How to Make a Magnet that Says "I Love You" in Sign Language

As children, many of us made salt dough crafts in school. These are the sturdy clay that we used to make magnets, Christmas ornaments, or even paperweights. For good reason. The clay is sturdy when dry, and it can be molded into many shapes. But here is one easy salt dough craft you probably never did in elementary school. Using the recipe and directions below, you can make a magnet that says "I love you" in sign language. Here's how:

The ingredients for the dough are 1 cup of water, 1 cup of salt, and 2 1/2 cups of flour. Mix the salt and flour together, and then slowly add the water to the dry mixture. Add more water or flour as necessary to make a dough that has a similar texture to pie crust dough. Then, use a rolling pin a spread the dough out to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

After you have made your dough, have your child place their hand on the dough. For best results, their thumb should be extended. Trace around it with a dull butter knife, and then after your child moves their hand, cut around the outline. Fold the ring and middle fingers down to the palm, using a picture of the sign language symbol for "I love you" as a guide. Smooth any cracks with a bit of water on your fingertip, so that it is smooth and less likely to crack and break at this place.

Bake these at 250 degrees for 30 minutes, and then carefully flip them and bake for another 30 minutes. After they have cooled, you can paint them. Remember that the palm should face outwards. This is the best time to personalize the magnets, and you can decorate it in any way you choose. You can do it flesh-tone, or you can even choose to do it in a wild color. For Valentine's Day crafts, reds are always popular choices. You may decide to paint your name and the date on it, or even the words "I love you". Whatever you choose, this is the step that makes it truly personalized. It's also the most fun for kids since the get to play with paints and ribbons.

After they have been decorated however you choose, you need to attach the magnets. These will be fairly heavyweight, so make sure to use several magnets on the back. You can buy self stick magnets from a craft store to attach to the back, or you can use a glue gun.

After you finish, you will be left with a magnet that says "I love you" in sign language. This sign has become a nearly universal way to say "I love you," even among the hearing world. The reason is simple. One hand gesture can signify so much, and it can be spoken across a crowded room without saying a single word out loud. It's the ultimate way for lovers to express their feelings to each other. Kids are naturally adept at languages, and using sign language can be a secret way for them to express their feelings when they might otherwise be too embarrassed to do so.

With several magnets on the back, this is certain to last a long time. The best part is that it is a craft that kids can do easily, and have a lot of fun making. It can be painted or decorated any way they choose, and then given to a special person they love. And with as inexpensive and easy as the dough is to make, your child can make enough for their entire class. That makes it one Valentine that is certain to stand out.