Valentine Making Kit

Remember the fun of making your own Valentines? Introduce your children or grandchildren to this by giving them a MAKE-A-VALENTINE kit. Here's how to put together the kit with items you may have around the house.

They'll have hours of fun making homemade Valentines for all their friends and for the family. At the same time, they learn to use scissors, to apply glue, and practice writing.

Things You'll Need:

• colored paper
• ribbons
• colored markers
• glue and tape
• scissors
• a box to put it all in

Search through your craft supplies for material for the kit. They'll need special paper (red, pink, white). Include envelopes. Fold some of the paper to the size needed to fit the envelopes.

Also collect up ribbons, doilies, and anything lacy. Children especially love stickers. Glitter is a big hit with kids but not popular with whoever cleans the carpet. There are also environmental concerns about glitter so I no longer include it.

Put in a glue stick for young children. Older children can use liquid glues like Elmer's Glue. The dispensers with the double stick tape will work too.

Add some pink and red felt markers.

Include scissors (blunt-tipped) if they don't already have some. A pair of the scrapbooking scissors with a decorative edge will be a hit.

Package up the supplies in a box. It can be a shoebox or other ordinary box that you cover with plain paper. Decorate the outside of the box with the children's names and the words MAKE-A-VALENTINE KIT.

If you are going to help the children with their valentine making, show them the videos below. Before long, they will be making hearts and adding them to cards while having a great time. Your little artists will have hours of fun with their kits.