Monster Cookies

This is one of my sister's favorite cookies from college.  I love making them for Valentine's Day because the colors of the Valentines M & M's look so nice with the color of the dough.  They also look great with the standard M & M mix.

You need:
3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon white corn syrup
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 stick of butter melted
1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4 1/2 cups oatmeal ( I use half 1 minute oats and half rolled oats
1 cup M & M's

Combine all ingredients expect M & M's in the bowl of an electric mixer.  Mix until incorporated.  Stir in M & M's.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes until very light tan.  Let set on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes.

NOTE TO BAKERS:   I thought I could improve this recipe by using the traditional cookie making protocol of adding the ingredients in layers (creaming the butter and sugar, adding eggs one at a time, vanilla and then the dry ingredients).  When I tried it, the cookies came out horribly- hockey pucks.  Enjoy the ease of mixing all at once for this recipe.

EAT UP!
XO,
Jenny

Kisses

Sometimes, simple is best.  What better gift on Valentine's Day than Hersey Kisses.  They are a classic and so is this Valentine's presentation.  This is what I am giving to people I love and appreciate.  A grown up Valentine.   While any type of clear container will work for this project, these boxes are great for any kind of party favor.  If they look familiar, I used them at for party favors at my sister's Shake, Rattle and Roll party.

Everything you need for these Valentine favors:

Click on the item for the links to the supplies

Free blank tag and polka dot insert
Personalized tag ($3.00) and polka dot insert
Clear boxes
Twine
Kisses

XO,

Jenny

Glittered Votives

Here is a simple way to dress up ordinary, inexpensive votives to personalize your party or to give as a gift.  While I did theses for Valentine's day, I also did them with gold glitter and star stickers for a birthday party.  The options are endless but the technique remains the same. Best of all, these don't take that much time to make.

You need:
votives
spray glitter
full label sheet if you are making your own shape or stickers
any kind of tape

Directions

On full labels sheets, punch out heart shapes.
Make a border on the votives by wrapping tape around the top and bottom edge of each votive.  Carefully place your heart in the center making sure to rub down the edges of the stickers.

Cover the opening of the candle so you don't get any over spray on the wax and glitter the votives. Once, they are dry, remove border tape and heart. Seal if you wish with a clear top coat.

Package if sharing with friends.

Off to a great week!
XO,
Jenny

Free Valentine's Printables!

Ready for the weekend!?!?  I have received so many request for these Valentine's items from last year that I thought I would repost them with the link for easy downloads.  Only

Valentine's Hunt and Topper

Hi Everyone- It has been a very crazy week here.  My kids were out of school for two day (some of them for more with this horrible flu) and I have been working on some adorable Valentine's printables and a party that I will share with you really soon.  I want to put up this free fun Valentine's party activity that goes with the rest of my printables. It's supposed to rain here all weekend, so we plan on playing it indoors!

You know that I love scavenger hunts for parties because they work for children of any age.  Hide the hearts in harder places for older kids or make the kids find the hearts in numerical order depending on their ability.

Once the kids have hunted down all the hearts, reward them with this little bags of conversation hearts.

Love this color scheme for Valentine's- fresh, fun and yummy.  It also matches new flavors of candy heart that I found at Target.  They come in ice cream flavors now!  Click on each of the images to download.

Have a great weekend!

Jenny

Again- You Blow Me Away!

Obviously, I love this phrase for Valentine's Day.  I think it makes kids feel incredibly amazing and special.  I wanted to share a few non candy idea for the holiday (Some years we have more candy from Valentine's Day than from Halloween) and this is the perfect phrase.  

Can't think of a kid who doesn't LOVE bubbles. The bubbles above came in sets of 3 at the Dollar Tree.  Remove the wrapper and print the download available here on full label sheet.

Can you believe these adorable balloons were in the dollar bins at Target.  My eleven year old wanted one.  Attached to the card available here with some baker's twine and you'll make all your little ones happy.

You, my friends, blow me away!  Thanks for all your support and love.
Jenny

You Blow Me Away!

My kids absolutely love gum.  Whenever we go to get a treat, they always pick these Hubba Bubba Bubble Tapes over any other candy. I thought these would make great,

Make It Monday- Valentine Peeps

Did you think I'd let a holiday pass without a peep project?;)  LOVE the heart peeps for Valentine's Day.  

This simple project is perfect to do with your kids.  It's easy, fun, and oh so cute!  I did two different peep versions.  Choose the one you like the best.  If you would like the tag with your child's name on it, I am happy to send it to you if you are a bloom follower (if you're not, you can join down the right sidebar of my blog).  Once your a member, send me an email with your email address and child's name.

Supplies: Heart Peeps, lollipop sticks, cardstock, cellophane bags ribbon, heart punch (or you can cut your own hearts), glue and scissors.

Stick your lollipop sticks through side of the peeps if you're doing arrows or through the bottom if you're doing hearts on a stick.

For the arrows, use the punch to make hearts or cut them yourself.  Cut the sides off the heart to make the back of the arrow.  Glue them on.

 Drop in a bag with a tag and ribbon! All done and adorable.

 

And while we're talking about tags- narrow ribbon=small punch, wide ribbon=big punch.  Using the proper size punch will make your product look more professional.  Punches come in all sizes at the craft store and are pretty reasonable.  Stock up on a few different sizes when they are on sale.

Back tomorrow!

XO

Happy Friday- Pinterest Love

The past 24 hours have been amazing for Bloom.  If I wasn't so overwhelmed, grateful and completely humbled by all the interest, I would be floating on air! Yesterday, our blog received 3,500 hits from Pinterest and my Blow Me A Kiss idea has been pinned and repinned over 2,600 times.  I was also given the chance to write a guest blog post next month on an incredible site (Ucreate- check it out!).   I can't thank you enough for visiting my site and in return for all your kind words and love, I'm offering these 2" party circles from my s.w.a.k. collection to you for free if you:

1.  Follow Bloom Designs on Pinterest or follow my blog as a Person in Bloom.
2. Post a comment or send me an email with your email address so I can send it to you.

Use the 2" party circles to make cupcake toppers, gift tags, party hats and more.  In addition- use the code pinterest at checkout in my etsy store and receive 25% off! The code will be valid for the next week.  I'll be showing the valentine's party I had that was inspired by the collection next week and have lots of great ideas for  the month ahead.  Can't wait.
Have a great weekend!
XO

Make It Monday- Blow Me A Kiss

I am so excited to share this Make It Monday with you with you!  I love these.  This came to me very late one night while I was brainstorming phrases for my Valentine's party. These Blow Me A Kiss tubes are cute, witty and of course can be done in any combination of colors. I used plastic gumball tubes available here but you could easily use plastic chocolate covered pretzel bags available in the baking section of most craft stores.

If you make some- send me a picture and I share it with other readers!  If you want the file for the tags- send me an email or leave a comment.

Happy Friday- Free Valentine's Word Art

Valentine's is in full swing at my house.  I've been working on some decoration for my valentine's party and thought I'd share these with you.  These sweet printables fit in an 8x10 frame and are an easy way to spread some love around.  They are yours for free if you:

1. Follow Bloom by email.

2. Sign up to follow Bloom Designs on Pinterest or follow on Facebook.
3. Post a comment below telling me which sign/signs you want along with your email address so I can send it to you.

I love you alphabet

alphabet pink

alphabet red

pink love

white love

If you need some Valentine's printables check out the ones I've been working on here.

Have a "love"ly weekend!

XO