. I have used them a number of times. I was going to decorate my wreath with fabric flowers, but this was so much easier. I have made flowers out of scrapbook paper, coffee filters, fabric, paper bags, old patterns and trash. I have a bit of a problem. Help me.

I also hot glued beads and buttons from my stash to add extra texture and dimension. My point is that you shouldn't feel like you have to go out and purchase new supplies whenever you create. Look around at what you already have. You can use anything to embellish with...spray paint some dried beans, old buttons from discarded clothing or broken jewelry. Some of my red beans are from a cheap necklace I had that broke. 

On the other side of the wreath I pinned a vintage card that I've had for years. I didn't use hot glue, because I might want to use this little girl another time. I love using old things. If you don't have any old things (other than yourself) you can always use your printer to print vintage cards or graphics. Or even use a handmade valentine from one of your children. I saw a cute wreath this year that used the "heart" cards from a deck of cards. It was darling.

These little birds are ones I purchased several years ago. They migrate from place to place. I like to spend my money on things that I really like...and that can be used in a variety of vignettes.

The last little thing I want to show you on my bookshelf is this sweet little valentine. It used to have a little printed tag that said, "I'm sweet on you." There is no telling where it has gotten off to. It probably joined our runaway socks.

A few years ago, I taught a card class at a nursing home. To make it easier, my mom and I cut all of the pieces we needed for the cards ahead of time.The ladies that were in the class were of varying degrees of ability and mental capacity. These cards were simply a pick and paste project.

 We all had such a lovely time making them. And the ladies were so proud of their creations.

 What is nice about creating Valentine's with what you have is that each one truly becomes unique. By the way....the bottoms of the cupcake were made from the innards of a piece of cardboard. Everything else was from the scrapbooking stash.

You can even use the kitchen to make extra special Valentine treats. Josiah and I like making playdough to share with little friends.One of our favorite recipes is this kool-aid recipe. The playdough smells so yummy! I used supplies from my scrapbooking stuff and snack baggies to package our playdough. I purchase kool-aid every now and again to keep just for this purpose. Over Christmas we made Gingerbread playdough, but the kool-aid playdough is wonderful for any special event...just pick your poison (literally).

I have a few other plans for this year. I love these Paper Bag Treat Bags and these Stuffed Paper Hearts. They might show up in the next few weeks. Paper Bags are always in great supply at our house, but I am sure any paper material would work.

Before you go and dig through your trash (just don't tell my husband I encouraged this), Check out how I used the same principles of "using what you have" to decorate and craft last year for Valentine's by clicking the graphic below. Have fun!

I am linking up this post to the TOS Valentine's Day Resources Round Up. I am excited to see what everyone has posted this year! You can see for yourself by clicking on the banner. It goes live February 5!

My Simple Valentine (maybe)

Since this is the week of True Love, I thought I would share with you some of the ways we are sharing the love. So to speak.

As I have an issue with "overkill" in my life (I tend to practice it), I decided to do a few cute things and keep it at that. And I even made a cute graphic with the intention of sharing my simple efforts with you, dear readers.

I'm not sure I quite got there. With the simple part.

I do know that at least some of these things will get double duty action. I am having a Valentine's Party for our kiddos at church Sunday.

This is not necessarily a Valentine's card so to speak, but my Mom-in-law's birthday was last week so I made her a cute little card.

Everything came from my button box.

 

This could easily turn into a special valentine for someone. 

I pulled a bunch of stuff from around the house and set up a little coffee table vignette. If it weren't for my guys trying to play catch with the beanie bear we'd all be good.

This was my one craft moment. I made a fabric flower. I really intend to put a clip in it and stick it in my hair, but in the meantime I thought I'd use it on the coffee table.

A little chalkboard art. I spent 30 minutes trying to write "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" on it.
I apparently didn't  possess enough brain cells to master such a feat on that day. This is what I wound up with.

A friend and I planned a little party for our kids. Neither of us belong to a homeschool co-op so we decided to make our own Valentine's fun.

We invited these guys to the party. I had to make them first.

Nothing like stitching 30 little owl babies. Not to fear. It took me only about an hour to put them all together. And even less time for at least one of them to come apart during our Valentine's games. It was a bit disconcerting to see the owl babies hurled through the air like tiny missiles.

We had a Valentine's Tea. My friend graciously offered her home. She also wore red for the occasion. I wore The Studly Muffin's purple Mexico Missions T-shirt he has had since the late 1990's. I did bring the red table cloth. And the tea stuff.

All of the spice bottles aren't a new Tea Party fad. They are all a variety of herbs and spices. I was trying them on my cucumber sandwiches made with gluten free bread and tofu cream cheese.

Don't worry. We fed the kids real food.

I have collected odds and ends of Tea Party supplies over the years. I few of these pieces I got for .5 from a thrift store. The most I paid was .25.'Cause I"m a big spender. Can't you tell?

We also served Wassail (a Christmas present from my Mom-in-law...it comes from the Biltmore Estate!).  Fancy! Quite the hit on a cold, winter's day.

I found a few free printable Valentine's games from  Teacher's Notebook. Josiah lamented them for me. Having an 11-year-old can be pretty handy sometimes.

I made some simple bingo cards, but there are some free ones all over the Web. You can tell I made these. Notice the "free" space? Oops.

Josiah wants me to inform you that he also laminated these.

This game is supposed to be played with conversation hearts. We were also going to play the game where each player stacks the conversation hearts as high as they will go.

Oops. They didn't make it in my game bag. They are still sitting on my table. Pinto Beans to the rescue!

We unfortunately had to scratch the "stacking hearts" game. Pinto beans don't quite do the trick.

This is Kool-aid playdough I made. Josiah picked out watermelon (pink) and cherry (red) as the "flavors." I just put them in little bags, made up some bag toppers and handed them out to our party friends. A very cheap and easy gift.

I'm thinking. Since I went to all the trouble. Maybe The Studly Muffin would like some watermelon playdough as his Valentine?

Probably not. But never fear. Josiah and I have a Valentine's Dinner planned. We might even play bingo :<)

Free Valentine's Day E-Book

I can't believe January 2012 is about to be history. I don't know about where you live, but here in the Ozarks we haven't had a real winter yet.

Valentine's Day is the next big event on the horizon. Unless you are a football fan. But since The Studly Muffin's favorite team (Green Bay) didn't make it to The Big Show this year I have put my pom poms up for the year.

I like to do special things for my guys on Valentine's Day. I've been browsing Pinterest for some cute ideas and this morning I get an email from one of my favorite frugal sites "Living On A Dime" offering me a free Valentine's Day E-Book. It's full of great ideas...cheap & easy & creative. Just like I like it.

Here's the link.  Enjoy!