Tag Archives: Valentine’s Day craft

Make: Heart Charm Bracelets

Posted in Holiday, Stuff to make by

I heart Shrinky Dinks. If I have any childhood regrets at all, one might be that I didn’t fully appreciate the joy of watching these little bits of plastic curl then flatten into tiny hard shapes in my toaster oven. I’m making up for lost time this Valentine’s Day.

If you want to a shrink a heart to grow a heart this February 14th, here’s what I did:

  1. On dull side of shrink plastic, I freehanded hearts and colored with color pencil, each heart about 1.5″
  2. I trimmed and punched a hole near the top of the heart shape.
  3. Baked the little boogers! Gleefully and vigilantly watched through glass door of toaster oven (325 degrees, about 2-5 minutes). Once the hearts flatten, remove from oven.
  4. Braided 9 strands of embroidery floss (3 strands in each part) for bracelet.
  5. Used split rings to attach hearts to bracelets. Super simple.

Happy Heart Day from homemadecity!

 

 

A Stencil for Your Sweetheart

Posted in Boston, Fabric printing, Holiday, Kids, Sewing, Stuff to make by

Finished these heart-stenciled drawstring bags just in time for Valentine’s Day. Whew. Tomorrow I’ll toss in some trinkets and goodies for my little sweethearts. (Later, I figure they can stash their school valentines in them.)

All the materials came from stuff around my house: stray pieces of fabric, ribbon, and some muslin. I cut a heart stencil with freezer paper and vinyl alphabet stickers to block out the letters. (For a visual, click here. For information about using freezer paper stencils on fabric, here is the complete how-to).

I improvised the drawstring bag (although I did measure to keep things relatively straight). Thank you to Kate K. for loaning me a tapestry needle–a perfect implement for threading a ribbon through a drawstring bag.

Here’s a side view–with the candy that inspired me. (By the way, Sweethearts are Made in the U.S.A, specifically by the New England Confectionary in nearby Revere, Mass. So this V Day, buy American.) Happy Heart Day, everyone!