Be Mine... giveaways... and Cards for Kids List...
Happy Friday. Have lots today - giveaways, card drive update and some Valentine ideas!
First, I have a winner of the Kiss and Tell stamp from earlier this week - Julie S! I emailed you. I still have TWO more to giveaway. For these, I will be picking a winner sometime next week from random comments left any time on any post. Just for some added fun. ;) (Remember - you can get 10% off if you mention my name.)
Next, a Cards for Kids update. If you sent in cards, please check HERE to make sure you are included in the list of cards we received. We will be picking winners on Monday or Tuesday. And, yes, we are continuing the card drive! I emailed the parents and the kids are LOVING them - especially the siblings of the sick children, as they are often struggling the most. I will also be adding one more child very soon. New prizes will be announced, so you can start sending cards in now if you want! Thanks again - these kids really need this.
On to Valentines...
I thought I would share the Valentines Colin and I made for his class. I did the stamping, coloring and cutting... Colin did the punching, stapling, packing, gluing and helped with the sewing. Such fun. I wanted to do something different and include goodies, but didn't want candy. So, each card holds two crafts for the kids to do at home - one is a magnet and one is a necklace. (These crafts were bulk ones I got at Hobby Lobby - a box of stuff to make 30 necklaces was $5.99... 24 magnets for $3.99.) Each craft was in a mini ziploc bag stapled into the matchbook-like card. I also included a photo of the finished product in each. I love doing stuff like this and Colin had such a good time with it. (Supplies are listed below the photos.)
Supplies: Papertrey Ink stamps; Hero Arts dot background; Hero Arts Punch Chalk Ink; EK Success punches; Sewing machine; Hobby Lobby crafts and mini bags; Copic Markers.
The stamps I used? Two that I have been using a lot of lately. THIS is from Papertrey Ink...
And the rockin' dots background... I use this on everything - works with all styles. It is bigger than a notecard, so easy to get good results.
And for tone-on-tone backgrounds, I like using THIS chalk ink. (It is more of a watermelon-y red in real life.)
Off to watch the Olympics. Night. :)
I truly love the idea of giving the craft item. A fellow Close To My Heart consultant gives great kid coloring packs. You should check her out, link below. But I have to say I really like the originality of this, plus how much fun it would be to do with your own child. The added bonus is not giving sweets. Thanks for sharing this. I do enjoy your blog. http://wizardshangout.blogspot.com/2009/07/kids-coloring-birthday-card-sets.html
Posted by: Leana | February 12, 2010 at 10:55 PM
I like that you are giving crafts instead of candy. We have too much sugar in our society (not that I don't love my chocolate)! But, CRAFTS rule! Thanks for a chance to win a stamp!
Posted by: Kelly M. | February 12, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Wow...I wish I was in Colin's class!!! Too cute and I bet the Mom's were relieved that those goody bags didn't include candy.. Great idea. I'll have to remember that for next year!
xo
Posted by: JosieK | February 12, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Ok Jennifer, now the Lik'em thingies I sent as P's valentines REALLY look cheesey!
Those valentines are perfection!
Posted by: Amy in OHio | February 12, 2010 at 11:08 PM
Oh my, those kids are getting something really special!! How fun and thoughtful of you, so cute!
Posted by: Tiffany E. | February 12, 2010 at 11:16 PM
How fun!!! My boys refuse to scrapbook w/me--they think it's too girly...I was thankful they were willing to tell me some jokes to include in the cards for kids drive.
No Hobby Lobby on the West Coast...I used to shop there all the time when I lived in Houston...
Posted by: Pat Castillo | February 12, 2010 at 11:23 PM
Adorable cards, that PTI stamp set is so great! I've read a lot about making Valentines to give kids at school recently- it's very different over here in NZ...the one time I tried to give a fairly innocent Valentine to a kid at school (when I was 11) he totally refused to take it!
Posted by: Becs Attwood | February 12, 2010 at 11:35 PM
What a nice idea to use somethings besides candy. My daughter would love these..she's a crafter like her mama :-)
Posted by: Jennifer Hansen | February 12, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Oh so cute! Love them! :)
And thanks for the enabling on the PTI set. :D
Posted by: Cass | February 12, 2010 at 11:42 PM
Your blog is great! Love all the cards - too cute!!!
Posted by: Eileen Velez | February 12, 2010 at 11:58 PM
boy, i wish i were in colin's class :) great valentines!
Posted by: Natalie | February 13, 2010 at 12:08 AM
I just love the little stamps you've been using! So adorable! ;)
Posted by: Lil_Rosi | February 13, 2010 at 12:11 AM
How adorable a valentine idea for Colin to help with and hand out. Thanks for sharing with us.
Posted by: Dawnll | February 13, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Those are the cutest ever!
Posted by: rebecca keppel | February 13, 2010 at 12:33 AM
Those are such sweet Valentines!
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 13, 2010 at 12:42 AM
I wish I would've seen these earlier! My school district just implemented a new food policy, so I didn't take baked treats to my students like I usually do. I couldn't think of what else they'd like. This would've been a great idea. I'll keep it in mind for next year I guess.
Posted by: Amanda H | February 13, 2010 at 12:43 AM
oh how sweet are these! Honestly Jennifer...u do the cutest things! Love how Colin is so into it too...very cool! ty for sharing..I love how you tell me where to get everything..not just the product but how to track it down...TYVVVM!
Posted by: cher | February 13, 2010 at 01:17 AM
Such cute Valentines!
Posted by: Shasta | February 13, 2010 at 01:42 AM
Those valentines are sooo cute!! And what a cute idea for the kids! I love the tone on tone, too!
Posted by: Sharon | February 13, 2010 at 01:45 AM
I love these stamps too. I just made a card set for my niece tonight using these stamps. Right now, they are my favorite.
Posted by: Beth Denny | February 13, 2010 at 01:57 AM
love the gifts!! and the fact that COlin is doing so much by himself already! i do admire you, Jennifer!! all that coloring.........and that stampset is adorable!!
Posted by: Cariena | February 13, 2010 at 02:18 AM
My girls used the PTI stamp set for their Valentine's as well...such a perfect set! I love the idea of giving something crafty...gonna have to remember that next year!
Posted by: Katie {choc0holic} | February 13, 2010 at 03:05 AM
Super cute valentines!! I have a 2 yr old little boy and he is my little scrappin buddy...loves to cut and color!
Posted by: Amber Batty | February 13, 2010 at 03:23 AM
Lovely cards and to include small kids is all the more gr8. It develops the color coordination and creativity in them. I am a new stamper, so would love to win the candy too so I can try with so many new stamps. Thanks for giving the ideas and the chance to win.
Posted by: Isha | February 13, 2010 at 04:24 AM
Wish my boys were small again so we could make these together. They are wonderful and every mom will thank you for not adding to the sugar intake during this holiday.
Posted by: Cindy Strickland | February 13, 2010 at 04:36 AM
Lovely cards. And those small presents are so nice.
Posted by: Laura.K | February 13, 2010 at 04:45 AM
These are just superb!.. thanks for the grt ideas and 10% discounts! :D
Posted by: Spardha | February 13, 2010 at 04:54 AM
Wow Jennifer - stunning cards for colin's friends... bet they all LOVED them. Thanks for the neat ideas.
Posted by: Deirdre | February 13, 2010 at 05:10 AM
WOW! these are for Colin and his classmates, I'm going back to school. LOL!! How much fun, and the memories you have made. Great ideas Jennifer. Thanks for the heads up too. TFS!!! :-D
Posted by: lois skiathitis | February 13, 2010 at 06:09 AM
Totally adorable Valentines! Great idea to include some crafts too! I still have to make Valentines for my own kids...
Posted by: Sarah M | February 13, 2010 at 07:22 AM
Love these. My son makes his valentine's every year from my stash. Very fun. I love the craft idea vs. candy. My son gives out red pencils every year. Thank you for showing the supplies that you used. I NEED the dot background stamp! I will be adding it to my shopping cart soon. Thanks for enabling. ;-)
Posted by: Barb M. | February 13, 2010 at 07:57 AM
Best kids Valentine's EVER, Jennifer! So fun that Colin helped, too!
Posted by: dustypenny (aka Joy) | February 13, 2010 at 08:14 AM
You are AMAZING! These turned out so cute--great idea that you used crafty things.
Posted by: Diana | February 13, 2010 at 08:25 AM
what a great idea! Love it!
Posted by: kim miller | February 13, 2010 at 08:26 AM
That was such a cute idea for him!!! Love it!! I want those new cling stamps from hero arts they look so yummy :)
Posted by: tara | February 13, 2010 at 08:27 AM
Love these Valentines! My son and I did matchbooks as well with fruit snacks and dressed them up to say "you are a sweet friend" or "You are "berry" sweet." Love that you used sewing vs a staple for the closing. With HL's reg 40% off coupons, this kind of craft idea would be super doable even more frugally :)....I've been doing crafts with my son like this at Christmas and V-Day for about 5-6 yrs (he's 9 now). He loves all my "tools" and I love that we get to work together with our creativity... those become the traditions that they remember (us too!)... thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Valerie G. | February 13, 2010 at 08:31 AM
I used this exact same stamp set for my kids' Valentine's. We did bookmarks (no candy!) and the kids helped color, punch, and glue. The kids enjoyed making them and I hope their classmates enjoyed receiving them!
Posted by: Jennifer K | February 13, 2010 at 08:35 AM
What an AWESOME idea!!! I think I may do something like that for Christmas this year. You're such a great inspiration Jennifer. :)
- April
Posted by: April W | February 13, 2010 at 08:37 AM
I think your valentines look wonderful and perfect for Vday....
Posted by: Karen from Ontario | February 13, 2010 at 08:37 AM
Jennifer, what a lovely project to do with your son and provide for his friends. Thank you for the tips. I love your creativity and learn from you with each post.
Posted by: Carol Berry | February 13, 2010 at 08:41 AM
Thank you for always taking the time to share your beautiful projects -- so inspiring...so enabling! My daughter loves to make cards with me - so sweet to see their creativity explode. Happy Valentine's Day!
Posted by: Brooke King | February 13, 2010 at 08:46 AM
What a great class valentines idea!
Posted by: Sue D | February 13, 2010 at 09:03 AM
Such a cute cards and then little Valentine's gifts! I now want that stamp set!! Great ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Nicole | February 13, 2010 at 09:09 AM
that is amazingly cute. My valentine's look sad now. You think of the cutest things. Being a single mom working full time it is so hard to get stuff like that done. But you make it look so easy. I love how you include Colin. Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Meredith R | February 13, 2010 at 09:32 AM
what great cards! i'm sure all the kids think Collin's mom is the coolest!
Posted by: Liz Derby | February 13, 2010 at 09:40 AM
What a fabulous idea to put a craft in the valentine instead of candy.
stamping sue
Posted by: sue wisniewski | February 13, 2010 at 09:43 AM
The Valentines for Colin's class are so cute!!! What a great idea for a special treat instead of candy :)
Posted by: Anita Young | February 13, 2010 at 09:45 AM
What a great idea!
lisa a.
Posted by: lisa a. | February 13, 2010 at 09:49 AM
You are So amazing! I currently am teaching preschool and I know we'd love to have you as one of the mom's from our room..... I bet his teachers and classmates' parents LOVE you!!! These cards are awesome and I love the craft idea instead of candy! That would be a good thing for Riley to give instead of candy since she can't eat it!!!
Posted by: Felicia Tindal | February 13, 2010 at 10:01 AM
You are an amazing crafter/artist! Thanks for sharing your ideas and techniques and projects!
Posted by: jan metcalf | February 13, 2010 at 10:10 AM