Color Me Happy Heart Pendants with Air Dry Clay

This post brought to you by ACTIVA Products.
Children's Valentine Craft Idea with ACTIVA Hearty ClayYou’ve probably heard me say this a thousand times, but kids love making jewelry.  Here’s a quick idea you can play with that uses washable markers to make colored clay.Making Jewelry with kids ideas using Hearty Clay and cookie cutters. Good Valentine's craftThis is the crafty ingredient list.  Pretty simple!  Use Hearty Clay because it doesn’t crumble and fall apart when it’s dry.  #NoCraftFails 😉Valentines Craft Idea with Air Dry Hearty Clay. Tint the clay with markersGrab a hunk of Hearty Clay and start coloring it with markers.  It’s a good idea to stay with markers in the same color family (i.e.  red and orange or blue and purple).  It’s fun to twist and smoosh the clay and see how the colors marbelize.  Add more color at any point–even right before you roll out for vivid results.Valentines Craft Idea with Air Dry Hearty Clay that shows how to make colored clayPlace your ball of clay between plastic wrap and roll out to approximately 3/8″ thick.
Valentines Craft Idea with Air DryHearty Clay-making heart pendantsCut your shapes out–you’ll need 2 identical ones.
Valentines Craft Idea with Air Dry Clay. Make heart jewelryPlace a straw across the top center of the shape and dab water around the edge.
How to Make Air Dry Clay JewelryGently press the edges together to seal.
Making air dry clay jewelry with Hearty ClayPlace the piece on top of a cup to dry.
Mod Podge Jewelry idea with air dry Hearty Clay and gemsRemove the straw.  You can embellish dried Hearty Clay with all sorts of things–paints, doodles with a marker, or gems like I am here.  I like using Mod Podge to attach the gems.
How to make clay jewelry heart pendantsPush the yarn or cording through the heart pendant.  If the yarn is extra fluffy, you may need the straw to help push it through.
Children's Valentines craft idea--make a necklace with air dry Hearty ClayReady to wear!  I love the possibilities with these bead-like pendants.

Here’s a link to the Hearty Clay at ACTIVA or you should be able to get it at your local craft store.

Happy Valentine’s!

3 DIY Valentine Ideas

3 DIY Valentine Ideas from @candiecooper.I’ve had this project in my stash for almost two years!  It all started when Canson sent a box of their amazing  printable papers.Canson watercolor paperDefinitely the watercolor paper is my favorite to print on, but they come in all sorts of papers.DIY Valentine idea with Canson paperThe first photo I altered in PicMonkey, adding the Polaroid frame.  It came out distressed like this.  So easy to mount with the Canson photo corners onto scrapbook paper.  Then I added the XOXO embellishment.  Sweet and simple.DIY Valentine with photoSame idea here except this time I punched holes around the edge and laced it with chunky yarn.  Lacing.  This simple stitched border makes my heart flutter in all it’s homemade-ness.  Perfect for grandma!Handmade Valentine's IdeaThe last idea is a fave.  My friend sent some scans of a little bug drawing by her daughter, Lily.  I printed them and colored with Koi watercolor markers from Sakura.DIY Valentines with children's artYour kids would have a blast coloring their own art work (obviously)!Hand drawn valentinesBecause these were intended to be Valentines (and that I love layers and hearts and needed an excuse to add more), these little love bugs got a set of heart wings made from scrapbooking paper.Homemade Valentines IdeaMount them on solid paper and you’re ready to rock, Valentine!

Valentine’s Box Idea

Valentine Mailbox Idea from @candiecooperValentine’s day is coming!  I was picking up photos the other day at the drugstore and came to a screeching halt when I looked up to see the wall of valentine treats.  My heart fluttered.  Not gonna lie.  Heart shaped chocolate boxes, tacky silk roses, boxes of valentines and conversation hearts.  Oh. be. still.

This is a project I made a couple years back and I thought I’d share.  It’s a valentine mailbox using a vintage purse.  Something my little self would have loved to collect valentines in.Valentine's Box IdeaIt doesn’t take much:  a purse, some embellishments, ribbon and Mod Podge.  The paint is pretty optional.  If you’re a craft supply hoarder like me, you’ve got the stash ready!Valentines Box with Mod PodgeMod Podge your paper pieces on.  Hot glue til’ ya drop the rest.Valentine's Purse MailboxTie short pieces of ribbon onto the handle and away you go!