Nontraditional vase
Show off your beautiful blooms in a new way. Cut rose stems to 6 inches and remove leaves. Pack tightly in a straight-sided container and wrap with ribbon. Change the water daily.
Festive candle
Add Valentine’s candy nonpareils in the bottom of a votive for a festive candle display. Small glass beads from a crafts store will give a similar look.
Creative cookie gifts
Package your Valentine’s cookies in a simple, pretty homemade bag. Slip a cookie or two in a plastic treat bag (available at crafts stores) with a piece of scrapbooking paper. Fold contrasting paper over the opening, punch ...
Informal Valentine place setting
A centerpiece of lollipop flowers (see previous slide) sets the tone for an informal Valentine place setting for breakfast or lunch.
Miniature messages
Use mini cupcakes to spell out a special message.
Dress up soda
Make a container of soda or beer more special by adding scrapbook papers, ribbon and a tag. Use double-sided tape or glue to attach paper.
Candles and flowers
Easy centerpiece: Three stemless wine glasses hold roses floating in a bit of water, while votives provide a flickering accent.
Heart wreath
Create a heart wreath with pretty card stock and scrapbooking papers. Use paper punches or scissors to cut out hearts, then curl by scraping them as you would curling ribbon. Layer and glue to a cardstock base.
Book lovers
Give a bookmark with heart to the reader in your life. Cut rectangles out of cream-color and red wool felt. For the bookmark at left, we cut a heart out of the cream-color felt, trimmed the edges of the red felt with scallop-edge scissors ...
Jazz up a cake
Add punch to a purchased cake with touches like a red cake stand, number blocks, and heart decorations.