DIY- Getting Ready For Valentine's Day

Here are some DIY projects for Valentine's day. There's a little bit of everything, cooking, crafts and some useful heart templates! Enjoy!


Blackberry Pistachio Napoleons

Active time 15 minutes

Total time 30 minutes plus cooling

Makes 2 servings

 
Don't these blackberries look delicious?

1/2 sheet frozen puff pastry

(6" by 12"), partially thawed

3/4 c. ricotta cheese

3 Tbsp. confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Pinch grated orange or lemon peel

1/4 c. roasted salted pistachios, shelled and chopped(save
some whole nuts for the final)

1/2 pt. blackberries

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line small cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. Cut pastry into four 3" by 6" rectangles; place on prepared cookie sheet, spacing 2" apart. With fork, pierce pastry all over. Cover with another sheet parchment paper and small cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Remove top cookie sheet and parchment paper. Bake 2 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. Pastry can be kept uncovered at room temperature up to 3 hours.

3. While pastry bakes, in medium bowl, stir together ricotta, pistachios, 3 Tbsp. sugar, vanilla and orange or lemon peel; set aside. Ricotta mixture can be covered and refrigerated up to 1 hour ahead.

4. To assemble: Spread ricotta mixture on 2 rectangles pastry. Arrange blackberries in single layer on  ricotta mixture. Top with remaining 2 rectangles pastry. Dust tops with confectioners' sugar. 

I used lemons because I had them. You can also use oranges.

I use a pizza cutter to cut the puff pastry.

This is what the pastry looks like in the oven.

With lemon zest, ricotta, pistachios & sugar.

 
Here is the ricotta mixture.

All golden brown & ready to come out of the oven.

Ready to be spread.

Here they are ready to eat. They were really delicious!

YUMMY! Anything with puff pastry is grand (I think)...

DIY - Valentine's Rock + Folding Heart

Here is a previous Valentine's post I did. 
It shows how to make a Valentine's rock (like below) and a folding heart. 
Take a peek here.

 
One Valentine's Day, I sent these to all my friends. This is the one I made for my godfather. 
These are heavy to mail, I forgot about that!

One of my favorite Valentines involves using wax seal!


DIY - Gift Wrapping

Pile of  Valentine's Day gifts ready to be wrapped!

Why not use bow tie pasta for one of your packages?

 Print your own wrapping paper, use whatever suits you but make it special!

Use brooches on the top of the wrapping. It makes them much more intimate.
I got these at a flea market. Keep your eye peeled for good ones.

Use part of the gift on the outside.

I thought this zipper tape was so clever!

 Use bow tie pasta as a bow + use a page from an old book as wrapping paper.

Here they are ready for Heart Day :)

 Heart Templates

Here are some heart templates. I thought they might be helpful.

I adore Valentine's Day. Can you tell?

Dear readers, which one did you like best?
Let me know!




Love,


Peggy

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design.

DYI - Many uses of Joss Paper

Saturday - Tip 

One of my favorite things to work with is Joss paper. 

 Joss paper is paper printed with various representations of earthly goods, such as money, which is burned during ceremonies meant to honor ancestors in some parts of Asia. Paper designed to represent money is the most common form, although Joss paper can also represent houses, cars, credit cards, and an assortment of other things. It is typically made of white bamboo or rice paper, and may be decorated with seals or stamps. 

  Living in LA, I can buy Joss paper in China Town - (I am so blessed to have China town). You can buy Joss paper online here to those who prefer shopping online.

  Joss paper comes in a variety of heavenly (literally) images or plain with Gold/Silver leaf - in all different sizes. I adore all of it!

Notepad - I use Joss paper for taking messages.

Party favor - Here you see a stack of Joss paper wrapped with gold ribbon and a gold pen at dinner parties.
After dinner I ask the guests to write a wish and we burn them,so fun for everyone.  
Each new year, I write my wishes for the New Year on Joss paper and burn it, sending wishes soaring toward the heavens. ( I believe it works magic) 

  
Gift wrap - I use it to wrap gifts. It works for all occasions!

Decor - I put it on a framed mirror using Mod Podge.  If it is standing still I will cover it with Joss paper!

Recently, a group of my friends got together and covered blank notebooks in Joss paper to be used as "miracle books".

I will take you step by step through covering a book - Get ready!

 You will need a blank notebook with no spirals (I prefer lined paper - if not my writing goes all over the place), glue stick, Mod Podge (Gloss), sponge brush, scissors, ribbon and Joss paper of your choice. 

1. Glue Joss paper to the book (I use a glue stick), inside, outside and spine. You can trim the paper to the notebook edge or fold it inside and glue it.

2.  Use a foam brush and put Mod Podge all over Joss paper - It may create air bubbles but from my experience, the bubbles disappear once it completely dries.

 3. Put a second coat of Mod Podge once the first coat dries, stand the book and let it dry for 2 to 3 days. 

4. Put a piece of ribbon to use as a bookmark. (This is optional)

Here is the final product!

This process works for anything you would like to cover. Mod Podge is magic stuff.

 dear readers and let me know what you covered:)))))) 

For all of us who live in LA, CA-the 405 Freeway is closed this weekend sooooo this is a grand time to cover those books! Stay Safe + off the freeways.
I Surely AM!

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design. 

You can purchase many of the items found on this blog, according to BRASWELL and much more at  BRASWELL. 

We will work with the trade.