Lets go to the movies - TAKE 2

Just some more fun, close up pics of the party... thought i would post! My last post was lengthy enough!

XOXO, Jan

A gift of sweetness...

Something Quick and easy..

I was scanning through pics of what I had created last valentines day. I came across these cute little gifts I made for my kids and co-workers. It always makes me feel good to hand make something and give to someone. 

Since my father passed away in July, my counselor who I have been seeing, talked to me about keeping busy this Valentines day. Valentines day has always been a tough one for me. My Daddy suffered from Alzheimer's disease for about 12 years.. It was BRUTAL, to say the least. I was always a Daddy's little girl.. 

Every year on Valentines day my Dad had two Valentine's. Me and my Mom. He would do something special for us every year. Whether it be flowers, jewelry (and boy do i have a collection from him), candy, and always a heartfelt card that really meant a lot! About 4 years ago, Daddy lost his ability to drive. The clue to us was when he got lost going Christmas shopping.. He was gone for 3 hours, had a cell phone (but had forgotten that he had it), couldn't find the store, and had difficulty finding his house he had lived in for over 10+ years to get home. It was horrible. Anyhow, that is when the ability to remember the holiday came. It was extremely hard for me. It just didn't make Valentines the same anymore. My Mr. Wonderful always makes it special, but it wasn't the same. I guess that's because I was used to getting a special Valentine from my Daddy every year. I always made it a point to call him on the morning of the holiday when he got to sick to remember, and remind him to go NOW and tell Mom Happy Valentines, Birthday, etc.... If i was lucky enough to escape the business of my own life, I would drive the 30 min trip (one way) to go get my "valentine hug/kiss" from my daddy... because it meant a lot. I was extremely deflated, but being a Registered Nurse, I know he wasn't doing it on purpose and could grasp the reasons. So to my Mr. Wonderful, I am apologizing to you publicly that my Dad set the BAR pretty High! ;)

I have always made Valentines Special for our kids. Even if its just a special little treat with a cute little tag to let them know we love them so much! Of course, It has to be done cute with a cute tag and/or packaging... because I love to craft. Mr. Wonderful used to always say, "Why do you spend all that time to make it fancy, when they are just going to tear the packaging off and not care". My response was, "They will always remember, and it makes me feel good!". Since then, I secretly think he likes it to!

Last year I purchased those little mailboxes in the Target $1 section. I modge podged cute paper onto them and filled them with treats and a love note on Valentines. I picked paper that they would like or would go with their room decor, in hopes that we would send each other mail. Unfortunately that never stuck... but my wheels keep spinning with that one. So, I went into their rooms and dug them out. I started a treat a day for 7 days before V-day! Today is day three. On our facebook  page (Go to our page and like it! Watch for some giveaways!) I have uploaded horrible quality pics taken with my iPhone to show what I have done. I have also started doing it for Mr. Wonderful. He has gotten a treat on the drivers seat each morning when he has gotten in to go to work! . Thank you to my counselor for encouraging me to make and give. It really is keeping my head up and heart full of LOVE this year. Make the day not as difficult! 

Do you all have any traditions you do in your house? 

Some cheap clear boxes I purchased at Michael's with an old Valentine Stamp set from Stampin' Up I had on hand, as well as the coordinating heart punch!

I covered the Hershey Treasure candies with coordinating scrapbook paper I had purchased from Stampin' Up last year. My distributor is Cindy Peterson! She is amazing! Check out her site Here

A close up of the cello bag! 

Another Version..

I love the trend of wrapping chocolate bars! These are so fun, and there is always so many options you can do. The thousands and thousands of products coming out all the time! 

Something more simple!

I hope you spin-off and create a Valentines to remember! 

XOXO,          Jan

A "Bouncy" Valentine

Pinterest anyone?  Valentine's ideas via Pinterest. 

Ok, I have a problem.  It's a very bad/good problem.  It is called Pinterest.  Have you tried it?  If not, you should.  (Don't tell your husband I told you about it.)  My poor husband has to endure me showing him 500 things I want to do....someday.

Well, someday has come and I have been using Pinterest for so many things.  Mostly cooking but also my Valentine's ideas this year.  I am a teacher's aid in a 1st grade class; I absolutely LOVE those kids and wanted to do a Valentine for them.  Some of the kids have food allergies, medical concerns, etc. so I had to come up with something besides candy.  In came Pinterest.  I found this awesome idea Here. Nellie Design has some great ideas!   

I went to our local party store Zurchers and found bouncy balls.. Go Here, I found 12 for $4.95.  I got my cello bags at Walmart in the Wilton section. 25 bags for $2.00.  Great deal. 

Visit Nellie-Design Here to get the free Download for these adorable bag toppers! 

I had some printer problems so I found a great way to print my toppers.  You can send an email to your local UPS Store with the file you want printed and they will print your order and you can pick it up!  I printed mine on cardstock.

One quick tip I have is using a scoring blade on your Cricut cutter to make the topper fold nicely, Or a bone folder and ruler, anything really. In reality you could use a butter knife - scoring really does make a difference folding cardstock !

Super QUICK, super CUTE Valentines! Thank you Pinterest and nellie-design!

xoxo - Dawn

Wallin Happenings of 2011

Just thought I would share the 2011 Photobook I spent hours making on Shutterfly! It turned out great! I was a little disappointed when the book came and had a couple nicks in the page, one being right on Jene's face! But, overall, the quality was amazing! Its a great idea to do a short book as a gift for a grandparent or parent. Who wouldn't love the gift of pictures, right? You can sign up for Shutterfly's emails and they are always sending out coupons that make it totally worth it! Just Saying!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Create your own custom photo books at Shutterfly.com.

Say Thank You to those who teach our Little's..

Who better to say thank you to than our Littles teachers! They give them such a vast amount of knowledge and teach them many things that we don't all have the ability to teach! When showing their teachers a thank you, we (Dawn and I), like to remember that they deserve the very best! I don't think it always has to be on teacher appreciation day, or the beginning and end of the year!

     It makes my heart soar when my Little's come home so excited about something they learned, or something fun they did! It reminds me to be thankful for so many things! First and foremost, to be part of an amazing country that allows us to raise our children with an education! Let's face it, these amazing teachers put a phenomenal impact on our children. It will be those teachers that our Little's will remember. (be honest, if it hasn't happened yet, it will... you will or have been told that their teachers KNOW EVERYTHING!)... Great! More power to those amazing teachers! So.......lets butter them up when we can and send them fun things every once in awhile and let them know you care! (However, as I am writing this, I do remember the movie I watched with Mr. Wonderful over the weekend: Bad Teacher, starring Cameron Diaz, and am praying my Little's don't have and will NEVER have, a teacher like her).. (I don't recommend you watching it if naughtiness and foul language, and sexually explicit comments offend you)... it was pretty funny, I do have to admit! (praying praying praying there are not teachers out there like her!)

      I love to find out things that my Little's teachers like and incorporate it into their appreciation gifts...but in the end, it's the thought that counts!

Dawn designed a these for teacher appreciation gifts... They turned out amazing!  

Dawn sold these on her etsy shop in customized  orders.. 

Here is another cute creation!