Valentine’s Day Bookcase Mantel with a Felt Heart Garland

Right now we’re in the middle of a wicked cold spell, where braving the cold winds to get to my car feels like a test of my willpower. It is -25°C with the wind chill (that is -13°F for my American friends). Brrrr.

With all the cold, dull, dreary weather outside, I decided to brighten things up a bit inside by decorating the bookcase for Valentine’s Day. I have really been loving the window mirror that I used for fall and Christmas, so I kept it up for this too. It bounces the light around the living room.

I took the dust covers off of some red, white and black books and stacked them up on the bookcase with my growing mercury glass collection. I had to include some of my favourite Jennifer Crusie books. She is one of my favourite chick lit authors – her books always have great heroines, mystery, a little romance, and lots of humour.

I also threw in a little bottle of Ralph Lauren Romance perfume because it seemed appropriate.

For a little last minute festive touch, I made a felt heart garland using some felt scraps and supplies from the craft bin. I love it when I already have all I need on hand for a new project! (That is how I justify saving everything.)

To make the garland, I made a large heart template and small heart template from stiff cardstock. Then I carefully traced it on the felt scraps, and cut out the heart shapes with fabric scissors. Some little hearts were glued to the big ones, and some were left for the garland.

For twine, I used this red and pink ombre string that has been in the craft supplies for years. I think it actually belonged to one of my great aunts, who passed away when I was little. She’d be happy to know that it is still being used!

Using a darning needle, I strung the hearts onto the string in a somewhat random pattern.

I put a little craft glue on the back of the holes to keep the string in place

Rather than putting it up as one long garland, I cut it into three smaller garlands for the mirror and strung them up individually, to give the illusion that it was one long piece.