Crafts

Valentine's Day Activities

Make Decorated Picture Frames for your Valentine
Make picture frames and decorate them with hearts,
shells, stickers, pieces of fabric or yarn, glitter or
natural wonders.

Materials:

• non-toxic glue, scissors, pencil, ruler
• cardboard, mat board, or foam core
• fabric, colored tissue paper, onion paper, or rice
  paper
  
• yarn, ribbons, pipe cleaners
• cutout hearts, acorns, pine cones, dried flowers,
  shells
  
• favorite picture or drawing

Directions:
1. Cut two pieces of cardboard, mat board, or foam
core the same size. Make them at least 2" longer and
2" wider than the picture.
2. Place the picture in the center of one of your
pieces of cardboard, mat board, or foam core. Use a
ruler to make sure the picture is centered.
3. Trace around the picture with a pencil. Make
another rectangle inside the tracing. The inside
rectangle should be 1/2" smaller than the picture on
all sides.
4. Cut the center rectangle out of the piece of
cardboard.
5. Cover the picture frame with fabric or decorative
paper. Let the glue dry.
6. Create designs with the shells, fabrics, yarn,
flowers, or objects.
7. Glue the objects onto the fabric or paper.
8. Write a Valentine's Day message on the frame.
9. Put the picture inside the frame.
10. Glue the whole rectangle to the back. Allow the
glue to dry.
11. Give framed pictures, drawings, or photos as
Valentines.

Valentine's Card

What you need:

• Sponge shape or create your own : cut a heart
  shape from a sponge. You may want to draw a heart on a
  piece of paper, cut it out and use it as a
  stencil. You may want to create more than one heart
  shaped sponge- different sizes are a lot of
  fun to use too.
  
• scissors
• paper (for the card)
• colored paints (acrylic)
• disposable plate to hold the paint
• old shirt for your child to wear as a smock

What you do:
Fill plate with paint.
Dip sponge in plate, but don't soak.
Lightly place on folded paper.
It might be a good idea to point out to your child how
she/he can alter the color of the heart
depending on the amount of pressure they apply to the
sponge.
You can repeat the pattern with the same color paint
or use another.
If changing colors wash the sponge out under running
water and squeeze hard to remove any
remaining water.
It might be fun to overlap the hearts for a different
effect.
This is a great technique for wrapping paper too.
You and your kids will make the most beautiful
Valentines