Valentine's From the Heart

So this was Riley's BIG first year in a real class and a chance to make Valentines. The more I thought about letting her get store bought, the more annoyed I got and less likely it seemed. I spoke with her teacher about how the class deal will go down on that day. I'm lucky she's in a school that gets to observe all holidays, so Valentine's Day would be a thing, but she said something else. I asked if she was passing out lists of all the kids' names so they can be addressed, and she said, "No. The kids will be passing them out themselves and it seems to take way too long when they have to find each kid's name." So true, it's only Preschool, seems kind of duh! It's cool that they all get to go around and pass them out themselves. I thought it would be a parents and cubies or goodie bag deal, so this is way better. With the no name thing, I also was thinking well if it's store bought how do I avoid the TO/FROM's? My all sooooo smart husband mentioned later "To- You, From- Me." He had a point, but oh well I still think our hand made touch will be better. I'm sure we have many years ahead of us for the pre-made character ones, so we're gonna enjoy this!

We ended up at the Dollar Store and I let Riley pick out her own choice things to make her Valentines. I must admit she did a good job. Stickers and some heart shaped dollies, and the best thing was it was a 24 pack (just the same number as her classmates).

Added to our store pick up's a pink bingo dobber, pink glitter glue, red glitter puffy glue, and a few sharpies of the Valentine color array.

Now the fun has begun. Obviously, Riley wasn't to the spelling "Valentine's" part yet, so I wrote out on her lined paper what to copy and she did, with a few variations here and there. She was good with the heart and the "Riley" part, but I didn't want her forgetting so I wrote it to.

I also let the decorating and exact styling completely up to her. We had a little assembly line going. I gave her one doilie at a time, would point to letters if she needed, removed the done, wiped the table and start over. I had little plastic table places covered in Valentines all over. Couldn't chance them not drying right.

Next day, all 24 done! Dry and made with LOVE! All we did in addition was tape to the back of each a heart lollipop. Now we just wait till the big day arrives to give out to the class.

Seriously the pride on her face, seeing that she made these was way better then any other thing a store bought could had ever been. She really can't wait to give them to all her friends! So adorable!

Painted Hearts

In light of Valentine's day we had a fun day of making hearts! Lots of paint & love.

So there were a few variations of what we did today, but to do all of it you'll need: a few toilet paper rolls, paint, a few heavy duty papers like card stock or scrapbook quality.

Hand Hearts

I will admit, red makes a creepy choice. Also, though your toddler makes hearts with their hands ALL THE TIME does not mean it will feel normal for them to do it with painted hands. Adult hands maybe needed to get just as dirty on top of those painted kid hands, just a heads up.

Paint your subjects hands, mine was ticklish so that made it even more fun.

Coat those whole hands and make sure to have extra paper on stand by. The goal is to get the thumbs to bend and touch. The pointer fingers straight and touch. The rest of the digits hanging out. We found it easier for her if we put the hands down all at once as opposed to one hand then placing the other, but it's all trial an error.

The first one with more paint makes a more solid image but the seconded or so gives more of the details in the little ones hand print, so it's up to you.

Heart Stamps

Time for little heart stamping. Grab out your toilet paper rolls.

Press in the center with finger tips then pinch bottom to create point. 

Some we skipped the point just to create a variety in  the heart shapes. 

Add paint to a paper plate & let your toddler/kid go stamping crazy.

Happy Valentine's Day. We hope these help you spread the love!

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Flower Hands

*A Rose for Valentine's Day*

I love hand art, it's always a great little record of how small a kid's hands once were. This little art project gives another reason to trace those hands. It is pretty straight forward and not to complicated. It is a idea that turns out as individual as the little hands you are working with. The results can vary so easily to fit your holiday or reason for giving. From Valentine's an Mother's Day, to a Get Well or just something to welcome in spring.

*A Flower Bunch for Mother's Day*

Colors hone in on what flower you are attempting. Finger positioning helps even more. We personally like to do our roses or tulips by tracing a a tight finger hand. To give a all over petal look, spread those digits.

So pick out your colors, grab a pencil and get to tracing. Cut that out and don't forget to cut out some stems and lots of leaves. We did a variety of shapes and sizes. Water drop like and good long pointy leaves. Have fun gluing. What a lovely flower I'm sure you'll have. If you left stems as long as ours you also have lots of room to personalize a message to whoever is lucky enough to receive your bouquet. I always try to hide in the kid's name and year to, like I said it makes a good record of what once was.

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