Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Valentine Tree - VDay Pt. 2


I had so much fun making a Valentine Tree yesterday! I think this would be great project to do with the kids!



First I took a couple of boxes out of the recycling to use. I got this idea from Cherry at Cherry's Jubilee. She made some stars at Christmas and used an old cereal box. I never got around to doing that project but I thought it would be perfect for this project (or you could use cardstock). I also used a few Valentine scrapbook papers.



I had a heart shape that I traced and cut out. You can google heart shapes to get all kinds of shapes to use or maybe you have a heart shaped cookie cutter. I traced my hearts on both the boxes and the paper and glued the two together. Used a whole punch in the center and hung them with some red yarn.





I watched the "The Vicar of Dibley" while cutting out my hearts. Has anyone else watched it? It's a BBC series - very funny with Dawn French as a woman Vicar in a small town.



I used some branches I trimmed from my trees and spray painted white for my tree. I tried finding a white Christmas tree during the after Christmas sales that I could use for Valentines Day and Easter, but no luck. But tree trimmings are free - so if you're not snowed in and can get to your trees this is a good alternate!




I bought a couple of heart Christmas decorations at IKEA after Christmas. Black & white ticking on one side and black with a button on another (why I only bought 4 is beyond me!) I should have gotten a bunch! The silver hearts with a red bow are also from IKEA after Christmas.





This would be a great project to do with the kids! They can practice tracing and cutting out. They can decorate the hearts with all kinds of things. Also, if you don't have scrapbook paper you can still do this project. I think the cartons are very colorful by themselves. The inside is plain cardboard so they could go to town glittering and gluing on that side. If I was still homeschooling I would probably have my daughter write all kinds of Valentiney words in Spanish on the hearts as well (that's the language we studied). If you can get the branches from your yard and have something at home to cut up into hearts you can make this project for nothing!


Let me know if you try this project - I'd love to see it!



50 comments:

Anonymous said...

It turned out great! I haven't put up any Valentine decorations yet. I might just work on this...

Emily said...

Oh how darling! What a GREAT idea! There are so many project I want to do! I just love all your ideas! Thank you!!!

xoxo, emily

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

What a sweet Valentine tree! And a great project to do with the kids. Thanks for the idea!

Have a great day!
Jen

Rhonda said...

really cute!

and I love that such a cute project can be done with out a big sack full of stuff from Hobby Lobby too.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

That is adorable! I love the branches painted white. I always love coming here to find these great creative, inexpensive ideas!
xo
Penny

Terri Steffes said...

I love your tree! I love how unique each ornament it. How fun. You should be getting some more valentine things soon!

Rosemary said...

So cute, and a great idea!!
Rosemary

m said...

This year I don't have any V-day decorations up....I must do this tree with my daughter..... It is so pretty! Thanks for the great ideas!

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Adorable! I love that you recycled the cereal boxes (I do this sometimes with the flat sides of plastic gallon milk jugs :). Also...LOVE LOVE LOVE that you implemented the classic "movie watching strategy for getting things done"! This is just about the only way I can tempt myself to start a big project. Currently I'm redoing the powder room downstairs and watching "Rebecca" and the entire "Anne of Green Gables" and "Anne of Avonlea" series (over and over). I've seen the "Vicar..." series once on PBS but never have gotten into it, I will give it a chance now that you've recommended it!! I also have many of the older British mysteries from BBC, mostly Miss Marple (originals) and Hercule Poirot as I just LOVE them. A pot of tea and a good movie to listen to while I work is the best motivator for me. You are such a kindred spirit Manuela. I just love your blog. Thank you so much for sharing it. It's such a pleasure to visit.
Love,
Traceyxox

Steph said...

Cute stuff! Love the hand made hearts. So sweet.

Emily said...

Love your valentine's tree! You are full of fantastic ideas!

Heather said...

love the tree!

Tanya said...

You are sooo creative! I also love English sitcoms. We could definitely hang out! Some of my faves are Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By. I also like the Vicar and plan on watching more episodes. Have a fun day.

Christina said...

This is just lovely. My niece is coming over tomorrow. Maybe my daughter and her can make this sweet little project.

Love all of your valentine decorations.

Missy Wertz said...

The tree is precious and I love the Vicar of Dibly!

Jackie said...

I Love your tree. I've been looking for ornament ideas for my valentine tree and yours are great. So glad I found your blog.

Anonymous said...

i love the Vicar of Dibley...my favorite one is the episode re: the Easter Bunny.......love the ending -

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

As I said on my blog post a couple days ago, I love stealing ideas from you. :)

With all the beautiful scrapbook paper available, one can put these together very cheap. They look so "uptown", too.

I love the Vicar of Dibley. I always found it hysterical. I think those I know who don't care for it don't watch much with British humor.

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

I've just strolled into your lovely blog for the first time today. I had such a wonderful time. I peeked through your past post all the way back to December. You are a very creative inspiration. I look forward to bookmarking you as my newly found favorite. Thank you for sharing your charming ideas!

Sweet Wishes,
Sara

Victoria said...

What a great, cheap idea!

I see my sister Christina posted a comment earlier that maybe my daughter and hers can do this tomorrow. :) My 3 year old would love it!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

What a cute idea and thanks for sharing - a good project with the kids. Thanks for dropping by.
Glenda

Ally's Corner said...

Who would have thought a cereal boxes could be so cute. Love the tree. I wish I had more time to do crafts, I don't have anything for scrapbooking and it's making me crazy!!!!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I love that show, it's a real hoot. I don't always understand the English terms used, but it's still quite funny to me. I think it would be neat to live in a small village as she does. It's so quaint and lovely. My favorite episode that I've seen is the last one. :)

Your tree is amazing. So creative as always!

Salmagundi said...

I loved those felt hearts in the first picture in addition to your tree. It is amazing what we can do for no $$ if we put our mind to it. Good kid project. Sally

Adrienne said...

Great ideas! Just right for Valentine's Day. I need to get moving or I won't be ready. ~Adrienne~

Anonymous said...

Wonderful hearts, Manuela!

We watch The Vicar of Dibley every Thursday night on our local PBS station. There are two episodes back to back. Love that show. Any time I can find a British TV series I am a happy camper. The Vicar is a gem!

Unknown said...

Love the tree, what a cute project! You always find the most precious paper.
Thanks for visiting me today!

Rosie's Whimsy said...

This is a great project. I bet you had a little stash of papers and trims just calling your name for these hearts. You have a gift of creativity :-)

Sue said...

This is just too cute...once again your imagination and talent for these craft projects are very impressive.....A Big Valentines Hug....Sue.

Cindy said...

That is so cute!

niartist said...

my friend Allison does a version of this! I'll have to send her over to your blog! Great work!

Essential Oil Premier University said...

Very cute Manuela. What a wonderful greeting when you enter the door. . . a Heart Tree. Very, very cute.

Blessings,

Sher

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

You are soooo clever! Love your Valentines!

bj said...

These are so cute. i am staying with some of my grands this week and we might try making a few of these. They love doing crafts...
Thanks for the inspiration!
xo bj

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

I LOVE your tree. I too looked for a white, not tacky-looking tree @ the after-Christmas sales but all I could find were some that had silver or gold tinsel like stuff in w/ them too. So I am using the silver aluminum tree that I already had.

I'm almost done w/ my Valentine's decor too. Not bad considering, I didn't start taking down my winter stuff until Monday morning & I've had one of the grandbabies, every day this week. Course my house looks like it exploded ;o) but I'll get it clean today.

Kathleen Grace said...

Very cute! I like the idea of cutting your own branches for free:>)

Anonymous said...

Sooooo cute..... my favorite is the heart with the vintage valentines...... there is something so heart warming about those innocence images...
HUgs
Linda

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I might cut up some cereal boxes tomorrow! Mary Is is coming and we are making valentines.
I love the X's and O's below!
I got some cans of fake snow for 25 cents...betcha I could spray some branches...

dixymiss said...

Love it! Wonderfully creative and ineXpensive too ~ my favorite combo. ;-)

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I'd LOVE TWK 3!!!

Vee said...

Love it! So cute...makes me wish I still had a classroom.

Anonymous said...

Those are beautiful and so sweet! I just may give this a go once my move is behind and I'm settled a bit. I love hearts year around. ♥

Linda said...

Only one word for your Valenine tree...precious!

Ruth Welter said...

Love your Valentine Tree Manuela...so creative and just lovely, whimsical too...

Ruth

Lady Katherine said...

Oh! How Seet it is! I love it, the black and white one is great, love all them.

Chrissy said...

I love your tree! What a great idea, that is something even I can do! And so affordable!

Silvia said...

omg ,what a cute idea i just might try it!..thank you...

Susie Q said...

Beautiful and fun decor Manuela!!
You are jus a natural born creative genius!

We LOVE The Vicar of Dibley! Itt is one of our favorite things from the BBC. Dawn French is wonderful...the entire cast is such fun.

I am enjoying catching up with you!

Love,
Sue

flmom said...

I think I left a comment about this a couple of days ago, but don't see it. I had fun making a Valentine tree for my kids. I finally posted a pic today.

Angie said...

LOVE This!! Very creative!