Ahhh…. The New Year passes, and another February 14th approaches. In kindergarten, Valentine’s Day means you bring valentines for everyone in the class. Well, those kindergartners have it right! Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to show your appreciation for EVERYONE in your life!
CO-WORKERS
I always like to give something special to my co-workers, just to let them know that I notice and appreciate all the hard work that they do. I make handmade cards and prettily package candy or baked treats, because sweet treats just make gifts a little sweeter. Then I come in early and leave it on their desks as a fun surprise. This year, my cards will say “Sweet Appreciation.”
A great idea is to add fun and flair to your treat with Wilton’s Red and Pink Striped Icing and new Micro Hearts Sprinkles. Our new Valentine Cupcake Wraps ‘n Pix are also a gorgeous way to dress up individual sweet treats for the occasion. To make these fun picks, I rolled balls of fondant, coated them with gum paste adhesive, then rolled them in my favorite sprinkles before inserting it into my cupcake with a toothpick.
FAMILY
My mom always ensured to make my V-Day a little extra special. My most memorable V-Day gift was when she called our university’s bakery and asked them to hand deliver a strawberry cheesecake to my dorm room! I like to make V-Day an exciting occasion for the kids in my life as well.
Since my family is going on vacation in February, my nephews and I are having a pre-Valentine’s Day bash, and it’s Wii-themed! Not only will we make cards that say “Wii Love You,” we are going to decorate Wilton Gingerbread Cookie Pops to look like our Wii Mii characters. And Wilton’s Jumbo Hearts Sprinkles are perfect for adding a little bit of love to our Wii Mii’s. Perfect for the little ones in my life who are all about the digital age!
FRIENDS
On a different note, my unattached friends and I think that Feb. 14th is just S.A.D. (Singles’ Awareness Day). Yes, only Bridget Jones (pre-Darcy) and other “Singletons” understand the stigma of being the only “one” in a group of “twos.” This is a day where we like to poke a little extra fun at Cupid, complete with the perfect card and the perfect treats. I have previously made cards that said “Love is for Suckers” (I gave out lollipops), and last year’s card said “Because Love Makes You Do Stupid Things” (I gave out Dum-Dums).
This year, for my fellow die-hard Twilight fans, I’m making cards that say “Love Bites” and giving out bite-sized treats! Red velvet mini cupcakes in red baking cups, complete with Wilton Large Pre-made Red Icing Roses. For a little extra sparkle: Use a paint brush to coat the petal tips of the icing decoration in clear vanilla, then dip the petal tips into a bowl of Wilton Pearl Dust™ before using it to top your treat!
Need more ideas? Our Valentine’s Day section provides plenty of inspiration.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Remember to celebrate all the special people in your life. Making a small gesture of appreciation will help them smile just a little bit brighter all day long!
Kristie is the Associate Product Manager for Party. An artist at heart, she enjoys anything that allows her to express her creativity: sketching, scrapbooking, planning themed kids’ parties, decorating tasty treats and – her personal favorite – making tutus. Part of a very large and close-knit family, she loves to celebrate any occasion, which makes working at Wilton a perfect fit.