Love is fleeting, and so are the sickeningly sweet chocolate hearts and Valentine’s Day cards (circa 3rd grade) that you’ll be receiving in the upcoming days. So McCormick junior Amy Arvan came up with a new idea that is as warm, fuzzy, and long-lasting as it gets these days.
“Everyone gives away little Valentine’s cards, and I wanted to give something different and fun,” Arvan said. So in high school, she started making necklaces for her friends out of Necco conversation hearts — those chalky candies always found in excess around Feb. 14. The necklaces are simple to make, and the end result is impressive and elegant. “It’s also fun to choose what message on the heart to give to each of you friends,” Arvan said.
Aww, it’s heartwarming.
Photo by author.
What you’ll need:
- Super Glue
- Sparkly Mod Podge
- Ribbon
- Pliers
- Scissors
- Eye pins
- Jump rings
- Candy hearts
All of this can be found at any craft store, such as Michael’s. (Take the Pace bus to Old Orchard to get there.) Or talk to the crafty kids in your hallway; anyone who likes to bead or make jewelery will have the pliers and rings you need.
Directions:
- First, use the eye pin to scratch a little groove vertically down the center of the back of the heart where the eye pin will go.
- Next, trim the eye pin with a pair of sharp scissors so that the top hoop will lie just above the top of the heart.
- Use pliers to attach a jump ring to the eye pin.
- Apply a dab of Super Glue to the eye pin and fasten it to the groove in the back of the candy heart.
- Let the glue dry for a few minutes before giving the whole thing a thin glaze of Mod Podge for a sparkly touch that will preserve the candy heart (forever and ever). Use a paint brush if you have one, but a little scrap of of paper towel also works.
- Leave it on something hard and plastic that won’t stick to the heart when it dries. Make sure your roommate doesn’t try to eat it by accident, and sit tight for a couple hours until the whole shebang has dried.
Design your own here. And if you hate Valentine’s Day, there is “goth mode” just for you. The last step is to string a ribbon through the jump hoop. Make it as long or short as you want, but make sure you can get the necklace over your head. And voila! You now have an adorable and unique piece of jewelery that can be worn all year long — the perfect gift for all your friends.
Don’t forget to have fun choosing which sappy saying you want to immortalize on a necklace. Since NECCO started making conversation hearts in 1866, more than a hundred different sayings have been used. Some, though, had to be retired, such as the late “You Are Gay.” Not to worry, though: 10 new sayings are released every year.
The Modge Podge makes this necklace a pretty durable gift, but don’t forget that it’s still made from real candy. “My one friend wore hers in the shower and it melted all over her chest,” Arvan said. “But that was the only problem I’ve ever had, and they’ve lasted three years.” Which is probably longer than your current love will last.