Valentine Be Mine

 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY


XOXOXOXOXO

BE MINE

XOXOXO

HUGS

&

KISSES

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all
I'm on your side when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
- - - Simon and Garfunkel. "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

LOVED ONES ARE ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE


Created by Luxe Adornments...............................................

Valentine Gifts

These little guys were made by Sabahnur at Petit and Cute Design

The Valentine Bird with pure love

Valentine

XOXO/LUV YA Valentine



More cute valentine finds from Etsy shops:

These adorable earrings were made by BoobooArtLLC

"VINO" wine glasses on sale in the glasscity gift shop on Etsy...

Let your valentine know they are loved........


Plan a romantic evening
Leave love notes around your home
Make a handmade valentine greeting card
Pamper your loved one

Create your own conversation hearts ("Gourmet Writer" markers from AmeriColor or some food coloring and a toothpick work just as well)

• These markers can be used to write on food. Turn the conversation heart over and write on the back or heres a recipe to make your own.

RECIPE for Conversation hearts:

These homemade conversation hearts make a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift. This recipe produces candy hearts that taste just like the ones you buy at the store, but your homemade hearts can be customized with whatever drawings or messages you choose. Be sure not to miss the photo tutorial with step-by-step illustrations showing how to make conversation hearts!

This recipe requires an extensive drying period, so be sure to start this process 24 hours before you need the hearts. Additionally, you will need special food-coloring markers for writing on the hearts, such as the "Gourmet Writer" markers from AmeriColor.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet (1/4 oz, or 2 tsp) unflavored gelatin
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp light corn syrup
• 2 lbs powdered sugar, plus additional for dusting
• Assorted flavoring extracts of your choice
  
• Assorted food colors of your choice
• Heart-shaped cutters
• Food coloring markers

Preparation:

1. Place the corn syrup, gelatin, and water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Stir until the gelatin is well-distributed. Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds, so the gelatin dissolves, and stir well.

2. Pour the gelatin mixture into the bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Alternately, if you are using a hand mixer, pour the gelatin mixture into a large bowl. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar and turn the mixer to low, mixing until the sugar is incorporated.

3. Once the sugar is mixed in, add another cup of sugar, again mixing on low until it liquefies. Continue to add the remaining powdered sugar, one cup at a time, pausing in between additions to allow the sugar to mix in, until the full two pounds of powdered sugar is added. Periodically, stop the mixer and scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. The candy will progress from a thin, watery liquid to a very stiff dough.

4. Once all of the sugar is incorporated, dust a work surface (counter or large cutting board) with powdered sugar and scrape the candy out onto the work surface. The candy will be very sticky and stiff. Generously dust the top of the ball of candy with powdered sugar, and begin to knead the candy like bread dough: fold the ball of dough over onto itself, then use the heel of your hand to push it down. Give the candy a quarter-turn, and repeat the process, dusting it with more powdered sugar as often as necessary to prevent it from sticking to the board or your hands. Knead until the candy is satiny and not sticky.

5.Decide how many colors/flavors of conversation hearts you want to make, and divide the candy dough into that many portions. To flavor and color the candy, take one of the balls and flatten it into a palm-sized disc. Add a few drops of food coloring and flavoring extract to the center of the disc, and fold it over on itself. (It is a good idea to wear disposable plastic gloves during this step to keep your hands free of colors and odors.) Knead the dough ball, just as you did before, until the color is evenly dispersed throughout the candy, and all streaks have disappeared. Repeat this process with remaining candy balls and colors/flavors, until all of your candy is colored and flavored.

6. Dust your work surface and a rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out one of the candy balls to your desired thickness. Small store-bought conversation hearts tend to be fairly thick, generally over 1/4” thick. I find that this thickness works well for small hearts (under 1”), but it makes larger heart sizes very substantial and a little overwhelming. However, the thickness is entirely a matter of personal preference and does not affect the taste of the final candy.

7. Use heart-shaped cutters to cut hearts out of the rolled candy, and transfer the hearts to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Smaller hearts are more realistic, but larger hearts are easier to write messages on. Once you have cut out your hearts, you can re-roll the scraps to get more shapes out of the candy. Repeat with remaining candy balls.

8. Allow your hearts to air-dry for at least 24 hours before you write on them. This step is VERY important, because the extra moisture in the hearts will cause the ink to run if you do not let them dry properly.

9. After the hearts have dried for a day, use the food writing markers to write messages or draw designs on the hearts. Store your conversation hearts in an airtight container at room temperature.

Going On Sale this week at Glass City Gifts elegantly etched glassware for your valentine.

Great handmade valentines on Etsy.
This one is found at The Polka Dot Peacock.

What You Need:

* Assorted chocolate kisses and hearts
* Pink, white and red construction paper
* Scissors
* Gold, silver, red or black pens
* Clean, empty jars
* Red or pink ribbons

What You Do:

1. Cut small hearts, strips, and other shapes out of the paper, using all different colors.
2. write loving sayings on the paper. be specific to the intended recipient:
3. Toss the sayings with the chocolates and layer them in a jar.
4. Put on the lid, tighten, and top with ribbon tied in a pretty bow.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Create a Chain of Chocolate Kisses

What You Need:

* Plastic wrap
* Yarn or curling ribbon, cut into eleven 12-inch pieces
* 10 chocolate candy kisses
* Scissors

What You Do:

1. Cut a two-foot length of plastic wrap and lay it flat on your work surface.
2. Arrange the candy kisses on the plastic wrap in a single column down the length of the sheet. Start in the upper left corner, about 2 inches from the top and 2 inches from the side. Leave approximately 1½ inches of space between each candy.
3. Fold the edge of the plastic wrap over the column of candies and continue rolling so the candies are securely covered with 2-3 layers of plastic wrap.
4. Carefully cut away any excess plastic wrap from the side of the roll, taking care not to disturb the positions of the candy.
5. Using a length of yarn or ribbon, tie a knot or bow around the roll between the kisses to separate the kisses and form a chain. Place a bow between each kiss and at the beginning and end of the chain.
6. Trim away any excess plastic wrap from the ends of the chain.

Give away your chocolate kiss chain to someone special as a tasty Valentine's Day treat!

Valentine's Day Gifts

All it takes to propagate African violets is a large healthy leaf, cut in half. Turn it into a pretty Valentine's Day gift by snipping it into the shape of a heart.

Heart-Shaped Tea Bag

Warm someone up by adding a handwritten note to a tea bag. Cut two hearts out of red construction paper using a heart-shaped crafter's hole punch (available at crafts stores). Use a metallic pen to write a short message on one of the hearts. Next, remove a tea-bag tag and, at the end of the string, affix two hearts, back-to-back, using double-sided tape or a stapler. Package bags to give as a present, or steep one in hot water and serve.

Valentine

Check out the great, original,handmade ideas at Etsy valentines day

Propagating seeds is a little like nurturing relationships: The more attention and care they get, the more likely they are to flourish and thrive. Give flower seeds with little pots that they can take root in. Put seeds in plain white coin envelopes available at stationery stores, and label with an eraser stamp. Or use a rubber stamp, or make a heart with thumbprints. Put growing instructions on back, noting when seedlings need to be transplanted.

Etsy Glass Treasures

Handmade Treasures



ETSY TREASURES

Check out the great Valentine Gifts on Etsy. I know Christmas shopping just ended and here comes valentines Day.

Valentine BE MINE:

Visit Etsy for Handmade valentines

BE MINE

Hershey's Kiss Roses


Use leftover red plastic wrap from Christmas to make these sweet roses for Valentine's Day, they are very inexpensive to make and guaranteed to be a big hit!

You can either give a single Hershey Kiss Rose or wrap them together by the dozen for your special sweetheart.

Here are the supplies needed for each rose...

2 Hershey's Kiss chocolate candies, any flavor
Pink or red cellophane wrap
Floral stems (with at least 1 or 2 leaves)
Green floral tape

Directions:

Place the two Hershey's Kisses together, bottom end to bottom end, and hold in place. Wrap the Kisses with a small square of cellophane from top to bottom, creating a rose like shape.

Gather the cellophane together at the bottom of the rosebud, but before twisting the cellophane completely closed, add a pre-cut floral stem with the leaf close to the bud.

Wrap the bottom cellophane closed with floral tape, going around the stem and pulling it tight all the way down to the end.
Now you can make your own or
These will be on sale along with etched glass vases for valentines day at Glass City Gifts on Etsy.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!
Enjoy time with the family.

Creative Holiday Gift Wrapping Ideas, Recycled Wrapping : Threadbanger

Top 10 Green Gift Wrap Ideas

‘Tis the season for living rooms around the country to be covered in a sea of crumpled paper and tossed-aside bows. Yup, wrapping paper from holiday gifts is largely to blame for a 25 percent spike in curbside trash volume between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the EPA. (And if Grandpa’s just tossing everything into the fireplace, that’s even more harmful. Many inks and foils contain chemicals that are toxic when burned.)

What is the eco-minded gift-giver to do? Here are 10 ways to give a thoughtfully wrapped present and give back to the Earth too.

1. Eco-shiniest

Say “silver bells” without leaving a metallic taste in your mouth. A different twist on recycled paper, recycled aluminum foil adds shiny happiness and closes the loop on recycling. Tie on some colorful raffia or hemp twine or this beguiling recycled silk sari yarn to up the festive factor.

2. Most re-useful

Reusable gift bags or shopping bags make an ingenious alternative to gift wrap, and these days they come in all manner of styles, from basic to uber-green to glam. This recycled juice pack tote might be an even bigger hit than the gift inside!

If you’re a whiz with your Singer, whip up your own cloth tote bags or gift bags. Not so much? Check out these luminous drawstring gift sleeves by Lyziwraps, named after founder Jocelyn Childs' daughter, who designed a prototype for her eighth grade “Innovation” competition seven years ago.

3. Best “direction”

Let surplus maps lead the way to sustainable wrapping. These reclaimed New York City subway maps and topographical maps give your package a hip design. Not to mention, they’re educational.

4. Brightest topper

Add a bulb instead of a bow — a compact fluorescent bulb, that is. You can’t stick it on top of your head, but when you stick it on top of your gift you’ll help reduce your gift recipient’s carbon footprint (and electric bill).

5. Most appreciated

Make the wrapping part of the gift! Containers make great no-wrapping-needed packaging: A bucket or watering can is easy to fill with gardening supplies, and a mixing bowl or stockpot makes the perfect package for your favorite cook. And don’t forget soft wrapping paper alternatives that are also great gifts, like scarves, organic cotton baby blankets, and beach towels or organic cotton bath towels from Gaiam. It’ll give them a little hint as to what's inside, but your creative wrapping will get years of use.

6. Most resourceful

Banana fiber paper turns wasted bark from banana production into a decorative eco-wrapping option. Or opt for tree-less sources of paper, such as 100% recycled paper printed with soy-based inks. Or try these fabric wraps from wrapnatural.com.

7. Closest to nature

Some of the best decorations for your gifts can be found in backyards, beaches and fields. Sprigs of berries, branches, shells and pinecones are naturally beautiful and don’t require any manufacturing at all … just a short hike. (Check with authorities before taking pinecones or other specimens from state or national forests or parks.) Or try Real Goods' biodegradable Seed Gift Wrap that's embedded with wildflower seeds. Instead of tossing or recycling it after gifts are opened, just plant it in your garden! There’s no waste … just beautiful blossoms that make this wrapping paper a gift in itself.

8. Recycling-friendliest

Avoid sticky situations at your recycling facility by wrapping your gifts without conventional — often petroleum-based — tape. Not all curbside programs accept wrapping paper. But if yours does, it should be tape-free. Try opting out of tape by making tightly creased folds as you wrap, securing it by tying up the package tightly (in two directions) with natural twine or wool yarn that can be reused.

9. Most frugal

Why spend a dime on wrapping when you already have what you need? Newspaper might have a reputation for saying “cheapskate,” so get a little creative. Use anything from paper bags to leftover wallpaper, and cut out images from magazines, comics, children’s drawings or old greeting cards to give your package an artistic flair.

10. Most interactive

If necessity is the mother of invention, competition is the sister of connection! Challenge your family to a little friendly competition — come up with the most inventive, resourceful, brilliant wrapping paper alternative using natural, reusable, recycled or repurposed raw materials. Then before present-opening commences, take a vote on the best idea. Award the winner a white-elephant gift, an extra pecan pie to take home, a spa massage, a restaurant gift card ... use your imagination! The experience will add to the great memories you create together this holiday.

Ginny Figlar of Gaiam Life

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Christmas RED

Festive Red glass platters

Great for entertaining or giving as a gift.