Yearly Valentine Remailing PSA

My 2025 Valentine

Every year I come on to remind you to SEND GOOD MAIL and remind you that the deadlines to have your Valentine's remailed from Loveland, Colorado are coming up quick.  Loveland is celebrating its 80th year of remailing Valentine's all over the globe. Directions and deadlines below and can also be found here

Back To School

temp earlier in the week

Well back to school doesn't really pertain to me anymore.  I have no kids in school, nor I am in school.  School starts here today.  It will be triple digits, so I don't envy the students or teachers.

statue of Bulldog "Mack" - Artesia High School Mascot

I do like to spend August as a reset and a chance to prepare for a fall that I can enjoy.  Things I hope to accomplish this fall are as follows

buy a mower - I am tired of paying to have my grass weeds mowed

go on a friend trip.

attend genealogy conference in November hosted by the Wilson Cobb - The event space was flooded out last year, so fingers crossed no rain.

do more photo scanning - I have worked at this off and on.  

clean up guest room

some side quests

finalize valentine - I know we are nowhere close to February but already feeling behind

catch up on all preventive appointments - dentist, eye exam etc...

I find it is helpful to declare these projects as it holds me more accountable.

Valentine Card 2025

 

Well making this Valentine was a journey. This is a hand cut bird out of envelopes and specifically the security envelopes. I started by making full size birds.  

Then I shrunk the design.  I wasn't happy with the envelope in the bird mouth.  I had made a lot of them before I realized. I should change it.

This project has evolved since about June.  Yes, I have been working on these for quite a bit.  These birds are really addicting for me to make. I will probably make some more.  I have amassed quite the collection of envelopes. 

Each of these are unique.  Dear friends if you sent me a letter in an envelope, I probably recycled it into art. 

Valentine Shelfie

 

It is officially February 1st, so I think sharing some Valentine decor is a good idea.  This is above my kitchen sink. I have had the Kim Anderson figurines for a long time.  I got the valentine mailbox from Walgreens this year.  and the valentine pics from the dollar store.

Time to make Some Valentine's /Re-mailing

I like homemade Valentine's. I grew up in the Sweetheart city of Loveland, Colorado. Valentine's is a big deal in Loveland, Colorado which literally stamps 1,000's of valentines in its valentine remailing program. If you are interested in making homemade valentine's and having them stamped. NOW is the time to get those in the mail or if you want your pre-bought cards stamped. Details in graphic below - link

UNSOLICITED HOMADE CARD ADVICE

Sending good mail feels good. It doesn't need to be perfect. Mine usually look like they are made by a Kindergartner. The thought does count. Adding a sticker, doodle, or a stamp to a premade card counts. Don't do this if it stresses you out. THIS ISN'T A COMPETITION!

2024 Valentine

Well, this one I struggled with this year. I made it harder than it needed to be. This is the first Valentine I ever created with a cupid. I thought that was interesting. My youngest claimed this looked like Cupid's tombstone. Now I can't unsee it. I had several variations of this card. I even included Cupid jokes in some of them. I used my Cricut and some blank cards.

I was inspired in part by Martha Stewart's valentine. Sample below

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Look at these two cuties.  Happy 53rd Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad.  They were wed in the "Sweetheart City" Loveland, Colorado.  

Dead People Files- Valentine Birthday

 

I thought it would be interesting to research an ancestor with a Valentine's Day birthday.  This ancestor is from my Lendman family tree.

Hannah Sutliff Hopkins- My 6th Great Grandaunt

Hannah was born to Abel and Charity Sutliff on February 14, 1787, in Waterbury, Connecticut.  Hannah was born in the same year as the Constitutional Congress approved the Constitution on September 27, 1787. Hannah's father, Abel, was a Revolutionary War soldier.  Hannah married Timothy Hopkins. Timothy's father was also a Revolutionary Soldier.  There is quite a bit known about Timothy who was born in Plymouth Pennsylvania. It was said that Timothy killed a bear with an ax and 2 dogs while living in Pennsylvania and Tim's Run was named after his exploit. Timothy and Hannah were early settlers to Morgan County, Ohio and settled near Wolf Creek. Timothy was a farmer. Timothy and Hannah were Methodists and one of their sons, James, would become a Reverend. Timothy was also a Justice of the Peace.  Timothy and Hannah had 5 sons and 4 daughters. Hannah lived along life dying at the age of 84. Hannah died August 22, 1871, in Chesterhill ,Ohio.

Interesting Fact.

Did People Celebrate Valentine's Day in the 1700's?

It was popular in the 1700's to write special notes and letters on Valentine's Day. It wasn't until the 1800's that preprinted Valentine's would become popular.

Favorite Loveland Valentine's

2019 

 I thought I would share some of my favorite Loveland, Colorado Valentine's. I have framed my favorites because some of them are really works of art.

This one is one of my favorites.  I am not sure of the year, though.

Once again not sure of the year.  I just love the landscape.

In Loveland, Colorado they place hearts with messages on the light posts. This is a fundraiser for the local rotary clubs.  I think they sold out in 2 hours this year.  My sister and I got one for parents for their 50th anniversary.

This is a visual of their love lock wall.  People put their love locks on the metal love scuplture.

The above one is from 2018.  

Link to this year's design  - Loveland Valentine 2023

House to Home - Valentine Vignette

 I am missing my love wall.  I did make a little Valentine Vignette above my China Cabinet.

The R is from a salvage store. The wooden heart was purchased from the local Walmart from nonprofit group that houses homeless people. The love was purchased from Walmart.  The picture is a framed Loveland Colorado Valentine card.  See better picture below of Valentine.  Loveland holds a competition each year for the Valentine card design and cachet verse.   My parents usually send me one of the Valentine cards.  

Operation Valentine

 

Just a tiny sneak peek of my valentine for 2023. It might seem early to think about Valentine's Day cards, but I am actually behind.  I remail my cards through Loveland Colorado and will need to have them mailed there by at least the first week of February if not a bit earlier.

I literally had a dream about Valentine Cards.  I abandoned my earlier idea and I literally had 4 really good ideas.  Last year's card below.

I want to encourage you to send good mail.  Remailing valentines through Loveland Colorado is easy and it doesn't have to be a homemade valentine.  More Details here

House to Home - Valentine Shelfie

 

Too Soon? This is all stuff minus the canister from my Loveland/Valentine collection. I am just so so with the current set up. 

Glass Canister from the dollar spot at Target - Large canister $5 and 2 smaller canister set $5.  I like the little hearts at top.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hey,

 Happy Valentine's Day

I don't know if this graffiti has any special meaning, but I thought it was interesting. How desperate do you have to be to graffiti hay bales? Asking for a friend.  By the way, I felt like a total stalker taking this photo. This hay is near a busy 4 way stop. Yes, that is a pile of big dirty snow too.

Operation Valentine Card

 

In honor of my 50th year on the planet, I would like to send out 50 semi homemade valentine's. I have been thinking about this since the fall.  Many of you are familiar with my 50 Sunrise/Sunset project.  I have been inspired by Elise Joy and her various make projects.  This is along the same lines.

I hand cut the envelopes.  I punched hearts out with my Sizzix and small hand punch.  I turned the small hearts into stickers with xyron. Some of the hearts are made out of recycled security envelopes. The lettering was done in my cricut.  Hey, I used all the tools of the trade.  Luckily, we were stuck at home during our big snow, so I was able to accomplish a lot.

I made 50 cards but fell well short of mailing all 50.  I don't know 50 people to mail cards to. I did mail out a record number of cards for me. It was a good goal. I think it always a good idea to send good mail.

What is Saving Me?

We have reached the midpoint of winter and I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's "What is Saving You " I am always reminded it is really the little things that are saving me.  I live in the PNW where it is really dark during the winter.  

Creative Projects

I have been working on two projects inspire somewhat by Elise Joy Cripe.  One is a 50 Sunset/Sunrise picture project.  It is also inspired in part by Shannan Martin and "Just Look Up" and "Human Sunrises"

Secondly, I was inspired to make 50 homemade valentine cards. Picture above is last year's valentine designs. I know that I did not reach my goal of actually sending all 50 cards as the post airs. Turns out I don't actually know 50 people to send cards to. I need to work on that. I am calling this Operation Valentine. Everyone should send some good mail. My hometown is Loveland, Colorado aka The Sweetheart City. 

These creative projects keep my spark going.

Mom Food

I was influenced by Jessica Fischer-Good Cheap Eats.  She makes herself Mom food.  My mom food is a healthy salad. I have been prepping my lunch. I had fallen into some unhealthy habits, so I have been at least having a healthy lunch. The key for me is it is not good enough to JUST buy the green stuff, but have it prepped because my default is easy and really bad for you. I don't want my vegetable crisper to turn into a vegetable hospice if you know what I mean.

Nail Polish

I don't do many girly things but lately I have been wearing red nail polish.  Prior to this I have maybe put on nail polish once or twice a year. I also have some mishaps with red polish. I keep choosing red. My favorite reds are Unbreakable Heart and Cinnasnap

Future Me Mindset

Venison for Dinner, Kate, is always talking about taking care of future me. That has really influenced me. I am not a homesteader and don't have any intention of ever being one. However, Kate's mindset of doing little things to make tomorrow better has really been a game changer. Anytime I think I won't pick up my kitchen before bed or not make something ahead, I hear her words ringing in my ears. This also relates to Mom food too.

Making Homemade Valentine's

I used to make homemade Valentine's with my kids.  I really send out more Valentine's cards than Christmas cards.  I like to think I am sending out some good mail.  It is a little, "Hey I am thinking about you." The internet is FULL of ideas.  I am linking some ideas I saw that were inspiring to me and all aren't necessarily cards. The ideas could be adapted to cards.  The thing is it doesn't have to be complicated.  Some of my best cards I have made were fairly simple. 

Valentine's Puppy

28 Easy Valentine Cards

Hedgehog

Peace and Love

Owl Valentine

Valentine Round Up of previous cards

Lego Photo Card

Remailing Valentine Cards From Loveland

Here is my annual reminder to send some GOOD MAIL and how to have your VALENTINE cards remailed from Loveland Colorado

More information on the Loveland Remailing Program