Owl Valentine Featuring Smarties Candies (#IAMaSmartie)

 

Whooo's ready for some Valentine fun?

I can't help myself -- Valentines Day brings out the kid in me.

I love all the kitch, the whimsy and the nostalgia that this sweet holiday brings.

So when an opportunity popped up to take part in the Smarties Valentine's Day campaign from Collective Bias, I revved up my Big Wheel, rearing to go for a trip down memory lane.  (You can read more about my shopping adventures HERE on Google +.)

 If I close my eyes I can almost hear it: The satisfying crinkle of cellophane as you untwist the polka dotted ends of a roll of Smarties candies.  Inside, a party of pastels -- orange green, white, purple, pink and yellow.  The little dimpled dots are just a soft crunch away from dissolving into sweet-tart oblivion on your tongue!

Longtime readers may recall the cake I made several years ago for a friend whose daughter is a Smarties fanatic.  Being a fellow Smartie-lover, I was only too happy to oblige!

Smarties make the perfect School Valentine!

Valentines Day may be dominated by roses and chocolates, but when it comes to Valentines for passing out to school chums, Smarties are a "smart" choice.

They're dairy, gluten, egg, shellfish, soy and nut-FREE, so you don't have to worry about your valentine ending up in the hands of a child with a serious food allergy. 

So, without further ado, here's my twist (pun intended) on a Smarties Valentine:  A sweet little owl, looking smart in his Oxford cap, holds a package of Smarties candies with the message, "Make a WISE Choice -- Let Me Be Your Valentine".  

Smarties Owl Valentine

Materials

Photo paper or glossy cardstock

Smarties candies

craft knife

scissors or decorative-edged shears

Step 1:  Download the "Owl Valentine Printable" found at the end of this post.

Step 2:  Print on photo paper or glossy cardstock.

Step 3:  Trim with scissors or decorative-edged shears.

Step 4:  Use a craft knife to make slits along the dotted lines.

Step 5:  Insert a roll of Smarties

Owl Valentine Printable

Happy Valentines Day!

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“This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All ideas and opinions are my own, and my enthusiasm for Smarties candies is genuine (and lifelong).

Ninja Birthday Party, Part II ~Scrolled Invitation Tutorial

For my purposes, it's a Ninja Party Invitation, but these easy-to-make scroll invitations are perfect for any occasion!  Whether you're planning a party for a princess, a pirate, or a Kung Fu Panda, guests will delight in receiving their invitation in the form of a parchment scroll.

For the layout of these invitations, I used the same little Ninja figure that I had created for the Ninja Water Bottle Wraps (pictured below). 

Rookno17 Ninja Party Water Bottle Wrap

I downloaded several free Asian-themed fonts from Dafont.com. I've uploaded a fill-in version of the invitation for you to use below. You will need to have the following fonts installed for the invitation to print with the stylized fonts, rather than the plain ones shown below:  Kingthings Conundrum, Karate, Last Ninja, and Shanghai.  Once your fonts are installed, download the document in MS Word format from the link below.

Ninja Invitation Fill In

Scroll Invitation DIY

8 1/2" x 11" Paper printed with invitation information

(I used an antique parchment finish paper from Wausau)

1/4" wooden dowels (buy one one-yard dowel for every two scrolls)

(mine were purchased at Michael's Crafts)

pencil

ruler

Small hand saw

sand paper

black spray paint

hot glue gun

beads (4 per scroll)

ribbon 

Step 1:  Cut the dowels down to size by marking 9" segments with the pencil.  Cut with the hand-saw, then sand the rough edges. Finally, lay the dowels out on a sheet of newspaper outdoors and spray paint.  Once paint dries, flip the dowels and paint the opposite side.

 Step 2:  Print invitations.  Leave 1 1/2" margins on the left and right.

Step 3:  Apply a line of hot glue down the left and right borders of the invitation.

Step 4:  Immediately set dowels in place, centered so that the dowel sticks out a 1/4" from both the top and bottom.

Step 5:   Run a line of hot glue down one side of the invitation, about 1" from the edge.  Carefully roll the scroll till it meets the hot glue.  Repeat with other side.

Step 6:  Use hot glue to affix beads to the ends of each dowel.

Step 7:  Roll scrolls and tie with ribbon.

Coming Next...Fleece Ninja Buddies

Handmade Valentine Gifts for Babies to Teens~A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 56

"For you see, each day I love you more ~
Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow."
~Rosemonde Gerard

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Welcome to 

"A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 55!

If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post,

you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to 

join the party after the features below.

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Cupid's arrow is aimed this week
at projects that make meaningful
handmade Valentines Day gifts for children.

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From newborn babes...

Valentine Onesies
From Little Becky Homecky

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...to toddler hands...

Recycled Crayon Valentines

From The Moody Fashionista

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...and sleepy heads...

Sweet Heart Pillowcase

From Yesterday on Tuesday

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...and even teens...

Free Printable Love Coupons

From Sweet Anne Designs

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If you've been featured 

(here or on Facebook)
feel free to grab a "featured on" button
from the sidebar.

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If you're a fan of the fun finds, foodie tomfoolery

and crafty shenanigans here at Rook No. 17, would

you take a few seconds to show your support with a

 

over at Babble?

THANK YOU!

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Now it's time to link-up and share your creativity!

GUIDELINES FOR GOOD PARTY MOJO:

1)  FOLLOW Rook No. 17.  Aw shucks, it just makes your host feel appreciated.

2)  LINK-UP -- Link-up the URL of a specific post -- craft, recipe, DIY project, or anything else you'd like to show-off.  If you have something for sale, please refer to the "Advertising" section.

3)  POST THE BUTTON OR A LINK-- Grab the code for the button (below) and paste it into your sidebar or the body of your post.

4)  VISIT ONE other link --  Isn't it great, when you're "discovered" by a new fan as a result of linking up to a party?  Pay it forward and make someone's day!

5) OPTIONAL - Leave a comment -- I'll comment back -- simple as that.

<a href="http://www.rookno17.com"><img altsrc="<a href="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f335/sarahjmorriss/clipartgraphics5-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f335/sarahjmorriss/clipartgraphics5-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

HOW TO:

1) click your cursor in the code box, 

2) right-mouse click and "Select All", 

3) right-mouse click and select Copy. 

4) Paste the code into your sidebar or post.

REMEMBER TO
Visit ONE other link and leave them a comment.

The links are featured from newest to oldest,

so everyone gets a chance to go "first".

The Ultimate Chili for your Super Bowl Chili Dogs and Frito Pies!

Thank you to Hunt’s for sponsoring this post and encouraging my culinary skills! Visit Hunt’s Signature Recipe Collection to find tons of delicious ideas for using Hunt’s tomatoes in your meals.

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Want to score a touchdown at your Super Bowl party?

Score big with a menu featuring chili dogs and Frito Pies topped with this delicious and easy crockpot chili.

When planning a Super Bowl party I like to go for a fun food theme that is easy, can feed a crowd, and is at the ready in a crockpot throughout the big game.  That's why I created this recipe that can be thrown together in the morning and is ready to serve by game time!

Think chili dogs, chili burgers, chili cheese fries, nachos...you get the idea!

 

I was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the Hunt's Reinvigorate Your Resolutions challenge through the Clever Girls Collective.  Using the Hunt's 100% Natural Petite Diced Tomatoes and 100% Natural Tomato Paste I was sent courtesy of Hunt's, I put together this winning chili that not only tastes great, but won't bench your New Year's Resolutions. The recipe contains a single Tablespoon of oil, and you can swap the ground beef for turkey or chicken for a leaner option. The heart healthy tomatoes are filled with the red antioxidant, lycopene, making them the perfect addition to the lineup.  Did you know that the body's ability to absorb lycopen is two to three times greater with canned tomatoes than with fresh ones?  Cool, huh?

 

Ultimate Crockpot Chili

Tops approx. 15 chili dogs or Frito pies

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

1 Medium Onion, diced

3 Tablespoons mild chili powder

1 Tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 pinch cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 pound 80/20 all-natural ground beef

14.5 oz. can Hunts Petite Dice Tomatoes

6 oz. Hunts Tomato Paste

14.5 oz. can beef broth

3/4 cup water

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon brown sugar

3 Tablespoons cornmeal

Hardware

Crockpot

Immersion/Stick Blender

Step 1:  Preheat crockpot to high.

Step 2:  In a large saucepan, heat oil.  Saute onions on medium-high heat for two minutes, till they begin to soften.

Step 3:  Add chili powder, cumin, garlic & onion powder, cayenne and salt.  Stir to form a thick paste.  Continue to cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Step 4:  To the crockpot, add onion mixture and remaining ingredients.  Stir to combine.  Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.

Step 5:  Remove lid from crockpot.  Pulse immersion or stick blender in the chili, just until the tomato and onion pieces are no longer visible.  You don't want to make soup, just smooth the chili out a bit.

Step 6:  Continue to cook, with lid off for another 1/2 hour.  Chili is ready to eat.

Step 7:  Replace lid and set crockpot to "warm" so that chili can be enjoyed throughout the day. 

For those not familiar with the Frito Pie phenomenon, here's how it's done:

--Use a pair of scissors to cut the sides off of your individual sized Frito bags.

--Arrange in a bowl or basket, with a fork or spoon in each.

--Guests can then serve themselves by filling their bag with chili and topping with shredded cheese.

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Visit www.Hunts.com for more recipes, and check out the Hunt’s Recipe Rewards program for some great coupons!


Thank you again to Hunt’s for sponsoring my post. Find more ideas for cooking with tomatoes at Hunt’sSignatureRecipeCollection. I was selected for this opportunity by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own. #HuntsRecipe #spon

 

 

a-MAZE-ing School Valentines ~Free Printable & Project

 

Earlier this week I shared the Warm-Fuzzy Valentines that my girls and I made last year.

This year, we're making these fun and colorful valentines with mini heart mazes attached.  They're a-MAZE-ingly easy and fun to make!

 

Here's what you need:

"a-MAZE-ing Valentine" Printable (Download free HERE)

Heavy white cardstock

Large removeable glue dots

Small plastic maze puzzles

(purchased mine from Oriental Trading ($7 for 72 pieces)

Optional: Decorative edge shears

Step 1:  Download the free template HERE.  Print on heavy white cardstock.

Step 2:  Cut out with regular or decorative edged scissors.

Step 3:  Place a glue dot on the back of a maze.

Step 4:  Center in place over the green heart on the card and press to adhere.

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This post has been shared with:

Whatever You Want Wednesday @ Free Pretty Things for You

Valentine Link Party @ Michelle Paige