Ribbon flowers

I really love how these flowers turned out.  They are very easy to do.  And I made them into pins.  Would be lovely for a little Easter gift to mom, daughter, sister? :)
I see people have looked at my blogs but no one comments. 
Let's try something.
If you want to see how these gorgeous flowers are made. Let's see a few comments and I will post the directions.   
It's worth a shot...:)

Smile~Dawn

Waiting for Spring...

My Sailor's Valentine

Ok....as promised here is the Sailor's Valentine I made for my husband at least 10 years ago.  It hangs in our bedroom. I didn't use as many shells as the old ones but I didn't have that many. I do now....maybe I will work on another one. ;)

It was a lot of fun to make...I love the heart shell in the middle and all the tiny sand dollars around the edge...they look like lace. :)

Enjoy...Smile...~Dawn 

Please visit my online store  http://sunrisescrapbookandvintage.com/

And my facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Morning-Star-Crafts-and-Collectibles-LLC/248624745207213?ref=hl

 

A special Valentine...

My husband gave me a Valentine's Day gift a few years ago that I have kept just the way he gave it to me. I was on a diet that year...like every other year...so I didn't want chocolates. I know...hard to believe. So he gave me the box and after glaring at him and thinking he was trying to sabotage me again...I opened it and this is what I found. :) ~Dawn

Is this not the sweetest thing...:)  

Sorry for the blurry first pic of the box. :/

 I just love all the little flowers and the seashell beads. So cute. :)

Sailor's Valentine's

I discovered a gorgeous way to use my seashells a few years ago.  Not sure where I first saw one but I thought it was one of the most beautiful things I had seen.  I got all my shells together and made one for my husband for Valentine's Day probably 10 years ago. 

It's called a Sailor's Valentine.  Here are some pictures and the story of how they started.

Enjoy...Smile 

~Dawn

A sailor's valentine is a form of shellcraft, a type of mostly antique souvenir, or sentimental gift made using large numbers of small seashells. These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea and given to the sailor's loved one or loved ones.^[1] Sailor valentines are typically octagonal, glass fronted, hinged wooden boxes ranging from 8" to 15" in width, displaying intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small sea shells of various colors glued onto a backing. Patterns often feature a centerpiece such as a compass rose or a heart design, hence the name, and in some cases the small shells are used to spell out a sentimental message.
Although the name seems to suggest that the sailors themselves made these objects, a large number of them originated in the island of Barbados, which was an important seaport during this period. Historians believe that the women on Barbados made the valentines using local shells, or in some cases using shells imported from Indonesia, and then the finished products were sold to the sailors.^[1]
In his book Sailors' Valentines, John Fondas concludes that the primary source for sailors' valentines was the New Curiosity Shop, located in McGregor Street, Bridgetown, Barbados, a popular shop where sailors would purchase souvenirs. The shop was owned by the English brothers B.H. and George Belgrave.^[2] Fonda recounts that while an antique sailors' valentine was being repaired and reconstructed, pieces of a Barbados newspaper were found inside the backing material.
Today, antique sailors' valentines are collectibles, valued for their beauty and unusual qualities. Collector interest has sparked a resurgence in sailors' valentines as an art form, and because of this, shell kits and patterns are now sold at craft shops.^[3] Many sailors' valentines, both new and old, can be found on Nantucket, Massachusetts.

With Valentine's Day around the corner I thought I would share this project I have up for a class in the shop. 
I will have a few kits available in the online store section under the "Blog Project kits" tab but the paper is no longer available by itself. You get everything to complete your project and directions to make it. I will be adding the kits to the online store as soon as I'm done here...they are limited so grab it quick!  :)

This little box and tags turned out so cute and I really love the colors...so much more than your usual pinks and reds for Valentine's Day. 

The petal trim around the box is also what I made the flower with. Would be a sweet gift for any occasion not just for Valentine's Day...for your mom, daughter, granddaughter, friend. Sure to make anyone smile. 

It's all about having fun...smile. ~Dawn

I'm back and I brought cookies. :)

 Hey everyone...I'm back. I think maybe I have this blogging thing figured out. Hopefully. I even figured out how to get pictures on here...yay!  And yes...I did bring cookies! 

  

Look at the cute little bag of cookies for Valentine's Day.  We had our card club in the store yesterday and I didn't know what to do for this class and since I'm not really a card making person...I'm a theme book person...I came up with this little cutie.  The ladies really loved it...to my surprise lol So I thought I would share it with all of you.
Below are pretty much step by step directions.
The bag is big enough to hold 6-7 cookies. And the bags and matching stickers are by Wilton. I'm also a baker and had these for real cookies but I think they turned out really cute. You can make them for any event..birthday's, mother and father's day...put little "coupons" for back rubs or a car wash..anything. How cute would these be for baby showers with sweet little baby colors and poems. <3  Or throw a bunch in a bowl for a party. 
Just cute. :)   Have fun, smile and make someone else smile too.   ~Dawn

 I traced a glass for my 3 1/4" circle. I found this to be the best size. I made a smaller one and it was just too small to manage with thick paper...but it can be done. 1 sheet of 12x12 will make 9 circles.

                                             3 1/4" circle

                                             Ha! I can cut a circle!

 I like to hide the white and add a little color by inking the edges. Both sides.

 Do Not crease but fold the circle in half and ONLY pinch crease the center where your thumb is. Don't crease the whole thing...only the center.

                                             See the little crease...:)

 Now turn it the other way and fold it in half but don't crease it.

 Go to the center where you have the little crease going the other direction and fold it there.  That little crease helps you fold it. :)

 Voile! You have a little fortune cookie. Now before you tape the center make sure it is tight so it will hold your little "fortune"

 I typed up a bunch of phrases from loves poems on colored paper and cut them in strips to fit inside.

Next.... I took a small key tag and a small shipping tag..inked them and placed the sticker on the shipping tag.

 Took some pretty matching ribbon...punched some holes in the bag and laced it through. You can write a name on the tag for giving. :)

That's it!  Easy Peasy....and this is sure to make someone smile. :)  <3