Valentine's Day is fast approaching and the kids are anxious. What shall we make this year? What's the ettiquite now that A is in middle school and there are no more class parties and she attends 6 classes a day with hundreds of kids, many she hardly knows? How does she slip Valentines to her closest friends without hurting the feelings of others? Should she just give cards to her teachers and bus drivers and leave it at that?
Previous years we've made photo cards like this:
I usually photoshop 2 images on a 4X6 that I can cut into 4x3's. Printing a set of 12 gives 24 cards to exchange with classmates, for a cost of $1.56 per girl, much less than the cheapest Valentine cards for sale at the stores. I also do a set with a photo of the girls together, that they give to teachers and relatives.
The trend is now giving candy and toys, not just a card. My girls insist that kids who give only a card are ostracized, so for the last few years they've talked me into giving candy, too, which I think is unnecessary. Although with the loot that the girls come home with after a school party, it must be true that only the newest immigrant kids who've never exchanged valentines before fail to include "a treat" with their card.
I have mixed feelings about all these extras. I don't know whether it is moms trying to outdo each other, or kids demanding them, but the expectation is there. It's like those insideously expanding "goodie bags" full of cheap-o plastic toys and candy that kids come home with from birthday parties. It's just getting to be too much, but...
Here I am a few days before Valentine's day, listening to my daughter's pleas to do something spectacular for their friends, and as I peruse the internet I can't deny all the delcious opportunities to share a fun craft with my kids. Keep reading, and tell me you are not just a little inspired, as well!
These are some great ideas I've come across in my annual research of what to do for Valentine's Day. Click on the image to be taken to a tutorial or post about the project. Click on the name of the website I found it on to be taken to their home page for year-round inspiration. Enjoy!
Love potion Valentines at hellobee:

Mad Lib Valentines at Design Mom:

Temporary Tattoo Valentines at sheblogssheblogs:

Love Bug Valentines at Dandee Designs:

Lollipop Valentines are popping up everywhere, but here are three examples from design mom:

Fruit Valentines at Twig and Thistle:

Bouncy Ball Valentines at supermommoments:

Color Theory Valentines at MerMag:

Friendship bracelet Valentines from design mom:

Please note: while I'd love to credit the original source of these creative ideas, the nature of the internet makes it difficult to trace who was the first to do them. Chances are some of these were started decades ago by a crafty mom or grandma, or others came to the minds of many simultaniously due to pop culture trends. The links I've profiled here are simply the ones I found during my search, and have chosen to share with you. Put your own creative twist on whatever you do, and enjoy!