In the Mail

I made a few (very few) treat bags for Valentine's.

Conversation hearts with Spanish writing.

Shiny Cardboard hearts from Swan and Shears.

Scalloped Corrugated paper, pink tag, heart, and staples all from Swan and Shears.

Wish tickets I had on hand from long ago when 100 Wishes was still in business.

Scissors punch from Jo-Ann Fabrics.

Red/white striped bowl from Swan and Shears.

Add another red heart and...

...tuck it all into a clear bag and fasten with a cute little fastener from Swan and Shears.

This bag of valentines is on it's way to France!!

Leftover candy made a fun but very short-lived centerpiece on the dining room table.

Did you get any fun Valentine's in the mail this year??

Valentine's Day

There are various stories out there about the origin of Valentine’s Day.  Some call it a ‘made-up’ day and want nothing to do with it.  Some think it’s silly.  Some roll their eyes.  Others go all out – candy, flowers, cards, hearts, you name it! 

 I like this story about its origin:

In 270 AD the emperor of Rome outlawed marriage.  Married men did not make good soldiers so the emperor reasoned that by outlawing marriage he would have more and better soldiers, men who were not reluctant to leave home and family in times of war.  He also outlawed Christianity.

Saint Valentine, a Catholic bishop, did not agree with the emperor.  He was a Christian and believed God had ordained marriage, so he performed marriages secretly.  He was discovered and imprisoned for disobeying the emperor.  While in prison, the jailor’s daughter brought him his meals and befriended him.  Valentine soon fell in love with the jailor’s daughter.

The emperor sentenced St. Valentine to death.  On the eve of his execution, St. Valentine wrote a love letter to the jailor’s daughter, signing it, ‘Your Valentine’.

Sigh.  How romantic!  True or not I like this one.  Do you have a favorite story about Valentine’s Day?  Any Valentine’s traditions?  Do you like all the hoopla or do you think it’s overdone?  Does your husband remember and get you flowers, chocolates, or a card??

~Getting Crafty~

Kara is doing some really cute Valentine crafts and sharing them over on her blog.

You really must hop on over there and see what all she is creating.

Little Sister has been wanting to do crafty stuff lately.  I got the stamps, some valentine stickers, and some card stock out for her the other day but she soon lost interest.

This morning I thought about these delightful arrows Kara had made. 

So I showed Little Sister and she was so excited.  We all ended up making arrows.  They each have their own distinct look and look like the person that made them!  Pics are on my camera - I will down load them soon.  For now, feast your eyes on all this crafty goodness in Kara's photo above and head on over to her blog for more!