I heart you bunting frame.

Wait a second - who is that little twerp in the frame? Why that's me! As part of My Aqua Valentine, I decided to dress up a $1 frame with a love message on chipboard "bunting." I used items completely from my stash, so this cost me $1 total. I realize not everyone has little bunting flags, but actually, these are worth purchasing because they are so stinkin' cute. So cute that I needed to use them as soon as possible.

I liked using the scalloped versus non-scalloped flags. And I got to use my very favorite FolkArt color, Patina. The result is a frame I really like - and might keep out past Valentine's Day. It would also make a great gift. To make one for yourself, keep reading.

Gather These Supplies

$1 square wood frame
FolkArt acrylic paint - Silver Sterling, Patina, Titanium White
Martha Stewart crafts - typewriter alphabet stencil set
Maya Road Mixed Scallop Mini Pennant Banner Set
Mod Podge Satin
Paintbrush
Small stencil brush
Craft glue
Thin white ribbon

Supplies! I love Patina so much that I have tons of bottles.

Paint all of the flags with Patina, then let them dry.

Paint the frame with Silver Sterling. You'll have to give it a few coats, but then it will shine brightly.

Use the typewriter stencils and white paint to add the lettering of your choice to the flags. I didn't even use tape - I just held the stencil in place and then used the small stencil brush to lightly paint on the lettering.

I sealed all of the flags with Mod Podge and glued the heart shape onto the single, un-stenciled flag (the heart shape comes with the flags).

You'll want super thin ribbon to fit through the holes. Figure out what length you are going to use, cut the ribbon and string it through the pennants.

Glue everything down and let it dry.

I'm so pleased with my frame, and I love the mini-bunting. Now to find the right recipient . . .

If you are a beginning Mod Podger, I highly recommend starting with a frame. Click here for tons of posts that include Mod Podged frames.

Click the image above to visit more Aqua Valentine projects.

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Valentine's Day love arrow 14 wreath.

I'm going for simple projects this Valentine's season - projects that also dispel the myth that only pink and red are good for the holiday. There are other colors that also work, like aqua . . . in my humble opinion. For My Aqua Valentine I've tried to keep my projects a bit more simple, and so far, so good. One of my favorites that I've done is this love arrow 14 wreath. With a little typography action. Because I love typography.

I also used a surprising ingredient (no, not baker's twine). I have to give credit to my friend Julie Lewis for showing me how to use it . . . keep reading to find out what it is.

Gather These Supplies

Green floral wreath, 10"
Mod Podge Matte
Martha Stewart acrylic paint - Metallic Gold, Wedding Cake
FolkArt acrylic paint - Aqua
Wood circle - 2"
Wood dowel rod - 3/16" and at least 16" long
Something to saw the dowel, something to sand it
Baker's twine - turquoise
Paintbrush - a flat brush and also a detail brush
Scissors
Craft glue
Transfer paper
Stylus
Stencil tape
The number "14" printed out in the font of your choice to fit the wood circle
and . . . .

white craft foam!! (the secret ingredient)

Here are all the goodies. Well, most of them.

Spend some time painting your wreath form. Because turning green to white will take time! I probably should have used white primer first, but I didn't have some on me. So if you don't either, just expect to do several coats.

While the paint is drying, cut the dowel rod to fit and then sand the ends. I used an X-Acto to cut which I don't recommend.

Poke holes in your wreath with some sort of pokey tool. A stylus will work if it's thin enough - I used a mechanical pencil. It has to be big enough to insert the dowel through.

Once you get the holes big enough, push the dowel through to get the "stuff" in the holes out of there. Then touch up around the edges with white paint because you might be able to see a bit of green.

So here's the "14" I wanted to use. I recommend a circus-y font. Because they are cool looking. You can do a web search for one and easily find a font just like this.

Paint your wood circle with aqua and let it dry.

Now you will transfer the "14" to the wood circle using transfer paper. Place the paper shiny side down on top of the circle, then tape the 14 on top of it. Use the stencil to trace the outlines.

See? The 14 is transferred, and now you can paint it! It will take a bit, but just be patient. Fill in the 14 with white paint, and make sure to use a detail brush.

While you are waiting for the 14 to dry, wrap the wreath with baker's twine. Glue the ends to the back.

Mod Podge the wood circle to seal (now that it's dry). You can seal the wreath as well, so that if something touches it, the white paint doesn't chip off and show green.

Here's where the FOAM comes in! It's the arrowhead and tail pieces. Can you believe it? Thanks Julie! Draw an arrowhead and two tail pieces, then cut out with scissors or a craft knife.

Paint the pieces gold. Can you believe you can paint craft foam? I know!

Glue the arrow pieces to the dowel and the circle to the wreath. Let everything dry for 24 hours before hanging.

Very simple, very modern. I love.

Click on the pic above to visit more aqua Valentine's Day projects (okay, not all aqua, but shades of it).

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Gold beaded heart and aqua fabric pendant necklace.

I'm a hugenormous fan of Martha Stewart's microbeads. I've used them on bangles, rings and a pendant. I have every single color, if that tells you something. When I decided to do "My Aqua Valentine," I knew that I wanted to do a pendant - and I thought gold would go perfectly with aqua. It didn't take long to come with this fabric pendant necklace, and you're doing to love making one for yourself because it is SO easy. You'll want to make these for all of your friends.

Gather These Supplies

2" wood pendant base from DIY Bangles
Martha Stewart acrylic paint - Wedding Cake
Mod Podge Matte
Martha Stewart microbeads - Florentine Gold
Fabric in aqua
Craft glue
Paintbrush
Scissors
Push pin
Silver findings to make a necklace - jump ring and chain

Paint the pendant with white. Give it several coats and let it dry.

While your pendant is drying, coat your fabric with Mod Podge Matte. You don't need to use Fabric Mod Podge because it's a piece of jewelry. Remember that the Mod Podge will help keep the fabric from fraying when you cut it.

Paint Mod Podge Matte on top of your pendant. Make sure it's a relatively thick coat.

Smooth the fabric down over the pendant. Keep smoothing until fabric is down on the entire pendant. If Mod Podge comes out the sides, just wipe it away with your paintbrush. Let it dry.

Cut the fabric off very closely around the pendant. If some of the edges are coming up, just reapplying the Mod Podge, smooth down and let it dry.

Use a pin to push through the pendant hole. and move it around to make it wider.

Place your pendant in an area where you can catch the microbeads and then make a little craft glue heart (I did it freehand).

Sprinkle the microbeads onto the glue. Let the glue dry for several hours and then tap off the excess microbeads. Add the findings to finish.

Behold, your new pendant necklace. A gift? Perhaps. But definitely make one for yourself. Either way, click below to enjoy more aqua valentine projects.

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Aqua button and heart canvas.

Most of you know I love buttons. So to celebrate "My Aqua Valentine," I decided to do another one of my button canvases - in none other than . . . turquoise. Wouldn't this make some fun wall art or a mantel display? As you can see down in the lower left, there is a blingy little heart:

If you are traditional Valentine's Day person, you can do this in pink or red, but of course I encourage a shade of blue since that is the theme. Here's how to make it.

Gather These Supplies

10" x 10" blank canvas
FolkArt acrylic paint - Titanium White, Turquoise
FolkArt Extreme Glitter - Aqua
Mod Podge Matte
Buttons - lots of them in the colors of your choice
Wood heart piece
Craft glue
Stencil tape
Paintbrush and/or foam spouncer
Ruler
Pencil
Craft knife

Paint the canvas white. A canvas typically comes un-prepped, so you are preparing the surface by painting it. Let it dry.

I wanted a border around the edge of my canvas, so I used a ruler, pencil and stencil tape to make one. The border was 1/4" inside the rim of the canvas, and it was 1/4" wide. Use a pencil to mark where the tape should go, then tape just on the outside of the pencil marks. That way, when you paint, you cover the pencil marks.

I overlapped the tape at each intersection.

Then I used my craft knife to trim away the excess stencil tape. Be sure not to cut through the canvas.

Use a spouncer or paint brush to paint your border. Give several coats and peel up the stencil tape while still wet. Then let the paint dry.

Seal the canvas with a coat of Mod Podge.

Use buttons to lay out your wreath pattern. This takes some time, but it's fun.

Glue each button down separately. If you have shaky fingers like I do, then tweezers help you pick out the tiny buttons and then put them back in (with a dab of glue).

Paint your wooden heart with a coat of Turquoise. Let it dry and then paint three coats of Extreme Glitter over the top. Glue your heart to a spot on the wreath.

Let everything dry before displaying your button wreath. I'm loving all the aqua and turquoise in my life right now.

Come back for more My Aqua Valentine projects all this week.

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