While Valentine's Day was once centered on couples in love, it has changed focus in recent years. Today, Valentine's Day is the opportunity for people to express their appreciation for anyone who means a lot to them.
Parents, siblings, grandparents, good friends and teachers all are now a part of this special day. A bowl filled with little hearts is a great gift for elementary or middle school aged kids to make for these important people in their lives. To make the gift extra special, each of the hearts deliver a message.
To make this handmade Valentine's Day gift, gather the following supplies:
- Bowl or other decorative container
- Small wooden or cardboard hearts
- Markers
- Glue
- Paint or decorative papers
- Embellishments (glitter glue, buttons, stickers, etc.)
- Images small enough to fit on the hearts
- Filler for the bottom of the bowl
- Blank tag or sticker
Decorate the Hearts
- Either paint both sides of the hearts or cover them with decorative papers to make them look pretty.
- Using the markers, write a different word or phrase that describes why the person that will be receiving the gift is special on most of the hearts. (An alternate Valentine's Day project idea is to write inspiring quotes on the hearts, instead.)
- Glue small images that represent what the person means to the giver on the remaining hearts.
- Add embellishments to the hearts to make them extra special.
- Allow all of the hearts to dry thoroughly and apply a protective coating on them. Let the hearts dry overnight after applying the protectant. (Children should have adult help with this step. Most protective coatings create toxic fumes and need to be used in well ventilated areas.)
Ideas for Loving Words
Sometimes it is hard to come up with just the right words to tell people how special they are. Try using some of these words on the hearts:
- Smile
- Laugh
- Thoughtful
- Kind
- Considerate
- Friend
If none of those words help, think about special memories related to that person. Write a sentence related to each memory. For example, "I love you because you scare away monsters at night."
Make the Bowl of Love
- Place the filler in the bowl and arrange it so that it looks attractive.
- Add the hearts to the bowl.
- Write "Bowl of Love" on the tag or sticker and glue it to the bowl.
Other Kids' Valentine's Day Craft Ideas
There are many other great Valentine's Day crafts for kids to make. A heart mobile is the perfect way to use up hearts left over from the Bowl of Love craft. Simple creatures made from hearts are also fun. Why not use some of them to make a special Valentine's Day card?
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