Family

Family.com Entertainment The Possibility Shop The Great Valentine Paper Make-Over

What Families Love

Just for Mom

The Great Valentine Paper Make-Over

Here's a heart-y way to surprise your kids and show them just how much you love them. And it's easy ... a little snipping, just the right amount of gluing ... ta-da!

MATERIALS:

Paper -- solid, printed (I prefer card stock over construction paper, but whatever's on hand will do!)
Scissors (regular and wackadoodle-edged, if you have them)
Glue or glue stick
Doilies, colored tissue paper, and yarn

Challenge: For the decorations, focus on using paper as the main element (and markers/crayons only as a needed accent or to write a name or note).

INSTRUCTIONS:

PLACE MATS:

Design place mats using a 9" x 12" sheet of card stock or construction paper. Have your kids decorate the mats with paper cut-outs of hearts, stripes, X's, O's, and letters spelling L-O-V-E. Cut paper to make designs and messages (instead of a writing utensil).

NAME CARDS:

1. You know those decks of cards that are missing a few but you can't bear to throw them away? Well, here's the reason you've kept them. Pull out the King, Queen and Jack of Hearts and add a "word bubble" so it looks like they're shouting the name of a guest.

2. Set in place using office supply clips or clothespins.

CHAIRS:

Decorate the corners of your chairs with heart pockets. Fold a paper in half and cut out a heart so that you have two of the same size. Glue or staple the top and halfway down the sides. Slip on.

FLOWERS:

1. To make the stem, cut two long strips of paper to measure 1" wide. Glue the ends to form an "L."

2. Next, flip one strip over the other and crease.

3. Then fold the second strip back over the first and crease. Repeat until you reach the end and glue in place so it doesn't unfold.

4. To make the flower, cut wavy flowery shapes of all different sizes, colors, and patterns. Collect two or three and glue them one on top of the other to make a flower.

5. Squish a tissue square into the middle to make it pop. Glue the flower to the stem. Make more and fill a vase for a "boing-y" centerpiece!

GARLAND:

Have kids make a zillion paper hearts. Hole punch the top corners and string them together with yarn.

Happy Valentine's Day!