Valentine's Decor: Tiered Tray Vignette

 

I was so excited about the tiered tray I found in time for Christmas Decor, and I knew it would become part my seasonal decor year round. A stroll through Dollar Tree and a few on hand things came together just perfectly for Valentine's Day. 

Supplies

• Tiered Tray (Thrifted Find)
• Chalkboard Sign (Dollar Tree)
• Battery Heart Lights (Dollar Tree)
• Red Package Filler (Dollar Tree)
• XOXO Muslin Bags (Dollar Tree)
• Valentine's Stickers (Dollar Tree)
• Glittered Hearts (Michaels)

I should have picked up a new chalkboard pen when I was at Dollar Tree because as I found out, the one I thought I was going to use was all dried up. No worries! I'd picked up a couple packs of stickers so...

I left the chalkboard sign unfinished and used a piece of chalk to rough up the background. Then I chose some of the stickers and placed as shown. 

The XOXO Muslin Bags come three to a package. I used two and stuffed them with wadded up paper to give them depth. 

I sprinkled the paper crinkles on the tray then put the heart lights on the bottom with one of the stuffed bags and a couple of glitter hearts. On the top, I placed the chalkboard sign, more glitter hearts and the other bag. Simple and festive! 

Easy Peasy! 

Sharing At:

Sundays on Silverado

BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve again already! Hope you've all had a good week that's flown by and let me be obnoxious by pointing out that it's exactly 11 months from today until Christmas 😂so if you made a commitment to get started early this year on Christmas gifts...

I did my first sublimation project this week! I really like the printer I got although I forget that it cycles through periodically on its own to check ink levels and can startle me. I shared my First Sublimation Project a little bag I can use for miscellaneous things when traveling. 

If you got a Circut machine for the holidays last year, you will want to attend this upcoming workshop hosted by Abbi Kirsten. She's a great teacher! Feb 5th through 9th. 

Time to take a look at some of the inspiring ideas shared at last week's party! 

If you're a Dollar Tree regular you've seen these tin tiles. Take them to another level like Artsy Va Va did here with this Faux Tin Tile Heart. 

Hunny I'm Home DIY shared this fun Rae Dunn-inspired Conversation Heart Sign, a fun addition to Valentine's Decor. 

Living in the desert, I'm a sucker for succulents. Not being much of a gardener, this Faux Succulent Centerpiece from Crazy Little Lovebirds is perfect and works for any climate! 

Finally, check out these extra-special brownies from Sonata Home Design, Symphony Brownies made with Hersey's Symphony bars. 

Thank you to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what you've whipped up this week! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

First Sublimation Project

 

I know I'm late to this trend but I'm here now! I played with my new Brother Sublimation printer that I got for Christmas and I'm hooked! I'm probably not going to invest in a mug or tumbler press at least I don't think so...we'll see. 

For my first project, I wanted to keep it simple and useful. After getting my printer set up which was a breeze BTW, I needed something to make so I ordered a package of small bags from Amazon. In reading up on Sublimation, it's important to make sure you use things designed specifically for sublimation which these were. 

Supplies:

• Sublimation Blank, I used bags from Amazon
• Sublimation Paper, I used the paper that came with the printer
• Image, I designed in Procreate then imported into the Brother Artspira app
• Heat Press

These are the bags I ordered from Amazon...10 for $8.99. They came with instructions about what temp to set the heat press which was great! 390 degrees.

I pressed the bag first to make sure there weren't any wrinkles. I'd designed the image in Procreate or you can use any graphics design program. Then imported into the Brother Artspira app and printed on sublimation paper.  

The Artspira app automatically mirrors your print. If you've printed using a different application, make sure you mirror before printing. This is hard to see because the ink is on the underside and this is the back. 

It didn't come out as vibrant as the printed image. I read afterwards that sublimation printing needs pressure on the heat press so I'm learning as I go! But even with a more faded look, I'm happy! This will work great for chargers and cords for travel. Another thing I'm going to try with the next project is using some sublimation spray I got after making this. It is supposed to help deepen the colors of the sublimated image by giving it more to stick to. 

This is the printer I got as well as some of the additional supplies!

Stay tuned! 

Sharing At: 

BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve all. How we're already halfway through January, I don't know! For everyone continuing to be snowed in and/or frozen, I hope you're staying warm and safe. 

This week, I unboxed my new Brother sublimation printer and got it all set up and ordered some sublimation blanks I hope to play with this weekend. Maybe an "elder moment" or just a tech ignorance moment, but took me a minute to figure out that I can't use the Artspira app that works with the Brother printer on my Windows laptop since you can't download from the Google Play store. At least I already knew you can't use the Apple App Store! No biggie since I will be using things I create in Procreate on my iPad which works great with Artspira. FYI...

You've been off to a busy start to the year so let's take a look at some great ideas!

You've made or chosen a gift. Wrapping it should be as special as what's inside and Crazy Little Lovebirds has some Creative Pretty Giftwrap Ideas! 

Perfect for snow days with littles, Fun a Day shared these great Day and Night Canvases. 

Creatively Beth shared another fun project, a Dollar Tree Pixel Heart! 

Finally, since not even I can live on chocolate alone (sigh) and I've been in love with Spanakopita from the first bite I took at a Greek Festival in college, these Puff Pastry Spanokopita Bites from Drug Store Divas are a must try! Phyllo dough is the usual pastry but it's very temperamental to work with! YUM. 

Thank you to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what you've been up to this week! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BFF Open House

 

Happy second week of January Creative Peeps. I hope that the month and the year are getting off to a good start. I have several January birthdays/anniversaries so have thus far made several cards and looking forward to getting started on some Valentine's projects. I'm also super excited that late January / February brings Tucson Bead and Gem season and hope I'm less overwhelmed than last year. There are HUGE venues aound town and I'm torn between going to those I got to last year and those I didn't. 

I hope that those of you dealing with severe weather (which seems to be everywhere) are faring well. When you wake up in Souther AZ to 28 degrees...YIKES! 

You've been busy getting 2024 off to a creative start so let's take a look at some wonderful projects. 

Steph Creates transformed a metal can into a beautiful Shabby Chic Keepsake. Perfect for Valentine's / Galentine's or just because. 

House feeling bare after the holidays? Ann's Entitled Life has a beautiful Winter Pear and Floral Centerpiece that can fill the void! 

A Ray of Sunlight shared this STUNNING furniture makeover using Black Chalk Paint. LOVE!!

Big, chewy, cookies remain popular. Cindy's Online Recipe Box shows you how you can make these Dark Chocolate Espresso Chip Cookies at home! 

Thank you to everyone who linked up, first timers and regulars alike. Now let's see what you've been up to this week! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BFF Open House 2024

 

Happy New Year and welcome to the first party of 2024!  I'll start features with next week's party and just take a moment for a few refreshers, goals etc. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and is getting off to a creative start to 2024! 

BFF Party

• For those who don't know or remember, the BFF started out as "Blog Feature Friday" and still is but also it applies to the more colloquial use because you are my Creative BFFs! 

• The party will continue to go up Thus afternoons (Pacific Time) and run through the following Monday.

• I may not get around to commenting on every post but try to do as many as I can.

• I usually do four features one of which is something chocolate

• Each feature includes a Pin to my BFF Party Features Board on Pinterest and a link back to your specific post. 

2024 Goals

I like goals better than resolutions. May be a distinction w/out a different, just my brain. My goals for 2024 are: 

• Learn Sublimation (since I got a Brother Sublimation Printer for Christmas!) I know I'm behind but can't do have everything all at once, right?
• Put myself out there more. I am an introvert who's never likely going to be on Tik Tok. I realize that limits opportunities to engage with brands, grow my audience. The struggle is real.
• Work on Affiliate and Brand relationships. I have had some stops and starts and haven't bothered for a while but I feel like I'm in a place where I can start again. Some brands I would love to work with. If anyone has contacts...

Cricut

Xtool

Plaid

Michaels

JoAnn

• Remain authentic. I can only "do me" so I will never work with a brand that isn't really me
• Grow 
• Be...present in the moment, not dwell on missed opportunities

What are your goals or resolutions for 2024? 

 Let's make 2024 the most creative ever! Visit each other's links, bring friends, have fun! There is always a warm plate of virtual chocolate chip cookies waiting for you. 

 

 

 

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Welcome 2024

 

Happy New Year! I hope everyone who celebrated had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I don't make resolutions per se anymore. I found that as the quote goes "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans". I do have some goals for 2024:

BE...present, mindful, creative

LEARN...new techniques, skills, tools

FOCUS...on the present

DO...what brings joy

CONTINUE...the things that I love, like hosting my weekly party

LEAVE...things from the past I can't change or things I can't control

Wishing all of you good things in the year to come. We've GOT this!m