Sweetheart Valentine Ornaments

Before kids, Jeff and I bought a home in a cul-de-sac on Millwood Drive. There we met and became close friends with 2 other childless couples. Over the years, we all had babies and together with them and other couples they knew, we started going on fun annual camping trips, sharing holiday dinners, pumpkin carving contests and other fun gatherings for 15 years. We call our fun little group of 6 families Club Millwood. Jeff and I host the annual Sweetheart Pot-Luck Dinner Party for the adult couples only. We have a hilarious gift exchange (can you just imagine!) and a wonderful evening of great food, the best wine and lots of catching up.

I bring out all the red I can find and over-decorate in Valentine theme. I bought a kitchy red tree a couple of years ago at the craft store on clearance after Christmas, it cost around $7. I decorate it with ornaments for each of the couples. HERE is last year’s with name cookies.

The year before I had just learned to solder. I found some unusual sized glass slides on ebay and they made for great ornaments. If you don’t solder, there are other options such as these customizable frames found on SuppliesForU a supply shop on Etsy.

Using found images from a clip-art book, I scanned, reduced to size changed the colors and added each couples’ names. I added a bit of glitter, sandwiched the two pieces of art together under the glass and soldered the pieces adding a chain and glass heart that I also soldered. This was my first big attempt at soldering, so you won’t be too impressed with the quality. Over time the solder has patina’d a bit, but now it looks all the more vintage.

Make a custom ornament for your Valentine, framing a love note, a photo, a lipstick kiss, and add beads or a tassle. Hang it from the light switch of the lamp on your lover’s nightstand!