Sweet Conversations
It’s time for some sweet conversations! As the winter days move along, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. It is the perfect time to have that sweet conversation to let someone know you care.
Stamping and chocolate are two of my favorite things! You will find that these adorable Hershey Kiss holders are quick and easy to make. Plus, they are fun to give away. Whether you are filling a basket for a grab and go, or hand-delivering each one, your recipient will feel your love.
Sweet Talk Suite
There is an entire collection, called The Sweet Talk Suite, dedicated to Valentine’s Day in the new January-June 2022 Mini Catalog by Stampin’ Up!. For my project, I focused on the Sweet Conversations Bundle, which includes the Sweet Conversations Stamp Set and Sweet Hearts Dies. When you purchase both together, you save 10% automatically!
The Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper is the perfect collection of pinks, reds and purples for my project. But lets not stop at traditional colors! So Saffron, Granny Apple Green and Pool Party are featured too. Two of the sheets contain heart images that you can die-cut with the Sweet Heart Dies (or fussy cut if you do not have the dies or a die cutting machine). And this collection of paper works well for a decorative kiss holder too.
Kiss Holder Bliss
These Hershey Kiss holders are tiny treasures made from scraps of paper. For each base, I cut a 1 x 4″ piece of cardstock in colors of my choice, using my Paper Trimmer. Next, I scored each cardstock strip at 1″, 2″ and 3″,using the scoring blade on my Paper Trimmer. Lastly, I added Tombow Mulitpurpose Liquid Glue to one of the 1″ end pieces, and secured my holder into a triangle shape.
*Designer Tip: If you are using glue, hold and press the end pieces together for a short time while the glue partially sets. You can also use Mini Glue Dots or Tear & Tape instead.
From here, you simply decorate your kiss holder. Insert a Hershey Kiss (they will fit snugly, but that’s okay since you don’t want it to fall out accidentally), and gift away! But let’s take a look at some decorating options next…
Start With The Bases
The heart of our kiss holders is the base. While it is true that the base measurement will remain consistent (see above if you missed that part), we can certainly change up our base appearance.
Embossing Folders
For the most basic base, use plain cardstock. Let the decorative piece you add to the front be the star of the show. But also consider embossing your cardstock for added flair. Creating texture adds an entirely new dimension to your kiss holder.
When you emboss your kiss holders, consider the image size of your chosen embossing folder. Because the holder is essentially a collection of 1″ squares, you will want to use folders that leave smaller sized impressions. I used Star Crossed Embossing Folder (retired), Meadow Moments Embossing Folder and Checks & Dots Embossing Folder.
For a visual check, hold a 1 x 1″ piece of paper against your embossing folder. Whatever you see in that square is what will be seen on each side of the kiss holder. If you are happy with it, emboss away!
*Designer Tip: If you are embossing your cardstock, wait to score it after the embossing is complete. If you emboss it first the score lines will diminish, making if difficult to find the proper scoring location.
Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper I
Earlier I mentioned the amazing Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper. Consider using pretty pattern paper as your kiss holder base. Patterns always add great interest and variety, and they will work well for our kiss holder bases too. Keep in mind that DSP is a lighter weight paper than cardstock, and will tear easier. Score lightly to avoid ripped pieces.
Just like the embossing folder pattern, be careful choosing the design for your kiss holder. Again, consider how each 1″ square will look. I find it is better to use smaller, closer together patterns rather than larger or farther apart patterns. Below, the pattern on the left would not work well. The pattern on the right is perfect!
*Designer Tip: When cutting your designer series paper for the kiss holders, watch for orientation. You will want to see your pattern running down the 4″ length from top to bottom as pictured below.
Add Decorative Accents
The really fun part about creating these Hershey Kiss holders is adding on decorative accents. There are so many options to choose from. If you are crafting with kids and want to keep it simple, think about using store-bought stickers on plain cardstock bases.
If you are an avid crafter, get crafty! You may want to place 3-D items like mini layered flowers, buttons with ribbons or large gems onto your base. For my project, I focused on the universal symbol of love…hearts.
Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper, II
Sometimes, Stampin’ Up! designs paper that coordinates with their dies, which means you can skip the step of stamping and just die cut an awesome image. With the Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper, this is possible too. There are several different sizes of heart images (for the different sizes of dies in the Sweet Hearts Dies), so you need to line up your die to find the right image to cut with your die cutting machine.
*Designer Tip: To prep your chosen heart for die cutting, use your Paper Snips to cut into the designer series paper around the hearts you aren’t using yet. That way you will be able to use the other full hearts in the future. Don’t have a die cutting machine or dies? You can fussy cut the hearts with your Paper Snips too!
Stamping With White Cardstock
Similar to the look of the Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper, you can make your own hearts by stamping. I used the Sweet Conversations Stamp Set and a 2-step stamping technique for my hearts. Beginning with scraps of White Cardstock, I first stamped the words and outline in a darker ink color. Next, I stamped the filler heart in a lighter color.
My ink pad colors are Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape, Blushing Bride and Melon Mambo, Pool Party and Bermuda Bay. Just pick 2 colors, one lighter and one darker, that coordinate together. Stampin’ Up! makes this easy to do with their color choices.
*Designer Tip: Stamp the outline image first. It is so much easier to add the filler color as step 2. These stamps are designed to not line up exactly perfect, which makes it easier for beginner stampers.
Stamping With Color Cardstock
Maybe you are looking for more colorful hearts? Simply repeat the stamping steps from above but instead of using White Cardstock, replace it with solid color cardstock. For my color cardstock, I selected the lighter version of my chosen colors, in this case Pool Party, Blushing Bride and Highland Heather.
*Designer Tip: When using color cardstock, it is not necessary to add the filler color. I have examples of filled and unfilled hearts above, which do you prefer?
Sweet Hearts To Die Cut For
After you have prepped your Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper hearts or stamped hearts with the Sweet Conversations Stamp Set, it is time to die cut them. You will need the Sweet Hearts Dies and a die cutting machine like the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. Cranking all these hearts thru one at a time is still faster than using scissors to do the job!
A Simply Sweet Gift
Once your bases are assembled and your decor pieces are finished, it is time to put them together. For my project, I only decorated one side (the front), but you could double your accents and decorate the back side too! Again, the combinations of possibilities are only limited to your imagination.
Designer Series Paper Die Cut Hearts
Here is a look at the finished Hershey Kiss holders using the hearts die cut from the Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper and plain cardstock in Melon Mambo and Flirty Flamingo:
Stamped With White Cardstock Hearts
Here is a look at the finished Hershey Kiss holders using my hearts stamped on White Cardstock with Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper bases:
Stamped With Color Cardstock Hearts
Here is a look at the finished Hershey Kiss holders using my hearts stamped on color cardstock with embossed cardstock bases in So Saffron, Pool Party and Highland Heather:
It Started With A Kiss…
Wouldn’t you agree that these sweet kiss holders are just the sweetest? If you need any of the products that I used in today’s project, pop over to my online store. (You will have to buy your Hershey Kisses elsewhere though!)
*Designer Tip: If you love chocolate as much as I do, purchase your Hershey Kisses in bulk. They somehow disappear during the creativity process!
Keep this project idea in mind for other occasions besides Valentine’s Day. A sweet treat turns any ordinary day into an extraordinary day, especially when home-made love is involved. Enjoy!