As you know, we've been getting all kinds of press for the valentine crayons that we made several years back, all at a time when we've been trying to figure out what we wanted to do for Valentine's Day this year. Blog traffic is crazy. (Hello, new readers!)
So, you know, no pressure.
You all know that the crayons weren't originally my idea, right? I keep feeling like I need to point that out, like someone will think I am totally cheating if I don't.
But, whatever, we all know I'm totally cheating ALL THE TIME! I was talking to one of my friends last week (on facebook, of course, because everyone also knows that in real life I don't actually socialize with grownups), and she was being all nice and telling me I was amazing (thank you, but no...), and I said, "Leslie, (because that's her name), I'm sure you know that I only do all of this stuff to distract everyone from the fact that I am a complete disaster, right?"
So, there it is. I may have had you all fooled before (except for my mom), but now my secret is out. I am a mess. And, let me tell you a few things about why I am a mess... Wait, look, something sparkly over there!
But, no, seriously. I do love to make things. But I can't take credit for any of it, because I borrow almost every idea I have from elsewhere. There are so many great ideas out there! I am on inspiration overload all of the time. I will literally never have the time to make all of the things I see that I would love to create. I really, really, really love to make things. And I'm just thankful that someone else out there can come up with all of the ideas so that I can steal them! (Because I am handy with tools, and I am a quick learner, but I'm actually not all that creative.)
I was laughing at Ryan last night. We had recruited him to help put together Matthew's valentines for this year's school party, which he was thrilled about, as you can imagine. He's so into crafts, that Ryan. (Actually, he is more crafty than he will admit--last week he built a subwoofer, which is a story for another day...) And he said something like, "Someday, you are going to look back on this, and you are going to wonder why you spent so much time dreaming up complicated projects that second-graders will not appreciate."
And I was like, "No, I KNOW that second-graders will not appreciate it. But I also have this idea that someday my kids will all look back and remember that I spent time each year making something awesome with them instead of buying the same boring store-bought valentines that everyone else gives away."
So, it's not really about the finished project. It's about making memories. And that's the other reason why I do this stuff.
Though, I have to say, the finished project for 2012 is kindof cute...
And it is also another stolen idea! Thank you, Family Fun! You can even download the printable for the iPod face over there. (Our printer is worthless. If you make your own, I hope your iPod face prints out better than mine!)
We had a good time making these. It was a good opportunity to spend an hour teasing Matt about a girl he likes, because he was too busy manning the glue stick to run away.
I know. We're terrible.
But he knows what her favorite pencil is! How cute is that!?? Don't you remember those elementary school crushes, where you totally knew these obscure details about your friends? I don't even know what Ryan's favorite pencil is...
I did stop Ryan from writing extra hearts all over her valentine, which I'm sure would have caused some embarrassment, so I think I should at least get points for that.
