Valentine’s Day is a day to spend with the ones you love, and if you have kids, why not make the holiday a family fun one! One great thing to do as a family is crafting so here are some fun Valentine’s Day ideas we found to get into the holiday spirit with your little ones. creations with your little ones.
Martha Stewart‘s Valentine’s Day Secret Messages
Supplies Needed:
- ♣ Paintbrush
- ♣ Sponge
- ♣ Baking soda
- ♣ Water
- ♣ White watercolor paper
- ♣ Decorative paper and card stock
- ♣ Self-adhesive laminating sheets
- ♣ Double-sided tape
- ♣ Spay bottle
- ♣ Grape juice (The acid in the juice reacts with baking soda, to change the color of the paper, revealing the message)
Steps:
- In a small bowl, mix equal parts baking soda and water.
- Using a paintbrush, write a secret message with the baking soda mixture on a piece of white watercolor paper. You should be able to see the message while it is still wet; if it’s hard to see, look at the paper at an angle as you write.
- Allow the message to dry completely.
- Brush off excess baking soda residue with a dry sponge.
- To make a water-resistant card, cut pieces of decorative paper or card stock slightly bigger than the secret message paper. Sandwich the card between 2 sheets of laminate material.
- Using double-sided tape, attach the watercolor paper with the invisible message to the top of the laminated card.
- Present the card with a spray bottle of grape juice. Instruct the recipient to spray the grape juice on the card to reveal the secret message. Note: The message must be lying flat until dry or the grape juice (and message!) will drip off.
See also: Simple Summer Crafts for Elementary Kids
Eat Craft Parent‘s Butterfly Tootsie Pops
Supplies Needed:
- ♣ Scrapbook paper (1 sheet = 8 butterflies)
- ♣ Scissors
- ♣ Butterfly template
- ♣ Rotary cutter
- ♣ Valentine Tootsie Pops
- ♣ Stick-on eyes
- ♣ Pipe cleaners (cut in half)
- ♣ Pencil
Steps:
- Fold your sheet of scrapbook paper in half and cut using either the scissors. This gives you two halves. Fold each of your two halves again hot-dog style.
- Cut out the shape of a butterfly (Use a template if needed). Attach the stencil to the sheet, on the side that is folded but not cut, and trace. Cut the butterflies out.
- Use the rotary cutter to make two small cuts in the middles of the butterfly. Insert your tootsie pop into the cuts.
- Decorate the tootsie pop with googly eyes and use the pipe cleaners as antennas. [Image sources: Eat Craft Parent]
Martha Stewart‘s Crayon Hearts
Supplies Needed:
- ♣ Waxed paper
- ♣ Wax crayons
- ♣ Handheld pencil sharpener
- ♣ Kraft paper
- ♣ Iron
- ♣ Pencil
- ♣ Scissors
- ♣ Silk thread
Steps:
- Begin with a 12-by-16-inch sheet of waxed paper. Fold it in half along its length; unfold. Deposit wax-crayon shavings
(made with a handheld pencil sharpener) evenly but not thickly across one half of the paper. Fold the clean half of the paper over the shavings. Crimp the three open edges with a 1/2-inch fold to hold the shavings. - Protect your ironing surface with kraft paper. Place the waxed paper on the kraft paper, and cover it with another sheet of kraft paper. Iron lightly on medium heat, checking after every few passes. Stop when all the shavings have melted; let cool.
- Trace and cut out hearts of various sizes. String each heart with a silk thread for hanging.
We hope you have fun crafting and your little ones enjoy their new Valentine’s Day creations!
