My initial impressions of Cricut Design Space

I'm keeping in mind that it's new and that there may be changes/additions. Also it just came out of beta and I am sure there will be a quirk or two in the program.  And I'm used to using  Cricut Craft room…  I am relatively new at this.  I only purchased my first Cricut (an Expression 2) this past December.  I have only been using them for a little over two months.  And my Explore is not here yet so I have not tried that yet.. (That review will be out later.)  

The Explore seems to be such a great machine. and it so worthy of  an incredible software program. I'm not saying that Design Space doesn't have some good  points,  it does, however, the negative points are big ones. Remember this is just my initial impression of the software.

Pros

When you select an image and place it on the mat, all the layers are placed at the same time. This is a great feature.  Since I a new at this, I love it.  It separates all the layers on to different mats.   Makes it easier for me.  On my E2, I never quite got the hang of layering my images or getting the sizes right. 

You can move the images around on the cut preview screen. That means you can load your mat up with different colour cardstock and just keep selecting which layer you want to cut.   This I really like.

Dragging the middle left arrow to the right horizontally flips the object. Dragging the right middle arrow to the left flips the object. Same goes for bottom middle arrow, but it flips vertically. Regrettably  the shape also stretches while you're flipping... so I'm not sure how functional this is. 

You can do multiple lines of text in one text box and you can left/center and right align them. You can also increase the line space between the lines of text.

Each time you select a different font the text in the preview box will change.

You can select multiple images from the carts/image library and insert them onto the canvas at the same time

There's a score line image that you can insert onto your shape. Unfortunately.... that image currently says it's unavailable. Hopefully it will be available soon.

It's a bit awkward to use especially if you are new to using Cricut or to paper crafts..I think some more work needs to be done on this program.   It's difficult to resize and also difficult to position in the correct place on your object.

And  in my opinion,  the most important "pro" to some is the ability to import svg, dxf, jpg, gif, png and bmp image files and cut them on the Explore. This was one of the main reasons I decided to purchase the Explore.   Still working on figuring out how to import and clean up my graphics. I think I just need some practice. 

Cons

You MUST be connected to Design Space via the Internet in order to use it. 

Internet speeds on DS are kinda slow.  I hope that this does not continue.  I am hoping that this was just due to the unveiling and thousands of us crafters were flooding their servers. 

Ipad App is not available yet.

There's no Cricut keypad..... Not sure whether it really matters considering all the layers are placed on the mat for you.

Images are not grouped by Cartridges.  Don’t get me wrong, I think they way they group things is nice in DS but I would like to be able to look things up by cartridge.

What happened to the Licensed Cartridges?  In CCR you could see every cartridge under All Cartridges and if you wanted to purchase the cartridge you could.  I can’t seem to find any licensed cartridges listed the images.  The only ones I can see are the ones I already own. 

Many of the images say unavailable?  Hope this is fixed soon.. 

You have to ungroup images/text before you can use Hide Contour.

You have to ungroup images/text to weld. I liked it better in Cricut Craft Room. When two images only have to touch each other and they are automatically welded.  It was a bit easier. Especially for newbies like me. 

You can't unweld.   That really needs to be changed.  I don’t want to have to start all over again if I decide I don’t want something welded. 

There is no offset function.   There should be an offset function.  Makes it easier to create shadows.

There's no skew function

There is no Align function. 

There is no crop tool

There is no eraser tool. 

There should be a way to  insert a straight line (rather than shrinking a rectangle). 

You can't cut images that have gone outside the mat boundaries. I

Can't move images that you don't want to cut off to the side of the canvas as they are placed back within the cutting boundary.

The middle left handle doesn't move the image to the left, it stretches it.

Right clicking doesn't show you which font/image you have used. But the layers box will tell you the name of the cartridge

There are no cutting boundary indicators on the canvas so you won't know something is too big or goes outside the cutting boundary until you click the Go button

You can only have one canvas open at a time.

 

But overall its not a bad program.  Just needs a bit of tweaking and it will be awesome. 

Now I can’t wait to test out the Explore… Mine is now in shipping.. No delivery date set yet but it should be here by early next week. 

Cool Electrical outlet..

This electrical outlet eliminates the need for power strips, and looks much nicer on your wall.

I like it… I think they would look awesome and give you plenty of room to plug things in.. 

Guinness, Bailey's and whiskey chocolate cupcake recipe…

This looks incredible…  I think I am gonna have to go make this…  

But first I have to make a trip to the liquor store.. I am out of 

whiskey and Guinness.. 

Fabulous Christmas treat Guinnesss, Bailey's and Jameson whiskey chocolate cupcakesPhoto by: Google Images

Sometimes, not often, a good cook can create a symphony of taste and texture that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life. It’s not uncommon, if you’re lucky, to remember a truly exceptional meal with the rapture normally reserved for love.

Just think of the French writer Marcel Proust. Biting into a humble Madeline once gave him such a blast of sensual nostalgia that he conceived the whole of his masterpiece “In Search Of Lost Time” in an instant.

We can’t promise that these utterly delicious cupcakes will win you a chair of honor from the Académie Française, but they’ll certainly make you a hit with your loved ones.

Combining Jameson’s Irish Whiskey, Bailey’s Cream Liquor and Guinness, could there be a more authentic or tempting dessert from Ireland? These indulgent little beauties will knock your socks off, we can promise you that.

Ingredients 

1 cup Guinness

1 stick and 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter

2 cups dark brown sugar

3/4-cup sour cream

2 eggs

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1-teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups of flour

2 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda

Frosting ingredients 

1 stick of unsalted butter at room temperature

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

Bailey’s Irish Cream

Jameson’s Irish Whiskey

Frosting directions 

1. Put the stick of room-temperature butter in a large mixing bowl and beat at medium-to-high speed for a few minutes.

2. Add a few short glugs of Bailey’s and a tiny bit of Jameson’s and mix at a low speed.

3. Gradually spoon the confectioners' sugar into the bowl, mixing on a low speed.

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2. Combine the Guinness and the butter, chopped into one-inch chunks, in a large saucepan and heat to melt the butter.

3. Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa and sugar.

4. In a bowl, whisk the sour cream and the eggs and vanilla then add to the beer mixture.

5. Sift together the flour and baking soda, and fold in the batter.

6. Pour into muffin molds and bake or 25 minutes or until inserted cake tester comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes, remove them from the muffin tin and let them cool completely on a rack.

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/guinness-baileys-and-jamesons-whiskey-chocolate-cupcakes-79124957-237792421.html#ixzz2uRmBcVr0 
Follow us: @IrishCentral on Twitter | IrishCentral on Facebook

My morning meeting…

Today was a really busy day for me.   I managed to get up early considering I did not sleep well..  We have had great weather but with the nice weather comes allergies… So I spent most of the night up with a stuffed up head and scratchy throat.  I should take some kind of allergy medicine but that stuff totally knocks me out.   

I had an mid morning meeting at my church.  I am on various committees and ministries at church and from time to time we have meetings.. Today's meeting was for the Seder committee.  Hmm.. you might think it a bit weird for Roman Catholics to have a seder to celebrate passover.  But you need to remember that Christ was a Jew.  We think of it as a learning experience for our faith formation classes.   The Holy Family would have celebrated passover on Holy Thursday.  I think it is important that our students learn about who Jesus was, and before their was a christian religion, our people where Israelites.   

We have quite a bit of planning to do. Our Passover Seder will be held on Apr 12.  

I know a bit about what a Seder is.  I have even been to quite a few of them.   When I was younger and attended catholic school in New Jersey, we held a Passover Seder every year.  Its just been a really long time since I have been to one.  So to refresh my memory I did some research. 

For those of you who have no idea what a Seder is..  Here is what I have come up with. 

A Passover seder is a service held at home as part of the Passover celebration. It is always observed on the first night of Passover, and in some homes on the second night as well. On both nights, the seder concludes with a dinner. Participants use a book called the Haggadah to lead the service. "Hagaddah" means "the telling," in Hebrew, and it contains instructions for the seder, blessings and the Passover story.

The Passover story involves a retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. This story is in the Book of Exodus in the Bible. The Seder itself is based on the Biblical verse commanding Jews to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt: "You shall tell your child on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'" (Exodus 13:8)

The word "seder" literally means "order" in Hebrew. The name comes from the fact that there are 15 parts of the ritual service, all revolving around the upcoming Passover dinner. Food is an important symbolic element of Passover.

Parts of the Passover Seder

1. Kadesh (Santification) - During this part of the seder, each participant's cup is filled with wine or grape juice. The Kiddush is recited aloud, then everyone takes a drink from their cup.

2. Urchatz (Handwashing) - Water is poured over the hands to symbolize ritual purification. Traditionally a pitcher is used to pour water over the right hand first, then the left. Usually people say a blessing during the handwashing ritual, but no blessing is said.

3. Karpas (Green Vegetable) - A vegetable such as lettuce, cucumber, radish or parsley is now dipped in salt water and eaten. It is sometimes said that the salt water represents the tears our ancestors shed during their years of enslavement.

4. Yachatz (Breaking the Matzah) - There is always a plate of three matzot (plural of matzah) on the table during a seder. (These matzot are part of the ritual meal - there are other matzot elsewhere to feed the seder guests.) At this point the seder leader takes a piece from the middle of the plate and breaks it in half. The smaller piece is put back between the remaining two matzot. The larger half becomes the "afikomen," which is hidden somewhere for the children to find later on. Alternatively, some homes place the afikomen near the seder leader and the children must try to "steal" it without the leader noticing.

5. Maggid (Telling the Passover Story) - During this part of the seder participants retell the Exodus story. The youngest person (usually a child) at the table begins by asking the Four Questions. Each question is a variation of: "Why is this night different from all other nights?" Participants will often answer these questions by taking turns reading from the Haggadah. Next the four types of children are described: the wise child, the wicked child, the simple child and the child who doesn't know how to ask a question. Thinking about each kind of person is an opportunity for self reflection and discussion.

This part of the seder concludes when the second cup of wine is poured. As each of the ten plagues that struck Egypt is read aloud, participants dip a finger into their wine and put a drop of liquid onto their plates. At this point the various symbols on the seder plate are discussed, then everyone can drink their wine!

6. Rachtzah (Handwashing) - Participants wash their hands again, this time saying the appropriate blessing (Netilat Yadayim). After saying the blessing, it is customary not to speak until the blessing for the matzah.

7. Motzi (Blessing for the Matzah) - Now the motzi (blessing for bread) is said over the matzah. It goes: "Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melech ha-olam ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz." In English: "Praised are You Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth." Next the blessing mentioning the mitzvah (commandment) to eat matzah is said.

8. Matzah - Everyone eats their matzah.

9. Maror (Bitter Herbs) - Because the Israelites were slaves in Egypt we eat bitter herbs to remind us of the harshness of servitude. Horseradish (either the root or a prepared paste) is most often used. Put a dollop of maror on a piece of matzah and eat it.

10. Korech (Hillel Sandwich) - Next participants make a "Hillel Sandwich" by putting mar or and charoset between two pieces of matzah. They then eat their sandwiches.

11. Shulchan Orech (Dinner) - Now it is time for the meal to begin! Passover seder staples include hard-boiled eggs, matzah ball soup, brisket and even matzah lasagna. Dessert often includes ice cream, cheesecake, or flourless cakes, often made with chocolate.

12. Tzafan (Eating the Afikomen) - After dessert participants eat the afikomen. Remember that the afikomen was either hidden or stolen at the beginning of the seder, so it has to be returned to the seder leader at this point. In some homes the children actually ransom the afikomen back to the adults.

13. Barech (Blessing) - A third cup of wine is poured for everyone, the blessing is recited and then participants drink their glass. Now an additional cup of wine is poured for Elijah and a door is opened so that the prophet can enter the home.

14. Hallel (Songs of Praise) - The door is closed and everyone sings songs of praise to God before drinking the fourth and final cup of wine.

15. Nirtzah (Conclusion) - The seder is now officially over but most homes say one final blessing: "L'shanah haba'a bi Yerushalayim!" This means, "Next year in Jerusalem!" and expresses the hope that next year Passover will be celebrated in Israel.

The Symbols of the Seder Plate

There are six symbols that can be placed on the seder plate but not all of them are required. They are:

Vegetable (Karpas) – This part of the seder plate dates back to a first and second century tradition in Jerusalem that involved beginning a formal meal by dipping vegetables in salt water before eating them. Hence, at the beginning of the seder a vegetable – usually lettuce, cucumber, radish or parsley – is dipped in salt water and eaten. It is sometimes said that the salt water represents the tears our ancestors shed during their years of enslavement.

Shank bone (Zeroa) / Roasted Beet – The roasted shank bone of a lamb reminds us of the tenth plague in Egypt, when all firstborn Egyptians were killed. The Israelites marked the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a lamb as a signal that death should pass over them, as it is written in Exodus 12:12: "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn - both men and animals - and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt... The blood will be a sign... on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." The shank bone is sometimes called the Paschal lamb, with “paschal” meaning "He [God] skipped over" the houses of Israel.

The shank bone also reminds us of the sacrificial lamb that was killed and eaten during the days when the Temple stood. In modern times, some Jews will use a poultry neck instead. Vegetarians will often replace the shank bone with a roasted beet, which has the color of blood and is shaped like a bone, but is not derived from an animal.

Hard Boiled Egg (Baytzah) – There are two interpretations of the symbolism of the hard boiled egg. One is that it is an ancient fertility symbol. The other is that it is a symbol of mourning for the loss of the two Temples, the first of which was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. and the second of which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. Hard boiled eggs were traditionally the food of mourners and hence they were an appropriate symbol for the loss of these sacred sites.

Charoset – Haroset is a mixture that is often made of apples, nuts, wine and spices in the Ashkenazi tradition. It represents the mortar the Israelites were forced to use while they built structures for their Egyptian taskmasters. 

Bitter Herbs (Maror) – Because the Israelites were slaves in Egypt we eat bitter herbs to remind us of the harshness of servitude. Horseradish – either the root or a prepared paste – is most often used. A small amount of maror is usually eaten with an equal portion of charoset. It can also be made into a "Hillel Sandwich," where maror and charoset are sandwiched between two pieces of matzah.

Bitter Vegetable (Hazeret) – This piece of the seder plate also symbolizes the bitterness of slavery. Romaine lettuce is usually used, which doesn’t seem very bitter but the plant has bitter tasting roots. When hazeret is not represented on the seder plate some Jews will put a small bowl of salt water in its place.

Design Space is just about ready to launch

The new Design Space site for the Explore is almost set to launch.

See  http://cricut.com/design/Logon.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fdesign


It is good that Provo Craft is releasing the software before the Explore sales go public on March 15th.  It will give crafters who are on the fence on whether they should buy the Explore a chance to well excuse the pun,  explore…  

Still in processing hell..

Made the mistake of checking the HSN website this morning to see if there was anything going on with my order for the Explore.  Nope.. no change..  Still in what I call processing hell.. Been there for the past 13 days since I ordered it.   So then I log into Facebook and check out all the groups I'm in.  Seems lots of Explore's were shipped out today.  Kind of bummed me out a bit.  So I got off Facebook and decided to take my mind off of the Explore and I did some housework.  


At lunch time, I logged into Facebook and read some more posts..  Most people on the message boards were saying that theirs either shipped or was in packaging..  Quite a few like me we stuck in processing hell..  Those who are stuck in processing hell like me pre-ordered the darn thing.  It seems that those who pre-ordered are not getting theirs shipped out.  May not even get them at all…   


So I get off line…  I am a bit pissed off.  I decide to call HSN and see what the status is on my Explore.   I was polite.. not rude..  I gave the CS rep my order number then asked what the status of the order was.  She said it was processing.  I asked what exactly does that mean.  She said it means it is getting ready to be shipped.  Then I asked if there was an estimated shipping date.. She said she did not see one.  Then I told her that my order has been in processing since I ordered it.  She then said then it must be on back order.  It seems that you pre-ordered your Explore.  Ok.. so I say, I ordered on Feb 11 at about 8:30 pm est.  It went on air at midnite on Feb 12.   Are you telling me that when I ordered it was already sold out.   No answer..   I am trying to understand why my order is in limbo.    I ordered early… Before it sold out.  Before it even went on the air.  It was available for order on your website before time.  


Now mind you no matter how frustrated I felt, I was polite, did not raise my voice ( it's not the CS rep's fault) but that is when she got a bit snotty.   She then said. If they can get them in, I will eventually get one.. However, if it is not shipped out to you by March 12, then the order is automatically cancelled. 

So since I was started to get irritated and before I could become a major bitch,  I thanked her for letting me know that status and ended the call politely. 

I decided that it wasn't worth getting pissed off about because I have absolutely no control over it.   A year ago, I would have been cursing the poor lady out over the phone.   Am I pissed off.. No not really… Am I disappointed..  Hell yes. 

I would think that when you order from HSN or other sites like that, items are on a first come, first serve basis.   And if they took what they call pre-orders for an item, shouldn't those orders be shipped first.   I think what bugs me is they sold thousands of items that they did not have in stock.  And there is no order to how they are shipping them out.   Some people might get them, some might not.  Does not matter when you ordered.  You could have ordered at midnight or at 10 am on the 12th of Feb and get yours..  Or you might not..  Everyone you speak with at HSN has a different story.  Some reps say it should be delivered by  Feb 27th.  Others say March 3,  some March 14.. (hmm they auto cancel orders after 30 days so it hasn't shipped by the 13th your out of luck)


So now I guess I have to just sit and wait to see if I get one from HSN.  The Explore will hit the stores on March 15th so if I don't have one by then, I will go out and buy one.  The only crappy part is, I will miss out on all the extra stuff the one on HSN came with.   

It was my first order I have placed with HSN  and it might just be my last.   Not very good business to treat customers like that.  

Pasco school employee arrested while driving semi-nude - WFLA News Channel 8

OMG!  Only in Pasco Country.





Pasco school employee arrested while driving semi-nude - WFLA News Channel 8

Cricut Explore - Still waiting to see if it ever Ships…

For a while, I was not sure if I was going to order the new Cricut Explore or wait for a while before purchasing one.  I had just brought the Cricut Expression 2 in December.   I love it but it is pretty complicated to use.  As one crafter put it,  you need a PhD to understand how to do all this stuff on these machines.. LOL..  

The Explore looks much easier to use.  I loved the fact that it can cut so many different materials..  Wasn't a lot of info out there at the time.  ProvoCraft did not let any of the beta testers release their blogs or videos of the software or of the machine in action until after the Unveiling of Explore on HSN.  I just had the info from ProvoCraft's website to go by..  but I liked what I saw..













Anyway, I was on the fence with ordering one. I thought about it since the unveiling from PC back in January. I was going to wait and see before I ordered but then I decided that I would order right away.. 

So I watched HSN and checked their website all night on Feb 11th. As soon was it was available online that night (which was about 4 hours before launch) I placed my order. I was so happy that I got my order placed early and that I was sure I would receive mine in about a week or so. 

Woot! or so I thought. 

My order has said processing estimated delivery 3 to 7 business days since I ordered it back on Feb 11. My credit card payment was pending but it went away a few days ago.

Still no word on when I will get mine.  I ordered single ship on Feb 11 at 8:30 pm est so I figure I must have been one of the first people who ordered. They could not have been sold out yet since it did not even go on air until midnight. I got an email on Feb 13 saying that it was sold out and that if they got more back in one would be shipped to me and if not my order would be cancelled in 31 days.

Kind of disappointing.I don't understand why I am not getting mine when I ordered early and why some people who ordered after 12 am on Feb 12 are getting theirs. Well there is not much I can do but sit back and patiently wait. And patience is not my strong point..

I would cancel my order but I wanted to get all the Anna Griffin stuff and 3 month subscription in Design Space that came with it. And I was worried that it would sell out quickly in the stores. So I guess I am stuck in limbo for now.

Just really really disappointed in how HSN does things. It bugs me.. Mad Its like going to Dunkin Donuts, ordering the last jelly donut, while your order is being processed and you stand on the side waiting, they take other peoples order.. Then the guy fifth in line behind you, orders a jelly donut and they give him yours… That's what it feels like.. And talking to HSN is pointless.. Angry Each person you speak to tells you a different story. One said that the notices are automatically sent but not to worry that my order would be there soon… Another told me that maybe I would get one in March. Like I said frustrating.  I gave up calling or checking last week.   Has anyone else had this kind of problem with HSN?  Are they always like this?

I decided if it comes it comes.. And there is nothing I can do about it.. I just hope that when I do get mine, it was worth the wait..

Cricut Explore

Tardis door.

My husband is a huge Doctor Who Fan..  (So am I). I thought it would be fun to transform our home office door into the Tardis..

Was relatively simple… 

Went to Home Depot.. 

Bought:

  Behr Sapphire Lace paint  Eggshell.  8 oz can.. the sample works just fine.

Used my Cricut Expression 2 to cut the vinyl pieces to add to the door..

Purchased two handles in Home Depot.  

The only thing missing is the light above the Tardis…  Still looking to create a working one…  Once I have time to work on it  and figure it out,  I will post another picture..  

Paper weaving..

Many of you asked how to create the beautiful paper weaving effect on this handmade card, so here are the step by step instructions! Happy crafting!

Begin with a pink 5x7 folded card from the Perfect Palette Cards & Layers Kit
1. Trim a 4 1/2” x 6 1/2” panel of Perfect Palette pink cardstock.
2. Trim several 3/4” strips of green, pink, blue, and yellow Perfect Palette card stocks. Notch one end of each of the green and yellow strips into “v”.
3. Begin the woven pattern by lightly adhering a green strip of cardstock in the upper left corner of the pink panel, extending at an angle to about the mid-point of the pink cardstock panel.
4. Continue lightly adhering strips parallel to the first strip, alternating between green and yellow until entire upper left side of panel is covered. Allow strips to over hang edge of pink panel, they will be trimmed when the weaving is finished.
5. Now begin weaving the pink and blue strips, starting in the upper left corner and working down towards ends of green/yellow strips as shown.
6. Trim away excess length of strips around edges of pink panel, adding extra adhesive to strips as needed to hold in place before trimming.
7. Trim a 3/4” x 4 1/2” strip of floral paper and adhere to bottom edge of pink panel.
8. Affix floral stickers and sentiment sticker. Adhere finished panel to a 5x7” Perfect Palette pink card base with foam tape.

Baked Breaded Zucchini Chips

Introduction

1 Point per serving.

Minutes to Prepare: 10

Minutes to Cook: 10

Number of Servings: 8

Ingredients

3 medium zucchini 
1/4 cup frozen egg substitute, thawed 
2 tablespoons commercial reduced-calorie Italian dressing 
1/2 cup fine dry breadcrumb 
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese 
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper 
vegetable oil cooking spray

Directions

8 Servings.

Cut zucchini into 1/4 inch thick slices; set aside.
Combine egg substitute and Italian dressing in a small bowl, stir well.
Combine bread crumbs,
Parmesan cheese and pepper in a small bowl; stir well.
Dip zucchini in egg mixture, dredge in bread crumb mixture.
Place zucchini on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 475 degrees for 5 minutes, turn and bake an additional 5 minutes or until golden.
Serve immediately.

Number of Servings: 8

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user PZLPIECE.

DIY PILLOW BOX VALENTINES

Ever since Alt Summit last year, I’ve been obsessed with pillow boxes. I used some transparent pillow boxes to hold my biz cards to give to people I met. While they were a pain to carry around, they definitely made a statement! (An over-achiever kind of statement, that’s what.) See my business cards here, complete with a garland and some confetti!

I spotted these kraft pillow boxes at Target and knew that they would make perfect Valentines for your loved ones or your kids’ classmates!. These DIY pillow box valentines are small enough to hold The Three C’s of Life: cash, candy, and confetti! Just kidding about the cash. Or am I? Maybe I bought love as a child, alright? I’d buy you too if I could…

Supplies:

• kraft pillow boxes (found at Target and other paper goods stores)
• confetti and/or paper shreds
• candy
• cash (if this is a valentine for yours truly)

I don’t have to tell you how to stuff the box. Put all your goods inside and seal that sucker.

You can put anything you want in these here valentines! I added some cute heart balloons, some felt lips, and lots of chocolate. Throw in a love note or two…

Once they’re full, decorate with patterned washi tape or a simple lovey demand. Pass out to your classmates in their homemade boxes at school! Remember those days? Instead of the sweet girly valentines, I used to give out Batman valentines. Because I mean business when it comes to love and buying friendships.

This is the kind of craft that is perfect for the kiddos, but it can also take on a more sophisticated look for adults. Nothing says romance like a sophisticated valentine. “Won’t you be mine, sir?” See? Sophistication in a box.

If you want to be really cool, you can fill these boxes all the way with confetti! One squeeze and these become confetti cups that will shoot and shake confetti to the masses!

Psss – we got a makeover! Trying to work a more simple and awesome vibe. What do you think?!

To see other valentines-themed crafts, click here! To see more DIY projects, click here!

photography: all photos by The Proper Pinwheel

DIY WOOD PALLET TABLE RUNNER

Today’s guest post comes from Aileen of At Home In Love! This girl knows all about DIY and making your home prettier than everyone else’s. Take it away, Aileen!

I’m Aileen from the blog At Home in Love and I’m so honored to be guest posting here today! Today I’m sharing a little DIY project that would be perfect for your next party: mini shipping pallets that you could use as a table runner, cake stand, etc. Shipping pallets have been a big trend in home decor this year–from headboards to coffee tables to flooring. I’ve been wanting to do a project of my own, but they’re not as easy to come by as Pinterest makes it seem. And besides, I’ve heard there can be dangerous chemicals and general nastiness on pallets (after all, who knows where they’ve been?)…so when I thought of this idea, it seemed like the perfect way to get my pallet fix in a clean, cute, and miniature way. It doesn’t hurt that this project is super easy and basically free, too!

Supplies:

• 16 paint stir sticks per pallet. You can buy them in bulk online, or pick them up for free at your local hardware store
• Natural/light colored wood stain (optional)
• Hot glue & hot glue gun

Directions:

Stain the paint sticks for a more realistic color. You can skip this step and leave your wood untreated if you’d like. If your stir sticks have writing on one side, glue together three sets of two, writing side in. Lay down three stir sticks (writing side down), at the length of one stick.

Glue crosswise the three sets of sticks that you already glued together–one on each end and one in the middle. Glue the last seven sticks on top, laying flat with the writing side down.

Voila! You have a mini shipping pallet, ready to party. I made two of these and laid them on my table as a runner. All you need is $5 worth of flowers from your local farmer’s market and a couple mason jars, and you have a cute and budget-friendly centerpiece! I like that you can tuck some flowers into the slats of the pallet itself. There are tons of other possibilities for these mini pallets too: placemats (if you’re ambitious and want to make a lot), wall decor, etc. What would you use them for?

See more of my DIY projects on my blog or check out my Pinterest board filled with clever, easy projects! You can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photography: At Home In Love

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