brown bag valentine

 I hope you have a fantastic weekend everyone! Maybe you're pulling out the craft box to make valentines or snuggling up next to a fire with a mug of tea (for those of you snowed in on the east coast) or going for a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

Wait ... a what? 

My family is actually going for a sleigh ride tonight. Instead of giving gifts at Christmas this year, we bought Groupons for a hot-cocoa and dinner sleigh ride for 10 in Breckenridge. After a loop in the woods, we'll have a steak and trout cowboy dinner and berry cobbler. But lest you envision a romantic evening with softly falling snow flakes and twinkling stars, I should mention that it is 15° in Breckenridge with blowing snow, 45 mph gusts and a -4° windshield. So we like a little adventure too! I'm especially liking the "wrapped in blankets" part of this ride.

While I'm looking for my long-johns, here is a little valentines inspiration from the archives. I especially like this packaging because you can fill the brown bags with anything you like. These ones were filled with Girl Scout Cookies, but use your sweet tooth imagination!

p.s. I don't actually own long-johns, but I've always wanted to!

photos by sarah fritzler

link love

LINKS TO LOVE:
- My favorite instagram of the week, a cupcake date (above by my friend Vanessa Kruse)
- Just in case you needed to know how to make a s'more ... in detail
- Tree + house 
- Perhaps someone should make an ALT business card coffee table book, yes?
- Would you wear something alive?
- Confetti, confetti, confetti!
- Been there, done that (well, not the overseas part)
- I'd like to live in this tumblr page
- Please warm up Colorado, it's time to hike!

happy valentines day!

Happy Valentines Day! My single sisters and I are planning an extravagant evening of Panera Bread take-out, sweatpants, toffee and sea salt chocolate bars and a chick-flick at home. I can't wait.

Above are a few photos I snapped this morning of my valentines. It's been a busy week so I chose something simple and that everyone loves — girl scout cookies! I hope you have a wonderful day!


x o x o,
Sarah

[supplies: mini brown bag, mini doily, fabric tape, date stamp, gold paperclip, cookies!]

photos by sarah fritzler

diy: stir-in hot cocoa

Hello!
Here is another easy do-it yourself valentines idea. And this one can be paired with the literary quote mug valentines. You didn't plan on handing them an empty mug, did you? ;)

I'm going to call this Grandma's Favorite Stir-in Hot Cocoa because my grandma loves it!

Supplies you will need:

- Melting chocolate for candy-making (I used Wilton, but I've since found out you can get Ghirardelli's — there's a no-brainer!)

- Candy-canes or peppermints

- Candy mold

- Lollipop sticks

- Red cellophane wrapper, string, valentines tag

All of these supplies may be found at your local craft store.

Do it yourself:

1. Use bag instructions to melt chocolate into candy molds.

2.  Stick lollipop sticks into each mold.

3. Put candy-canes or peppermints in zip-lock bag and crush into small pieces. Sprinkle on top.

4. Let chocolate set according to bag instructions

5. Remove from molds and wrap in red cellophane. Finish with a bow and valentines tag.

Of course, you can customize these as much as you like. A few ideas: heart shaped molds, white and dark chocolate swirl, mini-marshmallows on top, caramel swirl ... enjoy!

 pictures by sarah fritzler

from the archives: valentines

Just a few ideas from my Valentines archives!

DIY Literary Quote Mugs (full post)

Worst Pick-up Line Tags (full post)

Handmade Valentines (full post)

photos by sarah fritzler

diy: valentines chocolate bar label

This may be my favorite DIY yet.

Valentines Day tends to overdose my sweet tooth. But chocolate bars? I never feel like I have too many of them laying around! Here is a chocolate bar label valentine idea for you. You can customize it to your heart's delight! I simply took the label off of a Symphony Almond Toffee Chocolate Bar (so good!) and used it to make a template. I created a vintage flower design on the front and a love quote on the back (I personalized these for each recipient). I also made tags with the "worst pick-up lines" to add a little humor.

The options are endless! Make them your own by personalizing them for your loved one on their favorite candy bar. These would also be great children's valentines with crayon drawings wrapped around chocolate bars. Have fun!

p.s. The little secret behind this DIY is that I made it two years ago. My mom thought it was too pretty to eat (silliness!) so I found this one fully intact and snapped some pictures to share with you.

pictures by sarah fritzler 

love notes

Just enjoying Oana Befort's angular hart love notes. Full DIY over here.

images by oana befort

diy: literary quote mugs

These literary quote mugs were my valentines this year. I'm so happy with the way they turned out! Yeeess, I know it's November. I got so far behind in posting this after valentines day that I decided to post it next valentines. But with Christmas just around the corner, I thought everyone could use an easy gift DIY. Enjoy!

I was inspired by one of Design Mom's hand-made Christmas projects and this Pride and Prejudice mug. While they were simple enough to make, they do take a little time. I've included the nitty-gritty DIY details at the bottom of this post.

I chose quotes from Pride and Prejudice, Emma, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Little Woman, Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables and Casablanca. Each quote has a story behind it that is special to the recipient. For example, "Here's looking at you kid" is my dad's favorite quote and that's why my mom's mug says "KID." My sister-in-law went to Prince Edward Island and visit all of the Anne of Green Gables haunts which is why a Gilbert quote dawns her mug.

For my brothers, I wrote humerus plays on their wives' cups.













SUPPLIES:
- Porcelain mugs
- Pebeo Porcelain 150 Paint Markers (fine tip)
- Oven, water & paper towels

DIY STEPS:
1. Purchase Supplies:
I purchased these mugs at Goodwill* for 49 cents each! My grand total was $5.88.
The pens I bought at Michael's and you can find them at any craft store.

2. Create your masterpiece:
Wash the surface of the mugs before writing your favorite quote. Follow instructions on the pen's packaging for drying and baking times. Give yourself a little extra time since most Porcelain pens need 24 hours to dry before you permanently** bake them.

3. Make a cup of tea and read a book!

So, the nitty-gritty details are that ceramic pens are not as easy to use as they look. Half of this project was writing and re-writing the quotes. The good side is that it washes off*** and you can do it as many times as you want. The black pen was the best and I could only ever force the little hearts out of the red pen. If anyone has another brand they suggest, that would be great!

* I had a little trouble finding plain white mugs at Goodwill. But I realized later that I went shopping one week after Design Mom's project and hit the Goodwill that would be local to her. I'm pretty sure she cleaned them out before me. :)
** We have found that they aren't as dishwasher safe as they claim. I suggest hand washing the mugs to keep your designs intact.
*** It's SO MUCH easier to wash off as soon as you make a mistake.


P.S. I filled my mugs with stir-in hot cocao spoons (this may be my favorite part). DIY here!


photos by sarah fritzler

i love you more than ... winners!

Congratulations to the Valentines illustration winners, onthefly and belleandboo!



This was so much fun and I will be sure to do it again! Thanks to all who entered.

p.s. You can see the last illustration on belleandboo's blog today. Thanks Mandy!

love carries all

Adorable and beautiful prints by ROCOCCO CO

xoxox

Happy Valentines from me to you.
I hope it is filled with chocolate ice cream.
-Sarah

giveaway winners

Congratulations onthefly and belleandboo! Keep a lookout in your in-boxes for your "I love you more than ..." illustrations! To everyone who entered, thank you for being a part of my first giveaway! I had so much fun reading your entries (especially James!). Please check back soon for more giveaways.

Just in case you're curious, here are the winning entries:

onthefly: (who also happens to be like a second mother to me)
"I love you more than lobster in Cape Cod!"

"I love you more than the written word can say."

bellaandboo: (who happens to be one of my favorite illustrators)
"I love you more than having a lie in on a rainy day."


I'll be sure to share their illustrations. Again, thank you for entering and thanks for the shout-out Oh So Beautiful Paper!

Happy weekend.

valentines 2010: worst pick up lines

These are just a few of my favorite "worst pick up lines" from my 2010 valentines. I made them into labels and attached them to candy bars. They were a funny departure from the ooshy-gooshy foil valentines. I especially love No. 12's method of getting someone's number. I'm pretty sure I know some people who have tried this one. :)

Don't forget to enter the Valentines Illustration Giveaway in the post below!