Chocolate Strawberry Chews

O so sweet then tangy!!! These are scrumptious and easy homemade filled chocolates! I used two items! Semi sweet melting chocolate and strawberries! Don't forget to check out the cute and easy construction paper boxes I made to give these yummy sweets away in!

Preheat oven to 210 (doesn't take long) remove the green tops on strawberries and place on cookie sheet in a single layer.

Baked in the over for 4 hours (I actually had to bake mine about 4 and half, it might vary for you also)

I then placed the strawberries in the refrigerator overnight.

This morning I melted semisweet chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave and dipped the entire strawberry.

There you are, chocolate strawberry chews!

Why o Why do Holidays have to be so sugary addicting!!!!

Valentine's Day Celebration Table!!!

IT'S HERE! LOVE DAY!!! I stayed up late putting together our family Valentine's Day table and making some last minute sweets!!!

 

 

****If you see something you like that didn't make it to the blog , let me know! I didn't make a tutorial on everything I made but if you want one I'll do it!

 

My daughter was so excited she started singing Happy Birthday, she just melts my heart! She clapped jumped up and down yelling "happy!" Aw she makes it all worth it :) Thank you for taking a peek at our set up. We have invited friends and family to stop by for amazing sweets and Valentine's gifts! Share the love!

 

 

 

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Spoons (bottom right)

DIY Dessert Plates (bottom middle right)

Scrap paper wrapped candy bars (bottom middle left)

Chocolate Strawberry Chews (bottom left)

DIY Paper Boxes (above the Chocolate Strawberry Chews)

DIY Metallic Heart Candle Holder (above DIY paper boxes)

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries (middle middle :)

Chalkboard painted platter (top left)

Greek Yogurt Chocolate Mocha Mousse in Chocolate Tuxedo Cups (top middle)

DIY Paper Rose Bouquet (very top middle)

Burlap Push Pin Board (in the back)

LOVE Push Pin Holders (on the board in the back)

Pebble Strand Garland (middle wall)

Heart Felt Garland (top of wall)

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

10 Ways To LOVE!!!

10 Ways to LOVE

1. Listen without interrupting.
Proverbs 18:13 – To answer before listening, that is folly and shame.

2. Speak without accusing.
James 1:19 – My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry

3. Give without sparing.
Proverbs 21:26 – All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.

4. Pray without ceasing.
Colossians 1:9 – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.

5. Answer without arguing.
Proverbs 17:1 – Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

6. Share without pretending.
Ephesians 4:15 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

7. Enjoy without complaint.
Philippians 2:14 – Do everything without grumbling or arguing

8. Trust without wavering.
Corinthians 13:7 – Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

9. Forgive without punishing.
Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

10. Promise without forgetting.
Proverbs 13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

 

Source

Make quick and easy Valentine dishes

 

 

I have a couple of plain white dish sets to use throughout the year, they are so handy for holidays and family themed meals!

 

This is great for kids also, let them pick the theme!

 

All I did was take stickers! Yep that's it stickers!!! I placed them on the outside rim of my dishes for the girls heart french toast breakfast this morning!!

 

How cute and easy!

Give your kiddos the stickers and dish sets so they can decorate while your cooking!! Keeps them busy while your slaving away :)

 

Saves on having many different sets for the holidays or events for family time.

 

When your done remove the stickers, wash and your ready for next time!

A Valentine for the man in your life (kids too)

Metallic Magnet Cars!!!! These are great for a guy (little guy or big guy) In the garage or kids bedroom! I made this one for the hubby for his garage :)

 

All you need is ....... paint (love this stuff) some cars (mine are plastic) magnets (I used strip magnets and cut small squares) and a place to put them (I made a magnetic board)

 

I painted the cars in a box,*uses less spray paint if you don't know how to properly use spray paint like me :)

 

Let them dry.

Glue magnets on the bottom.

 

Give him them on a **magnetic board for Valentine's day with some cute love coupons, notes, movie tickets or anything you like.

**I will post how to make different magnetic boards in the future :)
 

Then you can hang cute little hunny do's for him throughout the year or he can remind himself of things he needs to get done (ah-em)

 

Aw....a gift with an ulterior motive :)

Metallic Valentines Day Candle Holder!

This is so calming and beautiful! I did make a mistake and grab the wrong paint...ooops (must be that caffeine :) Since I was playing with rubbing alcohol and paint earlier I decided to try on this! It turned out so artsy!

Here's the steps and the picture below shows what I used!

First off......I placed the foam stickers on the clear cylinder vase but then painted the vase with the wrong paint :) I took a detour and decided to squirt a little bit of alcohol only onto the wrong paint and give a quick spray with the correct paint.

 

After it dried I took the foam stickers off (it did have a nice 3D look at that point) and ta-da! I put a candle inside with some decorative pebbles and just stared....................

I wish I was able to take beautiful low light pictures! The room was full of beautiful hearts and a warm relaxing glow!

$1 NO SEW pillow! Perfect for Valentines Day Decor!

No Sew and did I mention it only cost me a dollar!!
It turned out elegant and whimsical!

 

I had the paint and stuffing already but even if you didn't it wouldn't cost you too much :)
I bought this red place mat for $1 and made the flower out of a scrap piece of burlap!
So back to NO SEW!!!!! I love no sew projects that look like you sewed :) 

 

 *****Now here's a bunch of side notes..... I tried using the white paint marker in the picture.......BIG FAIL! It did not work for me after several tries. I don't know if it was the fabric, me, the marker, who knows. All I know is I spent too much time trying to make it work.
So then I went rummaging for other white stuff in my craft room, nope none of that....every other color I mean every color but something white of use!!!
So I decided to look for white paint, bingo! So I painted the place mat instead with a small brush. (make sure you paint your place mat first while it's flat with no stuffing)
I then cut the stitches out of about one third on the side.
After the paint dried I stuff the pillow with some stuffing I had. (I could have stuffed it better obviously! I need to go back and do that but I needed the picture more:)
Now I could of restitched the area I made the opening and you could but I said no sew, so I glued it!
It worked and looks just fine :)
 I then placed a burlap flower I made on the outside and there it is my pillow that cost me a dollar, a big fail, a little time and some thinking!

 

Any advice with the paint marker anyone? Thanks!!

Valentines Heart Felt Garland

I have seen these everywhere! Big ones little ones all different colors! I saw one with great big hearts that I just loved (after I started this one) I have even seen them for sell a few places but why not make your own??!! :)

I used the stiff red felt and split rings (I thought it would be easier then opening and closing jump rings) I used my scrapbook eyelet punch for the holes. That was it!

I started making one with great big hearts and I'm not even punching holes in the felt! The split rings punch right through! Save yourself time and a step :)

Valentine Bouquet To Last All Year

Here's a half a dozen paper rose bouquet that I kinda want to keep for myself! You could do yours with a dozen red roses if you wanted :)

 I trimmed one of our shrubs outside for the branches, grabbed a jelly jar, some twine and sequin ribbon and of course paper flowers which you can learn to DIY HERE

I wrapped the jar in twine except for where the rim is up top, I covered that with my sequin ribbon. I stuck the branches in the vase and poured glue into the bottom to hold the sticks in place. I then glued on my paper flowers I made from red card stock.

I love this creataion! :) It is such a beautiful combination.

After a day though I didn't like the way the inside of the glass looked so I filled it will little pebbles.

My Handy Helper (AND A GIVEAWAY)

 My handy helper bracelet!!! Not only a huge help but stylish also!!!!! I use it when I'm hanging pictures, banners, sewing doing my hair, the list goes on! It will hold my bobby pins, small nails, thumbtacks, needles and more. Keeps my mouth clean...... yes you know you hold that stuff in your mouth too.

WAIT HOLD UP!

So I am not going to put the tutorial up until I get 50 followers, yep that's right I said FIFTY! I have been getting an average of over 150 visits a day to my blog, but why no love???!!!! BUT WAIT, once I get fifty followers I will give away this bracelet too!!! So to encourage you to be part of my blog, try something new, leave a comment, yep that's right I'm bribing YOU!!!! It's doesn't really work well with my daughter but hopefully it will work for you!!!! So join the club and this awesome bracelet could be yours! 

My followers now each have a 50% chance to win, lets made those odds a little harder :)

 

*****Don't want to wait??? You can purchase one for $30 and start putting it to use! Contact me at catescastle@gmail.com