{Recycling for Valentines!}

Hello sweet blog friends! WOW! It's been awhile since I've been on here---I did get a new computer, which I thought would make it easier to blog, but I have no time! David has been out of town since December 31---he's teaching overseas, so I've been doing the single mom thing---HOW DO these single parents do this? I'm just so tired---it's not like I have children who are so difficult, but it's just that I am the only one here---wow! He gets home tomorrow, so hopefully life will settle down a bit----yeah, right! (Sorry, it just makes me feel better---I know I'm living in a fantasy world that life will slow down, but a girl can dream, right?)

Here's a little something I did "for the earth" last week----I recycled these cookie tubes and filled them with candy for a couple friends of mine! Hey---I'm as green as can be, right? Yep, you can always count on me to eat all the goodies inside one tube in order to fill it with more goodies and then repackage it and give it to someone else----Yessssss. I'm always thinking of someone else....
One of the best things that I've discovered since living here in North Carolina is the Salem Baking Co. They make the best cookies! My favorites are the Moravian cookies---I'm not even a fan of ginger snaps. but these are like NONE you have ever tasted! They are super thin and crispy---yummy!  Not into Ginger? They make sugar cookies, key lime, pumpkin spice...well, just go here to see them.They make them year round, but I have to have some at Christmas time---which is one of the many reasons I can't ever button my pants in January....but that's another post! These have come in several gift baskets over the years and now I make sure I pick them up during December. They are MUST haves at the holidays for me. ORDER SOME for someone for Valentine's Day.OK----drooling aside, on to the project.

This project was so easy! I just took a piece of  Holiday Cheer 8 x 8 patterned paper, trimmed it to fit the length of the tube and used scor-tape to stick it on.  I made a simple embellishment for the lid and front using Everyday Button Bits---I love these Button Bits sets---they are so simple and fun to use.  I cut the cherries out with circle nestabilities dies and then matted them with scallop circles. The tag was stamped using Friends 'til the End and then cut out using a die from the Double Ended Tags Trio. I tied the tags on using Rustic Cream Button twine. I passed it through the tag holes three times and then tied the buttons on. I used glue dots to keep them in place. I filled this little gift with chocolates, but you could fill it with anything you wanted! What a quick little treat to give some sweet friends.

Thanks so much for stopping by today---I hope to have another post tomorrow with some sweet pictures of Caitlin and Carson from their engagement session---Their photographer, Kaitlin Roten at 2point5d Photography did such a great job---and she's really affordable, so if you need a photographer, you should look her up! She's having a contest right now--if you are in the Raleigh area, you need to check it out!

Valentine's Recycling Treats (all supplies Papertrey Ink unless noted)
Stamps: Everyday Button Bits, Friends 'til the End
Paper: Rustic White, Ripe Avocado, Scarlet Jewel cardstock, Holiday Cheer patterned paper
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Raspberry Fizz
Tools/Accessories: Vintage buttons, Rustic Cream Twine, Cuttlebug, Scallop Circle and circle nestabilities dies, Double Ended tags (Spellbinders)