This Valentines day I have definitely bitten off more than I can chew, I usually don't take on projects like these. It just so happens to be my oldest daughter's last year in elementary school, and my youngest daughter's first Valentines day in pre school. So I figured why not make it extra special for both of them.

Earlier this month I posted the Valentines day bookmarks we made for my oldest daughter- they turned out so cute! For the how-to and template check out my blog post here.  For my youngest daughter we did salt dough necklaces, then of course for their teachers, we did these fun nail polish gifts...of course we decorated the bottles with... buttons!

The salt dough is a fun project you can do with your kiddos anytime, and even make ornaments at Christmas time. Here's what you'll need~
Ingredients

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup of salt
• UP to one cup of warm water
• Buttons & Bakers String

1.) Mix your ingredients – adding the warm water gradually until you have a smooth dough. If it gets too wet, just add a little more flour.
2) Roll out and cut out some hearts – in different sizes. Place on a baking tray.
3) Using a toothpick make holes for hanging later.
4) Place in the oven at a 100C. After 5min, “repoke” the holes for hanging (they may close up) and turn. Repeat 2-3 times. Then leave in the oven for 3-4 hours. In summer, these will EASILY dry outdoors in the hot sun. You CAN bake them at a higher temperature, but take care that a) they do not bubble and b) don’t brown at the edges (or completely burn them like I did). Patience is best though.  If you do end up burning them, you can spray paint them. :)
5) Once fully dry (you may want to wait a few days). Take some bakers twin or other string. Add some cellotape to the ends – a bit like shoe laces to make threading easier…. then thread your buttons onto the twine and through the hearts.

DONE! Pretty pretty pretty!

You can find gold nail polish at any $1 Store.  We took some gold heart buttons, hot glued them to the bottle, took bakers twine to attach the tag, and, there you have it!  

This week I am excited to share a guest blog post from fellow blogger, Alice Robertson, of A Tidy Home.  Be sure to visit her website for great organizational tips for your home.

You’ve spent countless hours perusing Pinterest and gazing in awe at all the gorgeous home office spaces, but they all seem to be designed with two things in mind: a big budget and big space. Unfortunately, you have neither of those things, leaving you wondering if you’ll be destined to use the living room couch as your makeshift desk. Fear not; there are plenty of ways to create a fully functional home office with limited space, all without forking out a ton of cash.

Get Creative With Your Office Location
Building an extra room will cost you a pretty penny, but utilizing the space you already have won’t. There are several creative places where you can squeeze in an office. If you have a spare closet, convert it into a small office space and use the shelving at the top as bonus storage. Perhaps your home has a random nook or corner that a desk could easily fit into. Think about rooms you never seem to use such as the dining room or a child’s playroom. You eat most of your meals in the kitchen or on the couch, and the toys end up in the living room anyways, so make use of this space however you can. The fact that you aren’t building on an addition paired with a small space equals savings that can be used to furnish and decorate your home office. If you’re having trouble picturing it, these home office photos courtesy of Apartment Therapy will get your creative juices flowing.
​
Stick to the Essentials
Once you’ve got a space carved out, it’s time to start filling it with the essentials, but if you aren’t careful costs can add up quickly. To maximize savings, scour your house for things you already have such as office supplies, desk lamps, and décor. Check out your local thrift store to find unique and affordable items, and personalize your space with DIY touches. Of course, there’s no need to count out the chain office stores as long as you know how to make them work for you. For example, you can fill your office with many of the supplies and technology you need by shopping at stores like Best Buy. Before you go, do your homework and look for Best Buy coupons and promo codes to help you save money, and make note of any upcoming sales. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and family via word of mouth or social media to inquire about any unused office supplies they are looking to part with for free or a fair price.

Focus on Productivity
It’s easy to get caught up designing your office space, but don’t forget about its ultimate purpose – providing you with a productive, distraction-free workspace. Clutter makes an office feel chaotic and stressful, making it hard to focus. Having the right desk, chair, and office technology is important, but proper storage is right up there too. Thankfully, storage is an area you can DIY, and it’s budget-friendly too. Install wall shelving above your desk and paint or wallpaper the wall to add a pop of color. Use storage containers in various sizes to keep your desk and office area neat, and don’t forget about desk organizers to prevent drawers from becoming a chaotic mess.

Comfort plays into productivity as well, so invest in things that truly make a difference such as an ergonomic office chair, extra lighting, or a diffuser filled with your favorite scent. Keep in mind that working from home is filled with distractions, so take advantage of tech tools that keep you focused such as a social media blocker, sound machine apps to block out noise, and a digital to-do list to hold you accountable.
 
There’s no reason to let your small space and budget keep you from having the home office you want and need. You might have to get a little creative with the location, but it’s all part of the fun. All you need is an idea and a budget-friendly mindset, and you’ll be setting up shop in your office in no time.
 
 
 

My dear friend Lori, bless her heart because this friend of mine has everything you could ever imagine when it comes to arts and crafts. A few years ago she showed up at my store with a huge box filled with buttons she no longer wanted. Hundreds, actually THOUSANDS of buttons. As the years have passed those buttons have sat in a cabinet in my store waiting to be used. Finally I found a use, or maybe a few.

​I typically don't decorate for Valentine's day at home or at my store. However this year I wanted to get back to the part of my business where I was when I first started; creating more, trying new things, and not just for monetary gain but for the peace it brings me when I'm doing it. So, I pulled out that box of buttons this week and just let my creativity go.

After a few cute Valentine flower arrangments, I started to look for some other fun ideas courtesy of Pinterest, and stumbled upon some cute bookmark ideas made with paperclips, except the bookmarks were made with cloth hearts. So with the help of my two daughters, we dug through that box of buttons looking for every heart shaped button there was, and there were A LOT! After a few hours and a lot of hot glue, the bookmarks were modified and complete. Not too mention how much fun we had looking through thousands of buttons.

​What things do you have laying around your home that could be used to create something beautiful and fun?

Valentine bookmark tags courtesy of The Mama Diaries Blog