Valentine’s Day Crafts To Make Your Little Ones Smile

Who doesn’t love Valentine’s Day? And no, I don’t mean the need to buy the ridiculously sappy Hallmark card or the expensive pre-fixed dinner. I mean the good old fashioned reason for Valentine’s Day – showing the people you love how much you love them. Especially when it comes to kids…and what better way to show your children you love them than to spend some quality time with them. For me, I love to craft with my son, Jack. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, have you spent some time doing crafts or making homemade Valentines, like the ones you made and handed out when you were a kid? Read on to check out some ideas of heart themed crafts to do with your children this week.

Heart animals – How cute are these animals made of hearts? We used paper, pipe cleaners, feathers, markers, and googly eyes. Don’t have some of these items? No problem! Just use your imagination. We even used white paper and a stamp pad to create custom colored paper. Use crayons, markers, glitter, sequins, stickers, and whatever other fun embellishments you have to make these love animals your own.

Homemade Valentines – Ah, homemade Valentines. Brings me right back to my childhood making my own, armed with a glue stick, heart construction paper, and doilies. Why not recreate that experience and memory with your children? You can even take it a step further and be extra creative by using your child’s favorite show or interest to bring it to life!

Fruit Rollup Valentine

Edible treats – What else is more associated with Valentine’s Day than treats? Chocolate, sugar, strawberries, icing, and just about anything sweet! Why not make some treats at home together with your kid? You can enjoy the making just as much as the eating. We made some adorable treats with pretty simple ingredients! Try these fruit roll up fortune cookies – what could be easier than cutting them out with a circle cookie cutter (or top of a glass if you don’t have one), folding in half and turning to create a sweeter version of the classic fortune cookie? Stick whatever message you want inside and enjoy!!

Arrow Valentine

Who doesn’t associate Cupid and arrows with this holiday? We made our own with wrapped chocolate hearts, kebab skewers, and a paper tail. Packaged in cellophane and tied with red and white bakers twine, they are the perfect way to ask someone to be your valentine!

Super Hero Pop

These superhero pops are as easy as they are cute – just add a paper or felt mask and cape and decorate it as you wish! Ours had a star, but try a heart or even the initials of your own superhero!

Non edible treats – With all of the allergies (and concern with our waistline!) isn’t it nice to give or receive a treat that you don’t eat? Try a love keepsake, like these simple heart bookmarks made of a paint sample or, using my salt dough recipe, have your child paint a keepsake ornament. The salt dough is easy enough for a child to make – and Jack loves to roll out the dough! We chose a super cute ‘XOX’ cookie cutter, we’d love to see what you made!

Valentine Decoration

Decorations - Love is in the air, why not decorate your house and table, too? I love decorating styrofoam cones for each holiday or season and what is more classic to Valentine’s Day than hearts and conversation heart candy? Check out these that we made.

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your valentines. XO from Party-nista and my valentines.

Laura Buccola

As a graduate of Lehigh University, Laura entered the world of advertising, where she worked on high profile clients such as IBM, Bank of America and PepsiCo. After a eight year stint and with the creativity blood burning inside of her, she founded Party-nista, a handmade crafting business. Her days are spent both crafting with her son and working on client projects, which include handmade invitations, favors and decorations for events, celebrations and birthday parties. She currently lives in Summit, NJ with her husband, James and three year old son, Jack.