common ground : Easy Boxwood and Ribbon Wreath and the Valentine's Cupboard

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Easy Boxwood and Ribbon Wreath and the Valentine's Cupboard

Valentine's Day is definitely one of those holiday themes that show up in the "Holiday Cupboard". I've loved antique and vintage paper goods and ephemera from the first time I saw a vintage school Valentine card and found a few pieces of my paternal grandfather's cards to my grandmother in their old attic. Old Valentine postcards are easy collectibles as so many of them were created in the early 1900's. School Valentine parties and sweetheart's notes were popular among young and old alike.

Just as I collect paper goods and holiday items, I'm also one to grab and stash away bits of ribbon and lace; old and new. I keep my paper pieces in vintage suitcases, so when I find color coordinated ribbons they get added to the holiday specific luggage. I've kept bits of ribbon from presents, gift bags, floral arrangements etc. so I put together a few pinks, reds, and creams to decorate my boxwood wreath for a Valentine's Day look.

For Christmas my sister gifted me with a Tartan Red Plaid wreath scarf and I loved it so much that I thought I'd try to replicate it for an easy Valentine look. I just grabbed the ribbon with a little ironing first and lined them up for a quick wrap and tie. I added an oh-so-sweet patchwork stuffed heart that I found last year on Etsy to the center.

On the inside I displayed some of my vintage and antique teapots along with a few pieces of my red transferware and ironstone. Plate stacks of old transferware and floral dishes are decorated with old Valentine's postcards.

I started collecting tea pots before I was even married. My parents loved to go antiquing on the weekends and that was when I fell in love with all thing vintage and antiques. My first love was floral pieces, then came transferware.

I made a few tweaks with a pillow on the wicker settee and a few color coordinated Valentine pieces on the coffee table/bench. You can see my January sitting area HERE.

This is a paper heart valentine I made back in my early blogging years along with several vintage Bingo cards. I made copies of old valentines then mod podged them on vintage book and magazine pages, I added wire, buttons and ribbons for a fun hanging Valentine greeting.

It's easy to decorate for Valentine's Day by adding a few hearts and cards with your regular winter décor. I concentrated on a few places and pieces of furniture. I love a little pink and red for the Valentine's holiday but don't want to go overboard. Next week I'll share a few ways to make a quick statement for Valentine's Day by making small vignettes.