Valentines Day Crafts

Valentines Day Candy Flower Pot Craft

2007-12-28T10:35:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Candy Flower Pot Craft

What you'll need:

Terra cotta clay pots in various sizes
acrylic paints: pinks, reds, purples, white
Valentine stickers
paint brushes, one small and one medium
new pencil
household sponge
acrylic sealer spray, matte finish
lace (optional)
raffia and/or ribbon (optional)

How to make it:

Paint clay pot in desired color and let dry. Apply a second coat, and if needed (especially with lighter colors), a third coat as well, allowing sufficient drying time in between coats. Paint inside and outside of pot.
Once painted, it’s time to decorate! Here are some ideas to make your pot look great.
To give your pot a polka dot design, use the eraser of a new pencil and dip into desired paint color. Dab once to remove excess and dot onto pot. Each polka dot will need a new application of paint. For smaller dots, use the end of a paintbrush applying with the same method.
A household sponge can be used to add a contrasting color. Wet the sponge and squeeze out all excess water. Dab into paint then dab off excess onto a piece of paper towel. Use a dabbing motion to sponge on a light coat of contrasting color.
Stripes can be applied by simply loading a small paintbrush with paint and painting downward. Stripes do not need to be perfect, so don’t fret if you “go outside the lines” so to speak.
Stickers can be used to decorate your pots. Stick over dry paint and press firmly to be sure they adhere.
You can tie ribbon or raffia into a bow and glue to the front of your pot, or tie around the rim. Hot glue will work better than white glue for adhering ribbon or raffia to the front of the pot.
Lace can also be used to accent your pot. Glue lace around the rim for a fancy finish.
Once decorated, apply a coat or two of acrylic sealer and allow to dry overnight.
Fill with various candy and enjoy your creations!

Tips:

Keep them busy during paint-drying time. Terra cotta pots require several coats of paint to cover, especially with light colors. Plan this project so that children can do other things while they are waiting for the different coats to dry. For classroom projects, plan this over several classes, or paint the pots with two coats of white ahead of time, then when children paint the pots with colors only one, or possibly two, coats will be needed.

Be careful with glue. Hot glue should be handled by adults or older children with supervision. Hot glue burns and hurts, so please use caution!

Save time by pre-making bows. Tie bows from raffia or ribbon ahead of time. Apply a drop or two of hot glue to the back center of the bow to keep it in place. Now your bows are ready.

Re-use your pencil. Acrylic paint can be easily wiped off of the pencil eraser while still wet. Pencil can still be used for its original purpose.

Valentines Day Candy Jar Craft

2007-12-28T10:34:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Candy Jar Craft

What you'll need:

Baby food jar and lid, washed, rinsed, and dried
Valentine fabric scrap
Low temp glue gun
Pinking shears
Yogurt lid (or similar size)
Pen
Red "Painters" paint markers
Pink "Painters" paint markers
Candy

Painted lid:

Baby food jar and lid, washed, rinsed, and dried
Pink craft paint
Red craft paint
Paintbrush
Red "Painters" paint markers
Pink "Painters" paint markers
Candy

How to make it:

Use the paint markers to draw on a few hearts on the side of the jar. You may wish to add a TO/FROM on the jar itself as well. Let dry.
If creating the fabric covered lid, then trace around the yogurt lid on the wrong side of the fabric. Cut out with pinking shears.
Center the fabric, wrong side down, on the middle of the jar lid. Glue in place on the top and in places on the side of the lid.
If creating the painted lid, then paint with pink paint. Let dry. Paint red heart on lid. Let dry.
Fill the jar with Valentine candy.
Fasten the lid on the jar.
Give the candy jar to someone special for Valentines Day.

Valentines Day Fingerpaint Heart Craft

2007-12-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

Supplies needed:

2 pieces of paper
Fingerpaint
Scissors or pinking shears
Glue
Optional: Glitter
Optional: A printer (if you want to use heart templates)

On one piece of paper, create a fingerpaint masterpiece. For a special effect, sprinkle some glitter on the paint while it's still wet. Let it dry completely.

If you want a traditional, folded card, fold a new piece of paper in half, creating a card shape.

If you want a simple card (the non-folded type that is often handed out by students in schools as Valentines), fold and then cut a piece of paper into quarters or sixths. This will give you the base for 4 (or 6) cards.

Using the dried fingerpaint drawing, cut out one or more hearts for each Valentine card.

Glue one or more hearts on each card. Write a Valentine message on each card.

You now have adorable Valentine cards for all your friends.

Valentines Day Handprint Heart Craft

2007-12-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

Supplies needed:

Pieces of construction paper or gift wrap (at least 2 different colors)
A pencil and a marker
Scissors
Glue
Optional: A printer (if you want to use the heart templates)

Trace your handprint on construction paper.

Carefully cut it out.

Glue a heart onto your handprint cutout.

Write a message to your Valentine.

If you like, have the hand show the sign for i love you which has the only the ring finger and the middle finger folded and glued down.

You now have nice Valentine card for a friend.

Valentines Day Chocolate Roses Craft

2007-12-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Chocolate Roses Craft

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Chocolate kisses
	Pink plastic wrap
	Green tape
	Scotch tape
	Green pipe cleaners
	Green tissue paper
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Form the bud by taping two foil-wrapped candies bottom to bottom. Drape a 5-inch square of pink plastic wrap over the top of one kiss, then gather the edges and twist them into a tail.
2. Tightly twist the top of a green pipe cleaner around the tail for the stem. Then add leaves by holding a strip of green tissue paper against the stem and rolling the pipe cleaner around the center of the strip.
3. Trim the leaves so that they have pointy tips, and wrap green tape around the stem portion above the leaves to reinforce it.

Valentines Day Dog Tag Craft

2007-12-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Dog Tag Craft

	Card stock or thin cardboard
	Scissors
	Hole punch
	Markers
	Clear Con-Tact paper
	Small metal ring (available at craft stores)
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Cut a heart shape out of stiff paper or thin cardboard, then punch a hole in the top.
2. Decorate the heart with a Valentine's Day message, like "My Hero" or "Poodle Power." Then seal the shape on both sides with clear Con-Tact paper.
3. Clip the heart onto your dog's collar with a small metal ring (an old key ring works equally well).

Valentines Day Wire Heart Craft

2007-12-28T10:22:00.001-08:00

Valentines Day Wire Heart Craft

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Small piece of wood
	Acrylic paint and brushes
	Sandpaper, optional
	Eight cut nails
	Hammer
	Flexible wire (such as lead free solder wire)
	Ball chain
	Pencil
	Old magazines or newpaper
	Glue
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Brush paint on front and sides of wood and let it dry thoroughly. If desired, sand the painted surface to create an antique look.
2. Draw a heart shape on the wood using a pencil. Then, hammer the nails halfway into the wood, spacing them evenly along the heart outline.
3. Wrap and twist lengths of wire and ball chain around the nails. You can also embellish the design with a wire arrow.
4. For a finishing touch, add a Valentine's message using letters cut from the magazines or newspaper.

Valentines Day Picture Frame Gift Craft

2007-12-28T10:21:00.001-08:00

Valentines Day Picture Frame Gift Craft

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Cardboard
	Scissors
	Colored paper (magazine pages, gift wrap, origami paper, etc.)
	Tape
	Glue
	Dowel or round chopstick
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. First trim a piece of cardboard into a rectangle for the frame and cover it with a piece of colored paper. Fold a small piece of cardboard and tape it to the back of the frame for a support.
2. Next, wrap pieces of colored paper around the dowel or chopstick, gluing or taping the edge of the paper in place. Remove the paper tube and glue or tape it to the frame.
3. Repeat the process with more tubes, filling in any spaces with smaller pieces and leaving room in the center for the picture (which can be attached with glue or double-sided tape).

Valentines Day Love Bug Craft

2007-12-28T10:19:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Love Bug Craft

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Hole punch
	Craft foam in black, white, and one other color (for the wings)
	Scissors
	Tacky glue
	Pipe cleaners (3 per bug)
	Rolls of Smarties candies
	Permanent marker
Time needed: About 1 Hour

1. To make eyes, punch 2 circles from the black craft foam. Cut 2 circles from the white craft foam that are a little larger than the black ones. Then glue the pieces together. Let these dry while you assemble the rest of the bug.
2. For the legs, tightly twist 3 pipe cleaners around one end of a roll of Smarties. Bend them at the knees and make a loop for each foot.
3. 3 Make the wings by cutting a double heart shape that's about 5 inches across. Punch a hole in the center, then use scissors to make 4 snips around the edge of the hole. Add a message to the back of the wings with a permanent marker before slipping them onto the Smarties.
4. Glue the eyes onto the pipe cleaners and let them dry, about 10 minutes.

Valentines Day Popcorn Love Card Craft

2007-12-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Popcorn Love Card Craft CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Scissors
	White card stock or poster board
	Ruler
	Red marker
	Glue stick
	Individually wrapped packages of microwave popcorn
	Masking or clear tape
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Cut a popcorn-box shape (ours is 8 inches tall and 6 inches across at the top; and a smaller rectangle for a label from the card stock.
2. With a ruler and marker, draw lines on the front of the box. Add a message and a border to the label, then glue it in place.
3. Tape the popcorn to the back so that it sticks up above the container.

Valentines Day Camouflage Heart Craft

2007-12-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Camouflage Heart Craft

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Scissors
	Camouflage scrapbooking paper (available at most craft stores)
	Light-colored card stock or paper
	Glue stick
	Marker
Time needed: 30 Minutes or Less

1. Cut a large heart from the camouflage paper and a smaller one from the lighter paper. (Ours measure 5 1/2 inches and 3 1/2 inches across.)
2. Glue the hearts together and add your message.

Valentines Day Crayon Hearts Craft

2007-12-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Crayon Hearts Craft

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Crayon pieces
	Heart-shaped metal cookie or muffin tin (our hearts are about 1 1/2 inches across)
	Scrap paper
	Double-sided foam mounting tape
	Scissors
	Colored card stock
	Marker
Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

1. Heat the oven to 250°.
2. Fill each mold with crayon pieces and bake until the crayons melt, about 10 to 15 minutes. Tip: Place a sheet pan under the crayons to catch any drips.
3. Once they're cool, remove the hearts from the molds and smooth any rough edges by rubbing them on a piece of scrap paper.
4. Use small pieces of foam tape to stick each heart to a 3-inch circle cut from card stock -- then add your message.

Valentines Day I See Your Heart Craft

2007-12-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day I See Your Heart Craft CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Scissors
	Red card stock
	Hole punch
	Heavy red yarn (we used chenille)
	Tacky glue
	40-millimeter googly eyes
	Markers
	White paper or card stock
Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

1. Cut 1 large heart and 4 smaller ones (ours were 5 1/2 inches and 1 1/4 inches across) from the red card stock.

2. Punch 4 holes in the large heart and 1 in each of the smaller hearts.

3. Cut two 12-inch lengths of yarn, then thread each piece in through an armhole and out through a leg hole. Tie on the hands and feet.

4. Glue on the googly eye, then draw on eyelashes and a smile.

5. Write your message on a small piece of the white paper, then glue it to one of the hands.

Valentines Day Hidden Message Craft

2007-12-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Hidden Message Craft


CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Scissors
	Construction paper or card stock in 2 colors
	Tape or tacky glue
	Marker
Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

1. 1 Cut an 8-inch square from one color of paper, then cut two 2- by 8-inch strips and two 1 3/4-inch hearts from the other color. Or use our template.
2. Fold the 8-inch square in fourths, accordion style, then make 3 evenly spaced cuts along the center fold.
3. Unfold the square and weave the two strips through the cuts as shown.
4. Tape or glue the hearts to the sides of the card for tabs and write "Pull" on each. (If you're using glue, allow it to dry.)
5. Refold the card, then open it like a book at the center. Write the first part of your message across the card.
6. Pull the tabs to open the card completely and write the second half of your message.
7. Refold the card so only the first part of the message shows before presenting it.

Valentines Day Heart Note Tote Craft

2007-12-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Heart Note Tote Craft

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	2 paper plates
	Stapler
	Scissors
	Hole punch
	Glue
	Colored paper
	Ribbon
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Fold 2 paper plates in half, then tuck one inside the other to form a heart. Staple them together.
2. Round the top edges with scissors. Punch matching holes in the center front and back of the pocket. Glue on colored paper hearts.
3. To finish, add a strap by threading a length of ribbon through the holes and securing the ends with a knot on the inside or outside of the pocket.

Valentines Day Craft Tissue Paper Bouquet

2007-01-02T02:34:00.000-08:00

Tissue paper
Scissors
Crayons
Pipe cleaners

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Cut eight 3 1/2-inch squares out of the tissue paper.

2. Using the side of a crayon, color along two opposite edges of each square.

3. Place one of the squares on a flat surface with the uncolored edges at the top and bottom. Starting at the top, fold the square as you would a paper fan. The pleats should be about a half inch wide. Fold the remaining squares using the same method.

4. For a stem, bend a pipe cleaner 1 1/2 inches from an end to form a hook. Stack the pleated squares (without unfolding them). Place the stack inside the hook and twist the hook end around the stem. Then, to open up the flower to full bloom, twist the petals a half turn near the stem.

Valentines Day Craft Dog Collar Tag

2007-01-02T02:33:00.000-08:00

Card stock or thin cardboard
Scissors
Hole punch
Markers
Clear Con-Tact paper
Small metal ring (available at craft stores)

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Cut a heart shape out of stiff paper or thin cardboard, then punch a hole in the top.

2. Decorate the heart with a Valentine's Day message, like "My Hero" or "Poodle Power." Then seal the shape on both sides with clear Con-Tact paper.

3. Clip the heart onto your dog's collar with a small metal ring (an old key ring works equally well).

Valentines Day Crafts Heart from Feet

2006-11-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

Card stock
Marker
Glue
Plastic jewels

Time needed: 30 Minutes or Less
1. Trace your child's feet on colored card stock or heavy construction paper and cut out the shapes (use them as a template to make more cards).

2. Glue 2 feet at the heels to form a heart, as shown, and use a paint pen or marker to pen a message.

3. Glue flat-bottomed plastic jewels (available at craft stores) to the toes for polished nails.

Valentines Day Crafts Shovel of Love

2006-11-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

Small bag of candy
Twist tie
Robbon
Toy sand shovel
Paint pen

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Close a small bag of candy with a twist tie. With a ribbon, tie it to the handle of a toy sand shovel. (We found a good selection of shovels at www.iparty.com for 40 cents apiece.)

2. Use a paint pen or permanent marker to write your message at the base of the shovel, just below the candy bag.

Valentines Day Crafts Class Gift Heart Charm

2006-11-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

Colored pencils
Shrinkable Plastic sheet
Hole punch
Metal spatula
Card stock
Key chain
Scissors

Time needed: About 1 Hour
1. Following the directions on the package, use colored pencils to draw a design on a Shrinkable Plastic sheet ($5 for 10 sheets in craft stores). Cut it out. (Ours was about 3 inches wide before baking.)

2. Punch a 1/2-inch hole at the top (to do so, we made 4 slightly overlapping holes with a standard-size hole punch), as that will shrink too.

3. Bake as directed. If the charms curl, flatten them with a metal spatula as soon as you remove them from the oven; if necessary, reheat them briefly and flatten them again.

4. Write your message on a small piece of card stock, punch a hole in it, and thread it onto a key chain with your charm. (You can buy ball chain at hardware stores. Simply cut it into 4-inch lengths with old scissors and add connectors.)

Valentines Day Crafts Heart Cookie Cutter Grass Project

2006-11-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

Heart-shaped cookie cutter
New sponge
Grass seed
Plant mister
Plastic wrap
Paper
Colored marker

Time needed: Weekend Project
1. Trace around a heart-shaped cookie cutter onto a new sponge, then cut out the shape. Rinse the sponge well to remove any pretreated disenfectant, then let dry.

2. Dampen the sponge slightly, then put it inside the cutter.

3. Sprinkle grass seed onto the sponge, spritz with a plant mister, then cover with plastic wrap. Place the heart on a saucer so dampness won't seep through.

4. Make a card with care directions using paper and a colored marker to attach to the plant. Remove plastic wrap when shoots appear. Spritz with water daily and mow as necessary.

Valentines Day Crafts Heart Glasses

2006-11-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

Craft foam
Pen
Scissors
Pipe cleaners
Envelope

Time needed: About 1 Hour
1. Draw a heart on craft foam that's about 2 1/2 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches tall. Draw a second heart inside the first that's roughly 1 1/2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches tall. Cut them both out. Then trace around the see-through heart to make another just like it.

2. Twist together 2 different-colored pipe cleaners, leaving about I inch untwisted at each end. Cut them in half with scissors (use old ones since pipe cleaners can dull the blades). Fold over the twisted ends and tuck in the sharp points so they aren't exposed, then bend those ends into curved earpieces.

3. Poke the other end of one of the pipe cleaners through the outside edge of one heart, about two thirds of the way up the side. Twist it around the other pipe cleaner, then wrap the ends back around the heart and tuck in the sharp tips. Repeat with the other pipe cleaner arm.

4. Add a nose bridge by poking a 3-inch section of pipe cleaner through the inside edge of each heart and twisting it back onto itself. The hearts should sit about 1/2 inch apart.

5. Make a case for the glasses by sealing a #10 business envelope (we used a translucent vellum one) and trimming about 3 inches from one end, rounding the corners. Write a message on a paper heart and glue it to the envelope.

Valentines Day Crafts Heart Necklace with Beads

2006-11-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

20-gauge wire (available at bead stores)
Scissors
Pliers
Beads

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Snip a length of wire (a parent's job) and bend it into a V shape.

2. String on the beads (tape the wire's cut ends first to protect smaller children).

3. Finish by bending the beaded wire into a heart, then twisting the ends together with the pliers.