Be Mine * Geek Valentine

Not everyone wants flowers and chocolates on february 14th. In fact, some guys seem to really object to you buying them flowers. I like receiving flowers (this is a rarity in our home, probably because there are no surfaces clear long enough to display a vase?) but buy me a meterorite heart and i'll be yours forever. 

Of course, we would all love something from the stars, and places like etsy are good for beautiful and unique pieces. sometimes cute pieces too.

Robots and binary I LOVE YOU, found here, whats not to love??

But what we love best are those home made tokens that are usually flawed (my imperfections make me adorable, apparently) and/or really really cheesey. Don't be fooled, some of these may be 'kids' valentines but the geek in me LOVES THEM .

well thanks to loads of creatives on line, you can get free printables like this dry wipe love note from 'a night owl blog'.simply print off image, frame it, then tick the boxes with a dry wipe pen to share a different message a day. a fun alternative is to print & frame other messages for dry wipe like 'I love you because..', 'you're the best because...' don't eat my brains today, they taste of...'. well, you get the point.

no pressure, no preparation. well not much, and so much to choose from. like....

this winner from nobiggie.net but for an added dimension you could always add a lightning bolt? and although i couldn't find a link to this snitch i think it would certainly be well within reach of even the least creatives out there.

Eat your heart (or brains) out for this zombie valentine from lolly jane

you might think minecraft is just for kids, and well kids do love it, but so do loads of guys, not to mention a lot of gals,  so hopefully you won't find these too 'creepy'....ha ha ha.... um, sorry about that, couldn't resist.... thanks over the big moon for this treat. they are definitely getting my love!

 

we can thank over the big moon for ninjago loving,    

 

  and if you visit their blog (do it, you know you want to!) you'll also find these amazing sock monkey valentines.

 who could resist some good star wars lovin'? 

i find katie cooks printables Endor-able?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   and yoda best from design wash rinse repeat

 maybe you are more enticed by the darkside?  stitchcraftcreations can help.

I keep seeing these all over pinterest and the who doesn't want a valentine from Gandalf. very printable and any reasonable middle earth woman would be made up, I recon.
 

 Honestly there are so many cool, quirky, and just down right awesome ideas out there that I could have filled a dozen posts. So there's no excuse to find the perfect thing for your one geek love.

 If you are a gamer this last little beauty, the pixilated heart card should give you a boost. And are
wise words indeed....but this is my all time favourite valentines ditty, i wish one of my kids had done it...

cheers

Angie xx

crochet Christmas puddings

 

Alot has been going on in the fox household over the last few months which i will be sure to share very soon. including weddings in london, manchester contemporary craft fair, time exploring Edinburgh and a rather amazing crochet cupcake throw. all exciting stuff i know.
but right now i thought you might like to try a
 quick crochet pattern i put together for christmas puddings. totally inspired by &made's christmas puddings and twinkie chans cupcake garland on rock and roll brides blog.

you'll need

a small amount of double knit  wool in dark brown, cream and red
a small peice of green felt
a tapestry needle
sharpe needle and thread.

in brown
Ch 3 and sl st to first ch to form loop.
Row 1: Ch 2 (acts as your first dc), work 8 more dc into loop. Turn. (9 sts)
Row 2: (Ch 3, tr) in same st, (2 tr) each in next 8 dc. Turn. (18 sts)
Row 3: (Ch 2, dc) in same st, 1 dc in next st. [(2 dc), 1 dc] 8 times. Don’t break off  leave 6inches for sewing together


using twinkie chans cupcake topping -
in cream
ch 3 and sl st to first ch to form loop.
Row 1: Ch 3 (acts as your first dc), work 5 more dc into loop. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 2: (Ch 3, dc) in same st, (2 dc) each in next 5 dc. Turn. (12 sts)
Row 3: (Ch 3, dc) in same st, 1 dc in next st. [(2 dc), 1 dc] 5 times. (18 sts). Don’t break off.
Rotate your completed half-circle clockwise. On the straight edge of this half-circle, you will be working a row of 4 scallops. Imagine breaking the straight edge into 4 quadrants. (Fig.1)

Row 1: Ch 1, (4 dc) into first 1/8, sl st into 2/8. (4 dc) into 3/8, sl st into 4/8. (4 dc) into 5/8, sl st into 6/8. (4 dc) into 7/8, sl st into 2nd ch of the main piece. leave 6inches for sewing.

 turn the icing/frosting right way up and lay over the brown pudding body, using your six inches extra wool and a tapestry needle weave/sew together as pictured.

cut out 2 'holly leaves' from your green felt,

using sharpe needle and thread sew to top of icing/frosting


make a berry to be sewn over leaves
berry in red wool,
Round 1: Ch 2. Work 6 sc into 1 st ch. Sl st to first sc to join.
Round 2: Ch 1,  sc to end. Sl st to first sc to join. cast off leaving 6inches and turn inside out.
stitch over holly leaves. using end wool as needed

to make a christmas tree decoration chain 10 in any colour you like and weave into back of christmas pudding.

or make loads and attach to a chain. i left the space of about 3inches inbetween each pudding but its entirely up to you and what your using it for, where you want to hang it??? for a miniture garland follow instructions but use a 4ply wool and a 2.5 hook. they would look great on cards, as a brooch, or where ever takes your fancy.

merry christmas
xxx

something beautiful (for peas?)

 this has got to be right up there on my wish list! i mean can you think of anything more pleasurable than serving pea's off one of these little beauties??

 me neither.

i'd just spend all my time looking at them!

 spilling peas...

these are the rather delightful creations of  nina from the netherlands. she uses vintage plates as her canvas but not satisfied with this she has fine art collages, cards and other crafty bits on  ninas blog. 

 she had me at the russian dolls!

not only this but nina does a whole personalised range too.

 

an easy way to bring beauty to any dark corners of your home.

you know the ones i'm talking about.

( the slightly dull areas that are void of colour)

   can be found in nina's etsy store.

 

and if anyone is wondering

'what might make a good birthday or christmas present for angie this year??' 

now you know!!!

cheers angie xx

best dad ever 2...

 I realise that fathers day comes every year, so we should have plenty of time to prepare. And with so many awsome things out there choosing what to do should be easy, but if you're a bit of a last minute betty (like me) Here are a few things i found that might make life easier??

i hope these help...

fathers day printable

 fathers day samples

  perfect for pictures from your little ones or messages??

if you feel a little more effort is needed here is an amazing tutorial on leather work

carved leather bracelets here

this tutorial not only shows you how to create word washers but also gives some great ideas for gifts

grandpa keychain tutorial

just incase you have a car enthusiast??

  fathers day carwash kit & cut out picture card.

something else perhaps?? try this...

 photo key holder

and if like me you've spent all your time looking at stuff instead of making it (you know who you are) its amazing what you can do with a stone and a sharpie...

find the original written in stone here 

 there are plenty more out there in blog land. if you have time to look... hopefully next year i'll have had an original thought of my own. 

well, it could happen....