Valentine’s Gifts for the Kids 2015

In the midst of the many other projects I have going on, I needed to make some quick valentines for the kids I babysit. I originally was trying to make a couple things, but in the end it was taking too long and I just went with the smallest, fastest ones I had.

The oldest boy had found a beaded bracelet in a shop that he liked, but his mom wasn’t about to spend over $50 for a bracelet for a kid. I thought that was a little insane as well, so I decided to go back to another craft I had abandoned a while before and make him one. But what I make for one, I have to make for all. Luckily this was around the time I was thinking of valentines anyway.

I made one for each, with their initial in the middle. That way there will be no fighting over whose was whose. I had originally planned out the pattern, but then ended up messing up early on and created the rest of the pattern as I went along. Once I had one finished, I used it as a template for the rest.

Then, because I decided to give up on the second thing I was making (which will now likely become Easter presents), I was ready to make the cards at 10:00 at night. And I had no red paper. And I had been to the craft store earlier that day to get crimper beads…Anyway, I made the colored paper again and cut out hearts. Then I cut the spots for the bracelets wrong and ended up having to tape the bracelets in place in the back. That is what I get for doing this at bedtime the night before I needed to give some of them.

Love Fishes, A Valentine Paper Craft

These started out as Valentines for our friends at church, but I got a late start and they weren’t ready in time. Instead, we ended up giving them to our neighbors, plus I sent one to the recipient of the Soft Kitty and gave one to the little boy I watch currently.

These fish are made completely of paper hearts. I used those raised sticker hearts for the eyes and lips. The templates for the paper hearts came from the original Valentine craft on Family.com. I chose to use card stock instead of the other scrapbook papers to make these cards a little sturdier.

I marked them all with recipients’ names on the opposite side before they were attached to their corresponding presents.

I really like all the ideas on Family.com, even though they are mainly directed at people with young children. My mom and I especially enjoy the plethora of Phineas and Ferb coloring sheets and craft ideas.

What is your favorite place to find inspiration for your craft projects and presents?