wool flowers: visual diy

getting a little bit crafty for valentine's day

So, I've not only misplaced my blogging mojo but I have misplaced my crafty mojo as well. I blame this virus...it has knocked me on my arse. I'm still cough, cough, coughing away and the goo...oh the goo!

To keep me on my toes and force myself into crafty mode I signed up for Aunt Peaches Valentine Swap. And as always, I had too many ideas and far too many piles of crafty crap to rifle through to find any sort of focus.

In the end I went with an idea I had been sitting on for three years now (only because the crafty bits were out where I could see them and hello...it was about time I made the darn things)...wood doily dream catcher dealios! How's that for an official name?

I left one of the catchers au natural, and painted up the other two. Use a toothpick to clear any of the lacey cuts and a set on a sheet of wax paper to dry. Drying time is pretty short...fifteen minutes or so. Use a needle to thread the floss throughout the doily...add a vintage button or bead where you will, and tie it off with a dab of glue for good measure.

I really like how they turned out! I wish you could still find the doilies at Michael's...I haven;t seen them in a few months. Maybe they will return for spring?

I'll post the valentines I receive soon. So excited!

the february bed

Ah, the february bed! One of my favorites to make as I like to pile on the pink. This year, I went for pink in the pillowcases and a smidge in the shabby chic thrifted duvet cover I found over the summer. The army of love sets off the tone and there ya go! 

February is my birtday month and this month, mister is making me a pie. I'm also trying to promote my etsy like crazy as this a-go-go needs new shoes, a cookie scoop, camera lens and jeans that fit. I also have my eye on a quilt from a box retailer. I think I will get it for myself. Thank goodness for coupons! 

diy: army of love

I had the idea for htis project back when we still lived in Los Angeles. I got as far as spraypainting my army men but the finished project never happened. This year, I thought it would be perfect for my february bed. Thank goodness for the wood scrap pile behind the mama a-go-go's house! 

I spray painted the army men purchased from the dollar store with multiple coats of florist spray paint, front and back (after a good soak in soapy water). The spray paint doesn't really stick very well but if you can get the whole thing all glued up you should be okay. Maybe good old fashioned regular spray paint would work better? 

I first thought I would glue them onto a painted white board but I liked the way this scrap piece looked and left it as is. I even thought of adding the words army of love underneath the heart but couldn't decide how or what with so I left it. Before you do any arranging or gluing, add a hanging fixture to the back if you wish to hang it on a wall. I forgot to do this part and when I was trying to hammer in a nail, a half dozen fo my army guys popped right off and needed to be reafixed. After you get yer fixture on, arrange your guys into a heart shape and play around with them until you like the way they look.

Heat up your glue gun and get to gluing. Ignore all the thready bits. You can pull them off once everything is set. 

Hang or prop in a happy place and enjoy!