Make Your Own Valentine's Day Gifts

I Have a "Cool" Valentine Just for You
Nothing says "Happy Valentine's Day" with quite as much spirit as a homemade card. In a world of cell phones and email, there's something reassuringly special about a greeting card you can actually hold in your hand—and display in your favorite place. Provide your kids with construction paper and loads of decorating materials. Here are a few ideas to make your cards different and "cool":

• "You light up my life!" Use an outline of a light bulb.
• "You're priceless!" Use a For Sale column from the newspaper.
• "For Mom, my need-le never ends." Enclose a packet of sewing needles inside the card.
• "Dad's an old smoothie—never rough on me." Use sandpaper and satin.
• "I'd like a corn-er in your heart." Glue a dried corn kernel in the corner of a heart card.
• "Where have you bean all my life?" Glue on a dried bean.

Together, discuss the word usage and meaning of each of these sayings. Have fun making up new ones, too!

Embellishing Paper Doilies
Glue a white paper doily onto construction paper. Using fabric and puffy paints (they have a sharp, narrow tip), embellish the flowers and heart designs that are already stamped into the doily. This type of paint takes awhile to dry, but the beauty is worth the wait! These paints are easily found in most craft stores.

Valentine Memory Books
Giving and receiving valentines from classmates and friends is the best part of Valentine's Day for kids. Making a memory book is a great way to save remembrances of this special day. Place about ten sheets of paper between two sheets of construction paper and staple. Invite your child to decorate the cover with any art medium he or she chooses. A small piece of tape can hinge each valentine on these pages—a place to go back and reminisce.