Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and many of you may be wondering what you can do with your children to spread some love. These three crafts can be made using items you probably have around the house, or can easily find at your local dollar store. Whether it be a substitute for candy for your child’s classmates, or a fun reminder of their love to a family member, these three simple crafts will be sure to a hit!
HEART NECKLACE/KEY CHAIN
Approximate Time: 15-20 Minutes
These adorable heart necklaces are super simple to make and would be a great alternative to candy to give to your child’s classmates!
Supplies Needed:
- Yarn or Twine
- Red/Pink/Purple paper
- Multicolored beads
- A hole punch
- Scissors
Step One:
Cut out a little square of your paper, about two inches all around (it doesn’t have to be perfect!)
Step Two:
Fold the square in half and cut out half a heart on the side that is folded to make your heart! After you’re done with this, go ahead and punch a hole in heart where you want the twine to go through.
Step Three:
Cut off a piece of your yarn or twine (we used baker’s twine found at the dollar store!) You want the piece to be probably 12 inches long.
Step Four:
String your twine through the heart–make sure to leave an equal amount of twine on both sides. Tie a knot in the twine to keep it where you want it.
Step Five:
Start adding beads. Let your child decide what colors and what pattern to use and where to put them on the twine!
Step Six:
After you’re done adding the beads, tie the ends together to form a necklace or a key chain! Make as many as you need to for your child’s classroom or for a special family member!
HANDPRINT FLOWERING TREE
These fun trees are a perfect gift to give to a parent or grandparent to remind them just how much they are loved!
Approximate Time: 15-20 Minutes
Supplies Needed:
- Multi-colored construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Pen/Pencil/Marker
Step One:
Trace your child’s hand onto a wood-colored paper. Make sure to leave about an inch and a half on each side to make the base of the tree.
Step Two:
Cut out the hand. On each side of the base cut a little strip in it, going in opposite directions (one from the top and one from the bottom).
Step Three:
Cut out little squares of multi-colored paper to make your hearts. You’ll do this by folding them in half and cutting out a half-heart just like in the necklace craft above.
Step Four:
Start gluing the hearts onto the tree! This doesn’t have to be in any particular order. Just let your child glue the hearts wherever they want to.
Step Five:
Slot the two strips together to get your tree to stand up. Your child can choose whether or not they want to write a message to whoever they are giving their flowering tree to!
LOVE BUGS
These fun love bugs are just downright adorable! Your child could give them in place of candy to their classmates or you can just give them to family for a cute Valentine’s day gift! (Parents, you’ll need to help with this one, or save this craft for an older child.)
Approximate Time: 25-35 minutes
Supplies:
- Multi-colored pom poms
- Pipe Cleaners
- Googly Eyes
- Heart shaped decorations or stickers
- Hot glue gun
Step One:
Glue a pom pom or two onto a heart sticker.
Step Two:
Glue a set of googly eyes onto your pom pom.
We went ahead and glued our pipe cleaner on as antennas as well. To do this, we simply cut off a little piece of the pipe cleaner (about 5 inches or so) and folded it in half.
And that’s it! We hope that you enjoy making these crafts with your little ones, and we hope you all have a very happy Valentine’s Day!