Great Ideas for Kid's Homemade Valentines

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and the candy and cards of the season are already stocked in our favorite stores. Kids around the country will enjoy looking forward to Valentine parties at school where they will get to exchange Valentine cards with their friends.

Store-bought Valentines that used to come with little tiny envelopes and nicer cards are now simply "tear-apart" cards that fold over and stay together with a very small sticker. These cards are ok. But with a little extra effort, you and your child can make memorable homemade valentines their friends will love.

Here are some great ideas for kid's homemade Valentines.

Candy Cane Card

Do you have a stash of left over candy canes from the holidays? Or, did you find a great deal on candy canes at the after Christmas sales? Have you noticed out 2 candy canes, when placed facing each other form the shape of a heart? Make this "happy coincidence" work for you by using those candy canes to make cute Valentine cards. The red and white stripes go right along with the colors of Valentines Day. Just get some red, heavy card stock and fold it down the center. If you use a scoring tool to pre-score your paper, it will fold easier. Use extra colored paper to create a border, or just glue your two candy canes directly to the card. Kids can use colored markers to write a message on the front and sign the card on the inside.

Lollipop Flowers

Use colored lollipops (the flat kind) to form the center and stem of a flower. Just cut out a flower shape from colored paper and glue the wrapped lollipop to the center of the flower shape. A 4 inch section of green chenille stem (in the old days we called them pipe cleaners), twisted around the lollipop stick will create the look of leaves. Have your child sign the back of the flower so their friends will know who it's from.

Cupid's Arrow

Pixy Stix are paper straws filled with flavored sugar. They make great arrows when embellished with a small construction paper triangle for the arrows tip, and a "v" shaped piece of construction paper for the arrow's feathers. Before adding these construction paper shapes to the Pixy Stix, cut out paper hearts and write a fun Valentine message on the front and have your child sign his name on the back. Fold the heart in half and, using a hole punch, punch through both sides of the folded heart. When you open up the heart you should have 2 holes. Thread the Pixy Stix through the holes, then glue on the small triangle and "v" shape to complete the arrow.

Eyes for You

This Valentine greeting is a darling pair of heart shaped eye-glasses and will take a little more time than other Valentine card crafts. However, friends will love to receive this unique Valentine from your child. Using foam sheets, trace two heart shapes for each pair of glasses. Then on the inside of each heart trace another, smaller heart. When both are cut out, you should end up with two heart-shaped frames. The frames should be around ½ inch thick. Twist together 2 chenille stems to create one of the sides of the glasses. Repeat for the other side and attach them by making a small hole in the edge of each foam heart frame. Making another hole in each frame, create a bridge for your glasses with a small piece of chenille stem. Fold up your glasses and package them in a sealed long envelope with the short end cut off. This will resemble a real glasses case and your child can decorate it and sign their name on it.

With a little time and creativity, you and your child can create homemade Valentines that will be as fun to make as they are to receive.