Fancrafts_TM-Be_Mine_Coupon

From: "Becky Escamilla" <administrationoffice@t...>
Date: Fri Feb 13, 2004 4:23 pm
Subject: Weekend Project - Be Mine Coupon Book

As summertime is fast approaching, many people begin to attend concerts, while others attend concerts throughout the year. So, we thought it fitting to put together a series of craft ideas that will take you from now, into the summer, where you can feature your Hall & Oates photos/names/initials, in a variety of ways, that would be suitable, as a fan, for you to use while possibly attending one of their concerts.

The Weekend Project for today is, more of a Valentine Idea. It's the "Be Mine Coupon Book"

At any rate, in order to make this a seemingly fun project for concert goers, I thought that we would incorporate it into a project where you could customize it with a Hall & Oates theme.

Initially, this project is explained as follows: "Everyone knows the best gift is the gift of yourself. Make your sweetie a coupon book with offerings of a backrub, candlelit dinner, video & popcorn night on the sofa, a free car wash or game of checkers--or whatever else you know he or she will love. Make sure you pay up when they want to
redeem a coupon!"

So, in order to "customize it with a Hall & Oates theme," aside from decorating the front with a Hall & Oates pix, for the actual coupons, a few of our suggestions, more along the lines of our theme would be to incorporate: "scour the thrift stores looking for
vintage vinyl albums of Hall & Oates;" "sit through and endure a whole entire night of Hall & Oates Karaoke, maybe even join in;" "be the all around fun date for a Hall & Oates concert, be it live, or at home;" etc.

Materials:

Paper
Card Stock
Scissors
hole punch
string, chain or cord

Instructions:

"Write the value of the coupon by hand or use a rubber stamp
alphabet. The heart-shaped coupons were made with heart memos in a
tin from Impress Rubber Stamps--two red hearts for the front and
back and several white hearts inside. Punch holes and string them on
a ribbon, chain or cord. Dress up the hole in the front with a heart-
shaped eyelet from Making Memories, and stamp or write on a
sentiment of your choice."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: Handmade Valentine Cards
By: Tammy Jones, HGTV.com

� 2004 Scripps Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.

--- Reference link:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1735223,00
.html

If you prefer "not" to do the "Coupon Book," you can also do other
Valentine's Day projects, I.e. handmade cards, which can be found at:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_paper_crafts_cards/article/0,1789,HGTV_32
90_1395330,00.html

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1735223,00
.html

--- end of reference link.

Please note, if any of these links come across as broken, you may
need to manually type the url into your browser.

For this weekend's project, the "Be Mine Coupon Book," I deviated from the traditional red/pink colors.

I absolutely enjoyed doing this project! While I'm not one for tradition, if I'm going to be celebrating a holiday, I am one for gift giving. I love to give gifts! I especially love to follow themes, so, this project was especially fun in that area because I came up with some good ideas, that I'll incorporate into future gift giving.

For this project, I used one of my favorite pix' of Daryl Hall; one of my favorite shades of blue; and one of my favorite fonts, "black adder."

I didn't want to mess up the front photo by writing on it, so, I looped a gift tag to the coupon book, stating it was a "Valentine Coupon Book." I liked the idea of a bi-plane, pulling along a banner, as the gift tag. Simply because, (1) symbolically, I view flying as a free, happy, joyful, exuberant experience!; and, (2) I wanted to attach the gift tag to the heart with string, which symbolically represents my heartstrings. -- Yes, I can be a
sentimental type of girl!!!! LOL!!!!!

For the coupons, I did "four" of each for a total of "24," and they were good for: one night of H&O Karaoke; one backrub; one date to a H&O concert; one thrift shop visit; one dinner; and one night of H&O video mania!

All of my Valentine's Day gifts were shipped out/picked up by Couriers prior to Valentines Day. Once the couriers have them, they ship out within two days to three days, after pick-up, so, there's no way I could've given this Valentine Coupon Book out this year, but, if I had actually given this book out, I would have done either "one" of "two" things: (1) I would have included a little map on the back of each heart, and upon pulling the coupon for redemption, following the map, the recipient, would have been led to a gift basket consisting of H&O gift items/gift items to match the coupon, I.e., the coupon for "one night of H&O Karaoke," would have led the recipient to find a gift basket with printed lyrics and karaoke discs; the coupon for "one date to a H&O concert," would have led the recipient to find a gift basket including concert tickets, spending money for the gift shop, and a gift certificate to a store at the mall for new shoes and clothes to wear to the concert; the coupon for "one backrub," would have led the recipient to find a gift basket including massage oils, Daryl Hall's "Can't Stop Dreaming" CD, etc. or, (2) I would have done "one" large H&O themed gift basket, not only including the Valentine Coupon book, but also including at least one item that could be enjoyed at the time of the redemption of any of the coupons.

I love merchandising & design, and when incorporated into gift giving, it's even so much more fun! So, I definitely liked this project and will keep it in mind for birthdays, Easter, Christmas, anniversaries, etc., of course while the theme of H&O may change to the Highlander; Law & Order; Dragon Ball-Z, Soap making, perfumery, etc., depending upon who the recipient, of the gift, is, the actual shape of the book doesn't have to be a heart. You can probably find some stencils of cakes, Christmas trees, snowmen, etc., at your local craft store and try some of those shapes if you like.

If you missed doing anything this Valentine's Day, this isn't a bad idea to keep in mind for any Holiday or, if you prefer, for next Valentine's Day! Of course, if you're like me, and love to give gifts irregardless of any holiday or special occasion, then, this isn't a bad idea to do as a "thank you," or an "I appreciate you lots," type of gift! Of course, if you're not giving this item to your boyfriend/girlfriend, then, it goes without saying, you'll need to tailor your coupons to suit your purpose.

Overall, concentrated effort took about 45 minutes, as I wanted to be sure I cut everything out slowly and correctly, so that all of my hearts would line up evenly, then, I punched the hole into each heart individually, rather than two or three at a time. After that, they were strung one at a time on gold cord.

If you haven't tried this project, it's never too late!

Valentine Coupon Book
Pix #1

Valentine Coupon Book
Pix #2

Valentine Coupon Book
Pix #3