Garlands

I have seen garlands made from Scrapbooking supplies here and there... I had hoped to make one at Christmas time - but, time got away from me. So I made one for Valentines Day.
Before I started I needed a plan .. so I measured the width of our Fireplace and added some extra lenght for swoops and dips. Then I decided to use put my message on large tags. I cut these from manilla file folders and then scrunched each tag up in a ball and smoothed it flat before applying walnut ink.

While the walnut ink dried I used Basic Grey letters as templates and traced and cut out the Be Mine letters. Then I had a blast making each tag. All the patterned paper I used as well as the chipboard buttons are all by Cosmo Cricket. I added some old text from an old book and inked and stained and sanded my way to romantic aged effect.

I really enjoyed making the different bottoms to each tag and picking out the ribbons to adorn each letter.
While I had a idea.. I wasn't sure what it would look like all put together until I actually had it hanging up on the mantle. It's a decoration I am sure to put away and bring out each Valentine's Day for years to come.