FREE printables: Last-minute Valentine's

Maybe you're not super into Valentine's so all you and your lovvie do is cards.... but THEN.... you forget to buy a card, or you make one and it didn't really match your vision, or you buy a risqué one and begin to question your choices.... (all things that have happened to yours truly).

Never fear, Katia is here! Ha - but actually, these are designed to be printable onto a standard 8.5" x 11" printer paper, then folded into quarters, and voila! The design on the front, the text on the inside right. Free and printable from home!

I originally did this cowboy version for my guy:

But I loved the format and the styling of the fire-y borders, and decided I didn't want to limit who could be a handsome devil in my world. So, we have these three versions to suit whomever your hunny is. ENJOY!

How to download your printable Valentine: click the link to be brought to the full sized image, right click and press "save image". Then, print on your printer! Done! Finito!

If you decide to use these, please let me know! I'd love to see these babies printed and out there in the world!

Check out a previous year's Valentine's printable HERE!

xxK

Valentine's Free Printables + Anti-consumer, Inclusive Love.

I had a conversation with my seniors yesterday about Valentine's day. The conversation veered into the topic of consumerism, of exclusive love, and how sad it can be to be the kid in the class who gets no Valentine's cards or candy grams.

While one gentleman argued that love is inherently preferential, he also suggested some ideas for how to love one another, and spread that love beyond just yourselves as a couple. We added to our list of money-free Valentine's celebration ideas: "involve others in co-giving".

My fella and I were coincidentally in line with that this year. We make something for Valentine's day celebrations each year instead of buying anything or going for fancy dinners. This year specifically, we started making a quilt out of my stash of fabric which we will donate to a shelter or other organization once it is finished! I really wanted to continue our tradition of making things, but I really didn't want to accumulate more stuff for myself either. Plus, spreading the love and "co-giving" is a great Valentine's initiative!

So, this year's free printable Valentines include one more "preferential", and one that could be given out to people we love not-romantically, too! I enjoyed testing out some new photoshop brushes for these - what do you think?

Happy Valentines to singles, couples, and all others in between! I send my love to you all!

Valentine's is lame (BUT IM TOTALLY LAME)

I both admire and am horrified by whoever came up with the brilliant marketing scheme that is Valentine's day.

I really appreciate the idea of a day dedicated to love, but I think Valentine's with its reds and pinks and hearts and roses and sparkles and useless teddy bears is a total misconstruction of what "love" is. Sure, a lot of us realize this as we grow up and are no longer forced to make/write a bajillion platonic valentine notes to each of your classmates and maybe give them a lollypop with it so that you give the best valentine out of everyone else. But I think secretly deep down, not a lot of us have entirely let go of this rosy cutesie conditioning.

For example - today I was working on clay masks with kids, and with some of the leftover clay I found myself making a heart shape and wanting to write "A + K" on it for my fella tomorrow. AH. SUBCONSCIOUS WHAT ARE YOU DOING. I guess I'm just a total sucker for love, ok?

So, when I say not a lot of us have let go - I really mean that personally, I still love a little mush gush sometimes. I have a heart next to my fella's name in my phone and keep a little picture of us in accidentally matching outfits next to my bed. I've always had a soft spot for romance in my heart. But I no longer have any interest in buying stuff for one another for Valentine's day. I used to love it though! Maybe it's a change in my perception ever since doing a Year of Thrift and challenging my own thinking about consuming. Mabye it's just not as meaningful to me anymore. I like the idea of a day focused on love, but what I really want is just to do something fun with the one I love and to enjoy dedicated day to spending quality time together. Last year we made a loom together for my weaving, this year we're continuing the tradition of "making" and are going to paint together! I'm excited.

What are your thoughts (honestly) on Valentine's day? Do you still appreciate a little (or big) gift? Fancy dinners?


ps. I also made a valentines collage of two flamingos "kissing", so what does that say about me? LOVE IS ALL AROUND, FRIENDS.

Weekly Photo Capsule .5

This week was stressful, but the weekend has been so very nice!

My sister came home from university Friday and my brother had the day off from school, so we all got a chance to hang out! Then my fella came over Saturday for Valentine's, showing up at the door with a really exotic lookin', colourful bouquet. We spent the day building me a new, more legitimate loom (so far I've been using a tiny frame with crooked nails bashed into it, ha!) and I am soooo excited to use it and make some pretties! We finished off the day with a nice dinner at home, a bottle of red wine, and a Game of Thrones marathon!

The top right photo is of my latest painting for class - remember my bizarre model set up that I shared in last week's photo capsule? Well, this was my interpretation with the model in place!

So, can you tell exactly where I got my inspiration from for the Fun & Affordable DIY Valentine's Date Ideas I shared on the blog last week? Hehe. Tried, tested, and TRUE!

How was your Valentine's? Did you celebrate with others? Celebrate yourself? Do share!

xo

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Happy Valentine's day friends!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to send you guys some love and let you all know how much I appreciate your visiting my little corner of the net now and then. I've really enjoyed forging little relationships with you guys through yours and my blogs over the last two months, and I hope you all have a great Valentine's day and, if not celebrating with someone else, celebrate with on your own and give yourself some love! Love love love!


I also doodled this Valentine's themed mandala the other day. (This is just a snippet though!) I'm kind of obsessed with the circular nature of creating mandalas - I'm working on some actual pieces using this form and I'm very excited about them! What do you think of this one?

xo

Fun & Affordable! DIY Valentine's Day Date Ideas

It's no fresh news that DIY is super trendy right now - but a lot of the DIY culture is focused around the THINGS we need, not so much for our experiences. I really like the idea of do-it-yourself dates, because just like things, we often rely on external forces to provide our experiences for us: movies, museums, dinners at restaurants, carefully crafted drinks at cafés, etc.

Now, especially for events like Valentine's Day, going out and trying to get a reservation or seats at a crowded restaurant or theatre, planning how to get there and paying the strategically inflated prices for everything.... it just seems a little futile for an experience we can have on any other day for cheaper and with much less brouhaha from everyone all over the place. So consider going DIY this Valentine's day and planning a do-it-yourself date! Here are 3 ideas to get you started:

1. Go on an adventure!
Is there a neighbourhood in your city you haven't explored yet? Have you experienced the nearest beach in winter time? What about the nearest park? Bundle up with your partner and go hand in hand on a little adventure, take some photos, discover new things, and maybe grab some hot chocolate in travel mugs! Better yet, make some special hot chocolate at home before hand. I've been tempted to try this recipe for Gingerbread Hot Chocolate with Coconut Milk!

2. Make Something Together.
I'm fortunate in that my fella and I are both creative folks! If you and your partner are also a creative duo - take this opportunity to make something together, maybe something you've always talked about doing but never have found the time to do. Build a cool DIY honeycomb shelf together! Or paint that awesome geometric statement wall you've been eyeballing online. Are you both not into building/making things? Make dinner together! Make some home-made pizzas with a variety of toppings and see whose turns out the yummiest (you could even get real cheeeesy and make them heart shaped!).

3. Re-Watch Old Favourites (with a glass of wine!)
Stay in with some delicious snacks, a nice bottle of wine, some cozy blankets and marathon your favourite TV show. Game of Thrones is starting up again in April! Refresh your memory by re-watching some of the better episodes from previous seasons. Or, watch some old old films and giggle at awful 80's special effects and funny acting.

Are you DIY date-ing for Valentine's this year? What are your plans!

xo

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Ps. Do you like my collaged Valentine's day card at the top of this post? This one and another are available as FREE PRINTABLES on my art blog! Check them out and print them for your goofy loved ones!