15 Minute Project ... Valentine's Day Pretties in Less Than 1/4 of an Hour

This sweet little Valentine's Day project can be completed in just 15 minutes with a scrap of patterned paper and a little double-side tape. Oh, and this is important (*wink), a corked vial.

These 1.25 ounce vials have been in my stash forever so I don't recall where I purchased them. A quick Google search found this site: Pilot Vials. I'd recommend vials number PL3 or PL4. These come with the cork top and work out to just .33 and .36 each! Perhaps you know of a better source; if so, let me know so I can post it here.

Next, cut your patterned paper into a strip; my strip is 1 3/4" wide. I can't give you an exact measurement for the length of your strip as you might not end up with this exact vial. Wrap a scrap piece of paper around the circumference of your vial and mark where the ends meet. You can fine tune your cut from there.

If you choose to use a striped paper as I did, remember to match up your stripes. If you use a random design, it doesn't matter.

Because this project was created for show & tell, I didn't adhere the paper to the vial; I simply matched my stripes and taped the ends together using invisible tape. The patterned paper will now slip on and off the vial with ease and I can use the vial in another project.

It's your choice as to adhering your paper sleeve permanently or not. If you chose to permanently adhere your paper, I'd recommend a clear, double-sided, adhesive such as Thermo-Web or Tacky brand ... 1/8" or 1/4" wide.

Using my Tag Maker, I created a heart-shaped tag using matching paper. You can either stamp a greeting or a name on your tag, or you can use a pen as I did. Glitter, glaze, or "Souffle" pens would be fun here, too.

Set an eyelet in the top of the heart and thread on some thin ribbon; I used a 1/8" ribbon in pale pink satin. Then, simply tie your ribbon around the neck of the vial. I trimmed off the ends of my ribbon but you might choose to keep the extra length and create a bow. Bows don't like me so I didn't even try here.

For the top, I punched a circle from matching paper using a 1" circle punch. Again, the exact size of your circle will depend on the diameter of your cork. If you don't have the exact size circle punch you need, you can also use a compass, a Fiskars circle cutter, or the Coluzzel.

If you don't have any of these tools, tie some string to a straight pin and stick it (not too deep!), into the center of the cork. Stretch the string out to the edge of the cork and mark your string. Now, removed the pin, place it on the back side of your patterned paper and hold a pencil at your mark. Push your pencil completely around the pin until you've created a closed circle and cut out.

For the time being, I filled my vial with glass beads. Those of you who have control over your chocolate addiction can go ahead and fill your completed vial with pink and red M & M's. I can personally attest to the fact that the Valentine's Day mix is now available in grocery stores.

If you're planning on gifting your Valentine's Day vial, you might want to cut a second circle from your paper to fit the the bottom of your vial. Sign and date your made-from-the-heart creation and adhere to the bottom of the vial.

These cute little vials work up super fast, cost next to nothing to make, and will hold a surprising number of M & M's! They make perfect gifts for your co-workers, your mail carrier, your hair stylist, manicurist, the paper person ... anyone who you'd like to present with a little gift without spending a lot.

I'd love to see what you come up with, so send me a photo of your completed project and I'll post it here for all of us to oooh-and-ahhhh over!

Ingredients:

Bottle: Corked Glass Vial holding at least 1.25 ounces

Patterned Paper: Created digitally in photo editing software

Stamps: None

Ink: Precision Pen (American Crafts)

Ribbon: 1/8" wide (Darice)

Accessories: Pink eyelet (Unknown ... found in my mini-mountain of eyelets); Small heart-shaped tag rim (Making Memories)

Tools: 1" paper punch (Emagination); Tag Maker (Making Memories)

Thanks for visiting today!