It's Sweater Weather

Snuggle up in your favorite sweater today!
Below you'll find one of my favorite sweaters...  Sorry I don't have a pic of me wearing it, but since I live solo I don't have a built in photographer. 

I love the pearl necklace look - very Coco Chanel. =)

Cozy Love,

-Bess-

'Tea for Two' Valentines {With Printable}

Nothing says, "I love you" quite like a hot cup of tea.  This truth inspired these Valentines!  Print them out & give the gift of love in tea-form this year!     

Here's What You Do:

Copy & paste the printable image above & open in a word document.  Next, size the image to fit your tea packaging {you may also need to copy & paste more than one set of labels & crop the images separately, depending on how you want to use them}.   You can simply wrap the paper label around your tea package & secure with tape or a little glue in the back or you can layer it over a larger strip of scrapbook paper {which is what I did with the blue package}.  I also chose to create my own package out of printer paper for one of the labels by cutting the paper, folding over, & using a glue stick to glue up the sides, & then folding over the paper at the top for the flap.  

Oh, & don't forget to add a heart for an extra touch!

Love & Tea,

-Bess-

You're Just 'Write,' Valentine!

I am so excited about Valentine's Day, which is kinda funny considering I don't have a beau {I love that old fashioned word} or even a date for the 14th... but hey, I just love love!  Can't a girl just love Valentine's Day without a guy on her arm?  I say yes - especially when Jesus is in  her heart!  I have lots of Valentine's crafts/various other posts up my sleeve for Bess' Bag & my newest blog, Diary of a Single Girl, so be sure to stop by often!

Today I thought I'd share some Valentines I whipped up.  Here's what you need to make em yourself: pencils {I found these "velvet" flocked ones at Target after Christmas}, ribbon, scrapbook paper (cut to printer paper size) or regular printer paper, scissors, a hole punch, & the tags below.  

Here's What You Do:

Copy & paste {or right click & save} the tags below & open in a Word document.  I love cutting scrapbook paper to regular printer paper size & running it through the printer, which is what I did here - just make sure your paper is not too busy so your Valentine can easily read the message.  Then print the tags, cut out, punch a hole in the corner, & tie to the pencil with a ribbon, twine, or whatever you have.  You can also take a thin strip of scrapbook paper & wrap around a bundle of pencils + add one of the tags to give to a Valentine!  

for someone very special...

 old fashioned - hand scribbled...

 fun & kiddie approved...

Reader, you are just write!

-Bess-

For You

God played this song on my car radio yesterday to remind me He's working in the invisible.  Hope it reminds you, too.  He loves us!

Love,

-Bess-

Love Match DIY {Nest Feathering}

I first saw this idea on Pinterest & thought I'd love to recreate it myself!  I think it looks so charming hanging on the wall, not to mention it's perfect for Valentine's Day!  

All you need is a tennis racket & some embroidery floss.  I found my racket at a thrift store for less than $2 {I love that it's gold since that's a big color in my bedroom - note the gold bunting}! =) I used 4 different colors of embroidery floss to make the heart.  All you do is find the middle & center of the racket head & decide how tall you want your heart to be.  For the middle column of my heart I have 4 empty string slots at the bottom & 7 empty slots at the top.  Wrap the embroidery floss tightly over the slot column you want & secure with a knot in the back.  Each time you start a new heart column you move up a string slot.  I wrapped a ribbon around the handle of my racket mostly because the handle was a little rough & I couldn't get the price sticker off easily.  I was able to hang my racket with a single nail... just try out positioning/height before you place your nail in the wall.  

Love may mean a score of zero in tennis, but it sure rates high with me! =)

Love,

-Bess-

Because Each Day is a Gift DIY

Sometimes we forget each day is a gift from God.  Late January is a time I tend to think of days as dreary, cold, & gray...  I forget that each new morning is a blessing!  So in order to remind myself that days are special - & "every day matters" as I like to say here on Bess' Bag - I whipped up this easy-peasy tutorial!

All you need to do is wrap an empty box & add a tag.  The tag could read "Today is a gift!" or "Each day is a gift!" or "Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present!" or you could use the scripture below or whatever else you can think up.  I keep my "present" on my bedside table as a daily reminder.  

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

-Psalm 90:12 NIV

Love {Each & Every Day},

-Bess-

40 Years Ago

Forty years ago today Roe v Wade legalized abortion in the U.S.  Norma McCorvey was the plaintiff {"Jane Roe"} in the case.  Back then she was fighting for rights to abort her unborn baby; today she stands & speaks out for life.  When God gets a hold of a heart, He does amazing things!  Her story reminds me of Paul's in the Bible.

Every life is precious.  Choose life today.

Love,
-Bess-