Lavender wreath craft

Just in time for Valentine's Day, here's a craft that utilizes one of my favorite flowers: lavender!

This article comes from the Fort Worth Star-Telegraph newspaper.

Lavender lends Valentine’s Day wreath a European feel

By Clare Miers
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Valentine’s Day is a great winter-blues chaser. It’s not quite time to welcome spring, but it’s a colorful time to celebrate love and relationships of all kinds. Declare your love with this sweet idea for a double-hearted wreath.

THE INSPIRATION

Claire Heymann, owner of Hotel St. Germain in Dallas, told me once that in Europe, red and white for Valentine’s Day is not as popular as it is in the United States. She said that in Paris, we can find shades of lavender with a touch of black and other romantic combinations. Using one of Heymann’s favorite color schemes as an inspiration for a Valentine’s Day wreath project, I collected some lavender-y purple berry sprigs, fresh lavender and some natural grapevine forms to make something very special this year.

THE MATERIALS

Two heart-shaped wreaths from a craft store (I bought mine at Michaels for less than $5 each)

Twiggy-looking craft wire (Michaels, less than $3 for a large roll)

Purple and crystal-looking berry sprigs ($1.99 each from craft store)

Gold-tone heart-shaped ornament (craft store)

Bundle of dried lavender (available in most craft stores)

THE CONSTRUCTION

I arranged the two woody heart wreaths together in a layered pattern and bonded them with the woody-looking wire, twisting it on the back.

Then I inserted the ready-made purple and crystal berry sprigs onto the face of the grapevine hearts, keeping to the lower quadrants of the heart shapes, berries pointed upward.

I placed each lavender stem into areas with the berry picks to create a nice mix of artificial decor and natural botanicals. (The dried lavender makes the wreath smell wonderful.) I attached the heart-shaped ornament into the arrangement using craft wire.

To dress your wreath more, consider using more dried flowers or charms. I inserted a few tiny dried white roses and more lavender to cover where I installed the heart ornament. For charms, think of adding some old heart-shaped costume jewelry or look around for wooden hearts that are often hanging from garland sold at craft stores.

I added a loop of wire to the back so that the wreath would hang easily, and the project was complete.

Nifty bulletin board craft idea

Here's a cute craft idea I came across while browsing the features story wire at work – give new life to an old cookie sheet by recycling it into a magnetic bulletin board! Here's a photo of the finished product:



You need an old, non-aluminum cookie sheet, colorful contact paper or self-stick shelf lining, heavy-duty magnets and (if you want to have a pencil cup like in the picture) a clean and empty tin or frozen juice can.

Unroll the contact paper and lay it out flat on a table. Set the cookie sheet upright on the contact paper and use a pencil to trace around the base of the pan. Using scissors, cut the contact paper along the pencil line. Turn the cookie sheet upside down and align the edges of the contact paper to the base of the pan.

Starting at one corner, carefully peel away the contact paper's backing, adhering the contact paper to the base of the pan as you go. (This is the most difficult part, because you don't want to end up with air bubbles between the contact paper and the cookie sheet!) If you end up with an air bubble, carefully push it toward the nearest edge of the contact paper until the air is evacuated.

Add colorful magnets and some note paper to your magnetic message board and hang it by a nail from the hole in the cookie sheet. (If your cookie sheet doesn't come with a hole in one rim, you may have to punch one yourself or fashion another means for hanging it.)

If you want to add a pencil cup, set the can on another flat sheet of contact paper. Mark the height of the can on the contact paper. Starting from one edge of the contact paper, roll the can one complete revolution over the contact paper and mark the place. Add another inch to the length of contact paper you measured to ensure the piece will fit your can well after you cut it out. With a ruler and pencil, trace a rectangle from the points you marked on the contact paper. Cut the contact paper along the pencil lines. Align the edges of the contact paper to the can and carefully apply as you did to the cookie sheet. Glue a couple of heavy-duty magnets to one side of the can. When the glue has set, attach the pencil cup to your bulletin board and drop in a few pens and pencils.

Voila! Your new message board is ready for use.