Valentine Arts and Crafts for Kids

Written by: Dee Power

Valentine Day is for kids as well as adults. It's the first major fun holiday since Christmas. Below are several ideas for Valentine arts and crafts that children can make, give and receive. Adult supervision is required when using scissors, hot glue gun or the oven, such as the crayon hearts.

Crayon Hearts

These are fun to make and only require an adult to place the muffin tins in the oven and remove them when melted.

You will need: Crayon pieces
Heart shaped metal muffin tin
Cellophane bags
Marker
Colored Card Stock
Scissors
Ribbon
If you don't have cellophane bags you can use squares of cellophane. You can also use a zip lock bag.

Heat oven to 245 degrees Fill each heart mold muffin tin with chunks of crayon. Bigger chunks are better than smaller chunks. Keep colors complimentary such as white, pinks, reds or opposites like blues and yellows. Bake until melted 10-15 min. Catch any overflow by using a flat cookie sheet underneath the muffin tin. Be careful not to move muffin tin around too much after the crayons have melted. You want nice bright color chunks not mixed together brown.

While crayons are melting, and it doesn't take very long, let the children color on heart shaped paper.

Let cool, they'll cool faster in the fridge but remember the more you move the muffin tins the more the colors will mix. Remove hearts from mold.

Cut heart out of card stock write message on back, write "to" and "from." Place crayon in cellophane bag and tie bag with ribbon hole punch paper heart. Slip onto ribbon and tie a knot.

Suggested messages:
You make my hear melt
You color my world
Color me happy

These make great Valentine gifts for children because they can actually color using the hearts.

Monkey Around

Children love monkeys.

You will need: plastic monkeys. Try the dollar store or online party stores. If you can't find monkeys you can always buy the game monkeys in a barrel.

Hole Punch
Cellophane or clear gift bag
Ribbon
Marker
Card stock
Scissors

Put one or more monkeys in cellophane bag, tie with ribbon.

Cut a heart out of card stock. (Write message. On back write "to:" and "from:"

Hole punch heart, slip onto ribbon and tie a knot to keep it on.

Suggested Message:
Lets Monkey Around
I'm going Ape over you
Come hang around with me.

Plant One On Me

Children are fascinated by seeds and plants. If possible see if your plant nursery or florist, has a few of the kinds of flowers the children will be planting so they can see what they look like.

You will need: packet of seeds any kind. Big seeds like nasturtiums, sunflowers, or zinnias are easy for children to handle and plant. They also sprout rather easily and quickly.

Colored markers
Terracotta pots, size depends on you
Potting soil enough to fill pots
Scissors
Card stock
Hole punch
Water
Ribbon
Cellophane bags

Have child paint, or marker terracotta pot. Let dry. Put potting soil in pot. Plant seeds. Water. Let drain for 15 minutes or so. Serve refreshments or play a game while the pots are draining.

Place pot in cellophane bag and tie tightly right above the pot so the soil can't come out. Cut out heart from card stock. Write message "to:" and "from:" on back.

Hole punch heart run through hole and tie tightly around the bag.

Suggested messages:
Plant one on me
Watch our friendship grow
Watch our love grow
Our friendship will flower
Love will blossom

Hope you and your child enjoyed these Valentine day arts and crafts for kids.

About the Author: Free report 12 months of Party Ideas for Kids Find lots of party ideas for birthdays, Valentines, and other special occasions. Dee Power is the co-author of several nonfiction books including "The Publishing Primer: A Blueprint for an Author's Success," "58 Ways to Find Money for Your Business, "Inside Secrets to Venture Capital" and "Attracting Capital From Angels" She and her adult daughter CeCe Jensen enjoy coming up with new party ideas for kids http://www.partyideaskids.com

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