Valentine Candles

 Happy Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and Inauguration Day!  What a momentous occasion today has been with the second inauguration of President Barack Obama and celebrating the life of a true hero of the American Civil Rights movement.  Reverend Dr. King did so much for the rights of everyone to be free and equal.  He laid down his life for his beliefs and we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude.  Celebrating his birthday is one way we can remember him and all of his contributions to mankind.

Watching all the ceremony and pomp of Inauguration Day certainly makes one grateful to be an  American and know that we are free to elect whomever we choose to be the best candidate to lead our country.  We still have a way to go in making everyone in our country equal in enjoying rights given to some, but not all.  This is a part of President Obama's speech today.

It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.  Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.  Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country.  Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia, to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm.  President Barack Obama, January 21, 2012.

It makes me proud to know we have a President leading our country who truly believes in equality for all.  Hopefully, the day will soon arrive when the tenets of our Constitution will apply to everyone.

Time to get down off my soapbox now and proceed with today's blog post.  Yes, it's more Valentine's Day ideas and yes, these are really cute and really inexpensive.

Perhaps you may need a few small gifts for Valentine's Day, or you just want something to decorate your home.  You may need centerpieces for a Valentine party or a romantic dinner.  These devotional candles are quick and easy.  You may remember my post before Christmas where I made Santa's bellies and burlap angels using these candles.  Because they come in clear glass, the possibilities for decorating them are endless.  Everything came from the Dollar Tree except the piece of red felt which came from Michael's and was only $.35.

Here is what you need:

Devotional candles - $1.00 each  - however many you want to make
1 package of white paper heart doilies - 20 for $1.00
1 spool white cotton twine - $1.00
1 piece of red felt 9x12 - Michael's $.35

First, I cut out some small red felt hearts that would fit inside the center of the paper heart doilies.
Run some hot glue around the edge and center of the felt hearts.  Press them on the paper heart doilies in the center
.
When the glue is set, place a dot of hot glue in the back of the paper heart doily and place on the devotional candle where you want it.  Put a small dab of hot glue on the top edge of each heart (both sides) and press it to the glass until it holds.

Now, cut a piece of twine about 1.5 - 2 feet long.   Wrap the twine around the heart however you desire.  Make whatever design you want.  I made mine 3 different ways.

Tie the twine in a knot on the back of the candle and cut the string close to the knot.  That's it.  Done.  Easy peasy.  You have a gift that cost you peanuts about $1.10 each.  Look how adorable they are!  If you wanted to use red card stock instead of felt, you could put a message in the center of each heart.  Just an idea!  Now, you have a Valentine card/gift all in one.  Pretty.  Handmade.  Thoughtful.  Original.

I put mine on the sofa table in our living room.  They look so pretty there and brighten up the gray, cold days we have been experiencing.  

The antique blocks on the left are the initials for our 6 grandsons with the number 6 on top.  I have been looking for a set of these blocks for years and found them right before Christmas at a wonderful shop in East Nashville called Wonders on Woodland.  A few of the blocks are missing, but I was so excited to find them.  You see them used in decor in magazines all the time and they are one of those items I kept asking myself where I could find them?  Lucky me, they were right on the counter when I walked in the door and they were calling my name.  Needless to say, they did come home to live with me.  

Our two year old grandsons, who are cousins, think they are the bomb.  All the fancy toys in the world today and they want to play with these blocks.  Go figure.  The carved "R" block is missing, so I had to use one of the printed sides for our NYC grandson whose name starts with R.  There are 7 more blocks in the set and I will be using them a lot in the future.

These are one of those simple things that make my heart smile.  On the right side are some pictures of three of our precious little men.  Being a grandparent is such a joy!

A friend of mine tried to find some of these candles before Christmas and had no luck.  They are always in the candle/vase department at the Dollar Tree.  Our Kroger also sells them.  I have not checked any other dollar stores for availability.  I do know that Dollar Tree will order items for you if they do not have them.  They have a catalog and you can order in quantity and have it shipped to the store so you don't have to pay shipping.  Then, you can pick the items up there.  I used to do it when I worked as the floral designer at the casino back home.  They are usually very helpful about ordering items for you.  

 Your Valentines will love receiving such a thoughtful gift from you.  Even if you don't consider yourself a crafty person, these are quick, easy, and thrifty!  Remember, these would be great for teachers, friends, or to use as a centerpiece for a Valentine party or romantic dinner.  Have fun with this project and be creative!  You can do it!!

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where our father's died,
Land of the pilgrim's pride,
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring.

America, written by Samuel Francis Smith