The Macs

Friday, February 10, 2012

happy heart banner {a tutorial}

I wanted to think of some Valentine decorations that Levi could help me make his year. I came up with a watercolor heart banner that was inspired by these watercolor animal silhouettes. We will definitely have to make the animal silhouettes in the future...a little more boyish. But since it is February, we made heart silhouettes instead and strung them together to make a happy heart banner.

Here is what you need:

watercolors & paintbrush
white paper or cardstock
construction paper (for heart cutouts)
scissors/paper cutter
hole punch
bakers twine or string
tape

Before you call in your busy toddler, cut out the hearts and pennant shapes for the banner. But if your house is like mine, your busy toddler will notice and say, "What doin' Mama?". And then he will want to help. :)

If you need something to do with your leftover heart strips, check out these hanging heart charms. So fun and simple.

Now kiss all the hearts while your mama finishes getting everything ready.

Tape one heart onto each pennant shape. I used painters tape and it worked great. It stuck well enough that the hearts didn't move while we were painting, but came right off without tearing the paper when we were done.

Now paint away! We had some new paints, so I just took out the reds and pinks so that Levi would only use those colors.

Levi did really well until he decided he actually preferred painting with water and not paint. Lots of water.

And then he decided he needed to taste the water too. Nice red lips, dude.

He made it through three hearts and then he was done. The ones he got too much water on bled through a little and the heart shape wasn't as defined, but I love that because I know which ones are his! The colors are brighter and the heart is more defined the less water you use. Next time I will just give him some paper when he is done and he can paint with water to his little hearts content. Why didn't I think of that before??

I finished up the rest of the painting and then we left them on the table to dry.

When they are dry peel off the construction paper hearts and this is how they should look.

Punch holes in the top corners and string the hearts onto the twine. I used a small hole punch and strung the twine through with a crochet needle.

And now you have a happy heart banner...that even your toddler can help you make.

When Levi took his nap I couldn't help but paint a little more. You know, because I am well rested and have so much free time these days! This time I made a turquoise happy heart banner.

A certain little boy has been going through a very whiny stage lately. Oh man, it is hard to figure out how to teach kids not to whine...at least it is hard for me! We have been talking a lot about having a happy heart, not a whiny heart. That we need to be thankful and cheerful because God has blessed us SO much.

We are working on memorizing this verse while we eat breakfast in the mornings. Sometimes when Levi is in trouble he will repeat to himself, "Have a happy heart, have a happy heart." It is so sweet. But last week when I asked him if he was having a happy heart he told me that Ishama took it. (Ishama and Bobby are his two imaginary friends...that is a whole other blog post.) Ha, ha. Nice try, Levi. I hope you get your happy heart back soon!

We hung two of the banners in the kitchen for our cousin party next week and took one to the cemetery for Sissy. Now there are happy hearts hanging all around. And every time Levi walks through the kitchen he is reminded to have a happy heart...a good reminder for me too!

Have a happy weekend!

39 Comments:

Blogger Kimberly said...

So precious ... this post made my heart happy! Thanks for sharing :)

February 10, 2012 at 10:03 PM  
Blogger Alexis said...

Such a perfect post! The "not perfect hearts" are the best! Your little guys are just too cute! I can't wait to do projects like this with my little guy.

February 10, 2012 at 11:28 PM  
Blogger Kimberley said...

so sweet!!! i love it!!! and i love that you called cora sissy! precious!!!

February 10, 2012 at 11:57 PM  
Blogger Mum2twopreciousgifts said...

FANTABULOUS post Jess. Love it.

I am the world's MOST uncreative person. Maybe that is somehow related to the fact that I'm an Accountant?

BUT, whatever is in the water in Kansas with the creativity that you and Meg and Julie have makes me so jealous.

Well done on the painting Levi!

Michelle from Australia :)

February 11, 2012 at 1:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What an adorable post! :)
~Melissa

February 11, 2012 at 8:11 AM  
Anonymous Melanie Martini said...

Adorable! I love this post. :-) You have certainly helped me start my day with a 'happy heart'.

February 11, 2012 at 8:51 AM  
Blogger Andrea said...

Such a beautiful post - reading the proverbs cheered my heart :) Remembering Cora with you too.

February 11, 2012 at 9:41 AM  
Blogger Meggie said...

Love this! You are so creative and crafty. I want to be more like that! Maybe one day...

Also loved the verse to memorize, especially as a good reminder to a toddler not to whine (and me too if I'm being honest!). I think we'll start memorizing that one today. =) Thanks for sharing!

February 11, 2012 at 9:59 AM  
Blogger Kristi REDISKE said...

Loved this-it would be fun to do this with my grandkiddos! I also want to make the chalkboard-I know you made a post on how to make that-is there a way to see that again? I can't remember when it was. I also agree with Kimberley in her comment that i loved seeing you call cora sissy-so sweet! Praying for your family this week and all the others weeks too-:)

February 11, 2012 at 12:33 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I just love this post! Yours & Levi's heart banner turned out just perfect! Love how you let him get right in there & let him help you! :)
Happy Valentines Day to you & your sweet family. :)rillstat

February 11, 2012 at 2:05 PM  
Blogger Kelly Ford said...

How cute! Your boys are so lucky to have a mom who likes doing fun crafts :-)

Um, and i'm sure that each time you post something about a particular phase, you get 100 assuming people like me who share advice so feel free to stop reading, but!...

We deal with whinyness alot around here w/ our little girl. The way I handle most things like this is to practice the "right" way to ask for things when she doesnt actually want anything. (ie: "Rhyan, if you wanted to ask mama to read a book to you, you could say in a big girl voice Mommy! Read a book to me, please?!" and then i ask her to repeat in a happy heart kind of tone and she does and i give lots of praise for knowing how to use a big girl tone and not a whiny tone. And then when she IS whiny, i remind her that she knows how to ask like a big girl.

Works for her. Dont know about for your boys :-)

I read somewhere once that babies dont know what "dont whine" means. They have to have an alternative offered to them. I try to remember that she doesnt know it all yet when i'm frustrated.

But seriously, love the banner :-)

February 11, 2012 at 2:12 PM  
Blogger Lauri said...

LOVE the hearts! Your kids are the cutest kids ever! And you must write about the imaginary friends, lol. Love their names, ha! My brother had an imaginary friend named Juan who asked for aqua all the time. He is 37 now, and Im sure he goes in his room and said Juan did it! lol. Happy Valentines Day from NC to your sweet family.

February 11, 2012 at 3:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Seriously Jess! If you weren't so dang sweet, I couldn't even like you. You are too amazing!!! Andi

February 11, 2012 at 5:33 PM  
Blogger Trish said...

what a good reminder for us all! love you creativity :)

February 11, 2012 at 7:59 PM  
Blogger meg duerksen said...

annie will LOVE this.
she is desperate to craft with me....i will show her.
i bet she kisses the hearts too!

February 11, 2012 at 11:21 PM  
Anonymous Web To Print Software said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

February 12, 2012 at 9:11 AM  
Blogger  The Morris Family said...

sywhat a sweet time and memory!!!! They are in our hearts forever!!! ~Joel ~Cora!!

Do you mind me asking where you got your chalkboard or did you make it, if you made it, where do you get the chalk board stuff??

thanks,
Cindy
13blessings@sbcglobal.net (for chalkboard info if you dont mind)

February 12, 2012 at 4:56 PM  
Blogger Rich and Carolyn Dewey said...

Very cute!

February 12, 2012 at 5:08 PM  
Blogger Nicole said...

You are awesome!! Few moms of barely 2 yr olds would even attempt a full-on craft but you rock!! I am in awe. Really I am. Levi is blessed lil man that's for sure! I laughed out loud at the imaginary friend stealing his happy heart. Priceless!

February 12, 2012 at 8:06 PM  
Blogger Nicole said...

You are awesome!! Few moms of barely 2 yr olds would even attempt a full-on craft but you rock!! I am in awe. Really I am. Levi is blessed lil man that's for sure! I laughed out loud at the imaginary friend stealing his happy heart. Priceless!

February 12, 2012 at 8:06 PM  
Blogger Nicole said...

You are awesome!! Few moms of barely 2 yr olds would even attempt a full-on craft but you rock!! I am in awe. Really I am. Levi is blessed lil man that's for sure! I laughed out loud at the imaginary friend stealing his happy heart. Priceless!

February 12, 2012 at 8:07 PM  
Blogger Colleen said...

When my daughter was two, she had two imaginary friends who's name were Tenna and Oka. Then a third one came along named Bella. She blamed everything on them! It was so funny. I've had four kids and she was the only one with imaginary friends. I love reading your blog. Such sweet babies you have.

February 13, 2012 at 9:51 AM  
Blogger Robyn B said...

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but when my guy was about Levi's age, he LOVED the "paint with water" books. Did you ever do those? Seems like he would like it, since all he has to do is dip his littel brush in water, and then "paint" the page and colors magically appear!

February 13, 2012 at 10:16 AM  
Blogger Sarah said...

So cute! Have you ever done a blog post on how you did your big chalk board?

February 13, 2012 at 11:31 AM  
Blogger Susan said...

Oh my, how neat!! I posted a picture with that exact scripture on my blog.

February 13, 2012 at 1:16 PM  
Anonymous Sarah Whitworth said...

My grandmother used to let us 'paint' outside at her house. We each got a container of water and 'real' paintbrushes--bigger ones-- and we 'painted' the sidewalk and the outside of her house with water. We loved it! Your story of Levi painting with water reminded me.

February 13, 2012 at 4:13 PM  
Anonymous Karina said...

So simple, so lovely! And you are such a good mama for letting Levi paint...I still have a hard time with that!

I'm sorry I didn't stop in to hug you (at least through the computer) on your anniversary of Cora's passing...Still think of her a lot and can't believe it's been another year.

February 13, 2012 at 7:20 PM  
Blogger Grace Halsey said...

This was a great project for my kids--they loved it! Your blog is so encouraging. Thank you for taking the time to write!

February 14, 2012 at 7:53 AM  
Blogger Rob and Andrea said...

Jess, I just adore your creative style! I don't know what you might call your decorating style, but I just LOVE it! We have been in our house for 3 years now and while I love our house, I feel like everything is too matchy-matchy. I really desire a look that coordinates instead of "matches" with lots of personal touches! I am slowly changing things here and there. Thanks for sharing all of your creative ideas :)

February 14, 2012 at 8:00 PM  
Anonymous Kate@SongsKateSang said...

Amen.

February 15, 2012 at 3:13 PM  
Anonymous Heather said...

I Love Love you chalkboard wall!! {and the banner and the scripture and the little chairs} Was your wall photographed for Petunia Pickle bottom? Thought it looked like the same one on their facebook page.

Just found your blog...recommending it to friends :)

February 15, 2012 at 5:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Super cute!! So fun :-)

Just another idea...on a hot summer day, my little ones love to paint the sidewalk and drivway with water and large brushes. No paint! Just a bucket of water and some $2 brushes from Walmart. Lots of fun, no mess besides water and a great way to stay cool in the summer :-)

Blessings-
Elisabeth in Murrieta, CA

February 15, 2012 at 9:30 PM  
Blogger Ranee Brokaw said...

so cute! i had to try it with my son...we even did a little blog post of our own about some of our valentine projects including this one! the verse made me smile too...we need some reminders about the whining trouble from time to time as well! :)

February 17, 2012 at 8:16 PM  
Blogger Heather at Happy Chippy Junk said...

Love the chalk board and EVERYTHING around it. It is now my wall paper on my computer. So sweet!

February 19, 2012 at 11:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have that little red chair and my grandma bought it at an auction IN KANSAS. I wonder if they belonged together long ago.

February 25, 2012 at 6:46 PM  
Blogger 4cutekids said...

love love love this.....where did you find this chalkboard? Love this blog ... One of my fav blog pages I have got a lot of ideas here...

February 26, 2012 at 10:53 PM  
Blogger Rikelle said...

Love the chalkboard. Such an important thing to remember

February 28, 2012 at 10:12 PM  
Anonymous banner printing said...

The design of banners by continued experimentation from every pictorial presentation.

March 14, 2012 at 4:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LOVE!!!!

March 18, 2012 at 8:41 AM  

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