I have to admit that I'm not a huge Valentine's Day fan, but having children definitely makes every "holiday" something worth celebrating. I've been trying to rack my brain for ideas for Big J's valentines. Since he is in school this year he will be making valentines for his classmates and teachers. We're still working on ideas, but when I came across this felt fortune cookie project in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living I knew I had to try it out.
I rarely make the crafts I see in magazines or books, but this one appealed to me because it doesn't scream "Valentine's Day" [read: pink + red hearts, doilies, cupids + arrows] and I had all the supplies in my studio. Of course I steered clear of using red + pink felt and opted to make the fortune cookies out of charcoal grey wool felt and some of my favorite alphabet ribbon.
This really is a super quick craft, the most time consuming part is waiting for the glue to dry.
I stuffed the fortune cookie with some of my favorite Japanese candy and a little note.
You can't beat cute + simple crafts. Now back to figuring out how to make some nontraditional valentines with my boy.
thats lovely- I'm going to do this with finn~ merci
Posted by: amy | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 09:00 AM
So simple and adorable. Everyone loves fortune cookies and surprises. They'd make great party favors too.
Posted by: stacey | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 09:54 AM
i totally did these the day i saw them in the magazine!! i plan on giving them out at fin's pre-school in little treat bags for v-day! (ours are a light pink and a dark pink though.....the only felt i had in the house!)
Posted by: marzi | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 12:25 PM
great project! What's that candy called? It looks yummy...
Posted by: Rachel | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 12:48 PM
cuuute!
Posted by: Jen b | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 01:20 PM
I have been making these for favors for a baby shower I'm hosting. They are nice...and simple, too! I like your gray ones. And I love those Japanese candies...Where do you get them? If it is a secret, I will just order from your next shoppe update to get my fix :)!
Posted by: Laura H. | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 02:23 PM
cute, cute. i saw this in the magazine and have been planning to make some too. i love the gray color.
Posted by: shannon | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 03:54 PM
I've been thinking about making these too for my 2nd grader to give out. How well do the candies stay in there though? It seems like they'd fall out easily if they were handled a lot.
Yours are so cute with the gray felt!!
Posted by: Keri | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 04:47 PM
i love the sally version. the charcoal. and the japanese candy. so perfect.
Posted by: leslie | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 06:00 PM
I love it! But how do you affix the outer parts? Do you use glue? The MS website didn't explain that part.
Posted by: esther | Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 10:48 PM
i love your version and love those candies.
Posted by: cindy k | Monday, January 28, 2008 at 04:33 AM
love. I think I might help L make these in heavy paper to hand out for school.
Last year we did those heart shaped crazy crayons -I think that was a MSL one too.
Posted by: martha | Monday, January 28, 2008 at 05:56 AM
Those are very lovely. I've always enjoyed the shape of a fortune cookie, but with fabric...now that's scrumptuous!
Posted by: Nikki | Monday, January 28, 2008 at 06:05 AM
that craft was screaming to me too...
last year the girls and i made crayons from all the bits and pieces we had and gave those as valentines. fun and easy!
Posted by: erin | Monday, January 28, 2008 at 09:34 AM
You too! I was just telling my friend that I'm going to make some of these for all my kids. I think it's such a great, simple idea. I'll put a proverb inside instead of a fortune... :)
Posted by: Toni | Monday, January 28, 2008 at 09:46 AM
I bookmarked these when I came across them, too. I'm thinking of trying to tie them into a Chinese New Year project, too, but we'll see how that turns out. They look great in the grey, by the way. Very you. ;)
Posted by: meg | Monday, January 28, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Valentine's day is fortunately not a big thing here in The Netherlands. I really do not like the hoopla. But the project is wonderful, I have to make some too. I still can't believe that Martha is blogging, she's so hip now ;o)
Posted by: Yvonne | Monday, January 28, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Oh my goodness what a wonderful idea! I wonder how it would look to use a contrasting ribbon? I love your choice of charcoal gray, very unexpected and surprisingly cozy :)
Posted by: Moonbeam | Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 06:34 AM
now THOSE are cute. I love them! you are so inspiring! thanks!
Posted by: casey | Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 10:39 AM
As all the others before me, I have to join: they are so cute and so you. A perfect little gift. Me too, I'm interested how you close them that they are easy to open, but the candies stay in? Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Katja | Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 06:15 AM
Yes, we bookmarked the same craft for my daughter. I do like the thought of some other color than red or pink. And thanks again for the lovely fabric.
Posted by: Jen | Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Love these! You're such an inspiration...I'm making these now with my kids because of you. I love your blog and am always inspired by you and your photographs! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: berrylime | Friday, February 01, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Like Meg, I made these for a Chinese New Year party! Thank you so much for sharing!!!!
Posted by: Carrie | Thursday, February 07, 2008 at 07:13 AM