Serving Up Valentines & Family History

How about something pretty and useful?  This is a great way to serve up some yummy Valentine treats to your honey or the kids!  Or, have a Valentine Tea Party and invite all your friends.

I, like some of you, don’t get into decorating for Valentine’s Day, but the romantic in me always adds a few “sweetheart” touches here and there.  

I used a wood tray found at a local craft store and painted it white.  A bit of red and white gingham fabric, red grosgrain ribbon, and a variety of vintage valentines make this a tray worth remembering.  Spray adhesive was used to adhere all the pieces and a piece of glass was cut to fit on the top.

 

I love its bright vintage appeal!

The lovely roses on the front was a rub-on decal!  Easy-peasy! 

Don’t you agree…there are so many creative uses for vintage valentines.  They add such a nostalgic feeling to this romantic holiday.

And, while I’m on a tray kick, I also  wanted to share with you a wonderful family themed gift idea for someone special: One tray, three ways.

I found this vintage wood serving tray several years ago while antiquing and thought it would be a unique way to display family photos.  I had a piece of glass cut to fit the interior and voila!. It was that simple.  I decided to keep the original dark stain, but you could always paint it white.  I wanted to be able to change the photos, so I did not glue them to the bottom.  The glass helps hold them in place.  If you wanted it more permanent, you could  use glue or decoupage the photos to the bottom (make sure you use photo copies and not originals).

1.

In the first example, one large photo takes up most of the space visually and makes a grand statement.  This is a “found” photo that I couldn’t resist because I thought the little boy and his dog were so charming.  The back is handwritten in pencil, “Fritz and his dog”.  The front is signed Dallas and something else I can’t make out.  Maybe the photography studio?

2.

In the second example, I used vintage German valentine scrap and placed a photo of my maternal great-grandparents on top.   I also placed small King and Queen heart cards in the collage.  I like the look of old-fashioned meets modern.  Hahaha you can see me taking the photo in the reflection of the glass above!

3.

In the last example, I used the same background collage, but added a 1960s wedding photo of my parents.  All I need to add is some fresh flowers and candy hearts.

Another idea would be to create an ancestor collage with several photos.  If you want to stick with a “love” theme, make all the photos of one couple through the years.  Trays are very practical because you can actually use them in addition to displaying them.  What a wonderful gift for a  loved one on Valentine’s Day as a tribute to someone in the family.  Children will learn to appreciate their heritage by seeing it incorporated throughout the house and on  holidays.  I’m sure you can come up with many more creative ways on how to use these trays…family reunions, weddings…

Bring romance to family history by serving breakfast or tea on a family memorial tray to your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day!

Blessings,

Kim

Please visit these great parties:

WOW! Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

{Primp} Your Stuff Wednesday at Michele Raven Designs

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country  Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground