Sweets for your Sweetheart...

I love all holidays and adore the ease and sentiment behind St. Valentine's Day. It is so easy to make or create a thoughtful gift or treat for the ones we love; so why not try one of my Valentine's ideas? My wife, Jenny, is currently away visiting her father and because I miss her very much, I have been thinking up new ways to celebrate this special day. 

 I found these wooden hearts at a local antiques store near my home. I picked one up for Jenny and our daughter Renee, who likes to hang things on the front door like her mother.

Here in the studio, we always try to create ideas that are fun and easy, but most of all something you can accomplish with great success. 

Above is a garland made with snack-sized bags of kettle corn for whomever may be on your "be mine" list. These are also perfect lunchbox treats for older, school-age children.

This collage details some pretty ideas that can be made inexpensively and easily, and are much more imaginative than a grocery store heart-shaped box of chocolates. 

 *Old bottles with overblown roses and strips of vintage fabric*

*Hearts made of fimo, embossed with vintage buttons*

*Metal chip stand to hold stitched treat bags made of scrapbook paper*

*Flower in glass bottle slipped inside vintage ribbon and surrounded by vintage bling*

*Treat bag was stitched and pinked with button embellishment*

 *Gift tag made with Dover book label that was embroidered*

*Garland made with vintage blossoms and seam binding*

*Fabric sleeves hold test tubes with flowers and foliage*

 

It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without chocolate, and these delicious treats are so simple:

1. Bake brownies in a heart shaped pan. 2.  Place 3 cups of fresh, mashed raspberries, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan, and bring to a slow boil over medium heat until thickened. 3. Strain and refrigerate. 4. Make fresh whipped cream with confectionery sugar and real vanilla and two drops of pink food color. 5.  Top the brownie heart with fresh raspberries. 6. Serve with sauce and pink whipped cream.

 

 *Cake surrounded by rolled cookies and topped with berries*

*A vintage peony flower*

*Baskets painted in shades of pink*

*Votive candles filled with hundreds and thousands* 

*Field green salad with beet hearts created using a mini cookie cutter*

*Jelly donuts with confectionery sugar hugs and kisses.

* Easy to make yarn flowers*

*Kiss cookies sandwiched with chocolate ganache*

*Vintage pink glasses for the table*

 

Well, that should get you started! 

Happy weekend, everyone! 

 

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 Flea Market Finds with Matthew Mead will be on newsstands in April throughout North America and as an expanded 160-page bookazine via Amazon.com.