pencil garland for teacher ♥

happy valentines day to you!

hope it's a day full sweetness ♥

just poppin in to share another way i used the valentine printable from last week 

we made a garland for my little's teacher to hang on the chalkboard in her classroom

this would actually make a great teacher gift for anytime! not just valentines :)

after cutting the cards we strung them on some twine 

and tied short pencils onto the spaces in between

(string one card and then tie the pencil on before stringing the next one)

really cute, i kinda wanted one for myself.

here's the printable from last week

here's another with the pencil image as well

i set up for my first craft show last weekend, it was so much fun

but so much work! i took lots of pictures and will share it with you soon

i had some surplus inventory and some new items from the show 

that are headed to my etsy shop later today hopefully

come on by and take a look if you like pretty things ♥

just write printable pencil valentines

last weeks free print {that you can grab here}
got my creative wheels turning!

valentines day is next week! plenty of time to print these mini versions 

and make some for school, friends or teachers

yay :)

you need a few things ...

the "bakers twine" is actually a very thin cotton yarn from joanns! 

they have a few different colors too

and compared to real twine this stuff is super cheap. 

around $2-3 and you can use a coupon if you have one

the pencils are in the target dollar bins

a hole punch and pinking shears 

cut out the freebies and punch two holes side by side 

towards the top & the bottom of the card

tie the pencil to the card with the string. simple.

i cut the one side with pinking shears ... just cause.

you can download the printable page {right here}

other exciting news ... 

these.

yes. red mason jars. 

with handles.

i die.

my mom found these for me at Marshalls ... which is kind of like TJ Maxx

if you wanna try to hunt some down fo yo self :)

(have you seen this video? my girls watch it over and over and over)

(a million times. never gets old)

and that little heart garland? you can buy it here.

so cute.

happy making stuff ♥

ps. there's a little coupon code running in the shop today & tomorrow

just in time to get those last minute valentines goodies

IHEARTYOU20 = 20% discount at check out :)

you are just right ♥ valentines day free print

if you follow along with me on instagram, 

you probably know i just started reading this book...

{source}

and it's been great so far! i wanted to share it here on the blog as well 

in case it's something that has been on your heart too 

...here is a little blurb about the book from their webpage:

"Wife After God is a refreshing and inspirational 30 day marriage devotional for wives who desire to have a deeper more fulfilling relationship with God and their husbands. This devotional study was prayerfully composed with 30 days of biblical concepts and practical challenges to help you nourish your relationship with God and your relationship with your husband in marriage into ones that are captivating, intimate and extraordinary. Every day you will be presented with a biblical topic to help draw your nearer to your God and your husband. You will find that as your relationship with the creator deepens so will your love for your husband." - unveiledwife.com

today i was on day three... the need for companionship.

one of the things that stuck out to me most was Genesis two, verse eighteen

"... the Lord God said it is not good for man to be alone ... 

I will make him a helper who is just right for him."

just right for him... hmmm

i am created in His Image... i am just right

just right in my Father's eyes

and just right for my husband 

... now embracing and acting on that is the tricky part

but i intend to work hard at it

i really want to be intentional about investing into my marriage. 

my flesh & the world will tell me how easy it would be to just drift in my own direction.

to just do what i want to do

but that's not God's intention for my marriage

so it shouldn't be mine either.

so if you want to join in, it's easy!

i just purchased the book on my kindle and jumped right in. 

if you're on instagram be sure to track your progress and share your journal pictures 

and tag me! @raisinguprubies so i can find you

you can follow along with the unveiled wife @unveiledwife too 

(she has a video for each daily devotion) 

and use the hashtag #wifeafterGod

and thennnnnnnn... snag this free print right here!

put it on your nightstand, dresser ... maybe by the kitchen sink

 to remind you or your spouse that you were created "just right" for each other

and oh hey.

look at that.

it's almost valentines day. 

that works out great

doesn't it

:)

linking up to: tatertots & jello 

30 handmade days

a few of my favorite things ♥

♥ pretty heart pendant necklace ♥ cameo bracelet ♥ seafoam green heart ring
♥ mint green paper doilies ♥ seafoam scalloped trim ♥ early to bed early to rise print
♥ crocheted covered hangers ♥ crochet heart garland ♥ crochet purse pattern

just a few handmade things & shops i've had my eye on recently...
just thought i'd share them with you since valentines day is almost here!
and maybe you're still looking for a few little treats to hand out ♥
and i'ts really no secret that i love vday. it's my fav.
maybe it's all the hearts & pastel colors.
no that i really like hearts or pastel colors or anything
:)

valentines day is in my shop too!
i'm running a coupon code good through tomorrow night at midnight!
IHEARTYOU20
for 20% off your total purchase
♥ happy weekend ♥

diy ♥ my little pony necklaces

yay it's friday ♥

and it's almost the weekend

which means we need to make stuff ... and valentines day will be here before you know it!

you NEED to put some of these together for all the little girls you happen to know :)

i made these last month, 

when i had a little bit of time the week before Christmas to make a few gifts

and my craft night besties and i, have an annual cookie exchange/craft night 

where we exchange not only cookies :) but gifts for each other and for our daughters 

(comin up with crafty gifts for boys seems harder right?)

and to make things a little easier most of our girls are really into my little ponies right now

and um ... (clearing throat) so are the mamas. 

(and one dad) (yeah you know who you are one dad) 

loved how simple these necklaces were to put together!

what you'll need:

- drill

- very tiny drill bit

- 1/2 inch screw eyes

(found these in that isle at Lowes 

where all the washers & screws are in those little drawers)

- ball chains

(from hobby lobby - these were 18 inches)

- and some miniature my little ponies 

(found these at toys r us)

the only thing that you really need to figure out is where to drill the hole for the eye screw

we stood the ponies up since they all have different heights & stances

then drilled a hole on the top of the head where we thought

 they would hang best from the chain without being crooked

make sense?

screw the eye into your hole and that's it!

it should look like this ...

all the little girls loved them!

seriously i've considered wearing some ... they make me so happy

they'd even be cute layered on top of each other if you make a bunch

twilight sparkle, pinkie pie and applejack

i just love how colorful they all are

and did you know pinkie & AJ are cousins?? yes they are. so my littlest little tells me

helloooo. mom. don't you know this? it's important stuff

mmkay.

there a few of these  in my etsy shop too!

 if you'd rather scoop one up

without all the intimidation from the power tool 

:)

take a peek at this cute pony house project i made last year too while you're here :)

♥ take along pony house ♥

happy making stuff!

linking up ♥

tatertots & jello

i heart naptime

sweet Valentine's Day gift & a free printable ... ♥

i'm so thankful for all your sweet comments on Friday!

i'm kinda smitten with the new garlands

so i'm super glad you like them too

♥

so on to the winners!!

the random generator thingy randomly selected ...

comment #3 ... Lisa Burger

comment #21 ... TexasNeals

comment #45 ... Judith

yay guys! if that's you please jot me an email 

with your address so i can send these out to you!

{raisinguprubies@gmail.com}

now even if the random generator thingy was not you friend today :(

i have a super sweet printable that you can take with you anyway :)

along with a super simple Valentine's Day gift idea

cause i wish everyone could win

and cause i love ya ♥

i picked up a few things at Michaels the other day 

to put this gift together for a sweet friend at my church ... 

the heart paint bucket was only 1.99 on clearance 

and the frame was in the $2 bins ... 

i love this frame! and they had some in a pretty teal color & white 

(i may or may not have come home with some of those too)

i used PicMonkey to create an image for the frame

i was having to much fun with their new Valentines options ... 

so i made three different versions :) filled the bucket with chocolates 

and tied the frame to the top with some pretty ribbon 

... add a tag and that's it!

so go! get some of those cute frames!

and use one of these images to bring some last minute sunshine to someone you love :)

(just right click on the image and save to your computer ♥)

happy week everyone! enjoy ♥

much love...

cupcake paper flowers ... ♥

i've had a few inquiries about the paper flowers 

that were on my craft table in the Better Homes & Gardens feature :) 

i originally got the idea from Martha here and just tweaked it a little 

by using the natural brown color floral wire 

(i liked that idea better than using the green floral tape)

so thought i'd share! come on, let's make some stuff ♥

gather up your glue gun, the floral wire & some cupcake papers

these colors were inspired by that jar of conversation hearts i have sitting on my craft table :)

it's simple really, and the pictures will walk you through it ... 

poke wire through paper, hot glue near the middle and pinch around the wire

(don't burn yourself!!)

repeat 3 times, or more, depending how puffy you want your flowers

ta-da! see?

what the bottom looks like :)

these would be a sweet Valentines Day gift

find a can or glass jar, wrap some ribbon or kraft paper around it and deliver :)

it'll be loved ... promise.

my craft room is happy it's Valentines Day too ...

(heehee)

short & sweet ♥

make lots :)

happy crafting! 

sweet parties here ♥

Tatertots & Jello ♥ Weekend Wrap Up!

the 36th Avenue ♥ Party Time