Valentines Day Crafts

Valentines Day Candy Flower Pot Craft

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

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

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

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

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

	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

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

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).