I’m joining bloggers from around the world in a monthly “ScrapHappy” endeavor. We’re challenged to make something entirely out of scraps.
Here in the US, as in many other countries, February 14th is Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day customs – sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”), offering confectionary and presenting flowers – developed in early modern England and spread throughout the English-speaking world in the 19th century.
Wikipedia
In honor of this tradition, I’ve pulled together scraps from a variety of sources to create Valentine’s Day card-kits for our Little Free Library. Young library users have snapped them up. It’s so satisfying imagining them crafting at home.
For starters, the base card and envelope are from my friend and fellow blogger Heidi from Minnesota. Heidi makes gorgeous cards! She had leftover paper and envelopes and kindly shared them with me to use in future card kits.
Heidi also sent sample-sized selections of Washi tape, seen below in one of my miniature gardens.
The colorful paper is leftover from kits I made a year ago.
The small paper doilies are part of my stash. As a young girl, I loved the way the layers stuck together. You could peel them apart like an onion. Doilies evoke a sense of nostalgia.
The red rickrack in the kits sat in a storeroom at Lifted Spirits for almost three years. Boxes of sewing supplies arrived as part of a donation. We turned yardage into tablecloths, farmed out suitable quilting fabric to quilters in the area, and used assorted ribbon to color-code baskets. Rickrack has fallen out of favor from a sewing perspective, but it will make excellent trim for someone’s Valentine.
Finally, the small tag board embellishments and hearts were leftover from a volunteer project. I found them in a cupboard when I cleaned out the former director’s office.
Please contact our host Kate, of Tall Tales from Chiconia for details. We create with scraps, then blog about our experience on the 15th of each month. Be sure to check out the creativity of my fellow bloggers linked below on February 15, 2021.
Kate, Gun,Eva, Sue,Lynn,Lynda,
Birthe,Turid,Susan,Cathy, Tracy,Jill,
Claire,Jan, Moira,Sandra, Chris,
Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon,Hayley, Dawn,
Gwen, Bekki, Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin,
Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2 and Noreen
Gardening Nirvana 
What a lovely way to spread the crafting love Alys.
💖To you for Valentine’s Day on Sunday.
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Thank you, Lynn. Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too.
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Providing the kits is the really creative idea. What a pity Pauline couldn’t be here to join in.
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I miss Pauline. Our blogging world isn’t the same without her. I think of her every day, Derrick. I’m happy to be in touch with her daughters. Life is fragile and precious.
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Quite so, Alys X
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I feel the same about doilies. Beautiful post!
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Thank you, Jill! You might enjoy this article and the origins of use of the crocheted doily. https://pieceworkmagazine.com/push-pull-doily/
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Aw…thanks for sharing this. I’ll certainly read it! xo
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Good job Miss Crafty. Also a nice way to edit stuff from your craft room. Hope your Valentines is as sweet as you xo xo xo
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Right back your way, my sweet.
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Oh, how I loved this post! Everything about it, from the creativity to the generosity to the frugal reuse of those lovely scraps. No wonder those kids snapped up the kits. Makes me smile to think about it.
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Thank you, Laurie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. I love finding a second home for things in creative ways. It’s easy enough to go out and buy something, but a fun challenge to use what you’ve got or in this case, to mix together items from several sources to create a greater whole. I hope you are doing well, and that your book is selling well, too.
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You bet! Sales of the book have slowed down after the holidays, which is to be expected. But considering we couldn’t go anywhere to sell them, we did pretty well. In large part, thanks to my lovely blogging friends. Many thanks!!!
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It’s been such a challenging year. I’m sorry you couldn’t get out there and sell more, but great news that you’ve had such good support from our blogging community. xo
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It was very heartening!
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Every year I think I’ll make my own cards, Christmas, Valentines, etc. I have aroundtuit but it doesn’t seem to be working. Don’t seem to be getting a round tuit on any front but your packets to make cards are so inspiring. Won’t be mailing anything this weekend. SNOW!!! We finally have some but laced with ice so not even a walk to the mailbox will be advisable. Glad to see you here.
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Walking on ice terrifies me. I don’t know how anyone does it. It’s good to know you are home safe during the winter weather. As for making cards, I always think I should start offseason so that I’m prepared…then I never quite get there. That’s okay. The kits are in the hands of young folks who don’t have the same constraints.
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Did they have card making stuff like that when I was a kid? I don’t think so. I was so close to getting started on them. Then there is life. 😉 You’ve probably created a young artist and don’t know it.Giant hugs.
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What a dear girl you are, Alys. I’m unlikely to get a Valentine this year, as in all previous years of my life; but I really love the idea of little faces and hands labouring over cards for their favourite people. ❤
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Thank you, Kate! I loved crafting as a girl, so it’s fun imaging little hands (or big hands for that matter), taking home a kit to create something of their own. Next year I will send you a Valentine. xo
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Gosh, that would cause a bit of consternation in certain quarters! Worth it for the novelty value alone, I’d say 🙂
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I join in with everyone else, a wonderful and kind gesture to make the kits and leave them in your free library “closet”
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Thank you!
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I started reading thinking that you were making the cards ~ I know how you love making cards! Then my smile got even wider to know that you were making these little baggies out of found things so that others could join in the joy of creating. What a generous person Heidi is too.
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Thank you, Anne. Bloggers are a generous lot, and I include you on that list. I intended to make cards, but I ran out of time. I made New Year’s cards, which was great fun, but I never blogged about them. Funny that.
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So much fun for the Little Free Library patrons – what a good idea! I must try something like that around here…hmmm
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Thank you! I love the creative challenge. I also love “Quimper Hittys” That is so clever.
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Your little library is such a great project and I bet everyone loved those craft bags! 😃
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Thank you, Cathy. We get so many visitors throughout the day: men and women, small children and an occasional teen. It brings me so much joy.
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what a wonderful, creative idea for the children – and perhaps a few adults as well. Very clever use of so many different bits and pieces. Not surprised they got snapped up.
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Thanks so much for your kind words. I’m trying to come up with an idea for March. Not too many people send St. Patrick’s day cards, but perhaps some bookmark kits.
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What joy you shared with the youngest visitors to your Little Free Library, Alys! It’s such a perfect way to introduce today’s children to the tradition of creating handmade valentines. You really do think of everything! You have the most kindhearted soul, sweet friend! The young crafters will always remember your kindness and the magic of papercrafting.
Alys, displaying your colorful scraps amidst your garden plants tickled my heartstrings! Sending warmest hugs across the miles, dear heart! Be well! 💗
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Thank you, Dawn! You are such a dear. I love creating these card kits and I’m pleased to see them disappear one by one. I’m so glad you enjoyed my scraps amidst the garden. You’re the first to notice and comment. Kindred spirits . 🙂
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