Handmade Valentine Ideas

02.10.11

Hello!

Just got home from our fabulous vacation. I have a lot to catch up on, but wanted to pop in and share a bit.

Colin and I are trying to decide what to do for his Valentines this year. In the meantime, I thought I would share here what we did the last two years in case they inspire you.

We don't put candy in ours – we try to avoid too much of that as does his school. Last year we did little craft kits for them to create with at home… (For more photos of the projects and instructions, click HERE.)

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Those were SO much fun to put together. The little crafts? Those were from cheap Hobby Lobby tubs. Love.

The year before, we created little folded bags holding mini coloring pages and markers. Easy and fun… (Click HERE for more info and photos.)

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I am stumped on what little goodies to include this year. Any ideas? I may just go with pencils. Hmmm…

See you soon with some more sharing!


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38 thoughts on “Handmade Valentine Ideas”

  1. Fabulous ideas, Jennifer! I so fail at Valentine’s… maybe because we home school and don’t have to any cards off to school? I think my kids are going to share a card this year. 🙁

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  2. our kids’ school doesn’t really do the party/snack/candy thing, but my daughter’s teacher is allowing them to exchange cards, so we’re using the PTI die to make everyone a personalized bookmark

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  4. Maybe you can do a card like you did with the slot for a gift card and instead put stickers or tattoo’s. Go to Wendy’s and see if they will give you some free frosty coupons.

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  5. Welcome back! Awesome ideas! Really love the craft bags, this would be perfect for Abby’s class, as she loves doing crafts! Have you thought about Perler Bead kits? I’ve picked up some mini kits (single projects) from Michael’s in the past for $1 each.

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  7. I bet the kids LOVE having Colin in their class (and his crafty mom to help out!). These are such CUTE ideas. I especially love the crafts you gave out.

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  8. Love your ideas. Too bad my kids are all grown up and in college. But your ideas are great. This year maybe just add a small puzzle or a small book. Pencils are always good to include. Have fun. I am sure that whatever you use will be wonderful. You are so creative and have the best ideas. Good luck and welcome back. I have missed all the wonderful goodies you share with us.

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  9. I ordered a pack of magnet sheets in hopes that it would work out for my Spellbinders storage. They don’t but they would be perfect to create magnets for Colin to give to his classmates. They are Avery Magnet Sheets White. You can print on them from your printer or stamp on them! Could be real cute — just an idea. Glad you had a great time away.

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  10. Personalized Bookmarks are a great idea. Or how about a mini-scrapbook so Mom’s and Dad’s can take pics of their kids through out the school year of them and all the artwork they may bring home. I save so much of it before someone smart told me to take a picture of the kid holding their artwork, and just save the picture and it’s also so nice to chronicle how much the child and the artwork changes.

    have fun making whatever you do decide on.

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  12. My kids (ages 4 and 2) and I were inspired by the pencil valentines featured in Scrapbooks Etc. They turned out so well! And I love the Papertrey Ink’s Tiny Treats stamp sets! Hope you had a great trip.

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  13. You and Colin make quite a creative team…the only problem with making Valentines this creative is that you somehow have to equal or top your past brilliance. I have no doubt that you will do just that..can’t wait to see what you and Colin dream up!

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  14. Some kind of little messages in invisible ink? Temporary tattoos are always a good bet.

    I’ve bought at a Michaels-type store before for cheap small blank puzzles. You could scan a picture or ink them up, or even leave them blank for the kids to do themselves at home. It could always be a heart and a message like “Happy V-Day” or something.

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  21. You could include fancy erasers. My kids always loved those and they’re even still popular with my daughter’s 4th grade class, you could also do the shaped bracelets (you can get a pack of 12-15 for about $2). Good luck!!

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  25. OMGoodness . . . thank God you are back . . . I was going through withdrawls! Have to get my Jennifer McQuire fix in every day! (lol! but true!) 🙂 You poor girl, God forbid you take a break . . . right? 🙂 Hope you had a FABULOUS time, but I really was excited to visit today and see a new post stearing me toward what I need to accomplish this weekend. We will be doing a book Valentine treat and I need to make book plates for them. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂

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  26. Oh I forgot about these! Will keep it in mind for Easter and end of school. So I did cake pops! I am sure you heard about those, went well. I will post them on my blog tomorrow. I wanted to make a food item as I don’t have good Valentine Stamps! But seeing someone suggest the magnet sheets reminds me that for my daughter’s birthday I made her a princess invites and stamped a princess on paper and colored it to match each girl and than mounted the magnet sheet on the back. The girls loved it (all the parents told me!) and still play with it at home! (I often see it at there homes when we go for playdates) If you know the class well you could do a princess and prince theme! Or the Hero Arts girl dolls, Hero Arts so needs a boy doll next! Here is where I posted the princess on my blog:
    http://craftygrldesigns.blogspot.com/2010/11/wee-memories-birthday-bash.html

    Glad to see your back! I hope you had a fab trip!

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  28. Jennifer, welcome home, I am sure you had a terrific trip.

    Loved your Valentine’s ideas. Some great ideas above in the comments too. I am liking all the non sugar ones! Thanks for sharing everyone.

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  29. Another cute idea you could easily make would be tic-tac-toe boards. Print the grid on card stock then die cut circles with x’ and o’ or hearts and x’s.

    Welcome home, btw!

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  30. You could make a matchbook-style coloring book. Stamp large images on 3×3 paper, stack them up and insert them in a matchbook cover. (does that make sense?) Give each kid a 4-pack of crayons with a coloring book.

    That’s what I wanted to make for my boys to take, but they wanted to bring fruit snacks instead…..so I still made a matchbook-style cover for them.

    Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

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  31. Love these wonderful Valentine gift ideas for kids, Jennifer! There are so many great suggestions above for this year. It could be fun for Colin and you to make those little woven Swedish heart bags and maybe include any of these – bouncy ball, bubbles, felt heart pins or rosettes for the boys, a little notebook stamped on the outside along with a pencil with a matching topper, other little craft packs with felt shapes, googly eyes and pom poms, plus a few little silly jokes on pieces of paper. You’ll have a busy weekend! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

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  32. I’ve never been to Europe before–traveled vicariously thru your photos, so thanks muchly for sharing them! 🙂 These are such fun valentines! WOW! Everybody’s got such sweet ideas!

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  33. Cute projects! We are going to make our Valentines today. I am going to go the easy way and just facilitate the process and leave the designs to my girls. I did pick up a fun Valentine embossing folder.
    I like Heather Maria’s idea for a Valetine joke in each one. Fun!

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  34. We did a larger heart with a pencil going through it like an arrow one year. Just punch two holes and pass the pencil through. The kids signed the back. We have also done Valentine bookmarks. I love not doing candy too.

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  37. You should have your kids make valentines for the neighborhood children (or elderly neighbors). My daughter has her kids make valentines for the neighbors. They also make a cupcake for each recipient. They leave them at the door (ring the bell) and dash away. It’s a lot of fun for them AND the recipient. Try it! I bet it will get to be a tradition.

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