The (almost) Five Dollar Valentine Gift

Okay here is the finished project. The main supplies cost me about five dollars. The popcorn containers were 2/$1.00. I used one so that is $.50. The balloon was $1.00. The Coca Cola bottle was $1.00. The box of theater candy was $1.00 and the microwave popcorn was 4 pkg./$1.00, I used one so that is $.25. An enclosure card would be between $.50 and $1.00. Skip the card and make your own from paper scraps at home and you have a mini gift basket for approximately $5.00. I finished off the gift by tying it all together in cellophane sheeting. You may want to hold things in place with a little piece of double stick tape. I had most of the trimming supplies on hand. You could save a little bit of money by purchasing a package of cellophane bags at the store for, you got it, $1.00. Cellophane, package shred, ribbons, extra candy and a movie rental card could be added to make the gift closer to ten dollars. Hey I have a great idea-use both popcorn boxes and make the gift for two! Romantic.

Inexpensive Valentine Gifts

Oh course there is nothing like a diamond ring to say "I love you" on Valentine's Day, but if that is not in your budget and you have already found your sweetheart, you may be looking for other ideas on how to celebrate. I stopped into the dollar store and I think I may have found a new source for some of my crafting ideas. I LOVED shopping in there! Our local dollar store has had so many fun things to use for decorating or parties or inexpensive gifts. Here are some of the items that I found recently. Pictured are pink glittered hearts on a pick, so nice to tuck into a bouquet of fresh flowers or maybe just into a green plant. I also found this wonderful shred to add to a gift basket or drop into a cellophane bag with a couple of your honey's favorite chocolate bars. Ummmmm, this really has me thinking. What ever you do make it fun and your local dollar store might just be the place to start. I think you will be amazed at what you can put together for your Valentine greeting cards start at 2/$1.00, so whatever your budget is, you may want to check it out. What could it cost you,$1.00? (ps. My daughter loved the plastic popcorn boxes, We will post the ideas with these tomorrow, so come back. I will have to see what I can do with that candy mold too).

The Holiday Queen

Over the last year I have become blogging friends with Melissa from The Holiday Queen. Melissa is a wonderfully talented woman with a real unusual twist on style. I LIKE IT!

I am always enchanted with her work. I love telling people when I feel I have found a good thing, and The Holiday Queen is at the top of my list. Make sure you visit her for a little "eye candy".
www.theholidayqueen.blogspot.com

More Valentine Ideas

Leave me a comment with your email address and I will send you additional photos of this Valentine's Day Card idea. This card has other pieces linked to it with a ribbon, it looks so cute hanging on a doorknob or hook. Let me know if you like it and I will get you more information on how to make it.

VALENTINE PARTY

We are getting ready to host a Valentine Blog party. So we have a little housekeeping to do. Make sure you leave a comment so that we get you on our mailing list.

Last Picture

Okay this is my last picture showing off my daughter Courtney. My oldest son did a video of her for her birthday in December. He added music and graphics and she looked like a Hollywood icon. I think we each come to this earth with our own unique personalities, she has always had a little bit of Hollywood attitude. From the time she was very young she has wanted cameras and camcorders, and video equipment. She spends her days editing pictures and making videos, and of course, taking her own picture. She is such a funny witty girl. She keeps us entertained and we enjoy watching the short movies that she makes, who knows? She is still young and has her life ahead of her. We love her so much.

Audrey Hepburn look-a-like?

We have always told Courtney that she is kind of an Audrey Hepburn look-a-like. What do you think?

The After Pictures

Okay, here are the after photos. One is my daughter/photographer and the other is the reason for all of the fussing. Her adorable boyfriend. He seems to really like her and he loved the new red coloring in her hair. They both have been hit by the cupid's arrows. So fun. Love is in the air.

Glamour in the making

I mentioned a few blogs back that love is in the air at our house. It has been so fun to watch my daughter be so in love. She is having a ball. She is dressing up everyday and looking in the mirror. A recent trip to the Salon Revez put her on the road to a new makeover. I should post a before and after photo. I thought she looked real cute looking through glamour magazines choosing her new look. She has always been the tomboy type, I guess it took just the right guy to turn her head. I will keep you posted on how this is going. LOL in the meantime she is so fun to watch!

Cleaning Vintage Jewelry

Once in a while inspiration comes from an unexpected source, I got a note a couple of days ago from Faerie Wysperer about the vintage jewelry I have been posting. Her question was how to clean some of the older or vintage pieces that we all have on hand? I replied to her and the following is her response:

Wow- I had no idea. Good thing I asked- heaven forbid I ruined something! I would like to recommend that you post this on your blog on to take care of your Vintage Heirlooms. I'm sure people wonder the same thing, I did before your instructions. You rock!
Thank you :O)
~A~

On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 8:24 PM, Debbie Lewis wrote:

Hi, I wanted to email you about the vintage jewelry cleaning. I mostly clean mine with liquid dishwashing soap and a very soft brush. Make sure that you check the stones first to be assured that the prongs are tight. Even with checking, I still clean mine over a clear glass bowl in case anything comes loose. You do NOT want to let them soak. The back of the old rhinestones have what they call foil on the backside to make them more reflective of light. And some of that is very delicate. I dry with a soft cloth. Metal brass pieces can be cleaned with ammonia and water. Silver can be cleaned by soaking the piece in this manner: use a glass or stainless steel bowl line with a layer or tin foil in the bottom. Add about one tablespoon of baking soda, pour boiling water into the bowl. Dip your jewelry into the water solution. It should bubble slightly, if not add more baking soda. Soak for a moment and then rinse the jewelry in cold water. Dry with a soft cloth and polish with a silver cloth. For anything cooper, vinegar and salt. Pearls and opals need to be handled carefully I usually just try to clean those with a soft cloth. If you have anything particular let me know and I can tell you if I have had any experience with that. Thanks for stopping by. And I loved visiting your blog. Deb

Just say you"ll be mine!

I think we should just get to the point, say you'll be mine!

Little Cupids are Everywhere!

"Here they come flying out of the blue, little arrows for me and for you. You're falling in love again, you're falling in love again! Little arrows that hit everybody every now and then". These are words from a very old song they played on the radio when I was a kid, love is in the air at our house my daughter is head over heels with him and he is with her and it is Love, Love, Love! Sometimes we forget just how fun all of that romance stuff is. Look for it, it is everywhere!

A little more ice.

I am going through my junk jewelry deciding what to keep and what to remake. This has become a crazy obsession with me. I no longer just look at the jewelry or wear it for enjoyment, I now look at it as a component. I can't wait to make projects out of some of this stuff. I am just deciding what I can take apart with no reqrets.

Live life as though you were holding a snowflake in your hand.

This little quote gave me something to think about:

“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake...” ~Francis Bacon, Sr.

Life is a beautiful gift and like holding a snowflake in our hand it is gone so quickly. And like the snowflake it is unique not like any other moment in time. It is yours and you are holding it in the palm of your hand.

Don't put off that sparkling shining moment, it is a gift that you have right now, begin to live the way you have always wanted to! (image:www.madaboutjewellery.com)

Valentine Gift Idea

I found this wonderful book last year and bought it for my granddaughter as a gift for Valentine's Day. I was glad that I purchased it early because when I went back for a copy for me, they were sold out, long before Valentine's Day. The book has a nice jacket that is all glittery with a wonderful finish over it. The book is an easy read and a wonderful story about saying I love you everyday.