Showing posts with label Valentine's day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine's day. Show all posts

Tuesday, 2 February 2016

Valentine's Puzzle Gift and Bag Topper Printable

We wanted to share an idea for a non-chocolate, non-candy, non-tooth-decay-causing Valentine's treat that your child could give out to their friends.  Not only is this gift sugar-free, it's educational!  Enter heart-shaped puzzles!  We found these puzzles randomly while browsing for art supplies and thought they'd be perfect to give away.  They're just over a dollar each, so it doesn't break the bank.



You can leave them blank so the receiver can decorate it, or have your child colour and personalize it with the person's name (if you don't have a crazy number of kids in your class).


My daughter loved pulling the puzzle pieces apart to put them in the bags, and she also loved re-assembling them!  I daydreamed about the day she'd have the patience to colour in 25 of these puppies and all the free time I'd have...and then my bubble burst when she complained that she was tired of coloring the first one.  Sigh.  I think we'll stick with giving them away blank so the other kids can decorate them!


Materials:
  • your favorite coloring utensils (markers, paint, crayons, pencil crayons, etc.)
  • puzzles
  • cellophane bags (the dollar store has Valentine's ones that are perfect)
  • bag topper printable (links at the bottom of this post) and white cardstock for printing
  • stapler
Instructions:
  1. If you're decorating them before you give them away, color the puzzles using marker, paint or pencil crayon or crayon.  To personalize them, write your friend's name on it at the end in a darker color.  Don't do it at the beginning like we did, initially.  The name ends up disappearing under all the coloring!

  2. Print out the bag toppers and fold them in half along dotted line.
  3. Break up the puzzle and put it in a cellophane bag.
  4. Roll down the top of the bag and then put the bag topper over the top.  Staple both sides.
  5. Voila, a cute little gift for your friends!
  6. Use the outside frame of the puzzle for photos or other crafts.
I love fast, and I love easy.  This gift is both of those things!   Hope you have lots of fun getting ready for Valentine's day.  Share all your lovely crafts and gift ideas below, on Facebook, or on Instagram!

Printables (click on the image to download it - the pdf has 4 bag toppers on each 8.5" x 11" page):





Thursday, 28 January 2016

Love Bug Egg Carton Craft- With A Surprise Inside!

love bug egg carton with a surprise
Love is in the air already! Valentine's day is coming up and we are creating some special love bug Valentine's day crafts like busy little bees...buzzzzzzzzz (sorry, I just couldn't help myself). This craft is so much fun for your little ones to make and they have a hidden surprise inside! WOOOOOOOO! This nearly blew my 3 year old's mind. "You are putting WHAT inside? CHOCOLATE???"

Grab those empty egg cartons and your craft supplies and let's get started.

Materials (all can be purchased from the dollar store)

  • egg carton
  • paint (any colours your child wants)
  • markers
  • pom poms
  • googly eyes
  • pipe cleaners
  • green card stock/foam sheet/bristol board (doesn't really matter, but try to green for grass or blue for the sky)
  • stickers -optional
  • glue gun 
  • scissors
  • hershey kisses/hugs (or any other small wrapped candy)


Instructions

  1. Cut out individual egg cartons.
  2. Have your child paint them. Let dry and then have your child decorate with markers. Polka-dots look super cute and are easy for young ones to draw.

  3. Let your child decorate the base using stickers or markers. I found these flower shaped stickers at Dollarama.
  4. Cut antennae from pipe cleaners and curl ends slightly.
  5. Using a glue gun, stick eyes and antennae onto pom pom head. Attach completed head onto decorated egg carton.
  6. Insert a hershey kiss/hug into egg carton. 
    love bug egg carton with a surprise
    She was AMAZED by this! 
  7. Glue onto base.
    love bug egg carton with a surprise
  8. Personalize with cute messages (i.e. Beeeeeeee mine, You make my heart flutter, To my love bug etc).
    love bug egg carton with a surprise

You can really make a variety of different bugs. My daughter insisted on making a butterfly and it turned out great. She loved the idea of a sweet surprise hiding inside!
love bug egg carton with a surprise
Look at those googly eyes! 

What sweet Valentine's day crafts are you planning on making this year? Share the love with us below! And if you happen to make some of your own cute critters, don't forget to post some pics for us to see!  Tag us on Instagram (@smocksandsprinkles) or Facebook!
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