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kojodesigns

a fun (and simple!) valentines tradition… and a tutorial!

January 25, 2010

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Y’all already are well aware of my affection for stockings and small gifts.  With this in mind, I’ve tried to build in as many opportunities for bundles of little gifts into the life of our family as possible.  Easter baskets are a good (and already established) example.

For Valentines Day, our family’s twist on this theme is “lovey bundles.”  We each have a felt, heart covered, ribbon adorned, pink/red/white drawstring bag.  Leading up to Valentines Day, we fill each other’s bags with little treats and presents.  Then on Valentines Day, we get to open a bundle of small gifts.

This tradition has been fantastic on many levels.  One, it reduces the stress or pressure to find a big, thoughtful, romantic gift for Valentines Day.  My husband’s lovey bundle is usually filled with a valentine, Reese’s, frosted animal crackers, Sunchips and a random assortment of 5 dollar gift cards for fast food runs (essentially, treats that he wouldn’t buy for himself, but that he really loves).  I usually get a few food related items in my bundle as well (mmmm… Turtles), a magazine or book, a craft tool or $5 gift card to Michaels or Hobby Lobby, and a collection of cosmetic-y items (my favorite mint lipgloss, brown sugar & fig lotion, some sort of body scrub, etc.).

Another advantage to this grand tradition is that you can start picking up items a couple weeks before February 14th, cutting off the need for a rushed, last minute shopping trip. 

I also love that we can adapt this tradition to fit different stages of the life of our family.  You can make them when you’re a family of two and then expand the tradition as you have kids.  I love thinking about a time in the future when we have elementary school aged kids that can put little notes and treats in each other’s bags, too!  What a great way to celebrate the members of your family.

Perhaps the best parts of this tradition, though, are that it is as simple as can be and that the materials for each bag cost less than $2.00!

To make lovey bundles for your family, you’ll need:
-5 pieces of those pre-cut felt (or wool felt) rectangles
-decorations (fabric scraps, ribbon, silk flowers, buttons, etc.)
-a yard of ribbon for the drawstring
-a sewing machine (possibly optional… though, I haven’t tried it without a sewing machine myself)
-a hot glue gun

1. Cut one of your felt rectangles into a square.

2. With your square piece in the middle, sew a felt rectangle on each edge of the square.  Make sure you make the seams all on one side of the square (this seam-y side will become the inside of your bag, so you won’t see them).  You’ll end up with a red cross looking shape. ***Ok, here’s the sewing machine optional part.  I think you could possibly attach all of the seams with a hot glue gun.  Like I said, I haven’t tried this myself, so if you do, let me know.  Also, if you don’t want to try the sewing option, from now on, just sub out “hot glue” for “sew,” ok?

3. Still on the ‘inside out’ side of the felt (the side with all the seams), start sewing the rectangle edges together.  You’re going for an eventual box-like shape if that helps you see which sides to sew together.

I realize these are finished products- just wanted to show you the different decorations I did for the different bundles

4. Once all four sides are sewn together (and you have the box shape I mentioned earlier), turn your bundle right side in.  This is where the fun begins!  Decorate each bundle so that they tailored to each member of your family. Leave an inch or two around the top (this will hold your drawstring later).

5. Make slits around the perimeter of the top of your ‘bag.’  Thread a ribbon through these slits, tie the ribbon in a bow (which cinches the bag closed) and your drawstring bundle is done!

6. Hang and fill with treats!  Wait in great anticipation of Valentines Day when you all get to open your lovey bundles!

If you’re visiting from Made by You Mondays, Get Your Craft On,  Just Something I Whipped Up, Talented Tuesday, Show and Tell Wednesdays, Thursdays Treasures, Strut Your Stuff Thursdays, or DIY Day, welcome! 

holiday 22 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aunt LoLo says

    January 25, 2010 at 10:38 am

    What a cool idea!!!! We might need to make up some "lovey bags". *grin*

    Reply
  2. Kristan says

    January 25, 2010 at 11:00 am

    Aw what a sweet idea 🙂 I really like it and I bet my girls would have fun decorating the bags.

    Reply
  3. Jenni says

    January 25, 2010 at 12:44 pm

    OH my this is such a super cute idea! Your a good mom 🙂

    Reply
  4. casserole says

    January 25, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    So cute!! And starting with the pre-cut rectangles makes this such an easy project!

    I blogged your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-felt-lovey-bundles-valentines-treat-bags/2010/01/25/

    –Anne

    Reply
  5. Laurel @ Ducks in a Row says

    January 25, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    This is very fun – I love it and the bags are just darling!

    Reply
  6. Allison says

    January 25, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    How fun! I love this idea!

    Reply
  7. Stephanie Lynn says

    January 26, 2010 at 12:17 am

    So cute – What a great idea! Thanks for the tutorial – They are adorable!

    Reply
  8. avagdro says

    January 26, 2010 at 12:57 am

    Thank you kirstin & jordan for sharing.Great good collections.Wish you a joyful Valentine's day ahead.

    Cheers!!!
    Send gifts to India,Value Money|Valentine Gift Ideas Hyderabad

    Reply
  9. PACountry says

    January 26, 2010 at 5:34 am

    Very cute and do-able! A great activity I can do with my kids! Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Lianna Knight says

    January 26, 2010 at 6:33 am

    Such a GREAT idea! I LOVE giving gifts and this would be a great packaged way to it on Valentine's Day!

    You can see my DIY project here…
    http://bethouaknight.blogspot.com/2010/01/diy-magazine-holder.html

    Reply
  11. Rachel@oneprettything.com says

    January 26, 2010 at 10:48 am

    This is so cute! I think it would be really fun to use when bringing Valentine goodies from from school. Thanks so much, I'll be linking.

    Reply
  12. Heather@ theherberfamily.blogspot.com says

    January 26, 2010 at 7:23 pm

    I love this idea! I may have to make a felt bag this week for each of the kids- super idea!!

    Please feel free to add these to Talented Tuesdays at My Frugal Family!

    http://theherberfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/talented-tuesday.html

    Reply
  13. Nichole Neumeyer says

    January 27, 2010 at 11:04 am

    I made these babies last night!!! So much fun and quick too! I made some with my sewing machine and made some with my hot glue gun. Both ways turned out good! I think that it might have been a little bit quicker with the hot glue gun, but then again, my sewing machine is my Grandmothers- so it is extremely temperamental(and OLD!)!!! Thanks again for such a darling idea!!
    Nichole

    Reply
  14. Jamie says

    January 27, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    These are so adorable! may have to make some for my family VERY soon!

    Reply
  15. Angie@treasures for tots says

    January 27, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    So pretty! I just LOVE how easy this is to make!!

    Come share your creation at my party: Thursday's Treasures!
    http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/2010/01/thursdays-treasures-week-7.html

    Reply
  16. deana says

    January 28, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    How adorable! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Valerie C. says

    January 28, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    These are so cute and look nice and easy to put together! What a fun family tradition! I put a link on my blog!

    Reply
  18. Aunt LoLo says

    January 29, 2010 at 7:36 am

    I am a SUCKER for your tutorials! LOL

    Here's my version:
    http://lolo-craft.blogspot.com/2010/01/thing-6-lovey-bags.html

    Thanks, again, for the great idea!!!!

    Reply
  19. Andy Porter says

    January 29, 2010 at 8:29 pm

    What a fun way to make Valentine's special. Great tutorial thanks!

    Andy
    Poppies at Play

    Reply
  20. Angie@treasures for tots says

    February 5, 2010 at 12:55 am

    Thank you for sharing your awesome project at Thursday’s Treasures last week! Come share your crafty projects in this week’s Thursday’s Treasures too!
    http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/2010/02/thursdays-treasures-week-8.html

    Reply
  21. Lenetta @ Nettacow says

    February 6, 2010 at 8:37 am

    I love the "bundle" concept – quick to whip together and can be embellished like crazy! I linked to this on my weekly roundup – thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Valentine’s Day “stocking”: a new Valentine’s tradition in our home « Suzanne Shares says:
    February 4, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    […] first saw these Valentine’s “stockings” (aka “lovey bundles”) 2 years ago. Two years ago, there was no Pinterest. Isn’t […]

    Reply

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