Monday, January 18, 2010

Kitchen Sink Project of the Month - Heartstrings

Today I want to share a fun project which I used to do with my elementary students every year to decorate the class room for Valentine's Day. We would take pretty cords and attach hearts back to back all along the string adding ribbons and beads between the hearts as we went. These were then hung from the ceiling  in anticipation of Valentine's Day.

Well, I think this same concept will work well to create cards or greetings which can be hung from ceilings or in window or door frames to brighten someone's day. Wouldn't one look cheerful over a hospital bed or a new baby's crib! The possibilities are endless!

I'm hanging my Cup of Warm Comfort Heartstring in the narrow space between my calendar and my bulletin board! Now I'm all decorated for Valentine's Day just like the old days in my elementary classroom!

I made the heartstring to the left for my Mother's upcoming birthday. She has an open window frame in her kitchen which will allow the heartstring to spin freely. The back of  "For my Mother" says "with Love". I think she will like it!





       




























For the Valentine heartstring, I put sweet chocolate goodies on the front side and  messages of love on the back!

As you can see, these were made by attaching various size and shape cut outs which I created using my Nestabilities. I started with a pretty cord (I used a silk necklace cord for the birthday heartstring and silver cord for the Valentine heartstring) and tied an overhand knot at the top to create the loop for hanging. Then I just worked my way down the string adding paper pieces to the front and back using Scor-Tape. I added beads between the pieces and attached the bows last after all the pieces were in place.


When securing the front and backs together, I used plenty of Scor-Tape and made certain that it held the string tightly in place to support the weight of the beads and paper pieces.



I hope you can think of someone special who would enjoy a heartstring hanging near them to brighten their day!! Now go make them one!

Recipe for Birthday Heartstring:
Stamps: Hydrangea Multi Step Clear Stamps, Whole Family Clear Stamps, Simple Sentiments Clear Stamps, and Words of Love Clear Stamps by Kitchen Sink Stamps
Papers: Whisper White, Orchid Opulence, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, and Certainly Celery by Stampin' Up
Inks and Layers:  Pansy - Layer 4 - Memento Grape Jelly, Layer 3 -Memento Sweet Plum, Layer 2 - Memento Sweet Plum stamped off once, Layer 1 - Lulu Lavender   Leaves - Layer 1 - SU Certainly Celery
Layer 2 - SU Old Olive stamped off once, Layer 3 - SU Old Olive
Tools: Nestabilities, Scor-Tape, and Oval Punches
Embellishments: Silk Cording, Beads, Ribbon, Rhinestones, Tulle

Recipe for Valentine Heartstring:
Stamps:  Cup of Warm Comfort Multi Step Clear Stamps, Pansy Multi Step Clear Stamps,  and Words of Love Clear Stamps 
Papers: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, and Riding Hood Red by Stampin' Up, Lots o' Love by Little Yellow Bicycle
Inks and Layers: Hot Chocolate Mug - Layer 4- Memento Dark Cocoa, Layer 3 - SU Close to Cocoa, Layer 2 - SU Creamy Caramel, Layer 1 - SU Creamy Caramel stamped off once. Versamark was added to the foam on Layer 4 and embossed with seafoam embossing powder. Versamark reinker was painted on the mug with a paintbrush and embossed with clear embossing powder. Cookies: Layer 4 - Memento Dark Cocoa, Layer 3 - SU Close to Cocoa, Layer 2 - SU Creamy Caramel, Layer 1, SU So Saffron. Pansy - Layer 4 - Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Layer 3 - SU Melon Mambo, Layer 2 - SU Melon Mambo stamped off once, Layer 1 - SU Pretty in Pink.   Leaves - Layer 1 - SU Old Olive stamped off once, Layer 2 - SU Old Olive
Tools: Nestabilities, Scor-Tape
Embellishments: Silver Cord, Ribbon, Rhinestones, Beads

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Each member of the Kitchen Sink Crew has something special to share with you today!! Be sure you check it out!!


19 comments:

  1. Wow, I'm glad I stayed up to see this post. These are fabulous. I think I need to make some for my windows in my dining room. Lynn, you seem to have so many resources with all your years of teaching experience and your wonderful attention to detail!!!

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  2. What a darling little project you've created for us today! I never would have thought to create something like this, but you've enlightened me for sure! Every detail is delicious!!

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  3. Oh, Lynn! This idea is so beautiful! I love all of them! Every single piece of each one is beautiful. I'm very partial to the pink and silver since I pink is my FAV color and I love silver jewelry!

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  4. Wonderful projects, Lynn!! I love them!! I can imagine so many possibilities for these!! You do such wonderful work!!!

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  5. S-w-e-e-t!! What a great idea for anytime of the year!hugz

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  6. WOWZERS, Lynn!! I am at a loss for words...hold on...let me pick my jaw up off the floor!!! These are just sooooo wonderful! What a fab idea!!

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  7. Such a beautiful idea, love all the details you added. These would be perfect for any occasion. I'm sure you're mom will love hers!

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  8. So wonderful Lynn!! What a pretty decoration! I'm sure my children would just LOVE making these - we'll have to give it a try! Thanks for the inspiration!! :)

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  9. WOW Lynn what a GORGEOUS project and FANTASTIC idea!!!! WOW these are awesome thanks for the inspiration sweetie!

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  10. TWO thumbs up!! Love your fabulous project, Lynn!! Beautiful designs and stamped images, too! Thank you for sharing your amazing talent :):)

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  11. What a brilliant idea! (Hope you don't mind if I borrow it for my classroom.) I love the versatility these provide, the possibilities are endless. WOWZA! I can't wait to make my own. Thanks Lynn!

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  12. These are beautiful!! I just love how they look, and will have to make some with kids pictures SOON! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!

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  13. Outstanding project! This is super creative and a great project to add a bit of decoration and cheerfulness this time of year! You have outdone yourself...love it!

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  14. These are such a cool idea! I could see a kid's Sunday school class making these for shut-ins, too! Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!!
    Cindi

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  15. These are such a great idea. Your colours are just lovely too.!

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  16. these are so very cute, lynn! and any of those cute elements would make wonderful cards all by themselves!

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  17. These are just wonderful! They remind me of things I used to make in school - however, mine were not anywhere close to be like these! Just great.

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  18. Lynn, These are wonderful. I'm sure your mother will love the birthday one and how simple and fun to put one together! Thank you for sharing this idea with us all! I may do one this weekend!

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  19. This is just precious! What a really delightful way for a person to enjoy their special occasion!

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