Valentine's Day Crafts

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If you ever received a heart basket made by your little 3-year old, your heart probably melted right away. Or maybe you never did. This means you simply need to teach your child how to make one. There are plenty of loving craft projects that Valentine's Day inspires. Here are a few suggestions you will have fun with.

Heart Bookmark

Tools: 2 different colors of foam or felt paper, scissors, glue stick

This project is perfect for left-over scraps of foam, or use new sheets.

1. First, trace the shape of a heart on a piece of foam paper.
2. Cut it out and using the model, trace 4 more hearts on the same color foam. Cut all the heart shapes out.
3. Cut out a rectangular slice of foam paper of a different color (background teal or purple and pink hearts go well together).
4. Arrange the hearts going down on the rectangular bookmark and glue them on. Set to dry. In a pinch, heart stickers are an easy substitute for younger kids.
5. Shape the bottom of the bookmark as a triangle or fringe for more fun.

Special Flower Vase

Tools: old glass jar or small plastic bottle, tinfoil, ribbon, scissors, glue stick

This is one holiday when flowers are everywhere, and where should you put those flowers? How about this beautiful homemade flower vase?

1. Start by covering your clean old jar or plastic bottle with tinfoil, covering the outside and over the neck.
2. Take a ribbon and glue it around the jar, rolling around in random loops. Add glittery stickers if you like.
3. Wait for the glue to dry before adding water and flowers.

Heart Basket

Tools: 2 pieces of construction paper of different colors (for contrast), ribbon, glue, scissors, hole punch

What a nice way to offer candy or gifts for someone special? A great idea for your preschooler, after this heart basket is made, is to cut out small paper or foam hearts and fill the basket with them.

1. Cut out a piece 4 in. x 12 in. out of one color construction paper. Then, cut out a piece 5 in. x 12 in. out of the other color construction paper.
2. Fold both pieces of paper in half widthways and round out the top by cutting the corners on the open ends. Basically, if you opened each piece afterwards, it would look like an oval.
3. Separate the pieces and draw up 4 slits in each paper going from the folded side up (but not all the way) and cut the slits. They don't have to be separated evenly. In fact, uneven cuts make for a more interesting pattern. Cut the slits a little higher on the thinner piece.
4. Hold two pieces side by side and start interlacing them from the folded part, making a weaving pattern. Each "slice" goes in (through) and out of the "slices" of the other paper. Bend the papers but be careful not to tear it.
5. Open the basket heart and fold at the seams.
6. Punch holes through the ends and weave the ribbon or cord through these - that's your handle.
7. Fill with paper hearts or candy.

Red Apple Prints

Tools: 3 large apples, 1 cup cranberry juice, tissue paper

This activity can be done with any fruit or vegetable that leaves large enough prints. We are using red coloring for Valentine's Day. Why apples? They are simply delicious with cranberry juice, which is what we are using for coloring. Or, take it further by creating your own wrapping paper for a gift for someone special - everyone knows the "XOXO" signature, so why not create your own paper with it?

1. Simply cut out a slice of apple and cut out the middle, so you have a circle.
2. Then, cut a thicker slice, draw a cross in the middle of it and cut it out in the slice, so it's indented. The cutting in this project is more for adults, but printing and dipping into coloring is for kids.
3. Add glitter and your own Valentine's Day paper is ready!

Written by Mommy Mom