Easy Valentine's Day Crafts for Elementary School Parties

Are you planning crafts for an elementary school Valentine's Day party? Because there will be valentine's cards to deliver, games to play, and food to eat during the party, try to keep the crafts very simple. As a former elementary school teacher, I've helped children create a wide variety of Valentine's Day crafts, from conversation heart picture frames to tissue paper flowers. Here are some ideas for quick and easy Valentine's Day crafts that can be used at an elementary school party.

Easy Valentine's Day Foam Bookmark - A Valentine's Day foam bookmark craft is perhaps one of the easiest to prepare and quickest to make. Materials needed to make this craft are valentine-colored pieces of foam, peel-and-stick foam heart pieces, ribbon, tacky glue, decorative-edged scissors, and heart punches. Cut a rectangle the size of a bookmark from the foam using regular scissors; trim with paper edgers, while saving the scraps. Punch a hole in the top center of the foam bookmark piece. Tie a length of ribbon through the hole to create a tassel. Kids can decorate their bookmarks with the stick-on heart pieces and any rick-rack foam trimmings. Depending on how many heart punches you have or are able to borrow, kids may choose to make a heart punch pattern along the sides or tops of the bookmark. This valentine's craft can be adapted for younger children by cutting the foam pieces ahead of time.

Jumbo Heart Foam "Lollipop" - This Valentine's Day craft resembles an oversized swirl candy lollipop. Materials needed to make this craft are regular sized Pixy Stix, craft foam, ribbon, glitter, scissors, and tacky glue. Foam can be purchased in rectangles and oversized hearts can be cut out ahead of time. Each child will need one Pixy Stix and two large hearts to make one "lollipop" craft. Fabulous Foam Jumbo Hearts can be ordered, pre-cut, from Oriental Trading. Put a line of glue halfway up the middle of one jumbo foam heart and put a Pixy Stix on top of the glue line. Firmly hold in place. Put glue around the edges of the heart shape and on top of the Pixy Stix part that is already glued into place. Put a matching jumbo heart piece over the top of the bottom jumbo heart and Pixy Stix. Hold firmly in place. Allow to dry. Decorate one side of the jumbo heart "lollipop" with swirls of glue and sprinkles of glitter. After the "lollipop" is dry, tie on a bow at the base or add a piece of cellophane wrap with ribbon. Several jumbo "lollipops" can be made into a bouquet.

Heart-Shaped Puzzle Piece Magnet - Several days before the Valentine's Day party, gather puzzle pieces from boxes of puzzles with missing pieces. To protect work surface, spread newspaper and then spray paint puzzle pieces, using red, white, and pink paint. Allow to dry thoroughly. During the Valentine's Day party, ask adult volunteers to help the kids prearrange the puzzle pieces into a heart shape or outline of a heart. Once puzzle pieces have been arranged, glue the pieces in place. After the glue has dried, attach a magnet to the back of the heart craft. This valentine's craft is a little more difficult for kids, but is well-suited for older elementary students.

Whatever Valentine's Day crafts you choose for the party, keep the skill level of the kids in mind and test out your craft materials and methods beforehand. Pick just one Valentine's Day craft from these ideas to keep the kids happy and the party running smoothly.

Source:
www.orientaltrading.com