2. Hawk any and all crayons in the red/pink family.
3. While you're at it, grab anything orangey or purplish, because variety is the spice of life and the spice of Valentine's Day. (Feel free to send that one off to Hallmark. It's on the house.)
4. Strip those suckers down to their birthday suits.
5. Take 35-50 photographs of the vibrant crayons juxtaposed on your white, well-patinaed table.
6. Consider the fact that "well-patinaed" just doesn't look like a word.
7. Decide, as always, that if it pops up when you Google it, it must be right. It must.
9. Push buttons on your husband's camera that you do not remotely understand.
10. Pray that he forgets to read your blog today.
11. Get out the sharpener and get. to. work.
12. Pull out that cute, vintage mini-muffin tin and separate all of your luscious crayon shavings by color group, because that's just the kind of girl you are.
13. Take 15-25 photos of piles of wax.
14. Daydream about what it would be like to nap upon a pillow of Tickle Me Pink.
16. Cover the ironing board with an ugly towel, because this craft bleeds coolness.
17. Pull out the waxed paper and tear a few long sheets.
18. Sprinkle shavings between two pieces.
19. Iron 'em up.
20. Cool 'em down.
21. Using a Sharpie, free-hand a bunch of hearts all over your cooled-off pretties. Different shapes, different sizes, different personalities.
22. Cut like you mean it.
23. Punch a hole in the top region of each heart (varying the position so some of them hang all wonky-like).
25. Hang them in a happy window at varying lengths.
26. Admire your mad skillz.
28. Realize that all of your gorgeous photographs of wax in its various states - your best work! - have been mysteriously lost forever.
29. Cry a little, at least on the inside.
30. Pick yourself back up, because Valentine's Day is officially less than one month away, and that's something to smile about.
Vi-ola!
An inexpensive V-Day craft in just 30 Easy Steps!
OMG I love this project! Stopping by to say HI! How is the book coming along? Can't wait to see you in print! Have a wonderful day !Lulu
ReplyDeleteOh what fun Memories! I did these about 10 years ago! Would you believe Martha Stewart had them in her magazine? Not for kid crafting either! She made them look so elegant and had them hung in a living room window!
ReplyDeleteSo festive! In a Valentines-y kind of way. I may steal this idea. I never decorate for V-Day!
ReplyDeleteThose are sooo purdy Shannan. You took some fabulous pics too. I need to do this with my girlies. They would love this craft!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's twice as much work as cleaning my hamster cage!! ;) They look beautiful and sounds like fun to do.
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are to die for. Like.totally.cool.
ReplyDeleteYou spunky, creative funky attitude gave me yet another hidden reason to smile a rejoice again today Shannan. So once again, I thank you. I have decided that once again, when I have found myself lost that for whatever reason...which typically there is always a hidden one...as we all know I have come to find something drawing me in this direction. Thank you again for giving me a reminder today that bleakness is fleeting and that I am surrounded by beauty and numerous reasons to be reminded that in even in the simply things greatness can be found. :)
ReplyDeleteMelted crayon gorgeousness. What more could you ask for in a craft.
ReplyDeletep.s. I'm making some of your garland hearts this weekend.
You've got me in a crafty mood.
Seriously, can't believe we did the same craft in the same week - we are kindred spirits! I will email you a pic of mine...I'm doing one big ol' V-Day decor/craft post on Monday. I'm afraid if I don't email you proof that my project is done, you may just think I copied you again haha! (meant in jest) :) I found this to be quite messy and at first I set my iron too high and crayon wax just oozed everywhere. Then after the 3rd attempt I got my setting right and we were smooth sailing. I just love how they came out. Yours seem to be a bit richer in color than mine though; maybe you used more shavings than I did?
ReplyDeleteI have made these before too. . . so simple, although your creative directions are much more fun than the ones I had, and so pretty.
ReplyDeleteYou are SO the fun mom. I am SO not the fun mom. This is super cute. Sorry 'bout the photos. That kinda blows, huh?
ReplyDeleteI can not believe that you did this craft and posted about it today. I literally have the crayons and waxpaper setting out for us to dive into this project tomorrow. Your hearts turned out so beautiful!!! I love the way you have them hung at different lengths in the window.
ReplyDeletePS I did go to hobby lobby and purchase a big heart punch for the garland!!! I have been saving all my junk mail ever since you posted about it! ;-) Finally something useful to do with junk mail!
Carissa
So what happened to the crayons on the table photos and the crayon shavings photos? I'm pouting with disappointment in not seeing them.
ReplyDeleteGreat craft though! Love it to bits!
What happened to your photos??? Mine are not good and I don't care. Is that bad?? Love the hearts. LOVE the smell of crayons. (crowns)
ReplyDeleteLove the crayon hearts... they look fantabulous in the window! And I bet the smell of melting crayons took you right back to kindegarten, or perhaps first grade?? I know it did for me when I helped my kids make melted crayon art years ago in preschool... Can hardly wait for the 3rd time someday off in my future, with some grandbabies. Or maybe this weekend, just for a little nostalgia.
ReplyDelete~Chris
Hee hee. This totally reminds me of when I made these with my grade 2 class a few years ago. They turned out awesome-ly awesome. But I forgot that 6 year olds don't really know the meaning of delicate.
ReplyDeleteA whole bunch of moms got broken crayon hearts for Mother's Day that year. Wah wah waaaah.
I love your idea way better. I can make them for myself instead.... in pretty Valentine colours, too.....
'cept we used cheese graters? I think the sharpener would've definitely saved some thumbs.
:)
love this! I may just give this a try~
ReplyDeleteYou just made me laugh so hard! I love your witty posts. Those hearts are gorgeous too and I think I'll try to make some tomorrow! Thanks for the idea! :D
ReplyDeletei'll be doing this for sure!...that smell of melting crayons is for sure going to remind me of my grade one teacher!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute project, and I love your instructions! I don't have any crayons laying around the house, but I might just go buy some solely for the purpose of this craft. I absolutely love it - and it's so easy to boot!
ReplyDeleteoooooo love this one! i admire your freedom and love for colors
ReplyDeleteThose came out so pretty. I love crayon melts. I love how you have them hanging in the window. Very Valentiney.
ReplyDeleteI adore your Valentine's Day crafts. My mom brought me a heart garland when she came to visit this weekend - now I need to make another to match! And these hearts would look pretty good in the window by kitchen sink. Ooo...fun things to do while Hubby has to work this weekend.
ReplyDeleteThose are so beautiful! I love them... I think I may even make them with my students!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! I love it - sad all your photos got lost?
ReplyDeleteSo simple...so sweet...so Valentine's Day...LOVE 'EM!
ReplyDeleteJan
Oh my goodness! I HEART this. Pun intended of course. I definitely think I will make these. They are so cute and fun, and you draw a pretty mean heart. I mean, a happy heart. I'm shutting up now.
ReplyDeleteGood job!
-FringeGirl
Okay we have tried this craft the last couple years and they never turn out that pretty. Could be because my boys insist that brown is an appropriate Valentine color.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your use of the 'z' in #26. :)
This is really cool. I think your little comments throughout the tutorial are a hoot! I'm really enjoying your blog. I'm glad I'm along for the ride.
ReplyDeleteVery cute...it makes your window very cheery!
ReplyDeletesandy toe
I. Adore. I shant be doing it, cause I haven't a crayon in the house. Now just that statement alone, could make me cry a cup of barren womb tears, but I won't. Strip them down to their birthday suits? My favorite line from this post. Miss you bad. ly?
ReplyDeleteLOVE this post! Makes me smile, makes me laugh, inspires to do this project with my Lilly girl, reminds me of my childhood...seriously....who needs tv when we have blogs.... I am inspired.
ReplyDeleteThankYOU.
I know what I'm doing today! :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, 30 steps is doable. Had you said 31 I would have balked.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful, by the way.
Loved this idea. It provided a whole afternoon of fun for my son and I during a rainy day. I blogged about it at dominicandcaitlin.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post! LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteAmazing how you took a how-to and made it a totally entertaining read. So much I want to comment on in partic, you witty lady, but I will instead paste the first thing I copied here because I liked it and then I saw other things I likes but I didn't want to lose the first 'command c.' Pull out that cute, vintage mini-muffin tin and separate all of your luscious crayon shavings by color group, because that's just the kind of girl you are. Love that.
ReplyDeleteI made these for my classroom. On the window ledges, I placed "Books I Love." Already the students are grabbing them up to borrow. Funny thing is they have been on my shelf this whole time! It was fun to make. You totally have to separate them by color. If you don't you end up with one puky colored heart.
ReplyDeletehttp://marthahasminions.blogspot.com/2011/01/crayon-hearts.html
BEAUTIFUL! and i adore your sweet family photo.
ReplyDeleteI am in <3 with this project! With all the windows in our home this Valentines day will really stand out!
ReplyDeleteI know this is silly but what jumped out at me most about this post was the brass ring-clips on your curtain rod. I've been looking for them everywhere lately and then I see them pop up on your blog! If you dont mind my asking where you got them, I'd greatly appreciate it! Love your posts...always so full of life and refreshing with expression.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Laura
Baby, I'm on this one! The kids will love it.
ReplyDeleteP.S. LOVE your wall-hanging above the window. It makes your whole wall sing.
Love,
Your old friend, Jody
They're beautiful! Tried them this morning with my 3 girls, but when we started cutting them into hearts, the paper pulled away from the melted crayon shavings. I live in Thailand, and could only find parchment paper, not wax paper (are they different?), so is that the problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
ReplyDeleteLaura
Love this! I saw these on the Martha Stewart website, but yours look way better and much more vibrant! Great job!
ReplyDeleteI am kind of disapppointed there are not phots of the crayon shavings :( but the end result is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! Just found your blog and it is super lovely, thanks for all the work you put in to it!
ReplyDeleteSnow day, 4 boys, what to do . . . ? We are decorating for Valentines' day, thanks to your handy post! Just about to cut out some hearts. Thanks for sharing! I wonder if we could do heart garland, too? A simplified, construction paper version might work.
ReplyDeleteI love how these look hanging in your window! I featured this on my friday favorites!
ReplyDeletehttp://lilbitofus.blogspot.com/2011/01/friday-favorites_28.html
Just recently found your blog and I love it!
ReplyDeleteI also love this v-day craft --this is one of the few crafts I actually do--super simple and very pretty. I linked to your blog here http://foodstoragegirl.blogspot.com/ I hope that's ok.
If you don't have crayons laying around, could you buy some type of wax at a craft store for this? Thanks :-)
ReplyDeletei love that even a crafty post by you makes my day.
ReplyDeletecould have looked elsewhere for this...want to try this asap....but knew you'd have the thing i need.
so thanks. and i just noticed your word count changed.
reminded me that i keep meaning to say....i can NOT wait to read.
i love you. happy weekend!