Sunday, January 16, 2011

Valentine's Garland

We were getting out the Valentine's Day decorations with the kids yesterday, and my wife was wishing we had a garland. She asked me if I wanted to make one for her present this year. I've never made a garland before, but I had to try! It was quite fun to make, although I have no idea if I did it correctly. I cut some hearts out of felt, then sewed the backs to some ribbon, and top stitched a small heart on the top. It worked pretty well, but if any of you have some garland tips, I'd love to hear them!






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36 comments:

  1. cateohJanuary 16, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    I don't think you need any tips- this is fab and your wife will love it!

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  2. JannetteJanuary 16, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    Looks lovely to me! We usually don't celebrate Valentine's day as much overhere in the UK, but this looks like a lovely thing to do..

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  3. Dorothy KuehnelJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    OOOOH, your mommy would like one too!
    Really though, I will just come over and enjoy yours.

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  4. SamJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    Looks wonderful! I like the way you cleverly hid the stiching-to-ribbon bit under the topstitched heart.
    That's the kind of thing I would only think of, once I'd finished ;-)

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  5. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    Sweet gift.

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  6. Complete Kitchens ColoradoJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    Really nice! Looks awfully hard to straight stitch the big heart on to that tiny tiny ribbon - a zig zag stitch might allow more room for misalignment ('cause I'm pretty sure I can not align).

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  7. Tasha EarlyJanuary 16, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    It's just perfect!

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  8. JessJanuary 16, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    Sweet as can be!

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  9. MarisaJanuary 16, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Looks perfect, Joel! You did a great job. :)

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  10. Joel HenriquesJanuary 16, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Thanks everybody! (And thanks mom!)

    Complete Kitchens Colorado - I was thinking on a zig-zag for the back too, but with the small ribbon, I thought it might zig-zag over both sides of the ribbon and not secure it in place. I probably should have done a small zig-zag though and it would have been easier. Next time!

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  11. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    I've just discovered your blog and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!

    I'm in school to become an early childhood educator and am so inspired by your creativity, thriftiness, and inovative ideas :)

    Sharing your blog with my family and friends!

    Keep up the amazing work!

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  12. la.daridariJanuary 17, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    how romantic!

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  13. UnknownJanuary 17, 2011 at 12:31 AM

    I am impressed. Really a nice garland and then think about that it was your first time!! Creativity has no limit!!

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  14. Claudia - La Casa nella PrateriaJanuary 17, 2011 at 12:59 AM

    That is just lovely!

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  15. 'Joyce'January 17, 2011 at 2:13 AM

    Joel - congrats, this is just lovely. We don't celebrate Valentines here at our house, however, now you have posted this, then I think we just might start. It's mainly the whole commercial side of Valentines we don't swing with. I think a lovely heart garland is perfecto! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  16. AmyJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:38 AM

    The garland is just beautiful!

    Just a tip, it looks like you sewed these in the middles of the hearts, and that could make them prone to tipping over. Sew them more toward the tops, so the bottoms will be heavier and they'll all stay upright.

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  17. Pancakes For RecessJanuary 17, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    So so so pretty!

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  18. Steph at ModernParentsMessyKids.comJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    Looks great - now I have an idea for all my felt stocking scraps. Thanks.

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  19. Joel HenriquesJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    Thanks everyone!

    'Joyce' - Yes, we prefer a quiet dinner in as well!

    Amy - Thanks. Yes, if these aren't against a wall (or mirror, which is where they are currently), then they tip a bit. Next time I'm going a little higher up on the shape.

    Steph at ModernParentsMessyKids.com - Good point! It would be fun to make one with miscellaneous scrap shapes. Just have it be abstract. I can see how people can get hooked on making garlands. Very fun!

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  20. UnknownJanuary 17, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    This is so cute! I made a garland with scrap shapes for Valentine's Day this year, too, but I just handstitched fabric and backed it with felt. I used a really wide running stitch across each of the hearts. Mine's in shades of blue and purple to contrast the red embroidery floss. Check it out on my blog!

    http://ofcatsandcrafts.blogspot.com/2011/01/patchwork-heart-garland.html

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  21. Catherine FowlerJanuary 17, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    I like it a lot. I have some I'd like to make something like this for. And I have sut-out flet hearts from last year because I made these cute little heart pins that I saw on Purl bee. I just kept some in my pocket and would give to friends or check out people who were nice. I handstitched mine last year but I think on the machine would be more fun and quick. http://www.purlbee.com/valentine-heart-pins/

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  22. LadyJJanuary 17, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    Oh so Pretty. I would cheat and use wider ribbon to make it easier to catch. Oh and you could have ribbon hanging down from a few with extra hearts hanging down. Cute I may have to make one.

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  23. Its_LilyJanuary 19, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    Hi Joel - this is beautiful and I don't think you need any hints for making this better. It's perfect. I also made a garland out of burlap. See here: http://appointmentbychance.blogspot.com/2011/01/make-it-simple.html

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  24. Tonya GunnJanuary 19, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    Looks great!

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  25. rachelle | tinkerlabJanuary 19, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    These are so cute, and I imagine your wife loves them. And your photos are divine, as usual! I'm stockpiling valentines ideas, and this is a winner :)

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  26. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2011 at 2:19 AM

    lovely garland!
    check out these findings:
    http://justsomethingimade.com/2009/08/pennant-rubber-stamp-roller/
    or
    http://twirlingbetty.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/mini-fabric-bunting-a-tutorial/

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  27. Open Door StudioJanuary 20, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    Just found your blog and I'm in love with all of your creative projects! It's got my wheels in my head moving. Very inspiring and love your block of wood/ branches post. I have alot of extra wood laying around and could put it to go use!!

    Thanks!

    http://theopendoorstudio.blogspot.com/

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  28. léaC75January 20, 2011 at 12:04 PM

    rhooo how cut it is!!

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  29. Nath46January 21, 2011 at 2:22 AM

    It is SO NICE !!! I love it !

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  30. papermintiesJanuary 21, 2011 at 3:03 AM

    Lovely, lovely project as usual! Since I love working with paper, I would make a paper garland with your felt garland as inspiration! = ) I like how you used black - some would shy away from black for V-day decor! =) Needless to say, great job! ;-)

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  31. MammaGiochiamo?January 21, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Ho una sorpresa per te qui http://mammagiochiamo.blogspot.com/2011/01/sunschine-award-2011-winner-is.html

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  32. WinterkindJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    How cute!!!!

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  33. piefaceJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    Garlands are like the gateway craft, right? Like once you start, you just want to make one for every season, holiday, day of the week, etc. And of course you can stop whenever you want to.
    I've found that using bias tape as the rope works really well, because then you can sandwich the hangy items and just sew the side of the bias tape together and everything is pert secure. Does that make any sense?

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  34. Joel HenriquesJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Thanks everyone!

    pieface - Yes! And also, great tip with the bias tape! I was totally thinking that there must be an easier way, and that's it. Nice!

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  35. papermintiesJanuary 30, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    Because the black, red and white V-day decor inspired me, I'm doing an Alice in Wonderland's Queen of Hearts theme for our class Bulletin Board for the month of Feb! =) I have never been a fan of the usual red+pink combos! So thank you, thank you!

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  36. aMa wedding photography from ItalyFebruary 13, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    Nice creative idea: I'd love to try it out!

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