Valentine Picture Frame

This picture frame filled with a photo of a loved one would be a perfect gift to send in the mail because it can be flattened by removing the brads. It is also super easy to construct since the basic frame is cut using a Sizzix frame die and even the decorative paper was cut using the die. I only covered the front of the frame but you could do the whole frame. The bottom photo shows some of the essential supplies needed for this project. Bo Bunny produced two booklets of 6x6 Valentine papers this year, which are sold at Ben Franklin Crafts. I think you'll find that the package of K and Co. vintage-look Valentine die cuts are an invaluable craft embellishment, which will add instant charm to all your projects. Oh yes, the Sizzix frame die is for matboard or chipboard because any paper or cardboard that is too thin will not stand up and the die will cut completely through it. Also be sure that your brads are long enough to go all the way through the two thicknesses of chipboard. I had some perfect heart ones but they were just a little too short and I can't find my other Valentine brads so I'm off to Ben Franklin Crafts again. Hooray! Shopping!

ValentineTreat Boxes

Valentine's Day seems to bring out the urge to make treat boxes. These days my waistline would appreciate a box of embellishments more than brownies, but I must say this box is just the right size for a single luscious brownie square. I started with a half sheet of cardstock from the Valentine K and Co. Designer Paper pad. Using the Sizzix die in the photo made making the box with the shaker top a cinch to make. All I had to do was tape acetate behind the opening, line the opening with foam tape, fill the window with Martha Stewart glitter and teeny no hole beads, and affix a piece of cardstock behind the window. A bow with long ties on the top of the box and a large heart brad on the front form the simple closure.

This second treat holder was also a quickie. I reversed the other half of the 12x12 cardstock and used the other Sizzix die to cut the bag with a tab. After I assembled the bag I decided that I wanted to cut a window to reveal the treat. Of course it would have been easier to use the anywhere Martha Stewart Valentine punch before I taped the bag together (LOL) but it wasn't too hard to place the bottom of the punch in the bag (put something flat like a spool of jewelry wire under the punch) and attach the magnetic top half of the punch. Finally, a Dress It Up button was attached to the bow using a piece of wire and then it was glued to the treat bag. If you need lots of treat holders but you don't have lots of time, these two die cut ones are your easy solution. Remember: If you purchase cardstock from Ben Franklin Crafts, you can use their machine and dies. Now isn't that a treat!

Happy Year of the Rabbit!

This is my husband's Year of the Rabbit so I was pleased to find some colorful Chinese New Year products in Ben Franklin Crafts. I also discovered a great Sizzix die for a Chinese take-out box. The die is for the Pro machine so it takes a 12x12 cardstock sheet for each box. I chose paper from a K and Co. cardstock designer specialty pad which seemed to have just the right Asian look and colors. If you need to make lots of boxes for party favors, I would suggest cutting them from plain red cardstock and then hand stamping an Asian design all over with gold ink. I put some raffia in the box ( fake noodles) added the pencils for chopsticks and the other items as the food. (See packaged products in bottom photo.) You could include some real fortune cookies. Even if you're not having a Chinese New Year party, this simple favor would be great for a retirement or birthday party. Remember, if you don't own a Sizzix Pro Machine, you can borrow the Ben Franklin Crafts die cutting machine if you buy your paper from the store. Happy Chinese New Year!

Valentine Pearl and Garnet Jewelry

It's been awhile since I posted a jewelry project, so I thought I would make something for Valentine's Day. Because January's birthstone is garnet and it is red; it seemed like an appropriate stone to use for both January and February. I searched through my stash of red gemstones and found a strand of small faceted teardrop/heart-shaped garnets. For the earrings and pendant you only need four garnets so it might be more economical to buy just four individual stones. Actually, the inspiration for this project was a strand of biwa stick pearls with holes drilled in the middle, which I purchased at Ben Franklin Crafts. The strand had about 30 pearls in graduated sizes with a gorgeous pinkish luster and was selling for under twenty dollars (less than $1 per pearl). The bead department often has single pearls so you may not have to buy a whole strand or perhaps the store would be willing to sell you half a strand. I personally wanted the whole strand because the pearls were so beautiful that I knew I wanted extras for future projects. Anyway, I used three long decorative sterling head pins to string on the pearls and garnets. (Make sure that the gemstone holes are large enough to accomodate the pins.) Wire wrap the ends of the pins to form a neat loop large enough to hang them from a bail and earring hoops. This is such an easy project that I'm sure even a beginning jewelry crafter will have success. If not for yourself, I know that any mother or girlfriend will be thrilled to receive a jewelry set of pearls and garnets for Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day to all my blogland readers! Thanks for stopping by.

Sweet Cards

Since I had all my new Valentine papers and embellishment out, I decided to make my last thank you note using some of the new sweetheart stuff. I cut a 12x12 pink cardstock in half to make two 6x6 blank cards. On the left side of each card I adhered a wide strip of printed Little Yellow Bicycle paper. Next I embossed a piece of red cardstock with a Valentine embossing folder (see bottom photo). Cut panels of this embossed cardstock were taped to the right side of the card. With a heart shaped thin Spellbinder die I cut hearts from pink cardstock with glitter dots. For the thank you card a TAJ cupcake bear stamp was used to create the cut-out and a Tim Holtz On the Edge Sizzix die was used to cut a scroll edge from white glittered cardstock. The character on the Valentine card was made by coloring and cutting out a CC design stamp called Cuppie. The embellishments with words on both cards were from the K and Co. packages of die cut papers. The frosting on the bear's cupcake is Flower Soft and the metallic 'candies' are a new smaller size of Sierra Pacific crystals found in the Ben Franklin Crafts floral department. The bottom photo shows most of the products used on these cards. I am happy that I finally finished and mailed off my last thank you note. Because the gift given to me included a Coach cupcake key ring I thought that the thank you card was appropriate even though it had Valentine images. I was very pleased with my first Valentine card of 2011 because it seems to convey my feelings about Valentine's Day...the hope that someone will tell you that you are special. Make a card today for someone you love. It will make both of you happy.

Valentine Products

This is just a sampling of the new Martha Stewart Valentine products. My favorite items are the anywhere punches which are magnetized to be movable and able to punch wherever positioned.

The 12x12 papers are very attractive and many of the embellishments coordinate with the papers.

The items in the bottom photo are from the K and Co. line. There are lots of packages with an enormous amount of die cuts. My favorite die cuts are the ones with old fashion vintage-look designs. I plan to make some Valentine cards to imitate the fancy stand-up ones that I've seen in antique stores. The package of sticker embellishments that I particularly love is the one which has mini-snow globes with Valentine designs inside. I hope that these photos entice you to shop at Ben Franklin Crafts for the best choice of Valentine craft products.....but hurry because lots of them are selling out. Valentine's Day is such a sweet occasion to craft something to let that special someone know that you are thinking of him/her. Candy is nice, but a handcrafted gift or card will be treasured for years.

50% off RED TAG CLEARANCE SALE

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow, Friday Jan. 21st, is the 50% off red tag sale day at Ben Franklin Crafts. I saw some of the red tag items and they were already great buys last week so I bought lots, but I'm going back to get some washi and yuzen paper at the 50% off price. There are also some great buys on Mountain Idea bronze(?) charms and books...many will be only 50 cents.