Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Don’t worry, though — we’re happy to bring you exclusive valentines tips from some of our lovely sponsors to get your creative juices flowing. Below, check out ideas from Suzanne Millette at Garnish.

• We asked Suzanne: “How can pretty packaging give your valentines an extra-special boost?”

Let’s face it…it’s all about the packaging! If you’re looking to make someone feel special on Valentine’s Day, focus on the presentation and you’ll be sure to achieve success. When presented with a lovely looking gift, they’ll be smiling before they even see what’s inside. Much like how we taste with our eyes first. And remember, the packaging doesn’t have to be extravagant. There is sheer beauty in simplicity – whether the gift or the styling. It doesn’t take much, just a little Garnish!

• We asked Suzanne: “How do you pick the perfect valentine for family members or friends?”

Growing up my mother always had a special little treat waiting for us on Valentine’s Day at our place at the dinner table. I like to do the same for my family. It may be something as simple as candy conversation hearts. But instead of the store packaging, I’ll make them my own by placing them in a candy tube adorned with a sweet message. Perhaps chocolates in a little gable box. One year we all had a Valentine’s Day dinner on the family room floor. I made everyone their own “happy meals” in a personalized box. The reality is, it’s not about the gift itself. Special days are about special moments – and that’s what Garnish is all about.

Garnish is your one-stop shop for adorable packaging supplies, from wooden berry boxes and bamboo cones to push pops and candy tubes. We think these accessories are the perfect accent to every party.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Don’t worry, though — we’re happy to bring you exclusive valentines tips from some of our lovely sponsors to get your creative juices flowing. Below, check out ideas from Allison Curtin, director of marketing at Pinhole Press.

• We asked Allison: “What are three ways to change up a traditional valentine?”

1.     Create a photo calendar with date nights “sharpied” in. A desk calendar featuring a photo of you and your Valentine every month of the year is a fun gift idea, but you can make it even more meaningful by taking your favorite color Sharpie (or paint pen) and making sure your date nights are etched in for the year. Even if your date nights change, it’s a great reminder to keep it on the calendar.

2.     Handmade with a personalized twist. If you’re thinking of crafting something or baking goodies this year, plan to adorn your handmade goods with a personalized label. Your cupcakes will be even sweeter in a cellophane bag with the label “You’re Sweet.”

3.     Plan a photo-worthy Valentine’s Day, and gift afterward. Instead of giving a gift on Valentine’s Day, plan out a day together and take your camera along. Afterward, collect your photos and create a personalized photo gift for your sweetheart. This way, you not only have a memorable Valentine’s Day but a keepsake to showcase for years to come.

• We asked Allison: “How do you pick the perfect valentine for family members or friends?”

It’s easy to “pick” a Valentine’s gift for family and friends, but it takes more time to “gift” and think about what that person would love. To give the right Valentine, we always suggest that a gift is personalized and is something that the recipient will cherish for years to come. Last year I gave my parents a Heart Notepad with a photo of us together on each piece of paper. Let’s just say they remember this gift every time they are checking off their to-do list!

Visit Pinhole Press for tons of customizable photo gift options — we especially love the photo magnets.

Season 2 has officially started on My Craft Channel and we have a brand new episode up of The One Charming Party Show. In my first episode of the season, Aimee Error joins me and demonstrates how to make some darling valentine jars. Check out the fun ways you can use these cute decorations.

Okay, don’t leave me any mean comments below–I know that these printable school valentines can be for boys and girls (believe me–I have a son and three daughters). But I feel like there is often a shortage of boy valentines. So here you go! You can also check out our other printable valentines.

Click an image to download these printable valentines.

Valentines created by Jill Means of Brightside Prints. Photography by Sara Schmutz . Additional graphic design by Sara Westbrook, Suzanne Johnson, and Alma Loveland.

This year, tell your children’s teachers you appreciate them with a little extra pizzazz. Sending valentines isn’t a chore when you have stationery and packaging as pretty as these:

1. Creative DIY packaging for a teacher’s desk treat from Crescendoh | 2. Felt heart pins from Twig & Thistle | 3. Letterpress alligator card from Egg Press | 4. Calligraphy note cards from Sparrow Nest Script | 5. Printable valentine kits from kbecca | 6. Instructions for a make-at-home panda heart card from Paper Source| 7. Treats with a heart-shaped surprise from eighteen25 | 8. Heart pop-up card by Dreamversion | 9. Letterpress stationery set by Printerette Press | 10. Printable treat bags from Twig & Thistle

You may not know Lyndsey yet (she mostly works behind the scenes for One Charming Party) but in her free time she chronicles her paper obsession at The Stationery Place. She’ll be here every month sharing some of her favorite paper ideas!

Day 4: Heart Votives + Muslin Bags
To finish off this glittery Valentine’s party, create your own votives with heart appliqués. Or send them home as valentine party favors in muslin bags with tealights for the grownups or fill with valentine candy and wrap up in glassine bags for the little ones.

Heart Appliqués

You will need: a Silhouette machine, Silhouette vinyl, muslin bags, glass votive holders, glittering glue, sponge applicator, fine glitter

Directions: We used vinyl stencils created with a Silhouette machine to make the heart pattern on these simple votives and muslin bags. When finding shapes to use with the Silhouette, try to look for dingbat fonts. For this heart we used the Love Romance Font or you could buy the heart shape directly from their online store. (For detailed instructions on how to use your Silhouette to cut out vinyl, check out this great vinyl tutorial.) Cut out three 1” hearts for the votives and one 4” heart for the muslin bag. Since you will be using the outside of the pattern, you can skip the transfer tape step. Attach the vinyl directly to the glass votives and muslin bag. For the muslin bag, insert a piece of aluminum foil so the glue will not soak through. Using a sponge applicator, liberally apply glittering glue to the entire heart. Sprinkle with glitter until completely covered. Let dry for approximately 1 hour and then carefully remove the vinyl stencil and discard. Gently tap off any loose glitter. Let dry for 24 hours before packaging.

This week we’re featuring a beautiful Valentines Day collaboration between Becca of CAKE. + Michele of Cakewalk Baking…. each of these glittery projects was designed, baked and styled by these two amazing ladies. Check out additional projects for this party all week on CAKE. Photography by Sherry Heck.

Day 3: Truffle Pops
A twist on traditional cake pops, this dark chocolate valentine truffles recipe is rich + delicious. And of course these truffle pops are dusted with just a touch of gold edible glitter… because everything’s better with a little sparkle.

Truffle Pops

You Will Need:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
½ cup whipping cream
Candy Melts in your color of choice
Oil food coloring (if desired)
Disco dust (if desired)

Directions: Place the chocolate in a heat proof mixing bowl. Bring the cream just to a boil in a small sauce pan. Immediately pour the cream on the chocolate and let it stand for a few minutes. Stir the chocolate with a spatula until smooth. Leave the chocolate at room temperature, stirring occasionally until firm. This can take several hours. Once the chocolate is firm, roll balls into desired size. Insert lollipop stick and refrigerate until hard, preferably overnight. Melt the candy melts in a heat proof bowl over a double boiler. If desired, add a few drops of oil based food coloring. Holding your pops by the lollipop stick, dip them into the candy melts and swirl to coat completely. Remove from the chocolate and tap gently to remove excess. Insert sticks into a styrofoam block to dry. When dry, sprinkle with disco dust.

This week we’re featuring a beautiful Valentines Day collaboration between Becca of CAKE. + Michele of Cakewalk Baking…. each of these glittery projects was designed, baked and styled by these two amazing ladies. Check out additional projects for this party all week on CAKE. Photography by Sherry Heck.

Day 2: Cupcakes
Your sweethearts will swoon over these pretty treats! This valentine cupcake recipe makes the perfect vanilla cupcakes and frosting. To dress them up for Valentine’s day use metallic gold cupcake papers, glittered flags or filigree lettering to create a lovely little message.

Cupcakes

You will need:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/4 cups whole milk

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bring the eggs, milk & butter to room temperature (don’t skip this step, it’s very important!) In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and pale. Add in the eggs one at a time and mix until combined. Sift (yes, sift!) together flour, salt and baking powder together. Stir together vanilla and milk. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to mixing bowl, scraping down after each addition. Start and end with dry ingredients. Fill paper-lined muffin tins with batter 2/3 full. Bake at 350° for 18- 20 minute.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

You will need:
1 pound unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
8 egg whites
1 cup crème friache or sour cream
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Seeds from 2 vanilla beans

Directions: Combine sugar & egg whites in mixer bowl and whisk together over simmering water until hot to the touch and all of the sugar has melted and no longer grainy. Transfer bowl to mixer stand and whip on high until fluffy & cool – about 10 minutes. With the mixer on low, add the softened butter 1 tablespoon at a time until incorporated. Add in vanilla, crème fraiche or sour cream, and vanilla beans. Beat until smooth (it may look curdled, but just continue to mix & it will be fine!).

This week we’re featuring a beautiful Valentines Day collaboration between Becca of CAKE. + Michele of Cakewalk Baking…. each of these glittery projects was designed, baked and styled by these two amazing ladies. Check out additional projects for this party all week on CAKE. Photography by Sherry Heck.

Day 1: Printables

We’re kicking things off with a Glittery Pink and Gold Valentines Party today. And what better way to start this week than with these darling free printable notecards and stickers. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to send a handwritten note, and whether your preference is for traditional hearts or modern arrows, you can offer up one to all the loves in your life.

Print notecards on heavy cardstock in ivory or cream. Each card is 3×5 when cut. Circles can be printed 8.5×11 whole sheet sticker labels (or on cardstock to make favor tags) and punched with a 2” circle punch.

This week we’re featuring a beautiful Valentines Day collaboration between Becca of CAKE. + Michele of Cakewalk Baking…. each of these glittery projects was designed, baked and styled by these two amazing ladies. Check out additional projects for this party all week on CAKE. Photography by Sherry Heck.

To end this adorable Valentine Breakfast Party, Sara has created these valentine favors in cute boxes to send your guests home with (and all of the printables for the week are included below–hooray!).

The small gable boxes are great Valentines to pass out since you can easily individualize what each guest receives. It is also nice to have a box that can fit fun items such as small toys, notebooks, crayons, bouncy balls, etc.

Valentine Favor Boxes
You will need: Small White Gable Box, Pink Dot Mini Cupcake Liners, 3/4 inch red ribbon, LOVE printable circle, 2″ circle punch

Directions: Flatten a cupcake liner and use the 2″ circle punch to cut out a “Love” printable tag. Cut 2 pieces of ribbon, each 5 3/4 inches long. Fold each of the pieces of ribbon into half of a bow shape and glue at the center. Stack your bow together – cupcake liner, ribbon, and then “Love” tag on top. Glue it all in place. Ta da!

We’d like to thank the super sweet Sara Schmutz from Confetti Sunshine for hosting the Valentine’s Breakfast Party all week long. Thanks Sara!