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How-Tuesday: Valentine's Day Round Up


Story by missbatch Published on February 10, 2009 in How-To	Photo by Marie LeBaron for Alpha Mom

When I was in first grade, my teacher Mrs. Cechetti would bring in hand-crocheted ornaments for each holiday. (For all twenty-five plus kids in the class!) There were black cats for Halloween, ice skates — complete with paper clip blades! — for the winter holidays, Lincoln hats for President's Day, and white bunnies with pink ears for Easter. I remember thinking, even at six years old, "Wow... That's a lot of work, she must really like us!" (This was in addition to the pure delight and admiration I felt for her magical ways with yarn.) That direct hand to heart connection still resonates, twenty-five plus years later.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, what better time to highlight fun hands-on ways to show you care? Here's a round up of some of the sweetest treats to make and share... xox

Red Velvet Cupcakes

"Intimidated by baking, assembling, and decorating a homemade red velvet cake for Valentine’s Day? Give cupcakes a try instead!" says Nicole of Pinch My Salt. These decadent Red Velvet Cupcakes "aren’t pink, they aren’t reddish-brown, they are a dramatic RED, perfect for Valentine’s Day! And in addition to the beautiful color, these little cakes are light, tender, and downright delicious!"

Yum! Click here for the recipe and share them with someone special.

Amigurumi Love Birds

Made for each other in complementing yarns, this pair would do Mrs. Cechetti proud! Make your own set to share with your lovebird. Get the complete pattern at Lionbrand.com.

Thanks to WhipUp.net for highlighting this super-cute duo.

Tic Tac Toe Hearts

"When you think Valentines, what comes to mind? Hearts, red & pink, and crafts, right? Well I've included all three of those elements into the classic game of Tic Tac Toe.

(Oh, and chocolates are included too, which I was eating as I was crafting these red & pink hearts!)"

By Marie LeBaron, care of AlphaMom.com.

Make Your Own Valentine

Don't have a Valentine? Why not make one? That's just what Erika Kern, of myimaginaryboyfriend and craftstylish did.

"I must admit I'm not a big Valentine's Day fan. You see, I've never actually had a Valentine, but I suspect that even if I had, I wouldn't care for it. It seems to me that Valentine's Day only exists to make people in relationships feel as though they must spend spend spend to prove their love and to make the single out there feel as though they were the loneliest sots in all the world. Still, I am a romantic, and though Valentine-less, I still hope for love. This Valentine's Day I've decided why wait for Mr. Right when I can just make my own! Wanna make your own, too?"

Get the full instructions here.

Do you remember your first-- or your favorite-- handmade Valentine? Tell us about it in the comments below.

More How-Tuesday Projects | Season of Love Posts

Tags	amigurumi, craft, craftystylish, crochet, cupcakes, edibles, Erika Kern, felt, hearts, how-tuesday, instructional, instructions, Lion Brand, love birds, myimaginaryboyfriend, Pinch My Salt, project, recipe, Season of Love, softie, supplies, tic tac toe, tutorial, Valentine's Day

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67 comments Login to add your own!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 4:50 p.m.

Sumikoshop

great... lovely pictures...

Feb. 10, 2009 at 4:51 p.m.

ninaandtom

love love all of these.

Feb. 10, 2009 at 4:55 p.m.

AREjewellery

looks like ill be needing a myimaginaryboyfriend!!

love the little birds too - adorable!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.

ptitebaloue

...really do want these cupcakes but really don't want to walk to the supermarket... ...mmm haha

Feb. 10, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.

gloilocksandbody

that cupcake is killer.

Feb. 10, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.

kittytrishia

My favorite handmade valentine that I received was in 3rd grade, a cute little boy with blond hair and bright blue eyes that I had a crush gave it to me. It was a clothes pin with silk flowers glued to it with his photograph on the front and a magnet on the back. He said his mom made it for him but he told her what colors and what to put on it. He said he wanted me to hang this on my fridge and look at his photo because he thought I was cute. I still have it after all these years...somewhere. Ha ha ha, he was soo cute, dang boys were a lot more romantic back then.

Great picks too, I really love the little Valentine Wooly XD

Feb. 10, 2009 at 5:02 p.m.

DeNovoStyle

Lovely! I remember in grade school trading the little valentines cards with class mates - I couldn't wait! Now I buy them for my son (4 years). Such great memories!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.

waysideviolet

awww! i love the pictures and the story! ♥♥

Feb. 10, 2009 at 5:23 p.m.

craftgasm

This adorability is totally inspiring me to skip the planned sleepover at my boyfriend's house tonight and to make him a Valentine instead! (I think he'd prefer the sleepover, though.)

Feb. 10, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.

soule

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!! I LOVE Valentine's !!!!!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 5:40 p.m.

laralewis

oh! those valentine wooly sheep are so great!!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 5:48 p.m.

baconsquarefarm

Going shopping tomorrow for ingredients to make red velvet cake for my sweetie.

Feb. 10, 2009 at 6 p.m.

makye77

Yes... HANDMADE ROCKS! & so does Valentine's Day!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 6:03 p.m.

BabbidgePatch

cute woolie sheep! ~ nice ~

Feb. 10, 2009 at 6:03 p.m.

OrganicPanic

One of the nice things as an artist, is giving something I made and receiving cupcakes in return : ) Love this holiday.

Feb. 10, 2009 at 6:07 p.m.

rasideas

You have inspired me, and I love all things birds!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 6:15 p.m.

doingitherself

Yay! Gifts I can actually finish in time for Saturday! Thanks for these great ideas!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 6:22 p.m.

KellesKitchen

Awesome story! That red velvet cupcake looks divine...sigh :)

Feb. 10, 2009 at 6:40 p.m.

thegratulatest

I'd love to see some instructions for other DIY valentine's gifts!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 6:44 p.m.

BlueTerracotta

I want to make the cupcakes!
We exchanged Valentines in grade school, anonymously, so everyone would get one, and no one would feel bad. I loved the ones made of a red construction paper heart glued onto a paper doily!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 7:04 p.m.

IcingOnTheCupcake

What a great teacher! I remember making our own little mail boxes and then the class stuffed them with fun cards.

Feb. 10, 2009 at 7:07 p.m.

KimFelsen

Lovely -- those stitch marker woolies are fabulous!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 7:21 p.m.

ohfrench

I love the whole atmosphere of Valentine's day. There's just something about the red and pink...and I threw out all of my elementary school valentines! :( Why, Katherine, why?

Feb. 10, 2009 at 8:14 p.m.

worksofwhimsy

The first Valentine's Day after my husband and I were married, I made him a big card with the story of how we met, written, in part, with conversation hearts that were glued in place. It was silly, and romantic and he still has it.

Feb. 10, 2009 at 9:22 p.m.

BlackStar

I love the vintage sewing notions!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 9:25 p.m.

timesandchimes

How sweet was that teacher! What a neat story! I need to hurry and whip something special up for the three special guys in my life!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 10:31 p.m.

LaireMarie

ahhh... red velevt cake - TO DYE FOR!!!!!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 10:32 p.m.

SASessories

those cupcakes look YUMMY, and i love the felted beads 2!

Feb. 10, 2009 at 10:47 p.m.

voleurdebijoux

omg!! i'm gonna make those yummmmy red velvet cupcakes!! thanks for the recipe :D

Feb. 10, 2009 at 11:27 p.m.

GemmaBeads

Super duper! Vintage sewing notions are always a favorite of mine as well as heart beads. Yummy!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:38 a.m.

JoyandWhimsy

Hispanic Countries Forgotten Activities, Songs, Poems, Games guide for teachers and parents from 1943- includes some sweetheart pieces but great for year-round and is a beautiful picture book too at:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

Feb. 11, 2009 at 4:28 a.m.

ShiezasLiving

ohh I love the tic tac toe hearts. great idea!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 4:34 a.m.

MeAndBoo

The Amigurumi Love Birds are soooooo cute - I need to learn how to knit!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 6:33 a.m.

HungryDesigns

LOVE this article. and i am going to make the cupcakes. can't wait! ^_^

Feb. 11, 2009 at 8:19 a.m.

careysquirks

What an awesome teacher! If she's still around, I'm sure she woud love to hear of the impact she made on you!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 9:34 a.m.

EarthBabyDesigns

Mmmmmm....cupcakes....

Those woolie stitch markers are the bomb! Too bad I don't knit.

My favorite handmade valentines are the ones my 4 year old has given me over the last few years.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 10:10 a.m.

Piggy

Great ideas! I love those cupcakes!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

pinkshowercurtain

great picks! LOVE red velvet cake, must try that recipe. thanks for sharing it. :)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:19 p.m.

Creativewithclay

LOVEly picks

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.

westcoastbeads

Valentine red hearts are a classic. Love this list. How about some great velvet heart beads?
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...
...Or for those that prefer black hearts!!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:46 p.m.

polkadotdreams

What a wonderful story that was! It's always wonderful to make a good impact on children like that. Your teacher was very dedicated!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:38 p.m.

CutieDynamite

Those cupcakes....Yum!!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:47 p.m.

FlutterbyFibers

Wonderful picks! And that red velvet... mmmm... drool. : )

Feb. 11, 2009 at 2:31 p.m.

KellyBaldwinDesign

I just love everything about this holiday!!! Off to print that cupcake recipie!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.

bellasparty

The Red Velvet Cupcake looks delicious. I’ll get the recipe. Thanks!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 2:43 p.m.

atozart

My daughter was born on Valentines (but you don't have to have a birthday to do this fun tradition). We decorate a wooden tree (that I found @ a thrift shop and spray painted silver..), and made felt hearts of all colors with sparkle glued numbers from 1-14 on each one.
Each day leading up to the big day (in our case 2 big days:)
we start with the number one (feb. 1st) and hide the valentine. When it's found it's time to put your hand in the "Valentine" bag which is full of miscellaneous dollar things, or old stuff recycled, and that's the valentine treat for the day. It's fun to hide and seek them! During this activity of about 15 minutes, we also DECLARE something we'll do during the day to encourage and show love to someone else. We LOVE February. and life.:)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:31 p.m.

KelseysKreations

so cute! This is my favorite holiday!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:33 p.m.

bijouxboutique

I got married on valentine's day. I love the lovebirds, I may even make them for an anniversary present

Feb. 11, 2009 at 5:23 p.m.

AzitasSurprises

so cute! thanks!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 5:23 p.m.

AzitasSurprises

i am going to make the cupcakes and the birds!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 7:35 p.m.

tljoy58

I love the hearts as much as i love snowflakes!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 9:36 p.m.

DipNSipSpoons

Cute Ideas!! I am a valentine birthday baby!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 10:45 p.m.

allnaturalme

Tic Tac Toe Hearts?? Awesome!!!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 12:08 a.m.

infusion

Those little birds are adorable. WhipUp.net is an awesome resource!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 1:26 a.m.

graciebellabutterfly

I adore the Tic Tac Toe hearts! The sweetest idea is the amigurumi love birds. Wow! Such a cute idea!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 4:45 a.m.

Iammie

Cute stuff!
Don't forget to see more items:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=...
Thanks

Feb. 12, 2009 at 6:18 a.m.

yifatiii

so cute artical!
Have a great V. day ♥

Feb. 12, 2009 at 8:06 a.m.

KattyKinns

Mmmm those cupcakes look delicious <3

Feb. 12, 2009 at 9:43 a.m.

jodieflowers

Eye just ♥ Valentine's Day on ETSY!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 2:07 p.m.

grapesofcraft

Wonderful ideas. The cup cake recipe sounds great, I think I will try it. The tic tac toe hearts is so fun looking. All of it is really so cute. Happy Valintines Day to all.

Feb. 12, 2009 at 4:46 p.m.