~The adventures of Lau~: Valentines crafts from Etsy ... Sssshhh don't show Traff incase I get creative and make one for him!

The valentines card:

Supplies You’ll Need:

A self-healing cutting mat
Steel ruler
A sharp cutting knife and spare 30 degrees angle blades
A4 cover weight paper of your choice; something thick and stiff that can still run through a printer.
Printer (optional)
Gold pen and glitter or a wallet-size photo of your choice (optional)

Directions:

1. Download the template.

2. Print out the template on your paper. If the paper is too thick for your home printer, print it at a local print shop.

3. Time to get down to business! Cut out the design on your self-healing cutting mat with your cutting knife, using a steel ruler when needed. Begin with the smaller shapes and work yourself to the bigger cuts that surround them. That way the paper won’t tear.

Tip: For an easier job, don’t use the standard blades that come with the scalpel knife. Instead buy a pack of the sharper 30 degree blades.

4. When you’re done with all that cutting, you can either write in your message at the center (I used a gold pen and glitter) or glue in a wallet size valentine photo instead.

That’s it, you’re done. Happy Valentine’s Day!



Lollipops:

Here’s my list of edible flowers that are accessible and tasty:
Basil
Chamomile
Johnny-jump-ups
Lavender
Marigolds
Pansies
Roses
Violas
Violets

Fresh flower heads can be used in lollipops, provided they are not large and bulky. Thin, flat flower heads, such as violas, violets and chamomile, are ideal. Marigold and rose heads are bulky and contain too much moisture, and will cause the hard candy to “weep.” Consider using their petals instead.

Be sure to use organically grown flowers. Eat only those flowers you are positive you can identify. Use pesticide-free plants from nurseries and herb gardens that offer organically grown flowers; pick them from a trusted friend’s organic garden or your own.

Hard Candy Notes: It’s a good idea to check the accuracy of your candy thermometer before you begin. You can do this by placing it in a saucepan of water and bringing the water to a boil. At boiling, the thermometer should read 212° F; if the reading is higher or lower, take the difference into account when testing the temperature of your candy mixture.

Your candy can take on a burned flavor if it is heated beyond the hard crack stage 310°F. You can remove the liquid candy from the heat once your thermometer registers 300°F. Allow the temperature to rise on its own for the last 10 degrees.

Bellini Petal Lollipops
Yield: 12-15

Materials:
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup
2/3 cup water
1 dram bottle peach candy flavoring oil
1 dram bottle champagne candy flavoring oil
1-2 drops red liquid food coloring
Organic rose petals
Organic mint sprigs
12-15 lollipop sticks
Cellophane wrappers
Twist-ties or ribbon

Step 1: Cover a heat-proof work surface with parchment paper. Two or more metal baking sheets can also be used.

Step 2: Stir together the sugar, corn syrup and water in a small saucepan. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.

Step 3: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Continue to heat without stirring until the bubbling mixture reaches the hard-crack stage (302-310°F). This will take approximately 25 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

Step 4: Stir in flavoring oils and one or two drops of food coloring. (Be extra careful because the mixture will steam with these additions.) Stir well. As you stir, the mixture will develop small bubbles.

Step 5: When most of the bubbles have disappeared, drop the liquid candy onto the parchment paper by the spoonful using a metal spoon. Allow the candy to stand for a few moments before placing the petal or mint leaf (or combination of the two) on the hot candy. If you place the petal on the hot candy too soon, it will wilt immediately.

Step 6: Place a petal or mint leaf face down on the candy round. Use a finger (carefully!) or the end of a lollipop stick to slightly press it into the candy. Pour just enough hot candy over the petal to cover the back side, encasing it completely in the candy. Place a lollipop stick in the candy and rotate 1/2 turn. Allow the candy to harden and then lift from the parchment paper. If the lollipop appears cloudy, you may quickly and gently rinse it under a thin stream of warm water. If you do this, allow the lollipops to air-dry overnight before packaging.

Step 7: Wrap lollipops in clear cellophane and tie-off with a ribbon or twist-tie. Display lollipops in sugar-filled glasses or jars. You can also use flower pots with Styrofoam inserts.

Heart shaped cake topper:

Supplies:
yarn
pom pom maker (I prefer Clover brand, and used the 2.5″)
lollipop sticks
hot glue
scissors

Following the instructions on the pom pom maker, wrap the yarn around each side, thoroughly.

Carefully cut the loops in half, following the channel.

Using a piece of yarn, tie a knot around the yarn pieces, right around the center (where you just cut) and pull tight.

Pull the sides of the pom pom maker apart. Roll the finished pom pom in your hands to fluff.

To trim into a heart shape:

a.) Trim a diagonal line (about 45 degrees) around the bottom of the pom pom, like a cone shape.

b.) Trim a channel in the center across the top, front to back, like a reverse mohawk.

c.) Now your pom pom resembles a shaggy heart, continue to trim into a puffy heart shape.

Place a blob of hot glue on the end of a lollipop stick and insert into the bottom of the heart pom pom.

Enjoy! You could use these little heart poms at a placesetting or string together to make a garland!

Paper craft:

Materials Needed:

- cutting mat

- cutting knife

- paper doilies

- pencil

- permanent marker

Directions:

1. You’ll use one doily as your guide for the actual papercut. Use this to plot out the look of your valentine, and when it’s time to start cutting, it will be the first layer you cut through.

Decide what message you’d like for your valentine to say. Write out the words in your own handwriting on your doily guide. Then, take your pencil and bulk up your lettering. You can also start with bubbly letters, however I find this technique creates lettering that is truer to real handwriting.

2. Peel 3 doilies from your stack of dollar store doilies. Don’t separate them — keep them stuck together. This will make it easier to cut, as they won’t start sliding around. Color the top doily with a color of your choosing using a permanent marker. As you can see, I chose red, in keeping with classic Valentine’s Day colors. Since the ink will bleed through, you’ll end up with one fully colorful doily, one with a mottled effect, and one white. You can of

course decorate them in anyway you’d like!

3. Time to start cutting. Line up your doily guide on top of your stack of 3 doilies. Using a fresh sharp knife, start cutting out the most delicate interior shapes first. Start at the center and work your way out, cutting through all the layers at once. Take your time, and just cut out little bits at a time.

If the paper starts to slide around too much, you can tape the doilies right to your cutting mat with masking tape. When I do this, I usually will stick the tape to my shirt or pants before sticking to to the paper, so it’s a little less sticky and lessens the risk of tearing the paper when it is time to peel it off.