Valentine's Day 2013

I love Valentine's Day.  To get things ready,  I snuck around the house last night while hubby was asleep and decorated the entire house until 2 in the morning (crazy eh?).  Sneaking around carrying a chair to climb on, isn't easy most times and darn near impossible when I was trying to be super quiet.  Anyhow, I hung this smiling heart in front of the kitchen window where I knew hubby would see it when he made his coffee.  I also decorated the patio doors with long strands of clear hard plastic hears and a double heart in the middle that is full of sparkles. 

-->

 The flower arrangement in this brass vase, was custom created a few years ago.  It's getting redesigned next week, in the meantime, I added a couple of sparkly hearts to it and to the wall behind it to dress it up for the occasion. 

The casual bistro set from outside was brought in during a storm this week and has been used for morning tea and casual dinners.  I decorated it with one of the heart cards created by my friend Nicolette.

The table as it was set last night.  I added the mini roses my husband gave me in the morning.  I found the roses set up along with a teddy bear and a card in our upstairs TV room where I drink my tea everyday.  It was so sweet and exactly what I needed to dress up the table a bit more.

The table setting  I tried a few things and decided on this one.

Valentine's Day Decorating Ideas

Table Setting

I love the look of this table.  Instead of japanese lanterns, I'm going to get round balloons or use the heart shaped ones I already have (if I can remember where I stored them).  For the centrepieces, I'll have to buy flowers (fresh or silk).  I also need to get matching napkins and runner.  I'll put that on my to-do list for this week along with everything else I have to do.  I want it to look perfect.

Place Setting

 I love how this looks.  The red napkin rolled up with a simple twist or bow would look just as nice.  I would love to get red placemats like these ones but I'm running out of time to find them.  Solid red placemat, red napkin, white plates and layers or tablecloths and cream coloured doilies.  I'll post pictures of my place settings after I put it together - we'll see how they compare to this.

Miscellaneous Ideas

I'm not sure how I'm going to incorporate this idea into the decor.  I really wanted a valentine's day tree.  Red and sparkly just like this one but I couldn't find it anywhere.  I'll have to remember to keep looking for this and maybe implement this idea next year.

Very simple and festive table.  I like some of the elements.  Not sure if any of these ideas will make it into the decor this year.  Maybe a valentine banner.  I'll have to wait and see what I end up putting together.

-->

Valentine Kissing Ball

 Materials:
6 inch styrofoam ball
1 can red spray paint
2 dozen silk roses
length red ribbon
hot glue & glue gun  OR regular white glue

Instructions:
Spray paint the styrofoam ball, red
set aside and let dry
cut the stems off the roses to approximately 2 or 2.5 inches.
At the top of the ball, attach the hanging ribbon

Begin attaching the roses to the ball.
Insert the first one in the centre and work your way out and around until it's completely covered to your satisfaction.  You can either glue the roses in place as you insert them or finish putting them in place then carefully remove one at a time, add glue and insert it back in place.



-->
Source

Valentine Jello Hearts

-->

Prep time:  20 mins

Total time:  20 mins

Serves: 15

 

Valentines Jello Hearts

Ingredients

• 4 (3oz.) boxes Strawberry Jello
• 2 envelopes Knox Unflavored Gelatin
• 5½ cups boiling water, divided
• 1 can (14oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk
• ½ cup cold Water

Instructions

1. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with non stick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, add the 4 packages of Strawberry Jello.
3. Mix in 4 cups boiling water and stir for about 2 minutes, or until dissolved.
4. Pour into the prepared pan and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until firm.
5. In a medium bowl add the ½ cup cold water and sprinkle the gelatin over the top, let stand for 1 minute.
6. Stir in 1½ cups boiling water and sweetened condensed milk, mix well and allow to cool.
7. Remove the firm red jello from the fridge and invert onto a cutting board.
8. Re-spray the same 9 x 13 pan with non stick spray.
9. With a heart cookie cutter, cut hearts out of the jello. Take care to cut them as close together as possible to reduce waste.
10. Arrange the hearts in the pan.
11. Pour milk mixture over the hearts and place in the fridge for 2 hours until firm.
12. Remove and cut into squares.

Source

Hearts

-->

Love and Valentines Day Hearts: Mostly blank heart images that can be used as blanks for tags or can be added to tags.  Click on the thumbnails for full size images.

[178x154] bkd * Viewed: 214 times.	[350x350] grapevine Viewed: 194 times.	[83x65] heartacc11 Viewed: 175 times.	[83x65] heartacc12 Viewed: 192 times.
[83x65] heartacc6 Viewed: 157 times.	[83x69] heartacc7 Viewed: 164 times.	[78x70] heartacc8 Viewed: 171 times.	[161x160] hearthorned Viewed: 187 times.
[250x281] heartnpinkflowers Viewed: 183 times.	[395x186] heartnwings1 Viewed: 182 times.	[392x176] heartnwings2 Viewed: 163 times.	[232x237] hearts.can.glitter Viewed: 151 times.
[256x250] PURPLEHEART Viewed: 193 times.	[455x318] Valentine chocolate heart and flowers Viewed: 195 times.	[376x199] red.val.box Viewed: 208 times.

Don't forget to check out the Valentine games