Lone Star Nannies Valentine’s Day Crafts

Jan 9

Hello, from Lone Star Nannies!

When most people think of Valentine’s Day, they think of two words - DATE NIGHT. At Lone Star Nannies, we use our calling to help you pursue yours. This year, let us use our calling so that you can take a break! There are loving and responsible nannies from our agency ready to spend an evening with your kids, and they would love doing any of the crafts listed below!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the month of February provides the perfect opportunity to show friends, family, and nannies how doing things together makes life so sweet (with or without candy on your valentine).

TODDLERS

Toilet Paper Roll Heart Stamps

School age kids aren’t the only ones who get to have fun on Valentine’s Day! With a little supervision, these toilet paper roll heart stamps are a simple and easy craft to replicate at home. At the end of the day, your toddler will be proud and you’ll have an original piece of art to display on your fridge! Find the instructions here at Pretty Prudent.

PRESCHOOL

Heart Shaped Bird Feeder

Bring the wonder of the outdoors into your home by creating bird feeders and watch all the love birds flock to your backyard! This activity is a win at all levels because it gets little ones outside and teaches them about the amazing world around them. When you’re finished, grab a pair of binoculars and set aside some snacks to wait for your first guests. You can even check out a bird guide at the library and see if you can identify any feathered friends. Use this recipe from Simple Joy.

Caterpillar Love Bug

Sometimes you need a craft that just makes you smile…enter the caterpillar love bug! Posted by a mom on Learn Create Love, there’s even a free printable. Everything can go wrong during the day, but when your little one’s head hits the pillow, you’ll look at this love bug and know one thing went right. Check it out here.

Coffee Filter Suncatchers

Here’s another brilliant idea with an item you most likely have at home - coffee filters! Repurposed by a mom at Farm Wife Crafts, these heart shaped sun catchers can also turn into a science lesson. Watch the splotches you make with markers turn into beautiful designs. Click here pictures and a full description.

ELEMENTARY

Collage Hearts

These collage hearts from The Mom Edit are quite stunning. Make them on cardboard, turn them into bookmarks, or hand them out as last minute valentines. Whatever you choose to do with these handiworks, they will add elements of grace to your life.

DIY Slap Bracelets

Slap bracelets may seem like a fad from the past, but they never go out of style on the wrist of a kid! Make your own Valentine’s Day themed slap bracelets using the instructions on this post from Our Kid Things.

Heart Wands

Just looking at these heart wands makes you want one for all the little girls in your life! Pretty and classic, this craft brings out the love for beauty in all of us. Sunsets, art museums, wildflowers, and heart wands…they all fall into the same category of transient things that bring us great joy. Kelsey Bang used them for tea parties. See pictures and detailed instructions here on her website.

Paper Towel Rose Bouquet

While you’re on a roll turning household objects into art appreciation, set aside some paper towels. These roses from Happy Hooligans make great gifts for grandparents. Once you get the hang of it, you can put together a whole bouquet! The best part about these roses…you don’t have to water them!

Pipe Cleaner Rose Rings

According to Capital One’s shopping statistics, Americans are expected to spend over $6 billion on jewelry for Valentine’s Day. That’s a lot of jewelry, but nothing you find in a store is as priceless as these pipe cleaner rose rings from One Little Project. With a little practice, your child will be the most sought out jeweler in the family, each original work handcrafted with love. Check out this post from the same blog that teaches you how to make the same rings in the shape of hearts.

No Sew Heart Pillow

No sew pillows and blankets are great projects to do with kids in the winter! Take a trip to your local fabric store, start knotting, and spend the rest of the afternoon reading chapters aloud from a book on our winter reading list! Kids love the sense of accomplishment from mastering a new skill and giving a gift to someone they love. Visit Sugar Spice and Glitter for step by step instructions.

Watercolor Hearts

We can’t share a blog of Valentine’s Day crafts without including doilies! Hang these simple watercolor hearts around your house or in front of a window. If you make them a few weeks before Valentine’s Day, you can write the name of a friend on each heart and send them an encouraging valentine! Check out this post on What Can We Do With Paper and Glue for more information.

Pom Pom Love Monsters

If these pom pom monsters were pictured in a southern dictionary, they’d be right next to the word “precious”. Thankfully, they’re pretty straightforward to put together! Take a look here at Crafty Morning. According to the blog, you may even be able to find pom pom monster kits at your local craft store.

Heart Paper Airplane

You don’t have to be a member on Lia Griffith’s website to access her paper heart airplanes…it’s a free download! All the little boys in your life will appreciate valentines that fly through the air. You can find the free download with instructions here.

VALENTINES

Instead of date nights, kids are thinking about CLASSROOM PARTIES. The DIY valentines below are easy to make as party favors or to share with friends.

Friendship Bracelet Valentines

There’s one language all little girls speak…friendship bracelets! With this free printable from Design Mom, you can spend a few hours crafting while making thoughtful valentines for all the girls in your daughter’s class. As stated on the template, “Valentine’s Day is cool, but knot as cool as friendship.”

Secret Message Valentines

This unique idea brings out the secret agent in all of us (with materials you probably already have at home)! Using a white crayon, kids can conceal words on cardstock and watch the excitement on their friends’ faces when watercolors reveal a hidden message. Visit Small + Friendly for detailed instructions and a free printable.

Boom Box Valentines

Parents born in the 80’s and 90’s will appreciate this throwback. These adorable boom box valentines posted on Lemon Thistle come with a free download. Looking for something to include instead of candy? All you need to add is music! Write your own lyrics or print verses from your favorite song. We’re all poets at heart, we just need the right craft to bring it out of us.

Seed Paper Heart Valentines

This year, give the gift of the outdoors. Making seed paper is a lot easier than you think! Meghan Cooper from Jamonkey shares detailed instructions and includes a free printable on her blog. The template says, “I love watching our friendship grow.” When kids plant the seed paper, it takes root and grows flowers!

Superhero Valentines

We all love superheroes…especially when they come wrapped as tootsie roll pops! Check out this image shared on Pinterest. All you need is felt, printed superhero logos, scissors, and a glue stick to transform your favorite candy. They’re so cute your child’s teacher may even think you saved the day!

Doghouse Valentines

If you’re looking for an alternative to candy, these doghouse valentines from Positively Splendid come with a different treat. Don’t worry, your child is not coming home from school with a puppy! Instead, they’ll be giving out the next best thing - friendship. While man’s best friend will have to stay at home, these valentines let your two-legged friends know how “ruff” it would be without them in your life.

Candy Love Bugs

Who knew a pack of M&M’s could be so cute? These candy love bugs make great classroom party favors and your kids will have fun making them! When the candy is long gone, the clothespins can be easily converted into magnets, so you can enjoy your child’s artwork for years to come.

VALENTINE BOXES

Making boxes to house valentines from friends is a well-loved tradition. In our modern world of social media, creativity spreads like wildfire! Check out these bloggers and their boxes in the links below…

Lynn Lilly, founder of Craft Box Girls, shares heartwarming llama and unicorn boxes that “show your kids a whole llama love”! Visit her website for more creative ideas. If your child loves horses, Country Living shares how to convert paper mache boxes into a pony! Check out their website (insert link) for more great ideas, including a tie-dye box and a rocket ship!
This box is for all the little minions out there! Posted on Crafty Morning, this project could turn into a whole evening of activities, including a Despicable Me movie night. You’ll find detailed instructions on the blog.
If your son is constantly mesmerized by moving objects, take a look at this train box on Where the Smiles Have Been. It’s amazing what kids can create with wrapping paper and cardboard boxes!
Sea creatures can also be quite captivating…and while we’re not advocating buying a pet fish for every kid in the class, this box would go great with some edible goldfish valentines! Transform leftover Christmas boxes into wild ocean animals like this shark box from Lisa on her blog Fun Money Mom.
Last, but certainly not least, is an idea we found posted on X by Botanist Mama. It was too cute not to share! This boy brought his “A Game” to box making with a full basketball court. Take a shot at recreating this idea by looking at pictures shared here.