Living La Vida Holoka


Couldn’t Love You S’more Valentine’s Day Treat Topper

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Treat classroom friends or loved ones to something sweet when you make this s’mores gift and Couldn’t Love You S’more Valentine’s Day Treat Topper!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.


One of my goals for this year is to make more paper crafts.  Over the holidays, I had cut gift tags and envelopes with my Cricut Explore Air 2 and loved how easy they were to make!  Another one of my goals for the year is to work with features and tools I haven’t worked with before.  So I got myself a Single Scoring Wheel, some pretty cardstock, and made a printable treat topper using the Print Then Cut feature in Design Space.

I have to admit, I had a little trouble with this project at first.  I couldn’t get the image and text to print without going straight into a continuous cutting step that also cut the text and images.  Being relatively new to Cricut and Design Space, I ended up looking up tutorials, but came up short on answers.  Thankfully, I know some amazing Cricut makers who were able to help me out!

The Cricut Flatten Feature

 
When I initially started this project and realized that the text and images were going to be cut, I would stop the machine after the perimeter was cut.  I was kind of tricking it and then moving on to the second cut.  Turns out, I didn’t need to do that at all!

There’s a feature in Design Space that I hadn’t used before this project called “flatten.”  It literally flattens the design into a single image (instead of layers of text and images) and tells the machine not to cut it.  Brilliant! 

That little feature could have saved me a lot of time and frustration had I known what its function was!  But now that I do, I definitely see a lot more printable Cricut projects in my future! 


So let me tell you about these adorable treat toppers!  I love s’mores.  I love them so much that one year, I ditched having a birthday cake for homemade s’mores toasted over a fire in our backyard!  With Valentine’s Day coming up, s’mores have become the inspiration for this easy craft!

All you need to make this sweet treat is some cellophane bags, graham crackers, Hershey bars (I got the XL ones), marshmallows, and my treat topper design in Design Space.  Follow the instructions to create s’mores goodie bags for loved ones or classroom gifts!

Couldn’t Love You S’more Valentine’s Day Treat Topper

 


The first step was to create the treat topper tag.  I did so by opening up a square shape in the shapes option.  Then, I added a score line through the center (also found in shapes).  



Next, I searched for s’mores images.  I wanted a simple s’mores image to use in my treat topper design, so I chose the first one.  Then, I picked out a few hearts to add to the design.  There are a ton to choose from in Design Space’s image library!


I arranged my images on my treat topper template, changed the colors of some of the hearts, and added text.  Then, I decided to make this a layered treat topper, so I duplicated the square, made it red, and added a score line.  


Here’s where I finally figured out how to make a printable image in Design Space! So after your design is created, go to the right sidebar and select all of the text and images, plus the white square (just the white square, not the score line).  Click Flatten.  This will make everything one single image and tell the machine to only cut the square shape. Then, select the flattened square and the score line.  Hit Attach and then Make It! 



Following the instructions on the screen, send the treat topper to the printer (you can print more than one copy).  Choose the correct printer location and turn off the “bleed” option.  You’ll notice a black outline around the image once it’s printed.  That’s okay.  The machine will cut inside of that line to create the treat topper.


Once your design is printed, set it on a Light Grip Mat and load it into the machine.  The screen in Design Space will prompt you to load the Single Scoring Wheel first.  Then, you’ll switch to the Fine Point Blade.  It’s all very easy to do with the Maker’s adaptive tool system! 



Continue with the red cardstock.  Then, you can glue one topper on top of the other, fold, and attach to bags filled with chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers!

SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. Power on the Cricut Maker and open the Couldn’t Love You S’more Valentine’s Day Treat Topper Design in Design Space.
  2. If necessary, resize the design.  Then, hit “Make It” and follow the instructions to print.
  3. Load white cardstock in the printer (you may need to cut it to fit) and send to printer.  
  4. Once the design is printed, place the cardstock on a Light Grip Mat and load it into the Maker.  
  5. Load the Single Scoring Wheel, as prompted in Design Space, and hit “go.”
  6. Then, switch to the Fine Point Blade to cut the design.
  7. Load the red cardstock into the machine and continue.
  8. Once both toppers are cut, glue the white layer on top of the red layer and fold.
  9. Fill a cellophane bag with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.
  10. Close the bag and attach the treat topper with a stapler to make an adorable and delicious Valentine’s Day gift! 


These turned out so cute that my sister-in-law asked me to make some for my niece’s class!  Of course, Aunt Jess was happy to make them for her! I hope her classroom friends enjoy their sweet Valentine’s Day treat! 

Did you make these treat toppers for Valentine’s Day?  Let me see ’em!  Make sure to tag me @lavidaholoka with the hashtag #livinglavidadiy!

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13 Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him

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Not sure what to get your guy for Valentine’s Day? Get him something more than a gift card or a box of chocolates with these 13 Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him!

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OMG! Why are guys the hardest people to shop for ever?!  I’m married to a guy who already has everything and shops on Amazon as much as I do (no hiding the packages under the mat in this house)!  That doesn’t leave much in the gift-giving department besides a gift card to one of his favorite stores.  And if I’m going to get my boo a gift card, I going to make damn sure that he gets more than just a piece of plastic in an envelope!

Valentine’s Day is coming up and if you’re stuck on a gift to get for the handsome man in your life, I’ve got a few ideas for you.  In fact, I’ve got 13 of them!  My husband and I stopped exchanging gifts for Valentine’s Day – or so we’ve said – but I still get him a couple small gifts every year.  Usually it’s the same little box of chocolates and a card.  Plus, we have a romantic dinner at home and pick up dessert at the bakery to share. 

But every once in a while, an extra gift sneaks into his Valentine’s Day gift bag.  Usually it’s something humorous that we’ll both laugh at, or a new shirt, or some of his favorite snacks.  Maybe this year, it’ll be one of these gifts!

13 Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him
  1. Drive Safe Keychain
  2. What I Love about You Fill-in-the-Blank Book
  3. Couples Game: Talk, Flirt or Dare Cards for 3 Games in 1
  4. Capsule Letters Message in a Bottle
  5. I Love You More Than I Hate Your Farts Coffee Mug
  6. Romantic Novelty Toilet Paper
  7. Constellation Map
  8. Stainless Steel Travel Tumbler
  9. I Love Weird and I am Weird Couples Pillowcase
  10. “Mixtape” USB
  11. Mens Sorry This Beard is Taken Shirt
  12. Beer Opener Survival Credit Card Tool
  13. People’s Choice Beef Jerky

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Layered Engraved Leather Heart Necklace

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Create a cute Layered Engraved Leather Heart Necklace to give to a friend on Galentine’s Day or wear on Valentine’s Day with this step-by-step Cricut Maker tutorial!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.


The world of DIY and crafts never ceases to amaze me.  There are so many tools and resources available at our fingertips these days.  Inspiration is literally everywhere!  And being a part of the Cricut community, I learn something new every time I turn on one of my machines.  Getting the Cricut Maker last year has allowed me to branch out with my crafts and use materials I would have never thought to use in any of my projects before! 

That said, I’ve been making a ton of necklaces for myself over the past month or so.  I love creating jewelry that’s totally unique to me.  I’ve even made a couple necklaces for my friends!  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would fun to make a necklace that would not only make a great gift for a friend, but would add a simple Valentine’s Day touch to any outfit! 



I’ve cut wood, felt, paper, and of course, vinyl with my Cricut Maker.  But I really wanted to try cutting leather.  So I got Cricut’s Genuine Leather for Small Projects in Cranberry and Camel and decided to create a layered heart pendant. I went one bigger and grabbed an engraving tip to create a pattern on the leather!

How to Make a Layered Engraved Leather Heart Necklace


I started by choosing a heart from the shapes option.  You could also choose a heart from an image search, but I wanted something super simple.


Then, I went into images and searched for patterns. I chose an animal print pattern and created an overlay for my heart, making sure that the “engrave” linetype was selected.


I duplicated my heart shape. Then, using the slice tool, I placed the pattern over one of the hearts and sliced the pattern into a heart shape.



Once the pattern was cut, I went back and made the original heart red. To make a hole to hang the pendant, I selected a circle from the shapes option and used the slice tool again to create the hole.


Once the engraved heart design was created, I repeated the steps (minus the engraved pattern) to create a solid heart for layering.


Continuing to the cut screen, I set my material and loaded my engrave tip. I placed a sheet of leather on a strong grip mat and taped the edges. Then, I loaded my mat into the machine and hit “go.”


Once the engraving step was done, I loaded my deep-point blade and continued to cut my heart shapes. From there, I was able to put my necklace together with jump rings, a clasp, and chain.

SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. Open the Layered Engraved Heart Necklace Project in Design Space.  Resize the heart shapes to your liking.
  2. Place one sheet of cranberry leather on a strong grip mat and place one sheet of camel leather on a strong grip mat.  Secure each side of the leather with masking tape.
  3. Load the engraving tip and set the cranberry leather in the machine.  Then, continue to the engraving step.
  4. Once the engraving is finished, remove the engraving tip from the machine and load the deep-point blade.  Continue to cut.
  5. Unload the cranberry leather and set the camel leather in the machine.  Continue to cut.
  6. Remove the heart shapes from the mat and save the rest of the leather for future projects.
  7. Place the red heart on top of the camel heart.  With jewelry pliers, open the large jump ring and slip the heart shapes onto the ring.  Close the jump ring with the pliers.
  8. Measure the silver chain to your desired length.  Then, add a jump ring to each end.
  9. Add the clasp to one of the jump rings and close both rings.  
  10. Give the necklace as a Galentine’s Day gift or wear it to add simple Valentine’s Day style to any outfit! 


There are a ton of patterns to choose from in Design Space to engrave into your leather necklace. If real leather isn’t your thing, Cricut also offers faux leather you could use for this project instead.  Since it’s textured, I’m not sure how it would work with the engraving step, but it would still make a cute, layered heart necklace! 

Want to share your necklace creation with me?  Make sure to tag me @lavidaholoka with the hashtag #livinglavidadiy!

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Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Hummus

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Craving something chocolaty and sweet? Dip into this healthy and delicious Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Hummus to satisfy your cravings!

This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.


January is kind of cruel joke when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle.  We’re just getting over celebrating the holiday season in the most gluttonous way.  Then, we get a month to straighten ourselves out before we’re tempted all over again by Valentine’s Day (chocolate), St. Patrick’s Day (heavy food and beer), Mardi Gras (cake and booze), and Easter (candy, candy, and more candy)! 

My chocolate cravings have already started and – being a low sugar kind of gal – I haven’t given myself allowance to slip up.  Sweets always seem like a good idea at the time for me.  Then, after a few pieces of candy or chocolate, I begin to feel the regret set in.  Usually in the form of a headache or stomachache.  It’s just better if I avoid it altogether.

But those nagging cravings for something chocolately haven’t left me alone.  Then, I remembered wanting to try making another dessert hummus.  I made an amazing pumpkin pie hummus during the fall that satisfied my craving for a slice of pie (it tasted exactly like pumpkin pie filling!).  So with Valentine’s Day coming up, I decided to make a chocolate strawberry hummus.

Like chocolate-covered strawberries without the sugar!

 
Chocolate-covered strawberries are one of my favorite desserts!  On Valentine’s Day, I’ll usually make some or head to the bakery to buy a couple, plus a mini cake for us to split.  Since the holiday is still about a week away, this hummus has definitely hit the spot until then! 

This dessert hummus is full of strawberry flavor and just the right amount of chocolate!  Honestly, you’ll forget that you’re eating hummus while you dip into it!  The best part is that there’s no sugar in it.  Just a splash of honey and some stevia! 

Print
Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Hummus

Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Hummus

Ingredients

  • 1 - 15 oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 4 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups strawberries, sliced
  • 1 1/2 tsp. stevia
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, or blender, pulse the chickpeas, cocoa powder, honey, and vanilla extract.
  2. Add the strawberries, stevia, cinnamon, and salt. Blend until incorporated and smooth.
  3. Spoon hummus into a bowl and serve with fruit and cinnamon tortilla chips.
  4. Store hummus in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Notes

To make cinnamon tortilla chips: Cut tortillas into triangles. Spray with cooking spray and toss with cinnamon and sugar (I use Flavor God's Buttery Cinnamon Roll). Cook in an air fryer for 8 minutes at 400 degrees, shaking the basket halfway through cooking.

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Hummus is one of my favorite snacks and I’ve become a big fan of dessert hummus (and, trust me, I was skeptical at first). If you’re looking for a healthy snack to satisfy your craving for something chocolately and sweet, give this recipe a try!

I served it with a mix of berries and some cinnamon tortilla chips I made in the air fryer (check the recipe notes to make your own).  It’s pretty addictive stuff!  Serve it as a healthy dessert on Valentine’s Day or a tasty snack any time you’re craving something sweet! 


Did you make this Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Hummus? Share your pics on Instagram using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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