Need ideas for Valentine's Day

I just discovered Crafters Chat today and thought I'd come in an browse a little.  I need a little help.  I'm part of the Valentine's Card swap in the Swap Spot.  We're supposed to send out a Valentine's card, a recipe and a "red" item - something under $1.  I want to make something to send with my cards.  I've already made my cards - I found the neatest vintage Valentine paper at a scrapbook convention.  It had 20 individual vintage valentines printed on it - I cut each one out and made them into cards.  Anybody got an idea for the "red" item to include with my cards?  I love making things out of paper and fabric - I'm an avid seamstress.  Your suggestions and/or good websites would be greatly appreciated.

Now I am really glad I signed up for that swap!

I also handmade my Valentines, and the red I chose is handcrafted (oops, it is a secret).

Seriously, some ideas for hand made are blank recipe cards, a few sheets of computer or hand decorated stationery, Valentine magnets or pins, hair ornaments, coupon holders, little picture frames, a craft kit of papers to assemble on arrival....include instructions.

The trick is finding something that doesn't cost a fortune to send. 

coo_kie -- Thanks for the great ideas.  I hadn't thought of any of the one's you suggested.  I did find a cute idea on a crafts web site - sandwich some thin quilt batting between 2 layers of Valentine scrapbook paper and sew a heart shape and cut out.  Sounds cute and would be fairly inexpensive to make and shouldn't need extra postage for mailing.  -- Beth

You know, I saw the same thing in a magazine.  It's a great idea!  Thanks for reminding me of it! -- Beth

you're welcome!

 Could make a candy bar wrapper. Wrap a candy bar with a red band and decorate.

Matchbook mint.  

valentine ideas 

Valentine printable bookmarks 

LOTS of valentine printables 

More valentine printables 

The nice thing about printables is that they are usually flat and fit nicely in an envelope without add a lot of weight.

Marcia - you have posted the greatest sites!!!!  I will definitely get inspiration for my red item from one of those sites.  One site has some great trivia that I plan to use in my classroom with my students.  My favorite is a chocolate trivia --I am such a chocoholic!

My fellow crafting friends - you have come through and really helped me with my request.  You are all such dear people to share ideas and help me. -- Beth

Marcia~ Thanks for the website!!!!  I was just about to post a similar question since I am getting ready for our annual ballet class- valentine's day party.  It's fun to find new things each year to do/make. 

Make a bookmark with paper and magnetic strips.  Fold a piece of 2" X 4" cardstock decorated for Valentines day. Place the strips of magnetic tape on each of the two short ends. This sandwiches a page with the magnets holding your place.  No dog-eared pages everafter. I hope this is clear how to do this! 

You could make some hand made recipe card (use red heart stickers or lady bugs or tomatoes or strawberries......etc......just a few per card you send

Found a great website for printing little Valentine's baskets:

http://www.allfreeprintables.com/valentine

they have 4 different basket designs to choose from.  I printed mine on card stock.  I've shared this idea with my students and they love it.  We're making Oreo Truffles in class this week and I've shown them how to give their truffles away to friends in these cute little baskets.  -- Beth

I forgot to add that Marcia had originally posted some Valentine craft websites that I stumbled into a link that got me to the baskets.  I can't for the life of me figure out how I found that link so I just googled in "free Valentine printable baskets" and the allfreeprintable.com web site came up.  Thanks Marcia!!