Conversation Heart Frames

This was a fun little project that I whipped up last night. It's not actually what I was planning on doing (I'll get that one up later) but this idea popped into my head and I just had to get them done! Welcome to the

Conversation Heart Frames

{for V-Day}

So to start out, cut a heart pattern out of some card stock (easy-peasy)

Next take 3 different fabrics and cut squares large enough to fit your heart. Apply some Heat-n-Bond to the wrong side of all pieces.

Now flip those babies over and trace your heart pattern onto the back

and cut the suckers out.

Next I cut off a long strip of a canvas drop cloth and ironed the hearts onto it in a row, leaving enough space in between each heart that I can cut them apart and fit them into an 8x8 frame.

Then cut in between each one and sew the hearts down. I did a zig-zag stitch at less than a 1 length and at a 5 width and went all the way around each one.

Then I took my 8x8 frames, taped the canvases down around the cardboard on the inside and placed them inside.

When that was done, I cut out the words SWAK, LOVE, and KISS ME out of vinyl and applied them to the glass on the outside of the frame and that is it!

Super easy, and a really cute, fun, Valentines decoration that you can vary to fit any scheme you want!

Spooky Caramel Apples

I'm just gonna say it. I don't do Halloween. I know. Don't hate me. I do costumes for my boys and we also do the whole trunk-or-treat thing, but as far as decorating and all of that goes, it just doesn't happen at my house. I'm lucky if I get Christmas up with my two little guys! But I do love caramel apples. I love them anytime of the year really. I decided that it would be a fun little gift for my hubs to give to his home teaching families.

So here are my caramel apples- SPOOKIFIED!!

To start out I melted a couple of bags of Caramel Bits. These things rock, no unwrapping involved. :) They can be found in the baking aisle with the chocolate chips.

And while I was waiting I stuck popsicle sticks into my apples. (I only had 5 so the rest I just stuck spoons in, and kept those for the kiddos to decorate.)

Melt the caramel until it's nice and smooth like this.

Then tip the pot so that all of the caramel goes to one side and roll the apples in. Then set them on a pan covered with wax paper that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. After they are all covered, stick your pan o' apples in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes, or until the caramel sets.

While your apples are setting, melt your chocolate with about 2 tbsp of cooking oil (I just used milk chocolate chips) and find a little something to dip the apples in. I used crushed peanuts but you can use crushed candy bars or leave them with just chocolate.

Take your apples out and dip those babies in the chocolate. Dip them immediately into your nuts or candy if you choose that route. Set them on a new piece of sprayed wax paper and throw them back in the fridge until the chocolate sets.

I don't have specific pics of the next steps, but I then took some Wilton Candy Melts in white, green, and black, and put them in separate ziplock bags. Microwave until melted and then cut off a small corner of each bag and let 'er rip.

Here are some that we came up with...

We used the peanuts as "dirt" and did some headstones with creepy letters

And a little ghostie coming out of the grave.

A silky spider web...

With its own little critter coming out

And, ah, Frank. Frank had a little bit of a rough life...

As you can see. But it all adds to the spook factor.

Then I stuck them in some cellophane bags, tied them up with some cute Halloween-y colored ribbons

And they're good to go!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FRIENDS!