Thrifty Faux Ice Cream Valentine

As promised...here's the lowdown on this really cute Valentine favor. I saw this several months ago and just knew I had to try it. An easy and cheap supply list:

• ice cream sundae dishes I thrifted mine - the most expensive one was marked $1.25, but I got it and several others at a 50% off sale, making most only 35-50 cents.
• assorted Valentine candy - candy corn, gummy hearts, conversation hearts, M&M's (The M&M's, red hots, and probably the convo hearts could be purchased on Feb 15 when everything goes on sale and stored, unopened until next year.)
• red foil wrapped chocolate hearts or red Hershey kisses (I purchased mine last year)
• Pixie sticks or straws
• My Grandmommie's Candied Popcorn - recipe follows
  
• cellophane
  
• ribbon

You can see from the photo how this is assembled. If you want some other ideas on how to top your candy, hop over to Jesse Kate Designs where I originally saw this idea. Some folks have used cotton candy, marshmallows, taffy....but these were mostly glued on and I wanted mine to be 100% edible. I stuck a toothpick through the bottom of the chocolate heart and gently worked it into the popcorn ball to serve as a cherry.

Candied Popcorn Recipe:
Pop about 1 C of popcorn on the stove and put in a large bowl that you have lightly sprayed with Pam. Melt 2 sticks butter, 1/2 C light corn syrup, and 1 1/3 C sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently. Cook until it reaches hard crack stage. Immediately pour over the popcorn and mix well. Pour out on waxed paper to cool. Break apart when cooled and store in an airtight container.
If you are making this for the sundae project, use two large spoons (lightly sprayed) to form mounds of popcorn. Be really careful with the hot candy - just a drop can really hurt your hands. This is NOT a part your children should assist with.
I have all everything ready except the popcorn. The popcorn mounds are ready to put on and then I will tie the entire thing up using ribbon and clear cellophane, just before they are delivered on Thursday. So a handful of candy, a little popcorn, and thrifted dishes help make this little project ring in at maybe $1.50 for the largest dish.
Come back tomorrow or Thursday for the cake pops...they are turning out pretty cute! My neighbor enjoyed the ones we delivered for her birthday today!

Love Is In the Air

It's 2 days until my birthday and 5 days before Valentine's Day. It is also 2 days until Miss M's class Valentine Party. Let's just say I have been busy! Take a peek at what I've been up to the last two weeks or so...

Teacher Gift prototype...directions will follow in the next post!
You know how I love a festive mailbox...using a scrap of pink tulle, the last of some really old silk flowers, a little floral tape, and a strand of Mardi Gras beads...Miss M's Cupcake Love Shirt...made using the same technique from our matching Christmas shirts
seasonal love banner using paper and stickers...
A late night snow that was too fine for snowballs or snowmen...instead we "stomped" out messages and designs which included the heart above and a happy birthday cupcake to help our neighbor celebrate her special day today. Several schools were called off today, more for the frigid temperatures than the measly few inches of snow we received. Even though it is warmer in my freezer than it is outside, we braved it for a bit today! Their cheeks looked like Raggedy Ann and Andy after just a few minutes.
Right now, I have 3 dozen cake balls chillin in the freezer, waiting for their transformation to cake pops from Bakerella's site. I guess I could have just set them in the screened in porch, huh? Don't get excited...mine will not be anything near as fancy as hers!

Valentine Prep

I am working on some fun things and hope to post pics this weekend. Check back for:

• Miss M's Valentine/Cupcake Shirt (done)
  
• A variation on the the adorable teacher gifts pictured above (not even started!)
  
• A little giftie for my MOPS steering team (barely going on this one!)
• Banner for the fireplace (almost finished)

Here's a link for the teacher gift, if you don't want to wait on my directions! I plan to use my Grandmommie's popcorn ball recipe for the top of mine, wrapped in clear cellophane, so that the entire thing is edible. Above, the taffy is glued on. I will let you know how they turn out. Also, I have not forgotten about posting about Mr C's birthday...my camera and computer aren't speaking right now....so add that to the above "to do" list!