Fresh Ideas for Valentine's Day!

We love conversation hearts, pretty little folded valentines and roses galore.  But we thought we’d share a few fresh ideas we found here or there,  to spruce up Valentine’s Day this year – and have some fun while we you’re at it!

1.  Bear Hugs

Supplies needed:

• Red & white M&M’s or red/white candy corn
• chocolate teddy grahams
• cellophane bags
• ribbon
• tags or paper scraps to label.

For a really sweet Valentine’s Day treat – mix up some red and white M&M’s or red and white candy corn with chocolate teddy grahams.  Fill up a small cellophane bag with about 1/2 cup of the mixture.  Tie on some gorgeous red ribbon (or pink!) with an attached tag that reads: Bear Hugs from Jane (insert child’s name).  You can also use goldfish crackers instead of teddy grahams and call it “Fish Kisses”.

2.  Marshmallow pops

Supplies needed:

• Large marshmallows
• Chocolate bark or melting chocolate
• Popsicle sticks
• sprinkles or confetti
• small cellophane bags
• ribbon
• tags from art paper, fun scrapbook paper or even scraps of paper bags

Grab a bag of Popsicle sticks, large marshmallows, chocolate bark and some red, white & pink sprinkles.  Put the marshmallow on the Popsicle stick, dip the marshmallow in the melted chocolate, then carefully sprinkle the confetti sprinkles over the chocolate.  Then lay the Popsicle down on wax paper to cool and harden.  Then using small cellophane bags or a square of wax paper, cover the top of the Popsicle, secure with a beautiful ribbon and attach your Valentine’s wishes on a sweet little tag.

3.   Handmade Valentine’s Day Cards

Supplies needed:

• plain white prepackaged cards and envelopes – available at craft stores
• red or pink acrylic paint
• a dish sponge

Before you say you don’t have time – think about how much time this will entertain the kids.  Not to mention how proud they’ll be of the final result!

Grab a dish sponge and cut it into a heart shape – use a small cookie cutter as a pattern if needed.  (Just dip the cookie cutter in some paint or use a stamp pad and transfer the design to the sponge.

Dampen the sponge and wring it out so that it’s pliable but barely wet.  Alongside your child (at least for the first few), dip the sponge into the red, pink or white acrylic paint and then “stamp” the heart shape onto your white card.  Have your child write or draw on the inside – no matter what it reads it will say “love”