Valentine's Fun

I've had a fun time making Valentine projects. Crafting/baking is really a good stress reliever. If only I had someone to pick up after me. The following are this year's Valentine projects. Enjoy and maybe you could tweak them for St. Pat's day. :)

Grandma Ruby's Famous Sugar Cookies - Project 1 of 4

I really like this sugar cookie recipe for many reasons. Mostly because it's my Grandma's. She's a great cook and baker. I also like it because it's a quick and easy recipe and it makes a lot of cookies. It's definitely not low calorie with two sticks of butter and a cup of oil...but nothing with sugary goodness is low calorie. I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as I do.

• 2 sticks of butter
• 2 cups of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup oil (I used canola)
• 1 t. butter flavoring (I ran out and didn't use any in my last batch and they tasted fine. I do like them with though.)
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1/2 t. salt
• 5 cups flour
• 2 t. baking soda
• 2 t. cream of tartar (this gives them a little bite, kind of like a snickerdoodle)

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, oil and salt. Then add flavorings. Combine dry ingredients and add to other mixture. Mix well. Chill if you'd like, but not necessary.
Make dough into small balls (I used the med. Pampered Chef cookie scoop). Roll in granulated sugar. Flatten with small glass on your cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Less time for a soft cookie, more time for a crisp cookie.
Make approx. 6 dozen cookies.

Milk Cartons and Holder - Project 2 of 4

I found this project on my favorite blog Inking Idaho awhile back. I bought the tutorial for $3.95. All of her tutorials are well worth the money. These cartons are mini versions of her design that I designed. I got all four cartons out of one piece of 8.5x11 cardstock! I am stingy with my Stampin Up! paper. I put jelly beans in them for my Secret Sister.






Candy Matchbooks - Project 3 of 4

Most of my projects I find on other people's blogs. Couldn't tell you exactly where I found this one, but I know I've seen it several places. Sizes vary depending on what kind of candy that you're using.
Cut paper 3 1/4 x 7 1/8"
Score at 3/4, 4, and 4 1/4"

I made these for my fifth grade daughter's class. I really enjoy making my girls special things that nobody else will have. I hope it makes them feel special.

Gum Holder - Project 4 of 4

This cute little project is from the blog Impressions by Rochelle. She has a lot of gift ideas on her site that are easy to make. I used her directions except in place of her word window punch, I used the scallop border punch. I only did this because I don't have a word window punch. The scallop punch worked great and it was a nice decorative touch.

These were for my husband's class. He is taking courses to become an x-ray tech. He printed off the clipart for me as I didn't have any medical themed stamps (Although I think I have almost everything else under the sun. :)

 I found five stick packs of Trident at Dollar General for about $1 for a four pack.




Hope you've enjoyed my Valentine's projects and I hope you take some time to create this weekend. God Bless you and your family.
Jennifer