Thursday, February 7, 2013

Love is in the Air

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that a good portion of my life was spent well before the advent of many technologies which, today, I'm quite sure, I'd be helpless without (I clearly remember using my Grandmother's old rotary phone and ironically today am completely lost without my cell)
It seems much communication nowadays involves either being texted, tweeted, messaged or friended, so the idea of a handwritten, or even better, handmade, card is especially delightful. 
With that in mind I thought I'd use the popular theme of the heartfelt hand written missive in my projects to celebrate this Valentine's day. Though the actual origin of Valentines day is a bit of a mystery, many trace the card sending frenzy of our modern celebration back to France, inspired by the imprisoned Duke d'Orleans' romantic love letters to his wife. Since even my shopping list would sound more romantic in french I gave a nod to this idea and added some touches a la francais to my "amour" themed decor.


Joyeuse Saint-Valentin

Love Birds Mantle

I thought Valentine's Day would serve as a good excuse to spruce up my mantle (it looked so lonely since the reindeer left) so I repurposed some branches from my yard which I had spray painted white for my Christmas post "A Wing and a Prayer", adding some whimsical romantic and floral touches and of course birds.
These Dollar Store leftover Christmas doves got a rosy makeover thanks to a quick bath in food pink coloring
I dipped each one several times until I was pleased with the color
I used the Neon food coloring set for a truer pink
They will lighten when dry
* If you have cats, they will be very interested in "helping" you with this project
 I then added some accessories with hot glue. I cut a paper doily into a little crown
(you can see a white dove with silver crown in my December Wing and a prayer post) but adorn them any way you like.
I picked up some little birdhouses for $1 each at my craft store. They are so cute and can be re-imagined so many different ways.

Here they are easily transformed into a whimsical avian post offices with glitter, paint, paper and printables. I perched one on a $1 candlestick to add height.



Many of these fun Graphics are from the The Graphics Fairy! A fabulous resource for vintage images!
I added a French "I love You" banner using stick on gold letters on leftover pink damask scrapbook paper hot glued to ribbon with a scrap paper heart
 





Then I decked the mantle with some faux flowers, raffia, printable vintage letters (on our printables page) and nests and craft moss

Cupid Cupcakes

And to celebrate another Valentine feathered friend, Cupid Cupcakes: These easy "semi-scratch" cupcakes are simply store bought treats adorned with wings and arrows.

You'll need:
frosted cupcakes and/or mini tea cakes - homemade or store bought
Large and mini Marshmallows
white glitter sugar
large toothpicks
fruit roll-ups


 For the Winged Cupcakes

Disclosure: Little Debbie fans probably recognized the heart tea cakes.
The larger cupcakes were from my Giant supermarket bakery - who are far superior bakers to myself 
 Cut large marshmallows (on diagonal into 4 sections) and mini's in half.
Then dip cut sections in sugar sprinkles.
Gently stretch cut pieces to create feather shape. This gets a bit sticky.
Arrange into wing shape, by pressing pieces firmly together, starting with large pieces and adding small cut marshmallows on wing tips. Make extras as some wings will look better than others.


Insert carefully but firmly into frosting. Add a Cupid if desired.
 If they have trouble sticking attach with extra frosting as glue.

For the Arrows

Cut fruit roll-up to form tail of arrow. Press firmly around toothpick and snip edges to create feathery fringe. Insert on an angle into cake.


Insert on an angle into cake.



Enjoy with tea or champagne





Wishing everyone Lots of Love, Happiness and Sweet Treats this Valentines Day










45 comments:

  1. What lovely valentines decorations So cheerful after the winter blahs. You have made me think of doing some valentine cupcakes for the kids.

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    1. Thanks so much Susan!
      Sugar always helps the winter blahs lol :)

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  2. what a fantastic post - full of goodies and yummies, and things to make... better go get myself busy!

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  3. What a darling mantle and especially those birds!

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  4. Hi lovely lady.
    All your Ideas for Valentine's Day are Beautiful!! I love how you put your mantle together sweet. Im your newest follower on your blog now hope you will come join me also and have a wonderful Valentine's Day with your family.
    XXOO Diane

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    1. Thanks Diane-
      this is such a fun holiday- just popped over and joined your site- such lovely tablescapes!

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  5. What a wonderful post - filled with a beautiful mantel and how it came to be all PINK and all the Sweet Treats! Isn't the Graphics Fairy the best?

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    1. Thanks so much! I don't usually use a lot of pink but I guess the mood struck haha- and yes the graphics Fairy is wonderful! I use her graphics all the time!
      Cheers!

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  6. Your Valentine decorations are marvelous. What a beautiful display and thank you for telling and showing us how it was done. Outstanding!

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  7. Beautiful inspirational decorating and love the sweet little cakes! Happy Pink Saturday to you, Dru

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  8. How wonderful your decorations are. So much loveliness you have accomplished.
    Bear Hugs,
    Carol

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  9. What a lovely mantle and mirror! Your tutorial will be so helpful. Very creative! A wonderful Valentine's display. Thanks so much for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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    1. Thanks so much Ruth!- and thanks for hosting Tuesday Cuppa Tea! Such fun!

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  10. oh so sweet and lovely! I love your newly adorned mantle and mirror, perfect for Valentine's day!

    Great idea with the mallows too! Cupids wings, who'd have thunk it ;)

    Find you via Sarah's TPT. *waves hello* from a new follower, Hazel x

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    1. Thanks so much Hazel! and so glad you're following- Love Sarah's TPT :)
      Cheers
      Christina

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  11. Hi Christina, followed you here from Sarah's Tea Party! What a gorgeous mantle, and such creative ideas with the dyed birds and wooden houses ... LOVE them all! Your cupid cupcakes are so cute too, the angel wings look great :) Following your blog now ... Wendy

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    1. Thanks so much Sarah- so glad you're following!- I just love those blog tea parties!
      Cheers!

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  12. Hello, I am visiting from the tea party and am now a follower! Your mantel is stunning! You are rockin' this holiday with all of these adorable projects!

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    1. Thanks so much Stacy! and thanks for following!- this is the first valentine mantle I've done -I usually don't do too much for valentines (the husband and cats get gifts) but might have gone a little overboard lol
      Cheers!
      Christina

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  13. Hello Christina, don't you just love the versatility of marshmallows! Your mantel looks gorgeous - I love how the birds turned out. I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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    1. Thanks and Thanks for hosting! :) I know marshmallows have been my go to ingredient lately haha

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  14. Your crown wearing, pink doves are so pretty. And I laughed out loud when you mentioned how helpful your cats were with this bird project. I know how helpful mine are when I decorate my bird tree at Christmas. Helpful as in jump in there, grab one in their mouth and then run to the basement with it, where they bat it around til it no longer resembles a bird at all. Helpful alright.

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    1. Yes, exactly! and feathers everywhere! Crafting with cats can be challenging but I wouldn't have it any other way! :)

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  15. Your mantel is sooo pretty, Christina! Hubby would never let me get away with anything so feminine and sweet. And the cupcakes are adorable!

    Thanks for linking to Time Travel Thursday. Be sure to stop by tonight to see yourself featured.

    Happy Valentine's Day!
    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

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    1. Thanks Liz!
      That's so funny you say that- my husband was away on business when I put it up-! haha- I think he's ok knowing it will come down soon and since I tolerate the enormous TV he bought for "us" LOL
      Thanks for hosting- love your site and seeing the fun ideas every Thursday!
      Cheers!

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  16. Christina, What an inspiring post. Your mantel and all the creative things you did to it, look fantastic! I love the banner and the birds are too cute. The cupcakes look so delicious! Thanks so much for sharing at Simple & Sweet Fridays. Happy Valentine's!

    Jody

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    1. Thanks for your kind words Jody and Stan and for hosting! Simple and Sweet Fridays are always such fun!

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  17. ooooo ... pretty blog! I can always enjoy more eye candy in life so I've joined. :o) (from Grow Your Blog)

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    1. Thanks Hilary!
      and Thanks for joining! Wasn't Grow your Blog such fun?
      Cheers

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  18. Oh my goodness, Christina: Your mantle is the coolest thing ever! Dyeing those birds pink is such a fun idea! I love it all, including the yummy looking goodies! -Derrith

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    1. Thanks so much Derrith! I wasn't sure how the dye would work but now I'm thinking of all different colors to try - haha- and as you can see I'm extending Valentine's Day a bit but will have my next post up soon!
      Cheers

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  19. Wow, U r crazy talented and creative. Love every sweet lil detail!!

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  20. Hi Christina, gorgeous display! I visited your paintings website and oh wow, your work is amazing!! I LOVE the paws off the christmas cookie. Hugs, Wendy

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    1. Thanks so much Wendy-and thanks for visiting my site!- as you can see I love painting cats -lol- I should be updating it with some new work next month
      Cheers!
      Christina

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  21. I'm a little late but thank heavens I arrived at your post! The mantle is amazing! All the little details that created just a charming Valentine's celebration. Dipping the birds in food coloring is just perfect.. and with their little crowns, no less! And you know what I really admire? That you used the green moss as the base. The texture and color really makes your other goodies pop!

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  22. Thanks so much Kadee,
    I'm a little late on my next post so I'm sort of extending Valentine's a bit-and thanks for noticing the moss- I had it set up without and knew it needed a color to ground everything and make the birds stand out just as you said.
    Cheers and Happy belated valentines :)

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  23. beautiful ireland jars, love it! great idea!

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    1. Thanks so much Mia!
      There such fun to make!
      So glad you visited Pennywise :)

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  24. Thanks so much - I'm so delighted you've joined!
    just love these blog hops-
    I'll pop over and visit your site!
    Cheers!

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