Caramel Hearts Valentine's Day Gifts Weekend Project

It's always fun to dress up an item for gift giving.  I got these hearts at the grocery store and even though the wrapper was a perfect color for the occasion and the basket, I felt I needed to give it my own personal touch.  A belly band around candies is always nice.  It's easy and it's cute too!

For this belly band I started off with a piece of Real Red card stock and on top of that I added a piece of Pretty in Pink.  I crimped the two pieces and glued them together.  Tape just wouldn't stay with those ridges.  I did cut the Pretty in Pink piece about 1/8" narrower than the red. 

When the glue was set up enough I wrapped it around the candy and glued the back seam together.  I used some clips to hold it in place while I worked on other parts of the band.  I don't like to sit and hold things while they dry.  I have to keep moving!!!  I removed the candy from the band and set it aside to set up and/or dry.

While that was drying I used the heart Sizzlet to make the scalloped heart.  I used Regal Rose for that.  It was nice too that I was able to find some scraps for it. I LOVE it when I can use up those scraps.  

The words were done using the computer and I punched them out with the large heart punch. I sponged the edges and taped it on top of the scalloped heart.  I did glue the layered heart in place on top of the belly band.  Those ridges just wouldn't allow much tape to stick to them and the heart kept coming off.  Once the heart was set in place I added the little heart to it in the corner. And on that little heart I added a tiny pearl.  That just completed the belly band.  I set it all aside to dry completely.  One of them is going in the basket for my friend and the other is going to be for hubby on Valentine's Day.  We don't usually do anything for Valentine's Day.  We don't do gifts (or flowers), we don't do cards (anymore) or even go out to dinner.  I often fix a very nice dinner for us and that is about it.  It doesn't mean that we don't love each other anymore, it's just that we feel we don't need to express it like that on a single particular day when we feel the same for each other ever day of the year!  (well, most days - as long as he doesn't get on my nerves!!! LOL)

I have another project I am working on and I will share it with you when it's done.  I think it's big enough to finally fill that basket!!!  And then I want to make a special card for my friend too and of course I will share that with you as well.

I do need to make a birthday card for my brother-in-law.  It's his birthday tomorrow and of course my card is going to be late.  And here I was doing so well getting the cards out on time and even early for some!  My how quickly things revert back!!!  

Be sure to stop back to see what else I'm up to!

Thank you for stopping by today,

Wanda

Strawberry Milk Anyone? Weekend Project

 I have a bunch of these little cruet jars/containers.  I had gotten them for a project that went by the wayside.  So I am trying to find different ways to use them.  Any suggestions? I'm open for them.  I think I have 4 dozen of these. I need to fill them with something (I was thinking of bath salts) so I can sell them at the fall craft fair and get them out of here!!!

This one contains strawberry powder to be added to milk.  Like the Nestle Quick stuff but it's Strawberry.

This little container held exactly 2 tablespoons full, which is what the directions say to add to your glass of milk. 

I decorated the jar with some fun hearts I cut out using the new Sizzlet die from Stampin' Up!.  What a fun die that is.  I LOVE all the different size and textured hearts.  I picked out a few and used Glue Dots to affix them to the jar and lid. 

The large heart is also done using a Sizzlet.  When I cut out this one I didn't run it all the way through the machine.  I stopped when I saw the words appear on the opposite end.  I wanted the heart to be like a card so I folded it in half before I cut it.  I didn't quite get it right the first time and since the heart was stuck in the die I was able to put it back in and crank the handle a little bit further to get it where I wanted it to be.  And you can see how well it turned out.

The words inside the heart were done on the computer.  And get this, I got them all liked up the first time so I didn't have to play around with it and realign it.  I added a little heart on the inside from the ones I had cut out earlier for the jar.  I punched a hole in it and tied it to the bow with some baker's twine.  

I thought it turned out cute and it is going in the basket of fun Valentine's Day stuff for a very special friend.  The basket is getting pretty full.  I have a couple more things to make and I think the basket will be ready to add the paper crimps to it and seal it up!  I'm getting anxious to show it all finished (but I have to finish it first!!!).

These cute cruets can be found in the bridal section at Michael's.  Joann's would probably have them too but I had gotten mine at Michael's.  Now what do I do with the other TON of them I have left???

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Milk Carton Gift Basket

Today I wanted to make a little gift basket but really didn't want to cut and score the piece myself.  Then it came to me.  The Milk Carton die was about the size I was thinking about for the basket so I got it out.  I took some fun hearts decorative paper that I had and cut out my milk carton.  I cut the milk carton down to 2-1/2" from the bottom fold. 

I used a decorative edge punch along the whole rim.  Then I added a piece of 1/4" white grosgrain ribbon around the basket. 

Next I cut out a heart I found when I was looking for a piece of Pretty in Pink scrap card stock.  I had stamped the heart a few days back and just stuck the piece in the scrap container.  So I didn't have to stamp the heart for this project!!! Lucky me!!  I did have to cut the heart out by hand (not so lucky) but I was only doing one so it was ok.  The larger heart punch was just too big for this basket.  For this I did tape the heart in place without Dimensionals.  I needed to hide the seam of the ribbon.  

The "with Love" is from the "Field Flowers" set.  It worked perfectly with the "season" and the space I had to work with!  I added a pearl for the "O" in love and it gave it a warmer and sweeter look.

I took a sandwich bag (not the zipper kind) and I poured a few cinnamon jelly beans in it and then set it in the basket and added more jelly beans.  I didn't want to fill the bag and then try to cram it in the basket.  The basket is made of decorative paper, which is not quite as sturdy as card stock.  When it was filled to my satisfaction I tied it shut with a piece of white grosgrain ribbon.  I cut off the remainder of the bag on the top and it fluffed out kind of pretty on it's own.  Now ya gotta LOVE that!!!  And that was all it took to make this cute basket!!  It will go in the larger basket I have for a special friend for Valentine's Day!!  The basket is almost full and I still have things I want to make for it.  I may have to pull out some of the paper crimps in it to make more space!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Everybunny Wednesday Sketch Challenge

I decided to take a little break from Valentine's Day cards and play with this fun Easter set I bought back when the catalog first came out.  It came out past Easter so I had to wait to use it.  Well, I suppose I could have played with it sooner but then it wouldn't feel like a new set now would it???

This sketch was very fun.  I don't usually work well with diagonals but this one seemed to be easy enough to play with!

And this adorable bunny in the egg balloon is just too stinkin' cute!!!  There are 6 other images plus one word one in this set. I'm hoping to get a chance to play with them all!!!  I have a few more Valentine's Day things to make and then I'm moving on.  Not just to Easter cards but to some fun birthday cards, masculine cards (of which there just doesn't seem to be enough samples out there of) and of course more gift projects!! 

This sketch was a lot of fun and if you have time I do highly recommend you give it a try!  This one will be going in my album of sketches!  I LOVE that album.  When I find a stamp I want to use I just page through the album until I find a sketch that it will fit in and then I simply put it all together.  For me the layout is the toughest part of making cards!

A bit about the card.  I used the "Sweet Shop" decorative paper for the #3 and #4 panels.  The #4 panel is the backside of the #3 panel paper.  It is textured. The dots are raised.  That was interesting and it gave the card a bit more texture. 

I colored in the image with a blender pen and markers.  I also sponged around the bunny with Bashful Blue to give the look of sky and dimension.

I put the #2 panel in place with Dimensionals.  This card went together rather quickly.  I was surprised because of the pieces, like I said I don't work well with diagonals!!!  I think I would play with this sketch again sometime!

Ok, it's back to work. I have a fun project for you for tomorrow!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Baroque Motif with Four Frames

I have mixed a couple of stamp sets together to get this fun Valentine's Day card.  The swirly "stuff" in the background is from the "Baroque Motifs" set and the "Be my Valentine" is from the Delightful Dozen set.  It was punched out using the label punch.  Also behind that is 2 punched out black labels.  They are taped in place just slightly above and below the white piece to give it a look of shading and dimension.  I punched out a small heart and added a tiny pearl to the one side.

Speaking of dimension, the label piece was set in place using Dimensionals.  I just LOVE those things!!

A piece of 1/4" Real Red ribbon was taped on in back and a piece tied onto the front.  I like tying my ribbon on like that when I can.  It allows me to move that piece I tie on to the exact spot I want it to be.  It saves a little ribbon, not much but if you are making TONS of these cards the couple of inches you save will add up!

The white decorated piece is taped in place on top of a folded half sheet of Real Red card stock.  A very quick and simple card to make.  These would be great for a Make n Take or even a Stamp a Stack.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Heart Tins Valentine's Day Gifts Weekend Project

While digging in a cupboard I ran across these heart shaped tins I had bought a while back.  I had gotten them at Oriental Trading and they still carry them. Click here for the link to them. 

I ran some tape along the outside bottom part of the tin and then added the red satin ribbon.  But that wasn't enough dressing up for me.  I took the small flower punch and punched out a bunch of Pretty in Pink flowers and took my stylus on top of a foam mat and rolled it around the center of the flowers until they curled up.  I put a glue dot on the top of the heart lid and stuck three flowers to each one.  Then I took my gel pen and colored in the centers.   I was going to add some green leaves to the flowers but decided to just leave them as they were.  

I will be adding one of these to the basket I'm putting together for a friend.  I think I only need a couple more items and the basket will be full enough!  

Oh, when I added the Red Hots I did put them in a little baggie.  I wasn't sure if the lid to the heart would stay in place and I didn't want the candies spilling out all over the place.  Plus I don't like the idea of just dumping the candies into something like that. I always feel they should be in something a bit more sanitary!  

Anyway, I think they turned out cute and I'm sure they will be a big hit!!  These would make great gifts for teachers, students, friends, coworkers, the mail carrier, etc!!  And they are not very expensive either!  You know you gotta LOVE that!!!   Have fun making them!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

I Love You Valentine's Day Card

Today I made a very quick and easy Valentine's Day card.  If you need to make a bunch of cards, this is the one to do.  It has several elements and with layers. But the card goes together easily and quickly!  I could see making a bunch of these in an assembly line format.  Oh and sitting in front of the TV at the same time!  Once you have all the pieces cut and embossed and stamped the rest is just punching and taping.   Very easy.

Have fum making these!

Stop back tomorrow for a fun and easy Valentine's Day gift!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda