Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 10:58 pm
Homemade Valentine Keepsake
What a great idea for your Special Valentine!
My photos cannot reflect how pretty these Valentine keepsakes truly are and they can be used to hold all sorts of little treasures!
All you need is an empty pill bottle, film canister or a plastic candy tube plus little scraps of ribbon and lace. You can also use similar items to make these pretty pill bottle angels.
Place a small piece of jewelery inside or make a little scroll note for your Valentine then use the recycled pill bottle keepsake as gift wrapping for your Valentine gift.
If you have more pill bottles than you know what to do with, check out our Pill Bottle Snowman or these crafty ideas for recycling pill bottles.
Craft Instructions and Supplies
Craft Instructions:
Separate the lid from the bottom of the pill bottle or container.
You need to be able to open and close the bottle lid when you are finished making the keepsake so it is best to work with separate pieces to avoid gluing the two together.
- plastic pill bottle (or an old 35mm film canister or candy tube container such as those used to hold MMs)
- Lace Piece (gathered, minimum 2 1/2 inch width)
Red Ribbon (2 to 2.5 inches wide) - White Tassel (optional)
- Red Ribbon Rose (or little silk heart)
- Hot Glue
- Decorative Cord or Paper Twist (white or red)
Adding Ribbon and Lace
Cut a piece of red ribbon to fit around the outside of your bottle or container. I used a piece of the stiff red velvet Christmas ribbon that bows are made from but any old red bow should work. Just clip a small piece that goes around the outside of your bottle or container. Hot glue the ribbon around the entire bottom section of the tube.
Tips: Use the hot glue sparingly to keep your project neat and clean. You could also use regular craft glue by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Cut a piece of lace that will fit around the outside of the container bottom and completely cover the red ribbon that you just applied. Apply a little glue to the top outside edge of the canister to secure the lace, so that it extends at least a half inch above the top of the canister.
To close the edges of the ribbon and lace, add a touch of hot glue or fabric glue along the seam and close.
Glue a tassel to the front center of your canister and a teeny red ribbon rose above your tassel. Add a piece of lace to cover the lid by gluing it to the top. I glued mine just inside the top edge of the lid but this depends on how your lid is made. If you cannot glue lace inside, get creative: I used a one-inch gathered lace that matched the bottom lace but you can cut a small strip from wider lace or simply glue on a piece of decorative cord.
Though the photo doesn’t show it well, I gathered a scrap piece of tulle and secured the gather with a small piece of wire. I then glued the tulle to the center top of the lid. This is not necessary but it does make it a little more frilly. Another scrap of lace would also work if you want to try this.
To make the handle, glue each end of a piece of decorative cord to the top of the lid.
Insert a little scroll note or other trinket into the pill bottle or container and there you have it! A very pretty Valentine keepsake for your special love.
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Dianne says
That is soooooooo beautiful !!!
Jane Lake says
Thank you, Dianne. I think so too. It’s one of those little treasures that you hold on to and take out from time to time because it holds happy memories.