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Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, but there is still time to make some fun candy covers.  This would be a great quilling project to do together with the kids since you can make your own lollipop covers as simple or elaborate as you wish. 

For the youngest ones, you could try a simple “Be My Valentine” sentiment with heart scrolls of various sizes or a quilled heart made from two teardrops.  Older children would have fun thinking up their own quilling designs and matching sayings. 

To make the lollipop cover, cut a piece of card stock 5-1/2 inches long and 2-1/2 inches wide.  Score it at 2-1/2 inches, 2-3/4 inches, and 3 inches and fold accordion style so that the cover can adapt to the thickness of your particular lollipop.  Line up the edges and punch two holes for the ribbon. 

To assemble the covers:  glue your quilling onto the front of the cover; fold it around your lollipop making sure that the lollipop stick is between the two holes; thread a ribbon through the holes and tie into a bow.

If you need a little help getting started,  just search for “vintage Valentines” online.  I found wonderful inspiration for my Valentine sentiments from Skip to My Lou’s blog post, “Cute Sayings for Valentines Day.”  

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Feeling sweet, sexy, or playfully punny?  Then one of these quilled Valentine’s Day cards is right for you.

Archiver’s has been advertising a card workshop making Itty Bitty Valentines that are 3-in x 3-in.  They looked so cute I decided to challenge myself to design three Itty Bitty Valentines of my own.  I only had two rules:  (1) my cards needed to be the same 3-in x 3-in size and (2) I couldn’t purchase any new supplies – I had to use what was already in my stash.  

Pretty in Pink

Who says a Valentine has to be red?  For this sweet card I layered three strips of pink card stock (alternating light and dark) on the bottom and rounded the corners with a decorative punch.  I added a quilled long-stem pink rose with moss green leaves.  For the sentiment, I stamped “My heart is yours” in black ink and added a little pink bow.  The rose is a rolled spiral made from a circle punched from card stock.  To finish the card I edged it with pink chalk.

A Berry Delightful Valentine

This card was inspired by the red and tan checked paper which has been in my stash bin for quite some time.  It is from a sack I saved from a purchase made in Savannah.  It reminded me of a country picnic which lead me to the “I love you BERRY much!” theme.  I used my computer to print the sentiment onto the tan cardstock, trimmed it to 2.75-in square and attached it to the front of my red card.  I cut a piece of the sack with pinking shears and glued it near the top-left of the card.  I punched two small holes and added little red heart brads (bought awhile ago with no particular project in mind, but they were cute and on sale – lol!).  Next, I glued on a red heart-shaped strawberry and white strawberry blossom.  I tied a little piece of jute cord around the top of the card to finish it off.

Hot Lips

This card is my favorite.  I had the thought of quilling a pair of lips and as I pondered how I would use that embellishment on a card, I remembered the famous Bogie & Bacall movie quote, “You know how to whistle, don’t you?”  A quick internet search turned up the entire quote and I knew that this would be the card I would give to my husband — Steve.

I used my computer to print the text and a Spellbinder’s die set to cut out the layers for both the front and inside of the card.  I glued two little flat pearls to the front and added the lips.  He’s going to love it.

There’s only one downside to taking on a challenge like this — what do I do with all of the ideas still floating around in my head that I didn’t create?

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Pomanders have been around for centuries.  Once used as a way to mask unpleasant odors, modern pomanders are a fun way to add a little extra scent to the air.  This fancy pomander is made from a plain paper mache heart ornament I found in my local craft store (on sale, of course).

Since the heart is hollow, the pomander is surprisingly easy to make:

1. Replace the hanging thread with your choice of ribbon (this step is optional, but it’s easier if you do it first).
2. Decoupage the outside of the heart with torn pieces of decorative paper (thinner papers work better than card stock weight papers).
3. Poke holes into the back of the heart using a sturdy paper piercing tool or awl.
4. Cut a door into the center of the front of the heart with a craft knife.
5. Insert your scent of choice (potpourri, perfumed cotton balls, purchased scent beads – you could even use a torn up car deodorizer).
6. Close the door and seal it up by covering it with additional decorative paper strips.
7. Decorate the front of the pomander with your choice of trims and quilling design.

To decorate mine, I ruffled a small doily (sew a circular running stitch about a half inch from the doily’s center and pull the thread tight) and glued it to the center of the heart.  I then glued on three rolled roses made from card stock, three sets of leaves made from strips of crimped quilling paper, and bits of red pearls left over from a Christmas project done long ago.

Inexpensive and oh, so pretty, these little pomanders would make lovely, and useful, Valentine’s Day gifts.

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The Indie Artisans is an amazing group of Etsy artisans who have banded together to promote the best handmade has to offer through carefully selected collections of works based on various themes.  I am so honored (and quite frankly tickled pink) to have been invited to join this Etsy team and participate in their latest collection.

The Indie Artisans Jury Committee deemed my Quilled Floral Heart Wreath Pattern worthy of inclusion in their new The Color of Love collection celebrating Valentine’s Day. 

When you think of love do you see red?  Or perhaps soft lavender is more your style.  You’ll find these colors and more represented in the items featured in this collection.  Come shop The Color of Love to find the perfect gift for your special Valentine.

All artwork is handmade in the USA by the talented professional artists who make up Indie Artisans and is offered for sale online through their respective Etsy shops. 

The collections change frequently so visit Indie Artisans often to see what’s new!

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