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Make Your Own Valentines for Kids

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Our Top 10 Ideas for Awesome Homemade Valentines

Need some ideas to get started making homemade valentines? We've always enjoyed making homemade valentines cards and when time allows, we like to add unique features to the handmade cards. For example, a window cut into the card that reveals something on the inside, or a sliding piece of paper with messages or even paper jewelry kids can wear right away. We like to add any sort of special touch that makes the cards a bit more interesting to create and memorable for the kids who receive them.

Here, we are sharing some ideas for homemade valentines to make with kids. None of these homemade valentines are hard to make, but they do require some time and effort - that's part of the fun! Even if you don't end up making any of these, I hope you pick up an inspiration or two and use these ideas as a springboard for the perfect idea for you and your kids or classroom.

Our Favorite Homemade Valentine Card Decorations?

Stickers! Stickers add a fun touch to homemade cards. They also add color if you are using construction paper as your base card.

#1 Basic Valentine Card with Heart Designs

Limitless possibilities

The simplest card is one you simply fold in half and decorate. These are fun because the sky's the limit when it comes to decorating. We like to add stickers and fun valentine's sayings. Cards can be folded to open right to left of bottom to top.

For this card we cut some hearts from different colored papers and glued them onto our base card. The inside is two heart people holding hands with big smiles on their faces labeled "Me" and "You."

#2 Valentine Card and Envelope All in One

Made from a Petal Envelope

Homemade Valentines Petal Envelope Style

I found this template over at Nature's Corridor Blog (when you get there scroll down a little). I copied the template (this generous blogger gives permission to copy and use) and then enlarged it on my copier. I like this one a lot since it makes the neatest envelope!

My Favorite Craft Tools

Things I use every single day

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#3 Interesting Paper Valentine with Slider - Add Your Favorite Words

Reads: Please Be My... Valentine

Valentine with Pull TabConstruction paper Valentines don't have to be boring! Check out this interesting but fairly simple design we made that includes a piece of paper that pulls out. We added our favorite words and the recipient can pull the paper and read the words one at a time, then slip the paper back into the pocket and do it all over again. This one is not quick but is quite simple.
*Cut paper to size and then cut a narrow window into upper half as shown below (this is easiest with a craft knife).
*Fold paper over to make pocket and tape shut.
*Cut white pull tab paper to size and insert into pocket.
*Pull paper out little by little and write as many cute words as will fit.



Ebay is an excellent resource for Valentine's Day Craft Supplies

I found some packs of Foam Stickers with a Valentine's Theme

Available products are listed below. Stock changes.
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#4 Make a Valentine's Necklace

Unique way to say "Be Mine"

Valentine's Paper NecklaceHere's an interesting way to say, "You're my #1 Valentine" - with a yarn necklace. All you do is cut out 2 hearts from different colored or patterned papers and glue them together. The double thickness makes the necklace more durable and more interesting too! Then punch a hole in the top part of the heart so it will hang at an angle. Add yarn to make the necklace.

Valentine's Craft Day at Our House - Fun Making Our Own Cards

I love this photo!

I snapped this photo one year while my daughter was making her own cards to exchange at a Valentine's Party.

You can see our kitchen table is covered in stickers, colored papers, scissors, foamies, markers, glitter and lots of other things. It was a complete mess and one of our funnest-ever Valentine Craft making days!

Even though this photo was taken several years ago, my daughter still remembers all the creating and exchanging she did that year. These are the best of memories! And I can't think of a thing I'd rather clean up.

#5 Here's a Valentine that needs to be "Unlocked"

Heart Shaped Valentine Card

Homemade Valentine Card Unlock My HeartThis Valentine has a "door" style opening. We added a paper "lock" made from a paper tab and paper latch for added interest. It's simple to cut out.

Fold paper in half and then fold each half toward the center as shown. Then trim the folded paper into a heart shape. The Valentine "doors" should meet in the middle. Cut a tab on one end of the open heart. Cut a latch out of a strip of paper and tape one end down while fitting the other end into the "tab".


#6 Fun Paper Bracelet

Why not give a bracelet as your "card"

Valentine's Paper Bracelet

To make a paper bracelet, all you need is a strip of paper about 8 inches long (measure your child's wrist to get an exact length for the right age range). Then cut slits 1/2 inch from each end. Make slits opposite directions so they clasp together. Here are 2 we made. The top one looks girly and the bottom one looks more boy-ish to us. They are both strips of scrapbook paper. The top one already had a neat striped design which matched the idea of a bracelet perfectly.

Having at least one Heart Shaped Punch helps with Valentine's Day Crafts!

I used my heart punch tool for many of the hearts you see on these valentines

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More ideas and lots more heart punch out tools...

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#7 Make Your Own Valentine with a Window and Dangling Heart

Beautiful Homemade Card

Unique Valentine with Window HeartThis standard folded card has a cute dangling heart in a heart window.

Here's all you do: Fold paper in half to make a card.
Then fold the front of the card in half (inward).
Cut half a heart shape on the fold to make a heart shaped window.
Then cut out 2 hearts from patterned paper (a little smaller than the window heart) and glue them together sandwiching a piece of yarn.
Tape yarn to inside of card so heart is centered and shows nicely from the front.
Optional: Add a piece of contrasting paper to the inside of the card to enhance the window shape.


#8 Paper Valentine's Pocket Card holds Candy

Works Nice for Fun size or Small Packs of Candy

Paper pocket holds Valentine's CandyThis one is really fun, quick and simple if you want to add a little something with Valentine's Candy. Make a pocket by cutting a piece of paper 2.5 times longer than your candy (and a little wider than the candy). Fold the paper up to form the pocket and leave enough at the top to fold over and close the pocket. Seal with a small sticker.

300 count pack of Construction Paper

SunWorks Construction Paper Smart-Stack Asst, 9 inches x12 inches, 11 Colors, 300 Sheets (6525)

SunWorks Construction Paper Smart-Stack Asst, 9 inches x12 inches, 11 Colors, 300 Sheets (6525)

Amazon Price: $6.37 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

Contains extra sheets of the most frequently used popular colors. Assortments contain: White, Scarlet, Holiday Green, Yellow, Blue, Yellow-Orange, Black, Brown, Pink, Sky Blue and Violet.

#9 Valentine that Folds and Unfolds to Reveal a Message

Fun to make

Fold Up Construction PaperValentine with MessageStart with a square piece of paper. We used 9" x 9" for this one. Fold the paper in thirds both ways (we used a ruler and marked at every 3" for ours). Then cut off the corner blocks as shown. Then fold each flap inward and pick a message 5 words long. We picked "Will You Be My Valentine." The card is folded up and sealed with a small sticker and the person who gets it at the exchange reads it as they unfold the paper. Another idea is to tape a small piece of candy to the middle.



#10 Simple Postcard Style with Candy Holder

Easy to make

Sweets for the Sweet ValentineHere's a very simple valentine to make. Use a plain piece of paper (unfolded in almost any size) and cut two slits about 1/2 inch apart. You can place a piece of candy in the opening.

You could add a pack of gum and use the tried and true "I'm Stuck on You" wording. Here we used "Sweets for the Sweet." You could also use something simpler like "You are Sweet." Or how about, "You're Sweeter Than Chocolate Valentine" and add a small chocolate bar.

Valentine Assembly Line May Be Needed!

Some class sizes are as big as 30-35 students or more. If you are making your own valentines cards to exchange, you might need to set up an assembly line with your family. That's what we do. I usually cut anything requiring a craft knife and let the kiddos go to town with the taping, folding and gluing things down.

You may also be interested in...

More crafts!

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Do you make your own Valentines?

  • mumsgather Mar 26, 2012 @ 11:54 pm | delete
    These are wonderful. I'll get my kids to do some of these next Valentine's Day. Better bookmark your lens now. Blessed.
  • Nicole Feb 16, 2012 @ 8:36 am | delete
    Thank you so much for including my petal envelope template! I have created an update of these: http://naturescorridor.blogspot.com/2012/02/mini-envelope-template-update.html
  • HorseAndPony Jan 23, 2011 @ 10:17 am | delete
    Yes! Love your ideas. Very cute!
  • Pastiche Jan 21, 2011 @ 3:28 pm | delete
    I still make my own Valentines ... love paper crafts like a 5 year old. I love all these home made Valentine ideas, but my favorites in this group are the wearables (the yarn necklace card and the clever bracelet).
  • 2muchtrash Jan 11, 2011 @ 10:29 pm | delete
    I love the 'Unlock My Heart' card idea! What a great collection of ideas for kids! Blessed by an Angel
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puzzlemaker

We make our own Valentines each and every year and enjoy every minute of the process! We hope you enjoy these ideas for making your own cards.

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