Tag: Valentine’s Day
Make a Felt Heart Envelope
I read something so inspiring yesterday on social media, a message urging people to consider Valentine’s Day as a way to spread love to people who might need it whether it’s a note, a flower or a kind word. It sounds simple, but it’s easy to get caught up in your own plans (or lack of plans) and forget that small gestures can mean so much to someone else! Today’s post is a craft tutorial that makes a perfect small gift for Valentine’s Day or any day.
After experimenting with a variety of fun ways to decorate envelopes, I made this handmade felt envelope craft to send to friends and my top blogging supporters to say Thank You. It was a little Valentine’s Day gift. Here’s how you can make your own, step by step.
Felt Handmade Envelope Coin Purse Tutorial
You’ll need: Two colors of felt, embroidery floss, scissors, needle, hot glue, buttons and thin elastic. Quick tip: instead of sewing you can use hot glue.
Step 1: Start with a diamond shape cut out of a piece of felt. The envelope can be made small or large depending on the size of your felt. The ones I made were the right size to hold a business card or some coins, and the flat edges of the diamond measured 5 1/2 inches long each.
Step 2: Fold the sides in and bottom up in preparation for sewing or gluing these edges together to form the envelope shape.
Step 3: If sewing, pin the edge you’re not working on down to hold it until you make your way back to it. Optional: carefully trim down the pointy edge to make it flat, as in the photo below.
Step 4: Add a fastener. I did this two ways. One was to hot glue a piece of velcro. The other was to sew on a button to the envelope body and add a loop of elastic to the flap. The button looks nice, but the Velcro is easier. Take your pick.
Step 5: Hot glue on a felt heart to the top of the flap. You can experiment with using different colors of felt for different looks.
And you’re done! Share what you think of this tutorial in the comments and let me know if you have any questions!
Definitely check out more envelope decorating ideas, and follow along for more craft ideas on Pinterest.
Valentine Envelopes To Make This Year
Homemade Happiness
They say happiness is homemade, and I am inclined to agree. Lately, I’ve been really into decorating envelopes. These were featured on Midwest Living along with more envelope decorating ideas, so you can see the full list there.
These can be used to hold homemade love notes or add an extra personal touch to your store bought cards (this card is simple and cute). You can use these techniques for any season, I just personalized these for Valentine’s Day. It’s coming up in less than a week! Don’t miss my cake banner tutorial for more Valentine’s craft inspiration.
Eco-friendly upcycled paper bag envelopes
To make this card, I unfolded a crumpled old envelope I didn’t need and then traced around it onto a grocery store paper bag like the one I used in the gift wrap tutorial. After cutting out the new envelope shape, fold the sides in, the bottom up and the top down and an envelope shape should appear! Glue the edges securely and it’s ready to decorate.
I used white acrylic paint and a brush to put a design on the front. White really pops against the unbleached paper, but you could also use a metallic sharpie or gel pen to make this job way easier. I would recommend this if you’re writing anything longer than someone’s name, since painting was a little tedious. Remember gel pens? They still sell them. I just discovered that now there’s Gelly Roll Glaze, which gives a raised design. I haven’t tried them but they look enticing.
Add a Valentine’s sticker or heart cutout to the back and you’re done!
Watercolor resist envelopes
The second technique I’m sharing with you is so easy that it’s popular with kids but way more impressive looking than a children’s craft. It’s a classic watercolor resist! Use a white envelope that’s on the thicker side. You can buy watercolor paper envelopes, make your own out of cardstock following the steps above, or just pick a fairly thick commercial envelope. Using a sharp white crayon or waxy colored pencil, write the name and/or address. The hardest part of this whole process is not really knowing what you’re writing! An alternative is to use a metallic silver colored pencil.
Then do a water color wash over it with 1-3 colors that blend well together. As you can see in the photo below these envelopes are artsy without being overly feminine, which is nice if the object of your affection isn’t into hearts and lace.
Whether you’re sending something to a special someone or every friend and loved one in your life, these card techniques add something extra. Let me know how you enjoyed these techniques and if you have any questions in the comment section below.
Products & Resources
Get started with some related tools referenced in this post:
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3 Steps to the Best Single Valentine’s Day Ever
So you’re single on Valentine’s Day. A fate worse than death, if you ask some people. Personally, I am 100% convinced that the holiday peaks in first grade with pink heart crafts and everyone in the class getting a Valentine card.
“Who is this sad girl?” You’re probably asking yourself. “And why is she indifferent to the world’s most romantic holiday?” The day is one of my favorites, actually. I was obviously born to make crafts for it. I just think of it as an equal opportunity holiday that can be enjoyed (and laughed at) no matter one’s dating status.
How to enjoy Valentine’s Day while single
So how do you make it a fun single Valentine’s Day? According to one of my friends, it’s a three-step process:
- Abandon all hope
- Embrace that this is it
- Treat yo’ self with the money you would have spent on your significant other
It’s not a bad list really, but let me offer an alternative 3-step list.
1. Show your single pride.
Turn off the dating apps. Time is not of the essence. Having no date is better than an awkward first date, if you ask me (or any sane person). Instead, sport a funny shirt which does double duty by embracing how awesome your single self is while subtly announcing your status (just in case the cute guy in your building notices). Awesomely, you can get this shirt at one of my favorite online places to shop, Etsy, along with other classics including “If you’re single and you know it pet your cat” and “Just a single mom trying to raise my plants.”
2. Host a Galentine’s Day party.
You do the cute ice skating and dinner date with heart-shaped cheesecake once and you’re good, honestly. But getting together with your squad never gets old. Contrary to popular belief, a party with your single friends doesn’t need to be a sad affair where everyone drinks wine while silently swiping through Tinder. It also doesn’t need to just include single friends. Get all your favorites together for a Galentine’s Day brunch or gift exchange. If you do a gift exchange, just please promise me you’ll bring a cat bonnet as your gift.
3. Do a cute craft
Crafting endorphins are a real thing, but I cannot prove it because I am not a scientist. DIY something cute like these envelopes for your single friends, or make a cake banner for your Galentine’s party. Or this pretty decor idea from Michael’s:
These three steps will bring back some of the everyone-gets-a-valentine joy from elementary school. And remember no matter what happens on February 14th, you’re not the guy who got friend zoned on Instagram.
Check out my other posts if you need a laugh at Valentine’s Day’s expense!
Make a Cake Banner for Valentine’s Day
Want to be the hit of the party? Make this too-cute-for-words cake topper
I made this cake that’s free of gluten and refined sugar for a meeting last week. Absolutely no one who knew me was surprised when I brought out a white cake stand, pink cake and Valentine’s Day cake banner, because cutesy decoration is kinda my thing. However, I was a little surprised at how well it went over. My ultra-healthy treats aren’t always the hit of the party but this cake was definitely the exception. I read once that pink makes sweets look irresistible! I think this cake topper definitely proves that true. Everyone couldn’t wait to dig in, and I think the aesthetic presentation played a big part in that.
Make a Valentine’s cake topper
Ready to make a cake banner? The best part is that’s it’s really easy but looks totally impressive when it’s done.
Step 1: Cut four or five triangles of fabric. The fabric can be of your choice. If you have heaps of fabric scraps like I do, this is a perfect use for them. Upcycle those fabric scraps!
Step 2: Then I used tacky glue on the triangle’s edge to affix it to the string. I used If You Care cooking twine because I love their Eco-friendly, unbleached cooking products, but you can use any twine or yarn you like.
Step 3: Then tie the ends of the string onto two chopsticks or bamboo barbecue skewers. After it’s dry it’s ready to place into the cake. I made the topper the same day and it was ready to go. The tacky glue dries quickly, but you could use hot glue if you want it ready even faster.
I hope you enjoy this cake topper as much I did! It’s definitely an easy way to wow your guests at any event. There is always an occasion to celebrate with cake!
If you’re in the Valentines’ Day spirit, read on with Valentine’s Day Gift Guide. If you need a laugh and aren’t easily offended, check out one of my most popular posts of all time, Vintage Valentines That Didn’t Age Well.
Twin Cities Valentine’s Day Picks
Updated February 2017
Twin Cities Valentine’s Day date ideas
Need some ideas and inspiration for Valentines Day in the Twin Cities? Here is the Valentine’s Day round up of the gifts to give and places to go for Twin Cities Valentine’s Day date ideas in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding area. Whether you’re a local or visiting MN for a special trip, here is some of the best of what it has to offer.
What to Give
I’m a gifts person, so obviously I’m gonna start with this one. One of the fun things about the Twin Cities is the abundance of makers and small businesses. These are some made in Minnesota gifts they will love:
- Jewelry from Goldfine Jewelry
- Cookies from Minnesota Sweet
- Bottle opener from 14 Gauge on Etsy (other states are available too).
What to Send
Write your love notes on handcrafted cards from Raindrop Paperie. Made in the Twin Cities, the modern take on handmade paper craft is something unique and heartfelt.
Where to Eat
For a more casual celebration that needs no reservation, drop in to your local cupcake shop. My Twin Cities favorites are Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe (I’ve been a fan since I attended the grand opening) and Nadia Cakes. Both offer gluten free options and aesthetically pleasing (ahem, instagrammable) spaces to sit and chat.
What to do
In the city: Enjoy one of the many theatre shows in the Twin Cities. The Guthrie Theatre has weekday matinees, and a local arts blogger recommended The Royal Family which is playing there this week.
Outside the city: I’m going to let you in on the most amazing secret: Swan Park, an area on a lake in Monticello, attracts thousands of swans in the wintertime. Visitors ready for a romance overload can view and photograph the swans.
If you’re not local, you can still get the swan experience with your sweetie-grab a blanket and hunker down in front of the Swan Cam. To access the Swan Cam and information on Swan Park, head to Monticello Chamber of Commerce’s website.
For more ideas on how to personalize your Valentine’s Day, make a cake banner, personalize your own artsy envelopes and get inspired by vintage Valentine card messages from the past.
