Welcome to the Creating Keepsakes (CK) Valentines blog hop. If you have just visited Adele's blog and linked here, you're in the right place. If this is your first blog stop or you are lost, please go to Amanda's blog to start the blog hop!
My first little project is Valentines Cake Pops. I am giving these to my colleagues on Monday for a little burst of sugar during the day! The Cake Pop Queen is Bakerella...her blog is pure eye candy and I have had lots of fun with her recipes and ideas. A great little video with cake pop instructions is available HERE. I shaped my cake pops into hearts before putting them in the freezer for a bit and then dipping them. I added some sparkling sugar and voila! A little dressing up makes them super sweet to give as gifts. I used chocolate lollipop bags made by Wilton that I found at our local Michael's to wrap them up in and added a little message banner that I will customize the text for for different recipients.
materials: KI Memories Sweetheart paper, Wilton chocolate lollipop sticks and bags
My second sweet project is Valentines Smores Kits. I saw this idea on this blog and adapted it a bit. I was lucky to find strawberry marshmallows the last time I was down in the USA. Our boys love smores and we have them during the summer over a fire while we're camping or over the fire bowl in our backyard. During our wet and cold winter, we often roast marshmallows over our stovetop or make them in the microwave. It's great fun to watch the marshmallow puff up beyond belief through the microwave window. For each kit, I added 4 graham crackers squares, 2 strawberry marshmallows and two mini chocolate bars. I found these Hershey's bars in pretty Valentines colours so didn't cover them but you could also wrap some patterned paper around them.
materials: KI Memories Sweetheart paper, cello treat bags
I included a little instruction sheet in each kit - you can download it HERE.
Now, if you have lots of time, or do not need to make so many multiples of these sweet little kits, you could roll out the marshmallows and cut them into little heart shapes with a cookie cutter. I did mine between sheets of parchment paper and once I realized how long they were going to take me to make the dozens that I needed, I decided to just save a few to pop into my sons' hot chocolates on valentines day. Very sweet!
For those of you looking for even more valentines inspiration, I did a blog post earlier this week with fun finds from around the web and will be sharing my annual mini-book/card for my husband and sons here on Monday.
Enjoy your next stop over at Kathy's CK blog. Some of you may have difficulty viewing Kathy's blog as it is a CK blog. If so, hop ahead to Christy's blog!
Thanks for visiting! Please leave a comment for a sweet little draw prize. I will post the winners on Sunday.
Yum, yum, yum! I am totally stealing that S'mores valentine idea. I am not that skilled of a baker but those cake pops look divine!
Posted by: Briana N. | 02/11/2011 at 05:41 AM
How sweet heart shaped marsh mellows in the hot choc!!!! what a great idea!!!
Posted by: Jackie | 02/11/2011 at 06:51 AM
The Valentine's s'mores are such a cute idea! And I love that cute, simple tag on your cake suckers!!
Posted by: Becky | 02/11/2011 at 07:14 AM
Thanks Janice - for so many wonderful Valentines ideas! I am going to link to your blog from mine later today. Love the Blog Hop idea and am a frequent visitor to your lovely blog.
Posted by: Nicky Byres | 02/11/2011 at 07:55 AM
Love your idea on the Valentine Smore.I might have to make some up.
Posted by: Carole B. | 02/11/2011 at 08:43 AM
Hmm, wondering if I'll have time to make those cake pops? Those are FREAKIN cute!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Veronica Ulicsni | 02/11/2011 at 09:31 AM
I, too, loved the Valentine Smores kits!!! TFS
Posted by: Judy | 02/11/2011 at 09:39 AM
Wow!! Such yummy looking treats!! I love those little smore bags, too!! Very cute!!
Posted by: Kathy D | 02/11/2011 at 10:08 AM
Love the pops! Very cute!
Posted by: Laura Mooney | 02/11/2011 at 11:13 AM
What super cute ideas! I love the smores bags!
Posted by: Toree | 02/11/2011 at 11:42 AM
cute! love the treats--esp the heart pops--always wanted to try these, and I might have to now!!
Posted by: charlene | 02/11/2011 at 12:50 PM
How adorable are those treats?!? Especially the cake pops! Gorgeous work.
Posted by: Adele | 02/11/2011 at 01:50 PM
Love the Valentine's Cake Pops. Aren't those sugar sprinkles just the best!!! Your blog has some really adorable stuff on it :) I am a PL girl too, not with the kit but do POTD. It is the Best!!!
Posted by: Krissy | 02/11/2011 at 02:54 PM
those look tasty! Love cake pops!
Posted by: Andi | 02/11/2011 at 03:05 PM
I am loving the sweet treats!! Who knew strawberry marshmallows even existed?! What a fun project, I am totally going to make some up for Valentine's this weekend. TFS!
Posted by: Candice | 02/11/2011 at 04:37 PM
Those smores kits are the cutest thing! I love the heart shaped marshmallows too!
Posted by: Suzeyq | 02/11/2011 at 05:10 PM
OOOOH my, how yummy! The cake pops look so cute, but I have to say, as a Girl Scout leader...I LOVELOVELOVE the smores idea. Why didn't I ever think of that?!?
Seriously, I am totally lifting that idea to give treats for my Brownies at the end of the year.
Posted by: Yolanda S | 02/11/2011 at 05:36 PM
Great treats! Love the smores!
Posted by: clmk523 | 02/11/2011 at 06:03 PM
What a great idea with the smores and I LOVE the cake pops! I think I gained a pound while visiting your blog!
Posted by: Gina | 02/12/2011 at 12:40 AM
As usual, great ideas! You always do such fun stuff, Janice! A friend of mine here does cake pops and the kids LOVE them.
Posted by: Dana | 02/12/2011 at 04:31 AM
Ooh- everything looks yummy! I love the "valentine" twist to the smores idea! So cute!
Posted by: photochic | 02/12/2011 at 06:12 AM
Cake pops, delicious. You always have the best ideas.
Posted by: Lisa | 02/12/2011 at 11:53 AM
What great ideas!
Posted by: Hypnotherapy London | 02/14/2011 at 04:37 AM