Project Thursday

It's craft day! Ok, maybe you don't know that. Let me start at the beginning...All my crafting friends have left the state, or are too busy these days to craft with me. So, I was kind of in a slump, that was, until about a month ago. While I was chatting with my friend, Karen, on the phone, we got the idea to craft with each other via webcam. So she sits in her craft room in DC and I sit in mine and we turn on our webcams and craft on Thursday mornings (when I can remember, lol). It's kind of the best of both worlds because I get to craft with someone, but I don't have to pack up all my supplies and drag them somewhere.

So I thought I'd start another project (or post), about what I work on for the week. Or I might share other projects that I've found online that I'd like to try some day. The point is, I want to blog about crafts. I'm hoping it will fuel my fire and desire to start crafting again. I was in a slump for awhile when I was working. But my pictures that need to be scrapbooked are increasing my desire to get back into the game.

Here's a craft that's perfect for the upcoming holiday:

 

They are Valentine Candy holders made from transparencies. I don't usually give out Valentines to anyone but my hubby and kids. However, when I saw this idea, I decided that I was going to give them out this year! (The picture doesn't do them justice-they are a lot cuter in person!)

The original pattern called for 12 x 12 transparencies. I didn't want to go buy any as they can be kind of expensive and I have a couple boxes of 8 1/2 x 11 sitting here.

Also, I thought this was the perfect chance to use my new Cricut. Oh, can I tell you, I think it's going to be my new best friend!!

So here's what I did. I took the paper pattern that I found online, and redrew/redesigned it in Corel so it would fit on the smaller transparency. Then I was able to export that to the Cricut and it cut it out for me, including the slits, punches and all. So all I had to do then was score it and fold and glue. Totally simple!

Now, I have the small scallop and circle punch, but I don't have the larger one. BUT, here again, I have a Cricut. So I designed a scallop (it's not perfect but it works) and had the Cricut cut the scallop and then the circle out of the centers. I printed the "hugs & kisses" on the center circle and stamped the hearts. Took a gel pen and made the little silver and gold dots and put it all together.

If you can't tell exactly how it's put together, it's a heart that is pointed at the bottom, and then the sides expand to probably about 1" thick on each side so you can stuff candy in it (hugs and kisses). Then it has another transparency strip that connects through the middle so the candies don't fall out!! And a ribbon at the top ties the front and back together.

I'll totally do step by step instructions and photos if anyone wants to make these.

I hope that my friends love them as much as I do, when they get them on Sunday. I stuffed a little tissue paper in tip of the heart to fill the space because a kiss is too large to fit down there. Then I put about 10 chocolate hugs and kisses in them.

The boys gave them to their teachers for Valentines today. Kaden even gave one to the male principal. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when he did that, just to see what the principal thought. I'm sure he thought it was sweet!

Here's my finished stash. I think I made about 30 total. It took a little longer than I expected, but that's because I did the computer designs. But I figured it was worth the time and effort to do that, so I can easily use them in the future, and to save my hands from cutting all these out by hand. I never would have done the project if I had to cut them all out by hand!