Yes, we're at it again. The valentine babies. Every year (after pink steamers, colored with a little beet juice) we make some sweet Valentine craft. But we keep coming back to this one.
Pete even made an emergency craft-run to the grocery store at 7:00. (It went something like, "Hey girl, I'd be happy to slam my coffee, skip breakfast, and hurry out into the cold to buy match boxes for you and the kids to decoupage. Those little heart babies you make are so cute.")
Really he did. (Okay, he didn't say it but he did run to the store for me. Best valentine ever.)
Oh, and here's a tip I learned since the last time we made these: you can make your own Mod Podge by mixing 1/2 white glue and 1/2 water. Yes, really. We tried it and it worked beautifully. And now I saved you $4. Woo hoo!
This year we're also painting the boxes with a little white paint first so that we can use light-colored fabrics without the matchbox printing showing through. And now you know.
Hope your day is filled with sweetness of your own making!
Love,
Rachel
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Matchbox babies are one of our favorite craft projects any time of year, but these wee ones are especially sweet for Valentine's Day. As you look ahead to your weekend, perhaps you'll find time to make some of these sweeties.
P.S. If you insert a strong needle threaded with embroidery floss through the top and bottom of the box slider (not the bed) about 1/3 of the way down and tie the thread about twice as long as the box, you can make your drawer open as if by magic when you pull the string.
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We started a new tradition this morning: Jammie Craft. Smoothies, fruit, toast, scissors, glitter, and glue - all while we're still in our PJs. I know. It sounds like a disastrous mix. But it was wonderful!
With Valentine's day on the horizon we collectively came up with this project: Heart Babies.
A simple (kid-friendly) tutorial follows:
Supplies:
Wool Felt * Wooden beads * Acorn caps
Thread * Paper * Fabric scraps
Cotton or wool stuffing * Glue
Small match boxes * Glitter
Mod Podge * Paint brush * Needle *Scissors
The Box Top: Cut a strip of paper and a strip of fabric as wide as your matchbox. Cut long enough to allow 2/3" overlap. Coat matchbox cover with Mod Podge and wrap with paper. (This will keep the matchbox printing from showing through the fabric). Secure overlap area with additional Mod Podge.
Coat the papered matchbox with Mod Podge and wrap neatly with fabric. Trim edges as needed. Coat again with Mod Podge and apply glitter if desired.
The Bed: Cut the fabric lining for your matchbox bed. To do so you can sacrifice one match box to make a pattern by slitting at the corners and pressing flat, or use or method and guesstimate. Notch out corners.
Mod Podge the inside of the box and carefully press lining into place.
Baby: Cut out two identical hearts suitably sized to fit into your matchbox. Select a head-sized bead. Check if the bead will fit in the box with the lid closed. If not, select a smaller head or don't sweat it and let the box stay partially open.
Beginning at the "neck" area of the heart (top/center), use a running stitch or a blanket stitch to sew hearts together. Stuff with a bit of cotton or wool before closing. Sew bead to heart as follows: Heart, bead, scrap of felt (to secure head). Sew the head to body securely with a few stitches and tie off. Cut thread.
Select an acorn cap sized appropriately for your bead head. Coat top of head (including felt scrap) with a generous amount of glue and press acorn cap into place. Wipe off excess glue with a cotton swab or your fingertip.
After glue and Mod Podge has dried, tuck baby into bed.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Note: If you think these are lovely, please check back often. We're pretty crafty around here and have lots more sweetness to share. xo Rachel
