Treats for Valentines Day

... and now abideth faith, hope and LOVE, but the greatest of these is

LOVE.

I Corinthians 13:13



Are you ready for Valentines Day?

I think I am.

This year I decided to make cupcakes for our neighbors.

I have never done this before {not for this many at once}  and I decided it was time to

spread the love!

There is so much heartache and brokenness in the world today that a little kindness

goes a long way.

 I have been making cupcakes for the last two days and enjoying every minute of it.

I packaged them up and delivered part of them last night and hubby delivered the rest today.

I always try to keep cupcake boxes on hand. The ones I purchase hold four cupcakes so it is a perfect
gift for two people. 

It is also nice to have these cupcake holders for a single person.

I don't have a specific "recipe" that I use. I just wing it.

SO...

Make your favorite chocolate cupcake and let them cool.

Then make your favorite butter-cream frosting and add in a couple tablespoons of
Smucker's Simply Fruit in seedless Red Raspberry flavor.

It makes it so yummy and  it also gives the frosting a pretty pink hue.

Next, take a chocolate candy bar and use your carrot peeler to make some
sprinkles or curls...Top with a fresh red raspberry and wa la...you are done
and you have a beautiful and delicious gift!

SO YUMMY!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Hearts, sparkles, xoxo and all that love!

Valentines Day is one week away...are you ready?? I think I have done more decorating
for it this year than I ever have. Could be because I have been stuck inside this house
with winter storm, after winter storm, after winter storm, after....you get my *drift*?

{see how I did that there...*drift*? lol We have had a LOT of them and HUGE ones}

On one of the rare days that I was able to get out of our driveway, I  went to town and purchased three
 of these paper mache heart boxes for 1.00 each at JoAnn Fabric.

{and they weren't even on sale. lol.}

Then I set about painting and embellishing them.

I also added silver glass glitter to each one to give them that added sparkle.

{source for glass glitter that I used can be found by clicking here
Nicki is out of stock right now, but will be getting more in}

I also made a glass glitter banner of x's and o's and red felt hearts.

 They sure do sparkle!

AFTER I took these photos , I decided to add red hearts on each end of the banner also. lol.

Can never have too much love hanging around...*smile*

Last week {or the week before...I lose track of time easily} I sat down and cut out
some cute little hearts from batting and felt. Then I filled them with rice for hand warmers.
Sure could have used these wayyyyy before I made them.  We have had such bitter
cold temps this year.  Brrrr!!

I blanket stitched the edge. Again, AFTER I had made several and you could see where I
stopped and started the edging by using a KNOT, I googled how to start and end a blanket
 stitch the RIGHT way. You would think that I would have done that first, but no...Sandi
 doesn't work that way. ha!

Wouldn't a few of these be adorable inside the paper mache embellished heart boxes?

I found the idea for the hand warmers on Pinterest.
You will them with rice and then nuke them in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Stick them in your pockets in the winter to help keep your hands warm. I have heard
that they keep warm from 30 minutes up to an hour, but I haven't tested that out yet.

 I did test them out just by nuking them and finding that they did get nice and warm, but
didn't test the time limit out.  I figured they are cute just to lay around even if they aren't
 used for warmers.  I want to put them to the test this weekend.

Happy week of LOVE coming up!!

PS I had totally forgotten that the initial place where I first saw hearts for hand
warmers was over at Idyllhours blog by Julie Marie. I always want to give credit
where credit is due so I sure messed up on this one. Sorry Julie Marie! ♥ 

Vintage silverware, makeover and an old counter

I love pretty vintage silverware that has beautiful

designs and I found this silverware for a *song*.

{sure seems like I sing a lot doesn't it...lol}

It was very grimy looking so I polished it up and was

amazed at how beautiful it is.

I also picked up this wooden box at a garage sale several

years ago. It was burgundy in color so this past summer

I painted it white. Next I added pieces of vintage wallpaper

to the inside. I then gave the wallpaper two or three coats

of Matte Mod podge.

Love how it turned out, but now I need to get some

little wooden feet for it yet.

Sorry for the flash in some of the pictures. One of these

days I will learn how to take better ones...I hope!

I fell in love with this antique counter the moment I

saw it. It would be just perfect for my kitchen...except

for one teensy little problem...the price.lol.

Look at the detail work...amazing!

I love the back of it, the color, the size... so I asked hubby if we could make one a lot cheaper and he said *most definitely*. {he builds cabinets and can make most anything}

This is now on my list of things*to do* things when Spring/Summer comes. We shall see if it actually gets accomplished or not. I always have these grand ideas and sometimes the time just isn't there to bring them to fruition. {Now I need to take measurements before it is

whisked away to stay in someone else's home}

Have a blessed Saturday~

Vintage Greeting Cards ~

I think I have shared with you before that I absolutely *LOVE* vintage paper items so I thought I would share just a few of my finds with you today. I adore the box at the top with the stripes, and the Hallmark candy notecards are amazing. They have glitter accents that really make them special. I could have posted a lot more, but I am running way behind today so I need to get moving. Today is my mom's birthday and we have plans! Have a lovely day! Blessings~