GardenMama

.: Valentine Gnome & Felt Heart Pin ~ Two Part Tutorial :.

This tutorial will share with you a two-part Valentine's Day gift! 

These Valentine gnomes present your loved one with a hand-made heart pin! 

Here is the two-part tutorial for you to follow to make some for your family and friends!

.: Part one ~ Creating felt heart pins :.

With a small piece of cardboard folded in half, trace half of a heart along the folded side.  Next you will cut this folded half-heart shape out completely.  Open to reveal a complete and symmetrical cardboard heart template that will help us in the steps to follow!

Begin by tracing the cardboard heart template twice on each sheet of felt. 
 

Cut out two hearts in each color.

Next take out several complementary colors of embroidery thread.

You can embroider your hearts or leave them plain.  Now begin stitching up your heart and leave a small opening to stuff them with wool.

Fill your felt heart with wool until it is quite full.  We used a knitting needle to ensure the hearts were very evenly stuffed.

Finish stitching up your hearts. Make sure to hide the last stitch by sewing through just one of the felt sheets and tying off your thread inside the heart.

 

Next stitch a pin back onto the (upper) back of the heart. 

.:Set aside your heart pins and prepare for Part II of this tutorial:.

.: Part Two  ~ Creating Valentine Gnomes :.

Set out a pinecone with a thin point to the top of it.  Place a medium-sized wooden bead over the point of the pinecone, securing it with glue.  This will form the head of the Valentine Gnome.

 

Begin by cutting a triangle shape from felt.  This will create your Valentine Gnome's hat.

Wrap the triangle shape around the wooden bead. You can make alterations accordingly until your gnome hat fits.

Now begin stitching up your hat by folding the triangle in half and stitching up the back.

Your gnome hat is now complete.  Secure it to the wooden bead with a bit of glue.

 

.: Securing the heart pin to the Valentine gnome .:

Now take a length of embroidery floss and loop it through your (closed) felt heart pin back.  The long lengths of thread can then be wrapped around the pinecone and tied in the back.  (Leave loose enough so that the heart pin can be taken off to be worn.)

This little gnome is now ready to gift your Valentine with a sweet heart pin that can be taken off and worn while the Valentine gnome visits your nature table!

.: Frosted Votive Centerpiece~Tutorial :.

While the house is cozy and warm we pull back the curtains in search of the morning sun. To our delight we find our old friend Jack Frost has paid us a visit and left behind his lovely artwork on the newly-frosted windows!

With Christmas drawing near, we wish to bring cheer to all of our family and friends who may visit! We set out white tissue paper, glass jars, and glue to create frosted candleholders!

.: The candle reminds us of the warmth of  home, and the white tissue paper covered jar is  reminiscent of the beauty of the morning frost! :.

For this project you will need:

.: Half-pint Mason jars.  (Recycled pickle, jam, or sauce jars would be wonderful as well!)             

.: Modge Podge Decoupage Glue  

.: Paint brush                          

.: White tissue paper.                                                        

.: Paper doiles (Can be found in the baking section of a craft store.)

.: Raffia  ( I used brown-colored Raffia  to pick up on the brown pine cones in the greenery.)

Steps One, Two & Three:

Cover the entire glass jar with glue.

Tear white tissue paper into strips and begin to cover every part of the glass with the tissue paper. Once this step is finished, coat the entire jar a second time to seal it and ensure a smooth finish.

Cover the bottom of your jar with glue and set it on top of a paper doile.  This will give your jar a place to dry without getting glue everywhere. (It also brings a sweetness to the candle with the 'lace' edge showing.)

Step Four:

Cut out the center of one of the larger paper doilie's and glue the circular shape onto the front of (a larger sized) lantern so that the glow of the candle within highlights the lace design.

Step Five:

Tie your Raffia around the rim of the jar. Next, place your greenery and pinecone in place and secure them to the jar with the raffia as well.

* These frosted votive holders are also easy enough for the children to create for their own gift-giving*

  These small frosted winter votive holders were originally part of a commission for a winter party. I inscribed all of the attendant's names on the bottom of each paper doile.  All of the votives are ringed by a handmade evergreen wreath to create an illuminated natural centerpiece. At the end of the evening each guest will take home a frosted votive as a keepsake of the celebration! 

.: The decorated mantle - also part of the creating I did for a winter party commission piece! :.

May your holiday celebrations be infused with intention, artfulness and light!