My Valentine Project ---> Shadow Box

Valentine Shadow Box
I love Altered Art!

This first project is something that I have had brewing in my mind for a while now. I picked up a soda pop crate at a garage sale for 25 cents a while ago.
I painted it white and I am turning it into a Valentine Shadow Bos.

This is the end of it - a "Dr. Pepper" crate.

I put 2 pieces of cardstock between the boards in the back because it doesn't have a solid back. Then I cut a variety of Valentine's papers in to squares and glued them to the cardstock.


You can see in here the cardstock and the variety of patterns.

This is the lower left corner. I have a bunch of fun heart things in my heart collection. These are small enough to work for this shadow box. I don't have my Valentines things unpacked yet, so I will have to fill in when it is out of the boxes.
These are special hearts, one is a pen top that our #4 daughter gave me a long time ago, so fun to have some place special to put it now. The glass boxes are from my hubby years ago. Each heart has a special place in my "heart."

This is the lower right corner. The buttons on these cards and in the little bottle are buttons that were my grandmother's (1890-1963) I was really little when she passed away, but I have 2 gallon bucket full of her buttons that she cut off things and used in her sewing - these are a few of them. Yup! I am a hopeless romantic!

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This is the finished product! I need to add some more do dad's to it when I get my stuff out.

Perfect place to display my miniature heart collection.

Valentine Goodies

These are adorable....

3 tablespoons margarine

6 cups mini (or 60 regular-size) marshmallows

Red food coloring

9 cups Rice Krispies cereal

Heart-shaped cookie cutter

Plastic bags, yarn

How to Make

To begin, lightly coat a 10- by 15-inch baking sheet with cooking spray and set it aside. Melt the margarine in a large pot over low heat. Add the marshmallows, stirring them continuously until they melt. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in drops of red food coloring until the color receives a thumbs-up from the chef.Add the Rice Krispies, stirring until they are evenly coated with marshmallow. Spoon the mixture onto the baking sheet. With waxed paper (or lightly buttered hands), smooth out the mixture, spreading it to an even thickness.Cut out hearts with the cookie cutter. Place each heart in a clear plastic bag, tie on a yarn bow, and they're ready for giving. Makes seven 5-inch hearts. http://www.nofussfabulous.com/?p=2994

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I found this on Family Fun site.

They would be great to make for the special little people in your life. http://familyfun.go.com/click%20here%20for%20insturctions

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Sweet as Kisses Pie Valentine Pie

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened

1/3 cup sugar

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed,

1 cup strawberry pie filling

1 Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)

Mix cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Set aside.

Gently stir in 2 cups of the whipped topping. Add pie filling and mix lightly. Pur into crust and top with remaining whipped topping. Freeze at least 3 hours or overnight. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 8 slices. (From the Kraft recipe site)

Valentine Decor

I love this Valentines Cookie Sheet Calendar.

The instructions are over at: http://wegrowbyourdreams.blogspot.com/2008/02/cookie-sheet-valentine-count-down.html

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She also has a wonderful tutorial on a Table Runner for Valentines Day. Check it out at: http://wegrowbyourdreams.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-valentines-day.html

Aren't These Fun Candles for Valentines Day?

From the Martha Steward Website - Set the mood this Valentine's Day with these romantic heart candles.Tools and MaterialsChopsticksBlow-dryerHeart-shaped craft punches in various sizesSheet waxPillar candleCandle How-To:1. Punch hearts from a sheet of wax using heart-shaped craft punches.2. While holding a single wax heart with chopsticks, heat the pillar candle and wax heart using a blow-dryer (this will soften the wax heart, causing it to adhere to the candle).3. Repeat this process

These are the instructions for the bottle above:

Send a romantic note to your special someone with this message in a bottle craft.Tools and MaterialsScissorsEmpty, clear wine bottle with corkWine bottle label templateParchment paper or other solid lightweight paperDouble-sided tapeColored pen or markerDecorative adhesive ribbonBath confettiMessage in a Bottle How-To1. Remove all original labeling from the wine bottle.2. Print the wine bottle label template on parchment paper and cut out the Valentine's Day wine bottle label.3. Adhere the label to the bottle using double-sided tape.4. Write a personal message on another piece of paper, roll paper tightly enough to fit through the mouth of the bottle, and seal with adhesive ribbon.6. Add bath confetti soap to the bottle and insert rolled note. Cork bottle.ResourcesDecorative adhesive ribbon is available on marthastewartcrafts .com. Special thanks to Raquel Welch for demonstrating how to make this craft, as well as Romantic Candles.

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I am not a crochet expert, but this jar is so sweet I had to share it:

You can find the instructions and lots more ideas over at:http://www.momsloveofcrochet.com/HeartJarEdging.html

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Valentines Centerpiece Ideas

I think this is totally fun! It is from the JoAnn's website

Click here for instructions

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I love doing this, using holiday candy in the bottom part of a glass vase and then adding flowers or some type of foo foo to it. Red hots or converstation hearts are perfect to do this for Valentines Day.

Valentines Wreath Ideas

Valentines Wreaths - symbol of a never ending circle of love.

Make more than one and hang them all over, doors, windows, walls, etc.

Have fun with this!

These are a few ideas I have found, I plan to start making some other projects next week.

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Look at this fun Rose Valentine Wreath

Click here for Instructions

This is a darling Wreath over at Little Birdie's Secrets.

She has a great tutorial click on the link and you can see how she did this....easy, quick and so fun! Click on this link for a great tutorial

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Cyndie at This is My Life has this Darling Wreath

Click on this link for her tutorial

I have made this wreath before, mine is all red and white. It is cute no matter what color you make it.

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Eileen who I am on a Christmas list with made this in a circle shape and this is how it looks.

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Wire Mesh Heart

Create a mesh heart filled with potpourri! By: Today's Creative Home Arts

Perfect as a wall hanging or as a gift, make a three-dimensional mesh heart to fill with dried rosebuds, petals, or fragrant potpourri.
Choose ribbon and filling to match any décor. Use our checked ribbon example for a more country look, or use velvet for a more elegant flare or charming gingham for a child’s room.
You will need

• Hardware cloth — a 12-inch by 14-inch piece• 1-inch woven ribbon — about 4 yards• Wire, fine gauge — a few feet• Dried rosebuds and petals or potpourri• Other embellishments, such as flowers, greens or other ribbons• Wire cutter• Long-nosed pliers• Leather gloves
Tips - Use a 1-inch cloth woven ribbon, as a satin one may catch on the wire and snag. The base of this project is hardware cloth. The 1/2- and 1/4-inch mesh works best.
STEP 1: Cut shape. Make and cut out a heart-shaped pattern measuring about 7 inches wide by about 7 inches high. Place the pattern on the hardware cloth. Make sure that the heart-shaped pattern is centered so that a vertical wire is at the center and trace two heart shapes on hardware cloth using a wide felt-tipped pen. Cut both heart shapes from the hardware cloth using wire cutters. Also cut two rectangular shapes, 2 inches by 12 inches, leaving one long side on each with the wires extending. The other long side should be smooth. Place the narrow ends of rectangles together and wire one set of ends together. Separate the other ends. Near the wired part, hold the side pieces upright and wrap each side around a cup, creating a gentle curve to start the heart shape of the side pieces of the “box.” (See image 2).
STEP 2: Wrap the wire. Place one of the heart shapes on top of the side pieces, with smooth edges of rectangular pieces facing up. Work the shapes together. Start wrapping the edges with wire from the top center of the heart shape. Secure the beginning of the wire well. Wrap the other side of the heart with wire in the same manner. At the heart bottom or point, cut any excess hardware cloth from the side pieces. Wrap the wire along the point from heart-shaped piece to the back side of the “box.” Next, wrap with the ribbon starting at top center of heart shape and leaving about 10 to 12 inches of extra ribbon. The goal is to cover the edges of the heart, but it does not need to be smooth and even. Wrap to the point and leave the extra ribbon. Do the same on the other side.
STEP 3: Add filling and embellish. Turn the “box” over and add rosebuds and petals or potpourri. Place the remaining heart-shaped wire piece on top, working it into place. Turn the protruding wires around the heart-shaped wire piece with pliers to secure. Tie the top ribbons forming a loop for hanging. Embellish as desired with dried flower blossoms or greens such as ivy, at the top of the heart or by hanging more ribbons or other elements such as beads, at the bottom of the heart. (See image 3).

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This is made using vintage Valentine Card Images on a wire form. This picture is from: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/hd333/?pkey=k28-7048481&catalogId=28&sku=7048481 where you can buy it if you would rather not make it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This darling wreath has a tutorial to make it at Mintage Home Blog

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These are totally darling hearts.

You can find them at Helby's Hatch along with a tutorial on how to make them.

http://helbyshatch.blogspot.com/2010/01/valentines-day-door-hanger.html