Valentine ideas

Recycle Broken Crayons and Turn Them Into Party Favors

This is a great project for using up those broken old crayon pieces that you’ve got lying around. It is fun and the kids would enjoy helping. I first found this amazing project over at The Idea Room last year. Since then, I’ve seen it repeated for many holiday occasions all over the internet. (You can also use brand new crayons if you do not have enough broken ones for your project. This is fun either way!)

These would make great birthday party or classroom party favors and you can adjust them to whatever theme or holiday you’re celebrating.

For this occasion, we are doing heart shaped crayons to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

First, peel the paper off the crayons.

Next, you can sort the crayons by color group, like I did, or mix them up and make confetti colored crayons. Both ways are super fun!

Place all of your broken crayon pieces into muffin tins/silicone oven safe muffin containers. You can find heart shaped silicone muffin containers at Target in the dollar spot for $2.50 this time of year.

Bake them at 300 degrees for 10-15 minutes until fully melted. (I have tried to use the silicone ice cube trays thinking they would work. They do not! The silicone melts in the oven. Make sure whatever you are using is oven safe!)

Let the crayons cool 100%. I let mine cool for about an hour. You can also place them in the freezer or fridge to hurry the cooling process along.

Once 100% cool, remove the crayons from the muffin containers.

Place the crayons in clear treat bags.

Using 4×6 card stock and a festive font, create a fun label for your new treats.

Staple the label to the treat bag and you have a super fun, super simple gift!

I will be sharing this project on these crafty sites.

How to Make a Cupcake using Spa Socks- An Affordable Valentine’s Day Gift

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 14 Comments

This is a super simple Valentine’s Day gift that would be perfect for a teacher or loved one this year. This project is certainly flexible and could be customized for any holiday. This would also rock as a party favor for an older girls birthday party- you can easily find the socks in childrens’ sizes.

I originally found this tutorial on Seven-Thirty-Three’s site and just had to share it with you guys.

Here is what you’ll need for each gift:

one pair of spa socks (Target has 2 pair for $2.50 in the dollar spot)
hot glue gun
a rubber band
card stock (I used brown- $0.69 a sheet)
scissors (or a cutter for the card stock)
festive cupcake liner
festive ribbon ($0.99 at the craft store for 3 yrds)
treat box adequately sized (pkg of 3 for $2.99)
candy

Here is how you assemble…

Start with a pair of festive spa socks. You can get them in just about any color, combination, pattern, or just plain Jane.

Roll the socks like this….

Once rolled, secure the socks with a rubberband.

Next, take a 2 inch wide strip of card stock and wrap it around the bottom section of the socks to cover the rubberband. Use a few dabs of hot glue to secure the card stock in place.

Wrap festive ribbon around the card stock. Secure it with hot glue. You can make a sweet little bow with it, or just leave it as simple as you’d like. Feel free to embellish as much as you want. I opted for simple.

Place the cupcake in a cute cupcake liner.

Assemble your treat box. If you cannot find decorative boxes that match the holiday occasion, you can always find plain white treat boxes at your local craft store, party supply store or cake supply shop. (These particular boxes are 3 x 4.5 x 4.5.)

Place the cupcake with liner in the box and toss in some candies such as chocolate Kisses.

Close the box up and you’ve got a gift!

How simple was that?

I will be sharing this craft on these sites.

How to Make a Mod Podge Vase

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 21 Comments

Re-purposing spaghetti jars or any vase that needs a face lift makes a perfect gift for…

Christmas
Valentine
Easter
Teacher Appreciation Week
Mother’s Day
birthdays
house warming gift or host gift
or any special occasion

You will need:

an assortment of scrapbook paper reflecting the theme you are celebrating
any jar (spaghetti, etc) or vase you want to revamp
Mod Podge
bowl (for Mod Podge)
sponge brush
paper towel to cut down on mess
raffia
flowers

Pour some Mod Podge in a bowl for easy access.

Tear your scrapbook paper into imperfect pieces.

Use the sponge to apply Mod Podge to the scrapbook paper coating it heavily as you affix the paper to the glass jar.

Coat the paper and vase well with Mod Podge, which will dry clear. Depending on the selection you purchased, it will have a matte, glossy or glittery finish. These vases will have a brilliant gloss finish once dry.

Let them dry at least overnight.

Then add raffia around the neck of the jar (vase).

Add flowers and you’re done.

This is a fun project that bigger kids (7+) can help with. We gave these to the twins’ mother’s day out teachers. They were a huge hit!