Homemade Valentine's Day Gifts

Craft Project: Crocheted Valentine Envelope

This small envelope is a unique way to present a Valentine's Day gift, especially a gift of jewelry. A quick and easy project, even for a beginner. Gauge is not really important here. My envelope measures about 3 1/2 X 4 inches.

Approximate Time: a couple of hours

Supplies:

• white sports yarn
• crochet hook - size G
• 1/2 inch heart shaped button
• needle and red thread
• small piece of felt to back up the button

Instructions:

Using sport yarn and G hook, ch 26.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across - 25 sts. Ch 1, turn.

Repeat Row 1 for 27 rows or until your piece is square. 25 sc in each row - do not count the ch 1 in the beginning of row. the 25th st will be into the top of the ch 1 in the previous row.

Last row: Repeat as with other rows, except ch 5 and turn at the beginning of this row. Omit the turning ch at the end of the row and fasten off. The ch 5 forms a loop buttonhole for your heart button.

Fold the corners in, as picture 2 shows (in PDF). Tack the corners where they meet together, and then with yarn whip the edges where they meet as shown in picture 3.

Cut a piece of felt or cotton cloth about 1/2 an inch to place behind the button for stability. Fold the envelope flap down to find the right position for the button and sew securely in place with the red thread. Tug the edges a little until it is square and flat.

By changing the type of yarn, the number of stitches in the starting chain and the size of the hook, you can make this up in various sizes.

I think this is the perfect size to tuck a pair of earrings into or perhaps an engagement ring.

The instructions are also in a PDF file for which you may need Acrobat Reader to view. Download Acrobat Reader

Click Here to download the Crocheted Valentine Envelope Instructions in PDF format.

By Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas

By Harlean Greathouse

Valentine Goody Snake

Kids love to create and what child wouldn't like a pet that is full of treats? Purchase a bunch of ties from a thrift store and you can make one for all your classmates!

Approximate Time: approximately 1 hour

Supplies:

• man's tie
• 2 wiggle eyes
• 1 pipe cleaner
• 1 pom pom
• scraps of felt
• pony beads
• treats to fill the snake
• ribbon

Instructions:

1. Start by bending end of pipe cleaner into a small loop. See photo. Sew to small end of tie on the back side.

2. Slide on beads and start to bend pipe cleaner to wrap around tie. This will form the rattle at the tail of the snake. Make about 3-4 wrappings of beads. When you reach your last bead, loop the end of the pipe cleaner around the last bead to keep all of them on.

3. Stitch around pipe cleaner in a few places to secure to tie.

4. Sew on pom pom to tip of tie.

5. Cut out a simple pair of glasses from felt to fit the wide end of tie.

6. Stitch or glue glasses onto front side. See photo. If stitching, be careful to only sew through top layer of tie. This wide end needs to remain open to put the candy inside of tie.

7. Glue wiggle eyes inside of glasses.

8. Cut a forked tongue and glue or stitch to underside tip at the wide end.

9. I used jelly beans to fill my snake but any candy that will fit inside will work. I keep mini Ziploc bags on hand and put approximately 5 in each bag. Drop your candy in and push down to end of snake. Tie a ribbon in between each candy until you reach the head. Tie one last ribbon which will keep the snake closed.

Note: I cut little hearts from felt and sewed one on top of every section with a button on top of the heart. This is optional and you can glue these on instead of sewing. I tied each of my ribbons into single bows so a child can just pull to release. Just shake the snake and the candy comes out.

By Mary (www.craftingtales.com) from Florida

Be My Valentine Floral Gift

Make this cute little gift for your Valentine and sweep him off his feet this year!

Approximate Time: 20 minutes

Supplies:

• one white Styrofoam block, sized 4 x 4 x 4 inches
  It can easily be cut and wedged into a container.
• galvanized mini tin bucket with a height of 2 7/8 inches:
  See http://bucket-outlet.com/Obo000.htm for a possible supplier.
• one heart-shaped lollipop, if possible with a message printed on it. (I used one with the message "Be My Valentine.")
• five red silk carnations
• a few silk leaves and small silk flowers
• red satin ribbon
• sharp knife.
• pair of standard pliers to shorten the stems of the silk flowers

Instructions:

1. Turn the mini tin bucket upside down and gently push the top of the bucket into the Styrofoam block, so that you will have left an imprint on the block.
2. Use the knife and cut the Styrofoam block to the correct size, so that it will fit snugly into the mini bucket. You will have to cut the foam at a slant, to make provision for the fact that the bucket gets narrower towards the bottom. Do not cut away too much at once; cut a few small pieces away, measure it to the bucket and keep on cutting and measuring until the foam fits into the bucket. Note: The Styrofoam is very messy, so work in an area that will be easy to clean.
3. Once it fits snugly into the bucket, use the knife to cut the foam level with the rim of the bucket.

4. If necessary, shorten the stick of the lollipop. Then, stick the lollipop into the middle of the foam in the bucket.

5. Cut the stems of the carnations shorter with the pair of pliers.
6. Decide how to arrange them around the lollipop and stick them in place in the foam.

7. Add a few leaves and smaller silk flowers to finish the arrangement.

8. Tie the ribbon around the bottom of the tin and make a small bow.

Photos included:
Photo 1: Cut the Styrofoam block to the correct size, so that it will fit snugly into the mini bucket.
Photo 2: If necessary, shorten the stick of the lollipop.
Photo 3: Arrange the carnations around the lollipop.
Photo 4: Add a few leaves and smaller silk flowers to finish the arrangement.
Photo 5: Tie the ribbon around the bottom of the tin and make a small bow.
Photo 6: The completed gift.

By BessieBessie from Pretoria, Gauteng

Valentine's Bracelet Purse

What little girl wouldn't love to get this purse that doubles as a bracelet? Then you fill it with goodies such as candy and you really make them happy. Make one from blues for boys and fill it with candy, tiny toy frogs, trucks, or other toys.

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Supplies:

• 2 colors of felt
• needle and floss
• scissors
• candies or other goodies
• tacky glue
• buttons
• puff paint optional
• hook and loop optional

Instructions:

1. Cut a strip of felt for the band 1 inch wide by approximately 9 inches long. Cut another strip of your second color 1/4 inch wide by 1 inch shorter than your finished length. I didn't have a child's wrist to measure so this is an estimate. You want to make sure you make it long enough to overlap for your button to catch or hook and loop if you want to use that.

2. Cut 1/4 inch slits every half inch crosswise along the band then weave your narrow color through the slits. Glue in place at both ends.

3. From your second color of felt cut a piece 2x4 inches, make a point on one narrow end for the flap, measure a 1/2 inch from the flap and bring the other end up to that point; pin in place.

4. Center this "purse" on the band. With your floss start at one side on the bottom of purse and stitch up the side catching the band in your stitches, then stitch around the flap and down the other side catching the band once again in your stitches.

5. You could mark the section that will be the front and do your decorating before you stitch the purse shut if you like.

6. Make a slit for the buttonhole in the point of the flap, stitch around the slit to reinforce it, and sew a button on the front of the purse directly under that slit.

7. Add either a button to one end of the band or hook and loop to fasten.

8. Fill the purse with goodies.

By Ann from Loup City, NE

Decoupage Bucket of Love

Make this bucket of love for your loved one this Valentine's Day.

Approximate Time: 40 minutes, excluding the time waiting for the paint to dry.

Supplies:

• a suitable vector illustration
  I downloaded a free vector illustration of a silhouette of two lovers from http://www.canstockphoto.com/.
• a photo editing program
  I used PhotoScape version 3.6, which can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.photoscape.org/.
• galvanized mini tin bucket with a height of 2 3/8 inches
  For a possible supplier, see http://bucket-outlet.com/lilbucket.htm.
• acrylic paint in the following two colors: black and plum
• Modge Podge
• quick-drying matt clear varnish spray paint
• hairdryer
• a 10/32 inch paint brush
• a fan-shaped paint brush
• a pair of standard scissors
• one small clear cellophane bag
• sweetheart candies
  See http://www.necco.com/ourbrands/default.asp?brandid=8.
• decorative ribbon
• a few sheets of old newspapers to protect the working area

Instructions:

1. Turn the mini tin bucket upside down on a sheet of newspaper. Using a 10/32 inch paint brush, paint the whole outside and the bottom of the bucket with the black paint.

2. Let it dry thoroughly and apply a second coat of black paint.
3. Let it dry thoroughly again, and then turn the bucket over. Paint the inside of the bucket with the black paint. Allow to dry thoroughly before applying a second coat to the inside too.
4. With the PhotoScape program, from the different frames that can be added to the vector illustration, choose the Transparent 02 frame, setting the width at 100%.
5. Save the adjusted illustration onto your computer, and then close the file. Reopen the file with the PhotoScape program, and print the illustration via PhotoScape, using the 5cm x 5cm size option. Now, cut the illustration out.

6. With the 10/32 inch brush, apply a layer of Modge Podge over the whole outside of the bucket. Put the illustration in position on the bucket, but do not press it down. With the brush, spread Modge Podge to the front of the illustration, lightly applying pressure so that it will stick to the bucket.
7. Working from the middle of the illustration, and from inside towards the outside, lightly rub out all the air bubbles from the back of the illustration.
8. Use the hairdryer to dry the whole bucket thoroughly, but do not use the highest heat setting on the hairdryer. Once dry, the illustration will be "glued" to the bucket.

9. Apply a layer of Modge Podge over the whole outside of the bucket, and dry it thoroughly with a hairdryer.
10. Repeat step 9; you need to apply 3 coats of Modge Podge, but remember that with every layer, the direction in which the Modge Podge is applied, must be changed from horizontal to vertical to horizontal, etc. Also, remember that after every layer of Modge Podge, the bucket must first be dried thoroughly with the hairdryer.
11. Using the fan-shaped paint brush, give the outside and inside of the bucket a wash with the plum-colored acrylic paint. Remember not to use too much paint when using a fan-shaped brush, as this will lose the fan-shaped effect. Remove excess paint by dabbing it onto a sheet of newspaper before starting to paint.

12. Turn the bucket upside down on a sheet of newspaper and spray the whole outside of the bucket with the matte clear varnish spray paint. Remember not to hold the can too close when spraying, and work in a well-ventilated area. Leave the bucket to dry thoroughly.
13. Turn the bucket around and spray the inside of the bucket. Leave it to dry thoroughly.
14. Add the Sweetheart candies to the cellophane bag. Tie a ribbon around the bag and make a bow.

15. Pop the bag into the bucket.

Photos included:
Photo 1: Paint the outside and inside of the bucket with the black paint.
Photo 2: The illustration used for this project.
Photo 3: The illustration is "glued" to the bucket, using Modge Podge.
Photo 4: Using the fan-shaped paint brush, give the outside and inside of the bucket a wash with the plum-colored acrylic paint.
Photo 5: Add the Sweetheart candies to the cellophane bag.
Photo 6: The completed bucket of love.

By BessieBessie from Pretoria, Gauteng

Little Sweetheart Pen Caddy Gift

Surprise your sweetie this February 14th with an extraordinary homemade gift sure to delight as it adorns their desk!

Approximate Time: 1 hour plus baking time

Supplies:

• 1 oz. light pink polymer clay
• 1 oz. hot pink polymer clay
• 2 oz. white polymer clay
• clay cutter blade
• acrylic roller
• 1 foot colored floral wire
• pencil
• Mod Podge (optional)
• oven
• cookie sheet
• wire snips

Instructions:

1. Roll light pink clay into a ball between palms of your hands until warm and pliable. Roll into a long log, about 5 inches long.
2. Roll hot pink clay into a ball between palms of your hands until warm and pliable. Roll into a log about 4 inches long using a hard, non-porous surface.
3. Use acrylic roller to flatten hot pink log until it measures about 5 inches long by 3/4 inches wide and 2 mm thick. Trim edge of hot pink shape into a neat rectangle using your clay cutting blade.
4. Wrap hot pink around light pink log; trim away any excess with blade. This is now your "cane."

5. Smooth seam where long edges meet with finger.
   Use clay cutter to trim off ends of cane.
6. Cut cane into two equal parts, cross-wise. Pinch top half of canes all the way down their length until you have formed tear drop shapes.

   Pinch canes together to form heart shape; set aside for now.

7. Roll white 2 oz. brick of clay into a ball between palms of hands until warm. Split into two equally sized balls. Flatten each ball with hand on hard, non-porous surface, slightly.
8. Use blade to slice thin (2-3mm) pieces off of your cane. When slicing, don't push straight down; rather, use a downward motion of one side and then the other (and so forth).

9. Pick the slices you like best, and place four on each ball, on the top, points together (heart will look upside-down at this point).

10. Flip balls over and push down slightly to flatten them with palm of hand.

    Place one more heart on each ball, at the middle of the top.


11. Make two small hot pink balls of clay (4-5 mm) from scraps you trimmed off the rectangle in step 6. Place each on the middle of the heart you just placed on top, and flatten slightly.
12. Snip ends off colored floral wire with wire snips at a sharp angle. Wrap middle ten inches of wire around a pencil or dowel rod into a long spiral shape.
13. Bend remaining 2 inches of wire on each end at a right angle to the long spiral; both going in the same direction to form stems. Insert stems, one into each ball, in the middle of the hot pink dot on the top.

14. Bake entire thing on a cookie sheet in your oven at 225 degrees F for 15 minutes.Let cool for an hour.

15. Seal with Mod Podge, if a glossy finish is desired.
16. Wrap and give to your Sweetie on Valentine's Day, preferably with a nice pen! :)

By Brianna from Dutch Harbor, AK

Craft Project: Mopheart Rag Doll

All 12 inches of Mopheart is packed with love waiting for you to make another of her kind. She is lonely and really wants to know she won't be the last of her race in this world.

Approximate Time: 3 hours

Supplies:

• sweater scraps
• white, blue, yellow, purple, and black felt scraps
• 1/2 yard 1 inch gathered lace
• 5 or 6 different yarns
• hot glue and gun
• stuffing
• needle and thread
• sewing machine
• scissors
• 1 inch button
• rice or beans, optional

Instructions:

If you have some old sweaters, yarn, and felt scraps you can whip her out in an afternoon easily.

1. Enlarge the pattern and have fun making more Mophearts for the Valentines in your world. You could make the character from any color he is so cuddly and loveable and as you can see he/she really needs some good old loving.
2. Cut two hearts approximately 10 inches wide by 6 inches high.
3. For the body, cut two squares 6 x 6 inches.

4. The eyes, nose, feet, and hands picture can be enlarged for a pattern by clicking on it. You can also draw your own.

5. Cut hearts about 2 inches for the eyes.
6. Cut a 2 inch circle for the nose from the sweater material.
7. From your felt scraps cut (two of each), 3/4 inch circle from white for the eyes, 3/4 inch circle in blue or your choice of color, and 1/4 inch black circle for the eyes and you have it.
   You might want to sew your features on before you sew the two layers together, that is up to you.
8. Sew the heart head leaving a 2 inch opening, turn right side out, stuff (if you want her to sit up) add some rice or beans before you sew shut.
   If you waited now is the time to sew the features on.

9. For the heart eyes I did an overcast around the edges.
10. Gather a 2 inch circle of fabric for the nose, stuff, and add to the face.
11. Cut out two of the lips pattern and overcast the edges together leaving a space to stuff them, then close the opening. Stitch a seam through the lips from one end to the other to separate the the lips. Stitch or glue them on just under the nose.

12. Make the feet and hands in the same matter. I did a blanket stitch of sorts on them; that is the only difference.
13. Cut 4 strips 9 inches long from the sweater material for the legs and arms. Make a knot in the center for the arms. For the legs make a knot in one end and the center. Do the end one first so you know where the center will be.
15. Stitch the plain end to the bottom of the body.
16. Add a heart-foot to the knots on the end of the legs as shown in the photo. I pointed the hearts away from the arms and toward the legs.

17. Repeat with the hands and add a strip of lace around the joint.

18. Add a strip of lace around her neck. I strung name beads that spell "Be My Valentine" and tied them around her neck.
19. The flower is yellow felt glued around to the back of a button then 5 petals made by tracing around the first joint of your thumb (unless you have a small thumb). They are a little over an inch across and an inch long. Make a pleat in the straight edge (joint end) and glue to the back of the covered button. When you have all 5 glued on glue the flower on her chest.
20. Her hair is made up of 9 bunches of 6 strands of multi-colored, thick yarn including one tan one.
    Cut 8 inch lengths and tie into a knot in the middle.
    Make one bunch shorter, that will be in the middle of the face or just trim it down after you get the knot made in the bunch. Tie a knot in the ends of each strand.
21. Glue them just in front of the seam across the top of the heart-head.
22. Either stitch or hot glue the head in the center of the body.
23. Add the arms and legs.

By Ann from Loup City, NE

Valentine Monkey

Any child would love one of these cuties for Valentine's Day. You can even wrap one around a gift or gather a troupe of them together. The magnets in their hands let you pose them any way you want!

Approximate Time: 2 hrs. approx.

Supplies:

• felt in your choice of color
• fur material in your choice of color
• 2 button magnets - 3/8 inch by 3/4 inch
• stuffing
• 2 wiggle eyes
• heart shaped buttons

Instructions:

Note:Be sure when inserting magnets into hands, that you have the correct sides of each facing in the correct direction. Magnets have a negative and positive side to them and they need to be on the correct sides to magnetize to one another.

1. Use pattern and cut out monkey body parts.

2. On one head piece, sew a heart button on for a nose. With black thread, sew a mouth.

3. Put head pieces together and place a small piece of fur in between them at the top of the head. Sew head together from ear to ear, stitching through hair as you go.
4. Insert some stuffing to fill top of head.
5. Sew large heart button in middle of one body piece.
6. Place body pieces together and insert inside of head, lining up to the dotted line shown on pattern.
7. Pin body to head through the back side. Begin sewing head closed, inserting stuffing into the head, as you go. Now you should have a stuffed closed head with an empty unsewn body attached.
8. Cut 2 strips from the fur material, approximately 3 inches by 7 inches.
9. Put right sides together and stitch along the long side to form a tube. Repeat for other arm. Turn tubes right side out.
10. Insert arms between body pieces and pin closed.
11. Cut 2 strips from fur material, approximately 3 inches by 6 inches. Sew into tubes as you did for the arms. Turn right side out.
12. Begin sewing sides of body, catching arm fur well as you sew.
13. Leave bottom open and insert leg tubes. Pin legs through one layer of body.
14. Stuff body and re-pin body closed. Sew bottom closed.
15. Cut out feet and hands. Take the 2 pieces of one hand and sew together, leaving end open. Slide a magnet into the hand. Gather end of arm and insert into hand. Sew edge closed well. Repeat for other arm.
16. Sew feet together, leaving end open.
17. Insert legs inside open end and sew closed.
18. Make little bows from ribbon and sew one on top of each foot.

19. Sew small heart button to middle of each ear.
20. Glue on wiggle eyes.

Banana Card:

1. Use pattern and cut banana from thin cardboard or cardstock.
2. Cut 2 banana peels using pattern from yellow felt. See photos below for card assembly stages.

3. Place peels together and sew across bottom and up both sides, approx. 2". Put dab of glue on end of banana card and slip into peel.
4. Using sharp scissors, cut strips down banana peel.

5. Write saying on card.

By Mary from Florida

Valentine's Day Coupons

Make this Valentine's Day special with the "14 Days of Valentine's" coupons! I made them using Photoshop, but you could also make them with craft paper, stickers, magazine cut outs, or printed items from your computer.

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