Monday, February 1, 2010

Recycling our Valentines

I love cards.  The problem is when I buy them, I usually hang on to them for inspiration.  That leaves me scrounging for a replacement at the last minute.  This weekend was no exception.  

At 11:00 the night before I was to leave for an out-of-town wedding, I was frantically looking for a card.  Nothing in my stash was going to work for me.  Valentine's Day decorations were stacked on my dining room table, and I looked there for inspiration.  I found this box from last year.  (See, it does pay to save!)

I quickly hot-glued mini-cupcake wrappers to the top of it, then added one of Linda's flowers that I have been making. (Click here for tutorial.  If you have not checked out  Linda and Robin's Egg Blue's, you need to do so.  The best way I can describe her blog is that it is full of loveliness and is a mini-vacation for me each day.)  

The best part of this card?  On the inside I placed our actual card I made from scrap-booking paper, then added a heart-shaped Christmas ornament. What a fun and unexpected surprise for a bride and groom.

This could be adapted so many different ways.  My kids are always wanting gift cards to i-tunes.  I now have a fun gift-card holder.  What a great way to give a trinket or some new jewelry.  And the bonus?  If you didn't save all your old boxes from last year and have to go buy new ones, you can eat the candy.  In the name of giving, you can force yourself to eat those chocolates.  Even if they aren't that good...

And my card stash is still safe...

20 comments:

  1. These are adorable. You should make a bunch of them...I'd be willing to help you eat the candy if you REALLY needed me too. ;)

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  2. Thanks Rach, for your generous offer... You might need to push one or two kids out of the way though...

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  3. Well aren't you just so talented and clever?! I L-O-V-E this card, it's absolutely stunning!

    Hugs,
    Karyn

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  4. Love this card you made. Thanks for the comment on my blog, these guys sure have fun at the sugar shack. I'll send my camera along next time, maybe Dave will get some good pictures to share. Have a great evening, Take care, Carol

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  5. I added a link on arise 2 write for your blog.
    Hugs,
    andrea

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  6. Bonjour Auntie Cake,
    What a fabulous gift card. I'll check out this site you listed. Thanks for coming by - I would love to see all the pretty things you have around you, horses, old barns,llamas - sounds like natural beauty which is the best.
    Hava fabulous week!

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  7. I just never can believe how talented you ladies up north are..hahaha Everytime I visit you have made nothing into something beautiful. You are also very funny. I love the comment you left me on my site.
    I so need these laughs and you never disappoint me
    Maggie

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  8. How smart are you...what a billant idea and the end results were amazing. Happy February sweet friend.

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  9. Pretty Cool! I bet they will love it! Wish I could have seen it!

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  10. ...laughing....hey, great idea, I'll just tell hubbie I need more gift boxes!! Your idea is great, and you "made" the flowers? They are really pretty!

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  11. What a great idea! And yes, by all means, eat those chocolates, all in the name of giving, of course! ;)

    We'll just have to be patient, waiting, waiting, waiting for spring... It's snowing here and so pretty. I guess I'm torn. I love snow in the winter but I'm waiting for spring, too. :)

    Enjoy your day!

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  12. Kate, that turned out so pretty, I'm sure the bride and groom loved it! I found a tutorial on someones site a while back for those flowers too and made them like a crazy woman until the craft a.d.d. kicked in and something shiney and new caught my attention! (can't even remember what that was now...) :) I want to make a cupcake liner wreath for valentines day, maybe tomorrow. Gotta go, I here my kids wrestling upstairs instead of getting in the shower... ugh. Thanks for the inspriation ~ Theresa

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  13. Creative, unique and well-done; what a combo- thank you for the great idea~

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  14. You are amazing! I wish I had just a drop of your creativity. What a wonderful gift.

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  15. Dear Kate, I am so impressed and amazed. I can't believe, oh yes I can, that you just came up with this off the cuff, at the last minute. Why, oh' why doesn't my brain work like that. I would have never thought of cupcake papers. Even when I saw it, I just saw perfectly pretty and my head started going Give Me, Give Me.

    Great job but of course, what else could I expect from you.

    Thanks for coming by Miracle Mondays today.

    Love ya, Tracy :)

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  16. So cute and thoughtful! I'd love to recieve one. Adorable!

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  17. well hunni you never fail to amaze me. Your talents are never ending please can you bottle some of it up and send it my way.
    (((hugs)))
    karen

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  18. Hi, Kate. I found your blog by going on a clicking spree and I had to stop and think to myself, "Wait, that's not my blog, is it?" I'm a "CAKE" to all little kids who meet me, I have four kids, we live in a land of glitter and "treasures" that makes my husband roll his eyes. We have a few things in common. . . come visit sometime!
    xo-kate

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  19. What a shame to have to eat all that candy just to have an adorable little gift box! I love what you did with the cupcake papers. so clever and cute!
    Debra

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  20. This is beautiful!!!! And now I have another blog to keep up with - thanks for sharing.

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