Just as Lotti discovered a new use for tea towels, I wanted to remind you for today's I Love Valentines Craft Challenge of the joy of turning one thing into something else. Which is what craft is all about; turning paper into planes, fabric into skirts, flour into cakes and so on. But today I mean quirkier, and quicker, tricks and turns; like making plastic pirate coins into earrings, and felt coasters into brooches.
Dollar Stores have their fair share of trash and treasure; the trick is trying to decide which is which. During my last saunter through my local I came across a set of 4 bright purple felt coasters. They were cheap enough to take a punt on, and no; they don't make the best of coasters - but - they are gorgeously coloured and tactile objects in their own right. So of course; I crafted with them!
Whilst I hope to put the floral-butterfly edge to good use for a future fairy-party, in the meantime, I hijacked one of the coasters for a slightly different Valentine's craft. Firstly I added a pirate coin and heart-shaped sticker gem onto the middle of felt coaster. I love that you can still see the cross-bones poking out from behind the heart, sort of like a cupid's double-crossed-arrows. I then placed two more two heart shaped sticker-gems onto plastic pirate coins ready for earrings. All I have to do now, time permitting, is attach a brooch-pin to the back of the felt coaster, and stick the coins onto blank studs which I'll pick up on my next craft-store visit.
A new set of Valentines jewelry in under 15 minutes - gotta love that!