I could never seem to do things in moderation. I suppose that even at an early age, I was preparing for my life as a party planner. Where most people would be content with making one craft, I’d make 20 -- you know, so everyone could have one.

One such project that just screams to be shared for Valentine’s Day is stocking-face flowers! I remember making these for all of my friends, and wrapping each one in tissue paper with a handmade tag. Each one had its own personality, and I tried to match the flower to the person as best I could. I’m not exactly sure where I got the inspiration for these guys, but it was during the introduction of the Cabbage Patch Dolls -- not the plastic ones made by Mattel, but the handmade ones that had sewn faces. I think I must have seen one in a stationery store; remember, this was in an age before the Internet, so the only way these sort of images were shared was through magazines, newspapers, books, and stores. In any case, I must have seen one somewhere, and it sent me into a flurry of action. It’s a pretty simple craft once you get the hang of it, although if you go for the sewn version, it will take a bit of practice.  Here again is the complete tutorial.

Basically, my feeling is, anything with a puffy face is going to be fun!