Be Mine.... Valentine

Oh dear! Can it really be over two weeks since I last posted? Time goes so fast these days - they say its something to do with age!!

In the UK there isn't really a big celebration on Valentine's Day - as I gather there is the US.  Reading blogs and browsing Pinterest I find almost everyone - friends, family, co-workers and classmates receive a Valentine gift or card. Here we usually stick to the traditional idea of sending an anonymous (or perhaps not so anonymous!) card to your secret love - at least that was how it was in my day! Though I'm sure its woe betide the husband, wife or partner that doesn't arrive home on the day with that bunch of red roses, sloppy card, or bottle of something special!
Well times are hard and red roses astronomical in price in the run up to 14th February; so I've created some very modest Valentine tokens for my Folksy shop.  And, you know me, I couldn't resist packaging them up to make them a little more appealing.  My Papertrey Ink dies were perfect for the job as usual.  The lunchbox note die fits my felt heart brooches to a tee and the Favor-it Box series right for crochet heart keyrings. I think these items fall into the "bit more than a card" category as I'm sure a box of chocs, posy of spring flowers or a bottle of some special brew would make an acceptable  accompaniment.
  






I die cut two felt hearts for the brooches and added tiny crochet hearts and buttons to embellish.  I found an excellent pattern and video at Little Birdie Secrets.  It was easy to adapt the basic pattern to fit different yarns and even used embroidery silks with a titchy hook.  The hearts are padded with a tiny amount of toy filling and with the button too they are a rather plump and I couldn't keep the note packaging closed - it kept springing open - so I pierced holes through the layers of cardstock and threaded ribbon or twine through to keep the flap in place.

 

I put together Favor-it boxes for the crochet keyrings and made a small gift card to match. 
The pattern for the keyring hearts is from Tara Murrey here.  I added a chain loop to hang the heart from the keyring fitting and added a bit of embellishment.

Now I just need to get them into my shop!  

Stamps: Lots of different sets but mostly Papertrey Ink Heart Prints, Background Basics Hearts, Rosie Posie, Tag-its #11;  Waltzing Mouse Stamps: Seasons of Love.
Dies: All Papertrey Ink - Heart Prints Collection, Lunchbox Note, Favor It Box #5, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circle Collection.