Flowers and Valentine’s Day

Flower wreaths in the shape of hearts have always been the symbollic gift choice for Valentine’s Day.  Take these ideas for your Valentine’s Day decorating! We have found some pictures to share to you. Hopefully these pictures can inspire you to find or make something nice for you valentine this year!

OR..if flower wreaths are out of your budget and your valentine prefers handmade gifts than store bought items, you can consider making a paper heart wreath!

What you’ll need:

• 9″ dinner plate or paper plate
• Recycled cereal box or other thin cardboard
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Heart pattern
• Construction paper: pink, purple, red, and blue
• Markers, crayons or paint pens
• Glue sticks
• Yarn for hanger (optional)
• Pattern

How to make it:

1. Trace around the 9″ plate onto the cardboard.
2. Use your pen or pencil to draw another circle inside that one, about an inch away from the outside circle.
3. Cut out the circle and the center of the circle to create a cardboard wreath base.
4. Fold a piece of scrap paper in half. Using the heart pattern line up the fold line of the scrap paper with the dotted line of the pattern. Cut out the shape so that when you open it, you have a heart shape.
5. Fold the short end of a piece of construction paper up about 3 inches. Place the folded heart around the folded paper and trace the half heart shape into the paper. You should be able to fit three hearts on the paper. Repeat this step for each colored piece of paper; you will have a total of 12 hearts.
6. Cut out all the hearts and flatten out the creases so that the hearts lay flat. Using markers, crayons, or paint pens, you can choose to write conversation candy phrases on the hearts such as “LOVE”, “HUBBA HUBBA”, “SWEET”, “LOVE”, “BE MINE”, “KISS” and “PAL”, or leave it the way it is!
7. Arrange your hearts on top of the cardboard wreath shape without gluing them down. Once you have them where you want them, use the glue stick to attach each one.
8. You can hang the wreath as is or attach a piece of looped yarn to the back as a hanger.

Show your love through crafts: Perfect jewelry box

Valentine’s Day is happening in exactly a week! Have you thought of how to assemble your Valentine’s Day decorations or what to give your Valentine? We know that you must have prepared a gift for your Valentine, but do you have a pretty box to put it in yet? Whether it is homemade chocolates, jewelry, cards, candies, or any other Valentine’s Day related presents, this simple and classy jewelry box is perfect for anything and it is cheap too!

• Two 3 1/4-by-5 1/4 inch cardboard jewelry boxes with accompanying batting, from containerstore.com
• Decorative faux-lizard paper, from katespaperie.com
• Craft knife
• Bone folder
• Ruler
• Paste-style glue, such as Yes Paste
• Foam craft brush
• Red art board (a heavier weight than card stock)
• Satin fabric
• Tape
• Gold banding border and gold paper, from blumchen.com
• Gem candies

Customize Box

Separate the box halves; you’ll use the bottoms and 1 piece of batting to make the box. Print box template; cut out. Trace template twice onto decorative paper; cut out pieces. Using bone folder and ruler, crease papers, following the dotted lines on template. Apply glue to the back of 1 box half using brush; center it on back of paper. Using glue and following the guidelines on template, cover box half in paper. Repeat to cover second box half.

Create Lip and Box Insert

Add a lip to the box bottom: Cut 4 strips of art board equal to the lengths of the box’s sides and all 1/4 inch wider than box’s depth. Glue strips along sides inside 1 box half. For a better presentation, raise the box floor (optional):Cut a long, 1/2-inch-wide strip of art board. Fold it as shown, and secure it to box floor with glue.

Make Satin Cushion

Cut a rectangle of art board to the same dimensions as batting. Cut a piece of satin fabric 1 inch larger on all sides. Stack fabric (right side down), batting, and art board (all centered). Wrap fabric around layers, securing it first at the corners and then on sides with tape. For a more pillowy look, leave a little give in the fabric.

Add Flourishes

Apply 4 thin strips of gold banding border along the edges of box top using glue. Repeat, adding strips along sides of box top and bottom. Cut a small heart from gold paper, and affix it to the center of box top. Place cushion inside box, and fill box with candies.

via MarthaStewart