DIY Valentine's Gifts.
-
Rather than buying gifts and cards... why not make them yourself? Shows more sincerity right... Here's some ideas....
Puzzle Pin
Give a valentine a piece of your heart with this clever pin made from old jigsaw puzzle pieces.
Step 1:
Place 20 to 25 old jigsaw puzzle pieces, excluding the straight-edged border pieces, on newspaper and spray-paint them red (brush-applied paint will also work).
Step 2:
Let the pieces dry thoroughly before gluing them into a heart shape. Use only as many as you need; each heart will look different.
Step 3:
Glue on a pin back and present it to your true love.
Variations:
Glue on magnetic backing to create a sweet magnet.
Keepsake Rose Hearts
What You Need:
-Typing or tracing paper
-Floral oasis foam (available at crafts or discount stores, or flower shops)
-Tacky glue, if desired
-Water
-Pie tin
-About one dozen fresh miniature or small roses in desired color
-Sharp knife
-Fresh lemon leaves (available at flower shops)
-Pins
Instructions:
1. Download the free pattern. (Downloading requires free Adobe Acrobat software.)
• Keepsake Rose Heart pattern
2. Trace pattern onto typing or tracing paper. Place the pattern over the oasis and cut out the heart shape. (Note: If oasis is not big enough, two pieces may be glued together.) Put water in the pie tin and soak the oasis in water for about 1/2 hour. Cut off heads of roses and place into the oasis, filling in space as tightly as possible.
3. After the entire oasis is filled with flower heads, turn the heart on its side and pin lemon leaves around the sides, overlapping as needed. Continue until the oasis is entirely covered.
4. Place the floral heart on a glass or china plate or in a shallow bowl.
More Ideas:
For an everlasting version of this rose heart, use freeze-dried or silk roses.
To add a message to this romantic gift, write it on a ribbon using a paint pen and attach the small banner across the top. -
*AHEM* some1 out there better taje the hint!!! *AHEM AHEM!!!*
-
Chocolate kiss rose-buds
Get the kisses that come wrapped in red foil at Valentine's Day... They come in a package mixed silver wrapped and red wrapped.
Put a silver and a red kiss base to base.
Center a piece of clear plastic wrap over the tip of the red one and stretch it tight down over the kisses, gathering it at the tip of the silver kiss.
Take a twelve inch piece of florist wire and twist the end around the plastic wrap to secure it.
Wind with green floral tape, beginning at the twisted wire, wrap up and around silver kiss then spiral back down covering wire stem and tucking in artificial rose leaves about an inch below the bud and one or two more spaced further down the stem. Continue wrapping stem wire until the entire length is covered. -
ahem.. ahem... hinting you lor....Originally posted by skeujin:*AHEM* some1 out there better taje the hint!!! *AHEM AHEM!!!* 
-
cause we r ohana... n ohana means family....Originally posted by lilogirl:ahem.. ahem... hinting you lor.... 
-
yepz! my ohana valentine!!! I'll be awaiting your handmade gift!!!
-
Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Champagne
Even the non-cook will love this recipe.
Purchase your favorite Champagne and chill.
Buy fresh strawberries that have their stems intact. Wash, dry and refrigerate the strawberries. (Cold strawberries will cause the chocolate to harden and there will be less dripping.)
Chocolate dip: Buy a jar or Nutella, European chocolate hazelnut spread. Place 1 cup of Nutella in a double boiler or fondue pot. Add 1 to 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream. Heat over low heat! Add more heavy cream as needed until the consistency of heavy cream. Serve your Valentine. Men, you can do it! -
Crayon Hearts
If the sun seems to peer right into your window, give it something pretty to look at—and through. These translucent hanging hearts are easy to make from waxed paper and crayons. In return, sunbeams will color your room with cheer. Begin with a 12-by-16-inch sheet of waxed paper. Fold it in half along its length; unfold. Deposit wax-crayon shavings (made with a handheld pencil sharpener) evenly but not thickly across one half of the paper. Fold the clean half of the paper over the shavings. Crimp the three open edges with a 1/2-inch fold to hold the shavings. Protect your ironing surface with kraft paper. Place the waxed paper on the kraft paper, and cover it with another sheet of kraft paper. Iron lightly on medium heat, checking after every few passes. Stop when all the shavings have melted; let cool. Next, trace and cut out hearts of various sizes. String each heart with a silk thread for hanging.
-
-
Painted Valentine's Stones
Supplies: Polished stones from a dollar or craft store, or smooth stones from your yard.
Paint markers in the colours of your choice. For the hearts, we used red, white, pink and green.
Glitter glue pens (optional).
Fridge magnets or jewelry pins.
Glue gun and glue sticks.
Skills: Easy paint marking.
What You Do:
Select stones of a suitable shape for your project. In the photograph, we used stones that were triangular and suitable for using to paint a heart. A round stone would suit a pumpkin design. Irregular shapes might be attractive painted with a bouquet of flowers. Watch for unique shapes that suggest birds, animals or other nature motifs.
Wash the stones in soap and water and dry thoroughly.
Paint the stone in the base colour and let dry.
Optional: define the shape of your design by outlining with dots or a solid line.
Put your flower, picture or printed message ("Love" or "Be Mine" ) in a contrasting colour. Simple ideas, using bright contrasting colors, work very well for this project. Let dry.
Add glitter glue pen accents. Let dry.
Turn over the stone and use the glue gun to attach a fridge magnet. An alternative would be to glue a jewelry pin on the back of your stone to wear it as funky jewelry. -
Pearly Love Card
1. Trace your card onto the back of a piece of scrapbook paper. Then, using decorative scissors, cut inside (not around) the line you drew. This will ensure that the decorative paper is slightly smaller than the card and will be framed nicely by it.
2. Center the decorative paper on the front of the card and glue it in place with a glue stick.
3. Lightly draw letters onto the card by hand, or use a ruler if you feel more comfortable. We spelled out LOVE, but you can draw a heart or spell out other words, like KISS, TRUE LOVE, XOXO (hugs and kisses) or BE MINE.
4. Use a glue gun to attach the pearl beads (all the same or various sizes and shapes, like ours) to the card.
5. Write something sweet inside, like "You're as rare and lovely as a pearl, Valentine!" -
Light My Fire Card
1. What could be simpler than this clever card? All you have to do is glue a single birthday candle (or other small candle) and a match onto a blank card.
2. Inside, write, "Come on, Valentine, light my fire!"
Velvet Heart Card
1. Cut a heart out of red velvet using pinking shears.
2. Use the same color or contrasting embroidery floss to sew an arrow onto the card, making sure to cross under and through the heart.
3. Trim the edge of the card with scallop-edged scissors or pinking shears.
4. Inside, write, "I've been hit by Cupid's arrow, Valentine!" -
Yarn Card
1. Write a message like "Be Mine," "I love you" or "Yours Truly," or draw a heart with an arrow, a flower or a pair of hearts on the front of a card. Print words by hand, or play with different fonts on your computer; then print onto the card or onto paper and use carbon paper to trace the printout onto the card.
2. Trace the lines with glue and carefully place yarn in it. Use long continuous pieces for script letters, hearts and flowers, and smaller cut-to-size pieces for simple block lettering and arrows.
3. Give your sweetie a giggle and write this inside: "My heart 'yarns' for you, Valentine!"
