Valentine's Crafts for Kids

Valentine's Day is a romantic holiday, but this doesn't mean children have to be left out of the festivities. Making and giving Valentine's Day cards has become almost a tradition in many schools, along with the ever-popular paper mailboxes. But there are many other Valentine crafts which both girls and boys can make, most of which involve minimal supervision and few supplies.

Love Train

The Love Train is an easy craft to complete, particularly for young children. Boys may like the train theme more than girls, but almost any child would enjoy making or receiving a train made of candy for Valentine's Day. To make the train, you will need two boxes of candy hearts, one lollipop, nine individually-wrapped round candies such as peppermints, and a pin or scissors. Glue one box of candy perpendicular to the other, so that one is standing up and the other is glued sideways. The end result should look like an L-shape laid on its side. Poke a hole using the pin or the scissors in the top of the side box, the one laying across the bottom, which makes up the body of the train. Stick your lollipop through the hole, then glue the round candies along the sides for wheels. Save three to glue across the top of the train. You can customize your train by drawing decorations or writing messages on paper and then gluing them to the sides.

Stained-Glass Hearts

Stained-glass hearts is an easy Valentine's craft suitable for older children. You will need several different colors of crayons, an ironing board and iron, two large paper bags, a handheld pencil sharpener, waxed paper and scissors. You will also need a permanent marker if you want to write messages on your hearts. First, use the sharpener to make make crayon shavings. Remove the paper from the crayons before you start shaving. Light-colored crayons, like pink, white, light blue or yellow work best. Shave them over a sheet of waxed paper, them spread them evenly over the sheet so that the whole paper is covered. leaving a blank border along the sides. Place your paper bag on your ironing board, then the crayon shavings. Cover the shavings with another piece of waxed paper and the second bag and then iron while on a low setting. Iron slowly so that the shavings melt together evenly. Once melted, let them cool. You should then be able to peel the crayon off the paper and cut the sheet into heart shapes. You can also write messages on them in marker. The hearts can be hung, put into cards or bags, or used in other crafts.

Candy Rings

Candy rings are a simple craft almost any child can make. You will need chenille stems (pipe cleaners), in any color you like, small wrapped hard candies and some white craft glue. Simply wrap the stem around either your finger or the finger of the person for whom you are making the ring. Wrap the entire stem so that it goes around several times, then slide it off carefully. Wrap the ends around the circle to secure it and to keep the ends from poking out. Put on of your wrapped candies on a flat surface and then add a few dots of glue on top. Place your ring sideways on top of the glue. Let it dry. You should have a wearable ring with a candy on top.

Busy Bee Kids Crafts: Love Train

http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Love-Train.html

Disney Family Fun: Be My Valentine-Stained-Glass Hearts

http://familyfun.go.com/valentines-day/valentines-day-cards/be-my-valentine-stained-glass-hearts-664628/

Amanda Formaro: Candy Rings

http://crafts.kaboose.com/candy-rings.html