Arts & Crafts Supplies
As well as the usual everyday supplies, pick up a few of these items to have on hand for your valentine arts & crafts:

• heart shaped confetti
• heart shaped sponges
• candy confections
• paper doilies
• things red/white/pink:   tissue paper, construction paper, glitter, pasta shapes, and wrapping paper
• ribbon
• lace
• valentine stickers and stamps

Cut a 2 inch wide strip of red paper long enough to fit around your head.  Tape the ends 
together.  Cut two more strips of paper, each 1 inch wide and 12 inches long.  Fold one strip in half and make a 2 inch cut in the center.  Glue that strip from one side of the headband to the other.  Glue the second strip on so that the band is divided into quarters.  Tuck and glue the center of the second strip into the cut of the first.  Cut a heart and glue into the center.   Decorate the crown with hearts cut from white paper.

Surprise Valentine Tube
Paper towel tube
yarn
red tissue paper
aluminum foil, or foil paper or colored cellophane
snack treat or small toy
paper
scissors
glue

Cut a section from a paper towel tube to make it a little shorter. For a handle, tape the ends of a piece of yarn to the inside of each tube end.  Cut and glue a strip of red tissue paper around the edge of each end of the tube.  Cut slits in the tissue for fringe.  Cover the tube with glue and foil or cellophane.  Add cut paper hearts.  Place snack treat or toy inside the middle of the tube.  Stuff the tube ends with crumpled tissue paper. 

Stuffed Hearts
Cut two large construction paper hearts and decorate with a special valentine message. Punch holes along the edges and lace together with yarn or ribbon, leaving several inches open. Stuff with crumpled tissue paper, finish lacing, and tie a bow (to center the bow ask the kids start their lacing at the point on the bottom or in the dip in the center of the "V"!)

Red, White and Pink Art
Let children create their own designs with red, white and pink markers, crayons or paint.
 

Heart Mouse
For each heart mouse you will need:  one large heart, 3 small hearts
Fold the large heart in half; glue halves together.  Fold 1 small heart in half; and glue to make an ear as shown.  Staple a yarn tail with the second small heart glued on the end.  Glue the third small heart on for an eye as shown. You may want to add whiskers and a tiny heart shaped nose! Make larger mice and use it as a placemat!

Make Holiday Hairpieces for your kids!
Using play dough make several small heart shapes.   Let dry.   When dry paint with red, pink or white tempera paint. Hot glue the small hearts to old hair barrettes, add some ribbon and you have some festive holiday hair clips. 

Valentine Puppets
Cut out interesting characters from children's valentine cards.  Glue them to popsicle sticks or plastic straws and have a puppet show or tell a story!

Valentine Mailboxes
Give each child a small box (a shoe box works great).  Cut a small slit in the top for all their Valentine deliveries!  Let the children decorate their mailbox with a variety of items (see above list for ideas!)

Heart Lunch Bags
Decorate your kids brown paper lunch bags for the occasion.  Use potatoes cut in half and carved into the shape of hearts. Dip in paint and press onto paper bags. Use red, white and pink paints for that festive touch. 

Shades of Pink
Discuss how the color pink is made.  Supply the children with red and white paint and a piece of white paper.  Ask the children to mix the colors to find their favorite shade of pink.

Fancy Mobile
Have your child punch holes in his/her valentines, thread and hang them from a hanger to create a mobile. Or take two hangers and cross them; hang valentines from them. Hang finished mobile from a curtain rod or picture hook.
 

Heart Dog
You will need 1 large heart, 1 medium heart, 2 small hearts, and 1 slightly smaller for the tail.

Glue the two small hearts to the medium heart (head) as shown.  Glue head to the body.  Glue the smaller heart to the body for the tail.  Add the facial features with a felt marker. You may want to cut a tiny heart for the nose from a contrasting color paper.

Heart Necklaces
With a bit of yarn or ribbon the kids can thread red, white and pink heart shaped beads or small heart shapes from construction paper (use a hole punch), or pasta shapes dyed in red/white/pink.  Recipe - Dyed Pasta Shapes

Bean Bag Toss
Cut a large (or two smaller) heart shaped holes in the front of a large piece of cardboard or the front or top of a cardboard box.  Decorate in a valentine theme!  Have the kids practice throwing bean bags into the holes.

Sorting, Patterning, Colors and Numbers
Cut out many different sized hearts, in many colors (red, white, pink).  You may want to use card stock or laminating or apply clear contact paper to your hearts.  These activities could also be done on a felt board!

Activity #1 -  Have the kids sort the hearts from smallest to largest; largest to smallest.
Activity #2 - Number  hearts from 1 - 10.  Have them place the hearts in numerical order.
Activity#3 - Have the kids sort the hearts by color.  How many red hearts? Pink hearts? White hearts?  Which color has the most hearts?  Which color has the least hearts?
Activity#4 - Give each child 6 colored hearts (2 each of red, white & pink all the same size)  Ask the children to match patterns by color with their hearts....
Pattern#1 - red, white, pink, red, white, pink
Pattern#2 - red, red, white, white, pink, pink
Pattern#3 - red, white, white, red, pink, pink
Activity#5 - Give each child 6 colored hearts (2 each of 3 different sizes)  Ask the children to match patterns by size with their hearts...
Pattern#1 - small, medium, large, small, medium, large
Pattern#2 - small, small, medium, medium, large, large
Pattern#3 - small, large, medium, small, large, medium

Scented Valentine Hearts 
Paper 
Glue or Stapler 
Cotton Balls 
Perfume 

Cut out 2 large hearts the same size; decorate as you wish. Spray perfume on cotton balls. Staple or glue around the edges of hearts, leave an opening. Stuff the cotton balls inside. Seal the opening. 

Decorate the outside of the hearts, if you wish.

Coffee Can Valentine Mailbox 

large coffee can 
white fabric or felt 
red print fabric (polka dots, hearts, stripes, etc) 
red felt 
scissors 
glue 
3D fabric paint pens 

Wash and dry can thoroughly. Glue white fabric or felt to the outside of the coffee can. Cut out heart shapes from the red print fabric and glue them to the white fabric or felt. Using the 3D fabric paint pens, outline each heart and write child's name on one of the hearts. 

Cut out a circle from the red felt so that the felt overlaps the can lid. Glue red felt circle to the plastic lid. While the glue is drying, fringe the edges of the felt with a pair of scissors. When glue is dry, use a sharp pair of scissors or a matte knife to cut a large slit in the top of the lid large enough for the Valentine cards. Snap lid in place on top of the
can.

Songs, Finger Plays, Nursery Rhymes

What Color Are You Wearing?
<   Suit actions to words.  Repeat until most of the common colors are used.

Leader says:
Red, red, red
Who is wearing red today? 
Red, red, red, red,
Who is wearing red? 

All children with red showing say:
I am wearing red today. 
Look at me and you will say 
Red, red, red, red,
I am wearing red today. 

If You're Wearing Red Today
Sung to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
    When all are standing up, for a circle and play another game!

If you're wearing red today, 
Red today, red today, 
If you're wearing red today, 
Please stand up. 

If you're wearing pink today, 
Pink today, pink today, 

         ...and so on.

Poems to put on your Valentine Cards:

Roses are Red, 
Violets are Blue, 
Sugar is sweet, 
and so are you. 
I think you are nice 
I think you are fine, 
Won't you please be my Valentine? 

~~~~~~~~~ 

Love Somebody, 
Yes I do, 
Love Somebody, 
Can you guess who? 
I love you _______ (fill in the black) 
Yes I do 
I will love you this year, 
And next year too! 

Gelatin Hearts
The idea for these is based on the recipe for knox blocks.  They are great for kids snacks and they make a nice garnish for sweet salads or desserts. Most kids love them!

2 1/2 cups of water or fruit juice
4 (3 oz) pkgs. strawberry, raspberry or cherry gelatin (can use sugar free if desired).

Combine water and gelatin in 2 quart glass measure and heat on high power in
microwave for 3-5 minutes or until the water is boiling. Stir until gelatin is   dissolved. Pour into heart shaped molds, or pour in a 9 or 10 inch square pan   and refrigerate until set. Unmold heart shapes or use a small heart shaped   cookie cutter to cut out hearts. 

Heart Sandwiches 
Use large heart shaped cookie cutter to cut heart shapes into bread. Spread with your favorite spread (raspberry, strawberry jam) and serve as a special snack or part of a nutritious lunch.  I have also added red food coloring to deviled egg sandwich filling to make "pink" egg sandwiches! 

Dyed Pasta Shapes
Green Food coloring
paper cups 
water 
uncooked pasta (any shape/size) 

Dilute the food coloring in paper cups filled with water.  Put uncooked pasta in cups; let stand for several minutes to half an hour.  The longer the time, and the less water you use, the darker the colors will be.  Do not soak pasta for more than half an hour or it may turn soggy. 

Heart-Shaped Finger Jello
4 cups boiling water
4 envelopes Knox gelatin
3 (3 oz each) packages red jello

Mix Jello and gelatin.  Add boiling water and stir until dissolved.  Pour liquid into a 10X15X1 pan (a cookie sheet with sides works great) and refrigerate for several hours.  When set, use a cookie cutter to make heart shapes.  Jello can be picked up with fingers.  Makes about 20 

Brownie Hearts
1 stick butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cups M&M's
Heart-shaped cookie cutters 

Spray cooking spray into an 8-inch x 8-inch pan and preheat oven to 350ºF. Place butter and chocolate into saucepan over low heat and melt. Stir to make smooth, set aside to cool, about 5 minutes. Add sugar and vanilla, stir to incorporate. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring to combine after each addition. Add the flour, stirring to mix thoroughly. Add 1 cup of M&M's and stir to combine. Place into prepared pan, making sure the mixture is level and smoothed. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup M&M's onto the top. Place into the oven and bake 20-25 minutes or until it tests done. Let cool completely and cut with heart-shaped cookie cutter. 

Tip: Use leftover brownie pieces to top your favorite ice cream or mix them into a milkshake.

Decorate Your Own Cupcake: 
For a party idea, give each guest an undecorated cupcake. Provide pink and white frosting and toppings such as colored sprinkles, red hot candies, conversation heart candies, candy kisses, strawberries, and whipped cream. 

Heart Sandwiches: 
Make mini-heart sandwiches by cutting out bread hearts with a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Make pink cream cheese by adding a few drops of red food coloring to cream cheese. Spread the cream cheese on the bread. Decorate with slivers of red pepper. 

Make larger sandwiches by cutting the bread with a larger heart-shaped cookie cutter. Fill the sandwiches with tuna salad, egg salad, or peanut butter and jelly. 

Fizzy Valentine Punch:
Mix 1 quart red fruit juice with 1 quart club soda. Add one maraschino cherry or a strawberry to each cup. 

Valentine Pizza: 
Shape ready-made pizza dough into heart shapes. Spread with tomato sauce, shredded cheeses, and whatever pizza toppings you like, and bake. 
 
 

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