and on a final note...

If you missed this sweet Valentine's day set-up from Design Sponge & Once Wed...you'll want to check it out right here.

gen says...a valentine's package

from gen:

"Last week Oden and I made a sweet little Valentine's care package for my grandmother- and actually got it in the mail on time!

We are forever behind in sending my grandmother photos of Oden...so for Valentine's day we decided to put together a little care package.

Of course all of our projects start with a trip to Michael's. For V-day we stumbled upon a box of great foam hearts for $5- which kicked off our valentine inspiration. Next we purchased assorted cards in pink, red, and aqua...some with a sweet scalloped edge detail- and voila!, a color palette is born. We also found a simple wooden heart frame for $1.At home we took our finds and hunted in our craft room for additional stickers and ribbons that fit our color palette (the trophy cards are from my stash of Hicks Paper Goods invitations).

Oden placed a single foam heart on each card and then used a red marker to "customize" each Valentine. In an afternoon we were able to pull together a lovely care package for my grandmother and make Oden's class Valentine's Day cards.

...I just love a trip to Michael's!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

xoxo,
gg"

happy valentine's day!

Wishing you a happy Valentine's a wee bit early. Here's a round-up of my favorite Valentine ideas (mental note: come back to these next year). Don't forget...Kate Spade always puts up a beautiful e-valentine site this time of year.

xoxo

from top: design mom's valentines adapted from this woman; brooke of inchmark's valentines; angie of blonde designs cookies; katiedid's arrow felt bracelet's and a field journal's valentines.

heart cupcakes

Very sweet heart cupcakes from Better Homes and Gardens (via save the date for cupcakes).

valentine's day party

Tanya celebrated Valentine's Day a little early with her friends. Check out all of the party pics right here.

party heart-y

Heart-themed birthday party from Lullaby Lubbock!

valentine packaging

Not sure I've uploaded this correctly for your use...I'm a bit technology-challenged. Hopefully it will work!

for my valentines

Valentine's Day is one of my absolute favorite holidays. I believe it's a misconception that the holiday is only for couples. I actually enjoy celebrating Valentine's more for my girlfriends, than my actual sweetie. This year I chose to make my far-away BFF's a special surprise package. Included: gummy heart treats, sweet tarts wrapped in pretty paper, some of my favorite homemade shred, and a little homemade valentine. I've attached a .pdf for you to use, if you'd like to make the gummy heart packaging yourself.

valentine dogs

Speaking of cute puppies, I can't help but love Kelli Ronci's Valentine-themed sock dogs.

edible valentine

Love notes. Cupcakes. Two things you might never think to combine- but oh, what a treat, when they are put together! Clever Amber figured out a way to make an edible valentine. For the full rundown, check out her blog right here.

les petits presents

Les Petits Presents is a little gem of a blog- with cute, easy DIY ideas from homemade Valentines to teacher presents. You'll want to check it out!

arrow box

I'm really digging this Valentine creation from D. Sharp. Much more hand-crafted goodness right here.

heart macarons

Smitten with these heart macarons (from williams sonoma).

it's beginning to look a lot like...

Valentine's Day! Or at least, it's starting to. I love this mini valentine bunting from fort & field.

xoxo

thank you, gen & odie.

one word

brilliant! from d.sharp

my funny valentine

Not exactly as I had planned/hoped for, but I always get amusing results when I try to do a 'photo shoot' with my son. His lovey was a much more cooperative subject.

valentine round-up

I couldn't resist a Valentine round-up before heading into the weekend. So many goodies out there... from top: handmade hearts via Purl Bee (2); tiny valentines via Oh Happy Day; ginger heart cookie string via Modern Country; valentine picnic via Design Sponge; heart box via D Sharp; balloon heart via Creature Comforts; matchbox valentines via Inchmark; Martha Stewart Kids valentine bags via Black Eiffel; cupcakes via Absolutely Beautiful Things.

gen says...(valentine cards)

From Gen:

"Still can't believe I convinced Oden that "it would be much more fun" to make Valentine's cards then to buy superhero ones!

...but last week, during our weekly Target outing, we found these darling vintage-style lollipops for 99 cents. Oden and I were both instantly sold on the idea of making our own Valentine's Day cards.

We have been looking forward to this 'mommy & O' project all week and finally sat down to tackle it after school yesterday. Very simple, actually- cards were complete in under an hour (really!).

We started with leftover stationery from an old project which happened to be in the perfect color palette- and to make it a little more "Super Hero" colors for Oden, we used bright blue painter's tape to hold the lollipops in place. 

Oden laid out all of the cards and positioned the lollipops.. we decided after a few solo taping attempts that perhaps Mom should do the finishing touches! After all the cards were assembled I attached the Martha Stewart (from Michael's) labels to the lollipops and signed them.

Oden also made Valentine's-inspired abstract art for teachers, friends and family which we wrapped in simple craft boxes I had saved from J. Crew and finished with his handmade cards. 

Then Oden was off to school to deliver all his fun treats the next day..."

Thanks, Gen! I can't wait until my little guy is old enough to participate in a fun project like this.