Conversation Heart House

This project is so simple.
Yet it makes me smile every time I walk by it.
And I wonder why I’ve never done this before??
Maybe you’ve been doing it for years….

…because you probably love conversation hearts too!

Actually, I love the look and idea of them.
I don’t like to eat them.
And I’ve often wondered if anyone really does eat them….till I met my husband and kids.
Chalky 1950’s necco candy?
Bring it.

So whether you like to eat them, read them, adore them, or juggle them?…Let’s decorate! And start a conversation!

I have a hunch that the paper business is in cahoots with the candy factory….because it never dawned on me till now, that basic colored printer paper is the same color as conversation hearts!
What??

This means two things.
1. I have everything I need for this project.
2. I can make this project every year till my kids are 20, because I have solid-colored paper and card stock oozing from my Billy Bookcases.
But that’s another conversation…..

So.
To turn your Wall, Door, Bedroom, or Workspace into a Conversation House, it’s easy….and obvious, but here are some tips:

• Make the largest size heart you can on a piece of cardstock. Use this as your template.
• Trace and cut out paper hearts from solid-colored printer paper (which you can buy at an office supply store for much cheaper than at a craft store).
• Use a pink or red marker to handwrite block letters on each heart (markers are better than Sharpies here). You can always print from a printer as well….but using your hands is fun! And the trick to hand-lettering is to write it once and then go over it again to improve the font. Always add to it, rather than take-away. This is something we also learned at the Disney Animators class last month at Disneyland—which made me smile. If you make a mistake when illustrating a picture, don’t erase your lines, just keep adding to them till you get it just right. In other words, Make it work!
• Make the conversation unique to your house. I created a list of things we say around our house, and the people that live in our house, and used each person’s favorite color, etc.

When you’re done, you’ve got a whole bunch of (non-edible) conversation hearts!
All ready to decorate your house.

And you know what I really loved most about this project?….using my hands, rather than the computer.
It reminded me so much of being kid and making valentine’s for my brother’s and sisters. So get your kids make these with you!

Then hang them up somewhere in your house (using basic transparent tape, in small rolls on the back of each heart) and you will LOVE the look!
I promise.

And remember to make the conversation unique to YOUR house. Our favorite thing that Clara has been saying for a year now is “Dee Dee Dee!” We have no idea what it means, and she’s actually stopped saying it as much, but the kids laughed when they saw that among the hearts. Even Clara laughs at it when she walks up the stairs.