Decorating for Valentine's Day

Ah, love is in the air. Yes, it is almost Valentine's Day. The shops are filled with flowers, hearts, balloons and candy showcased in pink and red. Today, we will provide a decorative nod to the special holiday that celebrates love.

Begin by decorating your door utilizing a grapevine wreath. Embellish the grapevine wreath with small wooden hearts which have been painted red. To display your wreath, hang it with a large red ribbon.

In your home, remember ramantic,the mantle is the perfect place to decorate for Valentine's. Those white pillar candles you used throughout the holidays could be reused. Simply tie a red ribbon round the center of each candle. Try elevating each candle on a glass or wooden base.

A design is much more interesting when you incorporate different levels. Add some wooden hearts painted in red and/or pink. If you choose, you can include wooden letters in the shape of X's and O's. We all recognize "xoxo" as code for - hugs and kisses.- Give a hanging garland of heart-shaped cookie cutters across your mantle or hang a garland of vintage valentine cards.

Create a "Valentine Board." Purchase a cork board within the size of your choosing. Let it rest in its natural state, cover it with fabric or paint it red or white. As Valentine's cards begin coming to your home, tack each card towards the cork board. This festive bit of artwork will remind everyone in your home how much they're loved.

Place a red tablecloth on your dinning table. Nothing says drama like the color red. Add-on those white plates you've been collecting. Convey a red napkin in the heart of each plate topped having a nicely wrapped bit of chocolate candy. No tablecloth is required - red place mats or chargers with white plates and red napkins will also be festive.

Use pink, white and red votives arranged the same shape as a heart for the centerpiece. You may simply want to use a few cylindrical glass vases or jars full of cinnamon hearts, chocolate kisses or any other colorful candies in the center of your table - voila, instant dessert!

Have the children cut out hearts using construction paper or cardboard or provide them with red, white and pink foam hearts. Permit them to decorate the hearts inside a manner of their choosing. Glitter, paints, pieces of paper doilies or red and white buttons can be used to adorn the hearts. Make a hole in the surface of each heart and hang up each one from the chandelier inside your dining room using thin red silk ribbon. The children can write messages around the back of each heart with marker. Exactly what a loving way to celebrate Cupid's day.

Because we are decorating for Valentine's Day, recall the flowers. A fresh bouquet of red roses can make an attractive centerpiece for just about any table. If roses aren't in your budget, use white carnations inside a red vase.

Now go and eat some chocolate. Happy Valentine's!