Procrastinator Extraordinaire – it’s on my resumé.

I will never be a blogger who is awesome about posting holiday ideas a month out. The mere fact that we made something for Valentine’s Day a week before is a miracle in itself. These little pouches are so awesome that I couldn’t help but make them early and share. You know, in the event that you need a last minute idea too!

Supplies:
– 8.5 x 11 cardstock (you can also use just printer paper)
– printed Valentine’s messages – click HERE to print the one I created
– tulle
– scrapbook paper
– paint chips
– filler

Cut the letter sized cardstock in half.

Cut the paint chips, tulle, and messages down into strips. Cut heart shapes from your scrapbook paper. We used flocked red paper for a velvet effect. Sign all the message tags.

Give your child the cardstock pieces to decorate one side as they wish. Handmade goodness at its finest!

Bend the pieces in half (hamburger style) and straight stitch down the edge. You can do this in one continuous string to save time, then just cut them apart.

Next, sew one short side closed.

I let Songbird do all the short sides. My sewing machine as a very slow setting and she was giddy at learning to sew. There is something magical about the pride instilled in a child when they learn a new skill. She’s already pumped at the thought of telling her classmates she sewed them herself.

Fill the pouch with goodies, stopping a couple inches below the top. We chose candy, but it could be anything – crayons, stickers, small toys, etc.

Fold the top edge in the opposite direction as the bottom edge.

Layer your decorative elements and position them along the top edge.

Straight stitch closed, being careful to catch all the do-dads.

A little handmade love ready to share. These would be fun to hand out around the office and to neighbors as well.