Simple Valentine Treats...

 

My daughter spotted some sporty dog tag Valentine's a few weeks back. The only problem was that they did not come with envelopes and they were quite small.

My solution was a trip to the grocery and dollar store and to use craft supplies I already had on hand.

I love when I can create a cute DIY treat with hardly any effort at all! Yes, there is some measuring of paper and the cutting of paper, but it really isn't difficult.

If you like to craft, I guarantee you will most likely have many of the supplies needed to make this Valentine Treat!

Even if you don't, you will not need to break the bank to create it...


Simple Valentine Treats

• Small Zip Seal Treat Bags, (Approx. 3.75 by 5.75 inches)
• Valentine Candy
• Card Stock
• Stapler and Staples
• Hole Punch (Optional)
• Washi Tape or Ribbon (Optional)
• Valentine Stickers
• Valentine's of Your Choice

Fill the treat bags with the Valentine Candy, and close the zip seal. Using a paper cutter, cut card stock in squares that can be folded in half and that will fit the top width of the treat bags. 

Fold the cut card stock in half and sandwich the top of the zip seal treat bags in between the folded card stock. Use a stapler to staple the card stock on. If you'd like, staple with colored staples.

Now, depending on the type of Valentine's you have, punch a hole into the card stock, then the Valentine if needed, and tie the Valentine onto the treat bag with ribbon.

You can also use Washi tape to adhere the Valentine to the card stock. 

Finally add Valentine stickers to complete the treat bags.

Have fun!

Valentine Cupcake Surprise...

Let's talk about Valentine's Day, shall we?

I have to admit, it's one of my favorite holidays. It wouldn't even matter if I didn't have a special Valentine.....

..... I still love the holiday.

I mean, who can resist all the cutesy hearts, chocolates, and flowers everywhere!?! Not me.

I guess if I got a totally crappy Valentine's Day gift from my Valentine, that would put a damper on my love of the holiday. Which, so far, hasn't happened.

Let's explore what makes a horrible Valentine's Day gift. Or at least what I feel would make a horrible Valentine's Day gift. Okay?

Emily's List of Horrible Valentine's Day Gifts
(In no particular order)

1.) A Hunka Love Bear from Vermont Teddy Bear, or any teddy bear for that matter.

I'm a grown woman... stating the obvious here! Plus... I'm constantly trying to clear out my younger daughter's stuffed animals. Why would I want one for myself!?! Fail, my friends. Fail.

2.) Fake flowers. A big no no. Let me repeat. A BIG no no.

3.) Any small kitchen appliance.

Yeah, so I asked for a stand mixer from my husband for Christmas one year. The point is......
I asked for it! Not romantic on Valentine's Day.

4.) Perfume.

Unless I tell you a specific brand or scent, DON'T BUY IT! ...... (hint, hint)

5.) A gift card.

Very impersonal gift, my friends. Not much thought put into that one. Double fail.

6.) A gym membership.

Or ANYTHING remotely related to weight loss. That is self explanatory.

7.) A cheesy Valentine T- Shirt.

Evidence here.

8.) Trashy lingerie.

Definitely NOT thinking of me. Triple fail.

9.) "Funny" Valentine's Day gifts.

Notice the word funny is in quotes.

10.) Nothing at all. Quadruple fail.

It doesn't have to be a huge gift. All I ask for is a card or a small romantic gift that says "I love you."

Have you ever received something awful for Valentine's Day? Or have you received something spectacular? What was it?

These adorable cupcakes are spectacular. I hope you'll make them. They'll cheer you right up if you just so happen to receive a crappy gift this year for Valentine's Day. Or, make them for your Valentine!


Valentine Cupcake Surprise

• Prepared Cupcakes, Cooled
• Jumbo or Large Ice Cream Cones
• Valentine Candies
• Canned or Homemade Frosting
• Valentine Sprinkles

Remove the cupcakes from their liners. Add a small amount of frosting around the inner edge of the ice cream cone by piping it or spreading it with a spatula. Fill the ice cream cone, about half way with the Valentine candies. Attach the cupcake, top side down, to the cone so that the bottom of the cupcake is now the top. Frost the cupcake to look like ice cream, then add the sprinkles. 

Enjoy!

Valentine Treats...

While at the craft store a few weeks back I saw these long, slim clear bags. I knew right away that I wanted to incorporate them into a classroom treat for Valentine's Day.

These are pretty thin, so you'll need small candies to fit in them. 

I used M & M's and Sweetheart's candy. If you can find wider bags, candy such as Laffy Taffy would work great! 

I also found adorable Valentine stickers like the cute animal ones above and the flaming heart ones below. I attached the flaming heart stickers to some black card stock and cut them out leaving a border, since the entire baking of the sticker was sticky. I then attached a pop dot to the back to mount it onto the white tag. The animal stickers had a pop dot attached to them, so I just stuck them right on the white tag. 

It did take a little time to fill them with candy, since the clear bags were so narrow, but I love how they turned out! A great thing about these treat bags... they seal shut! Love that! 

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make these super cute goodies...

Valentine Treats

• 1" x 8" Clear Bags
• 1-5/8 x 3-1/4 White Craft Tags
• Various Valentine Stickers (Your Main Sticker), 1 Per Tag
• Coordinating Ribbon
• Small Valentine Heart Stickers, 2 Per Tag 
• Card Stock, Optional
• Pop Dots, Optional
• Double Sided Tape
• Various Valentine Candies, Small Enough To Fit In The Clear Bags

Begin by folding all the white tags in half. Cut your ribbon 3 inches long. String the ribbon through the punched hole in the tag. Using 2 of your small Valentine stickers, seal the ribbon toward the ends, attaching them back to back so they stick together. Place your 1 main Valentine sticker on the tag, just above the punched hole. 

Fill and seal the bags, leaving some space between the candy and the top of the bag. Attach the decorated tags with double sided tape by sandwiching the bag in between the tag. 

You can use the back of the tag to write who the treat is for. 

* You will only need card stock and pop dots if the backing of your stickers are completely sticky. If so, mount them onto the card stock and cut them out, leaving a border. Place the pop dot on the back and mount on the tag, just above the punched hole. 

A perfect Valentine treat for the classroom or as a party favor!

I'm linking this post up to I'm Lovin' It and Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday.
 

Valentine Heart Garland...

You know.... if there's such a thing as re-incarnation, I must have had a previous life as a 19th or early 20th Century British woman.

I kid you not. 

I mean... it totally explains my love of Jane Austen and my love of any British period piece television series or miniseries, such as Downton Abbey and Cranford.

I'm totally obsessed with anything remotely related to Queen Victoria of Great Britain. 

Sherlock Holmes is my hero. Yeah, he pretty much rocks...... 

Anyway, I also love paper crafts... which I think were pretty popular during that period. I thought I'd make a cute paper heart garland for Valentine's Day. 

Here's what I did...

 

You're going to need three different patterns of 12 x 12 paper (2 pieces for your base and 1 of each for the second and third layer), ribbon, and knitting thread (optional). I found this Martha Stewart knitting yarn at my local craft store and had to buy it. I loved how it sparkled!

You'll also need three heart cookie cutters, all in different sizes. A pencil for tracing, scissors for cutting, a hole punch, and double sided tape.

On the back of the base paper, trace the largest heart cookie cutter. Trace the medium and small heart on the backs of the other papers. Cut them out.

Layer and tape the hearts onto each other. Use the hole punch to punch a hole toward the top of the hearts for hanging.

Cut about 8 or 10 inches of ribbon or knitting thread. Pull it through the hole and tie the hearts onto a longer piece of ribbon.  I knotted the knitting thread onto the longer piece of ribbon and then cut the excess off. I did this so the hearts wouldn't slide around when I went to hang the garland.

Perfect for some Valentine's Day decor!

Nutella and Cherry Heart Pies...

 

Hand pies have got to be one of my favorite treats. Along with Nutella ....... and cherries. Anything cherry, really.

If you haven't had Nutella, you must. Like right now.... get in your car, drive to the market, and pick some up... DO IT!

It's a chocolate hazelnut spread that tastes divine. I'll spread the stuff on pretty much anything.

Seriously, I will.

I saw this adorable pie press at my local craft store and just had to snatch it right up.

Actually, I snatched two of them right up.

I thought I'd include one of them in a fun Valentine care package that I'm going to be giving away as a prize for my Blogiversary coming up on the 28th. Celebrating 1 year of bloggity blogging...... woot, woot!

So consider this a little sneak peak.

Definitely check back here on Friday for the giveaway!!!

Now, for the heart pies...

The ingredients are pretty simple. All you need are some pie crusts, Nutella, and cherry preserves. An egg for an egg wash and some powdered sugar for dusting. Easy, right?

What's cool about this pie press is that it doubles as a cookie cutter....... score! I love multi-functional kitchen tools. LOVE THEM!

Now, that's a whole lotta yummy goodness right there.

Remember....... check back here Friday, January 27th for a fun Valentine Giveaway!


Nutella and Cherry Heart Pies

• 2 Boxes (14.1 OZ) Pillsbury Pie Crusts
• 1 Jar (26.5 OZ) Nutella Hazelnut Spread
• 1 Jar (12 OZ) Smucker's Orchard's Finest Red Tart Cherry Preserves
• 1 Whole Egg, For Egg Wash
• Powdered Sugar, For Dusting (Optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F).

In a prep bowl, whisk the egg yolk and set aside.

Remove the pie crusts from the boxes and unroll them. Working on a flat surface, use the Mini Pie Press to cut hearts out of the pie dough. Each pie crust round should yield 5 or 6 hearts. 

Place one heart cut-out into the pie press, then fill it with a tablespoon of the Nutella and a teaspoon of the cherry preserves. Take another heart cut-out and brush some of the whisked egg around the edge of the entire heart. Place the brushed side down over top of the filled heart cut-out that is in the pie press. Close the pie press, making sure to seal the two heart pieces together. Carefully remove the heart pie from the pie press and place on a lined cookie sheet. Continue this process with the remaining heart pie pieces until they are all assembled.

Brush the tops of each heart pie with the whisked egg for an egg wash. This will give the pies a golden color. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to cooling racks to cool. Serve warm with ice cream or cool completely and dust with powdered sugar. Makes 10-12 heart pies.

Enjoy!

Just So You Know...

  Right now I am super busy getting everything together for the Valentine's Day Party that I am throwing for my two girls.

Just thought I'd let you know...

So, I'll be posting about the party and all the juicy little details after this Saturday.

Seriously, I'm on Valentine overload... I can't shut my eyes without seeing hearts and chocolates and... oh, never mind. I'll spare you the drama and give you a sneak peek...

Peace out...

Welcome!

  Hi there, so glad you could join me for my first blog post! I know you can't see me, but I'm jumpin' up and down with excitement...whoohoo...... OK I'm done now. Forward, marching on...

After a lot of thought, I've decided to throw my girls a Valentine's Day Party. The invites are out, so now I'm definitely committed... no turnin' back now. The party planning begins! How does one entertain 11 and 6 year old girls, you ask... because you gotta keep them busy. After a visit to my local craft store for some ideas, I decided that they could decorate photo frames. To keep it inexpensive I've chosen magnetic ones. I'll just pat myself on the back, thank you. If you'd like to know how to make them, keep on reading...

So, you'll need:

Various Valentine themed stickers
Valentine themed adhesive borders (for scrap booking)
3 1/2 x 5 in Magnetic Frames (or any size you'd like, not smaller though)

... and the fun begins. After you have determined what you want your frame to look like, cut the adhesive borders to size. Peel and stick to the frame. Do the same with the themed stickers. Just make sure to stay close to the border so you can see the picture once inserted in the frame.

... and Voila! A lovely Valentine picture frame...