A little Valentine's Day Decor

FREE IMAGES Hey there and Happy Valentine's Day! 
I can't believe February is half over but that's a good thing because I am super ready for spring! 

We've had a mild winter but apparently it hasn't been cold enough to kill all of those nasty germs floating around out there.  My house has been infested with germs and sick bugs for weeks!  Sick kiddos (mostly), sick me, sick Mr. Chic... it's really cramping my style! 

I'm behind on everything and I am SO not down with that!

I'm hoping all of these annoying bugs will be coming to an end so we can get back to normal around here. 

Anywho... in honor of Valentine's Day I thought I should share my Valentine's Day decor.

I do just a little bit of decorating for Valentine's Day.   How many hearts can you really string around your house without it starting to look a little cheezy??  Not too many imho...  :)

I set up a little V-day vignette in my kitchen and decorated my fireplace mantel (barely)despite the cold medicine haze I was in at the time.

I totally could've made this no sew "love" banner but got it on Groopdealz instead.  If I can buy it cheaper than I can make it I'll buy it every time.  I had none of the supplies for this (besides some jute string maybe) so the cheap price I paid was worth it!

My friend Angela of La-Dee-Da Designs made the cute heart on my mirror.  (I didn't make it either, am I crafty or what?!)

I know you're wishing that I'm now going to do a tutorial on how to make this cute little "Amore" sign but.... ummm no, I'm not. :(  I picked it up this summer at Hob Lob for $2.50.  Yes, I could've made it myself but I couldn't have made it for that cheap!!

I bought this "Love" picture at TJ Maxx (where else) for super cheap on clearance a few years back thinking that I would take the heart picture out and re-use it for something else.  I then realized it was perfect for Valentine's Day.

Didn't make the banner either... cheaper to buy it!  Few years back at TJ's (when will they start paying me for all the free advertising!)

And, (not for Valentine's Day)I got these lamps with a Christmas gift certificate, they were on clearance for less than $20 for both the base and shade!  I heart them... :)  (I didn't make them or their cute script shades either!)

 

Here's the whole Valentine's vignette, made by me but nothing was made by me (insert cheezy grin here).   Sorry for the crummy picture, I was losing my natural light too quickly!!

Don't forget to sign up for my super cute Willow House Welcome basket giveaway from Nanci of Willow House HERE!  She is also offering 10% rebate on your purchase if you mention Chic on a Shoestring Decorating in your order.  Ends Friday!

Wishing you and yours a fabulous Valentine's Day!

Linking: Dear Lillie Valentine's Day Party

Personalized Picture Valentine

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I did this post last year very early in my blogging career when I had about 20 followers.  With Valentine's Day right around the corner I thought I'd share it again because it's so easy and so cute (if I do say so myself ;).

After seeing all kinds of cute-sey Valentine's cards out there in blogland I was inspired to make special Valentine's Day cards for my boy's grandparents. My oldest is SO not into crafting/drawing/etc (hopefully that means he'll be good at math because he doesn't like art, right!?) ;) and my youngest is too young so I decided to do it myself.

I took several pics of the boys individually holding up a piece of blank white poster board.

I picked my favorites and then added letters using software I have on my computer, you can probably do it at Photobucket.

I did this for 4 pictures alternating kiddos so I was able to spell out LOVE.  I cropped and lined up the photos, changed it to black and white and "softened" the edges with my software.

I then downloaded some free digital scrapbooking paper to add as a background. Easy-peasy!

And here's the finished project!

I went to Wal-mart.com and made them into 5x7 greeting cards with personalized insides for about $1.50 each.  Way cheaper than Hallmark!   You could also print them at home for free.

I think the grandparents will love it, I do! :)

xoxo

Linking too:  Under the Table & Dreaming

Valentine's Day + Lots of Snow!

FREE IMAGES I am finally going to show you my Valentine's Day decorations!  I'm sure the suspense has been driving you crazy! ;) 

I like to keep my Valentine's Day decorations simple (unlike my Christmas decorations).  I decided to do red and black as my main colors to keep it a little bit sophisticated.  The pastel heart colors can turn into total cheesy-ness if not done just right.  Plus, the black and red match my decor so much better.

I always change out my kitchen console table with seasonal decor and that is where most of my Valentine's Day decor is.  My only new piece this year is this super cute heart my friend Angela from La-dee-da Designs made...

I just heart it! 

(get it, I heart it, it's a heart... oh jeez, you can tell I haven't left the house since Sunday)

This lovely little love sign was not made on any fancy letter cutting machines ( I don't have one, shhh, don't tell!), I got it last year for $1.50... it was beat up but you can see how I fixed it up here.

I also decked out my candles in festive scrapbook paper.  Love how it is not Valentine paper but goes well with my Valentine decor.

Here's the whole look...


Sorry the window light is so bright but there was a blizzard out there!

I didn't want to do a full blown Valentine's Day mantel because I used almost all my Valentine's decor on my kitchen console table.  (Plus, I was too lazy to take my everyday mantel decor down again after just putting it back up after Christmas.)

I just added this simple picture I got last year for dirt cheap after Valentine's Day.  And honestly, when I got it I was going to rip the print out of it and use the frame for another project but I never got around to it.  Now, I'm glad I didn't, it matches great and I like it up there. :)

I should also mention that we survived the "Blizzard of 2011" and our power stayed on!  Thank goodness... it would have been a long and cold night without it.  The wind  howled and our house shook, literally, all night long. 

We woke to find a winter wonderland, very beautiful but I'm totally over it.  Give me winter wonderland at Christmas time, I'm ready for spring! 

Here are a few picks in case you're wondering...

My hubby skillfully worked the snowblower through 4' plus snow drifts...

I don't know how he got through it but I'm sure glad he did!

It's hard to tell from my pics but there were snow drifts that were over 5 feet tall!

A city plow came down our street (which was a good thing!) but they got our mailbox. 

Here's what's left of it...

Yes, that is mail inside the snow inside the mailbox... awesome.

Hope you're staying warm wherever you are!  Don't forget to come back for Flaunt it Friday!

I'm linking to House of Hepworths, Just a Girl, TaterTots&Jello, Fingerprints on the Fridge.