Today I'm sharing a round up of some of the past Valentine's Day goodies that the kids and I have made for their classmates. We've made all sorts of fun things in the past, some food related and some not, so if you're looking for ideas for this Valentine's Day you're sure to find something here. Best of all, they're all easy-peasy to make! Just click the bold and underlined title for each for the DIY.
Let's take a look...
Candy Heart Keychains
These have to be my favorite Valentines ever. They're cute, perfectly kitsch, and great for when food items are not allowed. They probably also taste better than the classic conversation heart candies that they're based on too - but don't try eating them! You probably shouldn't try eating conversation heart candies either. Seriously, those things are gross!
These key chains probably require the most amount of work out of all the goodies I'm sharing here, but they're still easy to make and best of all, they're fun to make. The kids had a great time making these out of Sculpey clay and loved coming up with fun sayings and words to stamp into them. I had to help assembled the key chain part, but apart from that the kids did most of the work.
You can find the DIY here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2018/02/candy-heart-key-chains.html
Valentine, You Blow Me Away
When school doesn't allow food items to be given out for Valentine's Day, what could be easier, or more classic, than balloons? Not just any balloons, of course, but heart shaped balloons.
I took photos of the girls standing with one arm up in the air as if holding a balloon, printed out the pics on photo paper (along with a cheesy message), and tied a balloon to each card.
This one requires an adult to help out, but the kids were able to tie the balloons onto the cards.
Valentine, You Blow Me Away
When school doesn't allow food items to be given out for Valentine's Day, what could be easier, or more classic, than balloons? Not just any balloons, of course, but heart shaped balloons.
I took photos of the girls standing with one arm up in the air as if holding a balloon, printed out the pics on photo paper (along with a cheesy message), and tied a balloon to each card.
This one requires an adult to help out, but the kids were able to tie the balloons onto the cards.
You can find the DIY here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2017/02/happy-valentines-day-2017.html
Valentine, Will You Bead Mine?
Ah, I love a good pun or a play on words for Valentine's Day. The cheesier the better!
My girls enjoy creating with Perler beads and have created all sorts of masterpieces in the past so it was a no-brainer that we get creative with them for Valentine's Day too. We made simple Perler bead hearts, melted them with an iron, and attached them to a simple card.
Valentine, Will You Bead Mine?
Ah, I love a good pun or a play on words for Valentine's Day. The cheesier the better!
My girls enjoy creating with Perler beads and have created all sorts of masterpieces in the past so it was a no-brainer that we get creative with them for Valentine's Day too. We made simple Perler bead hearts, melted them with an iron, and attached them to a simple card.
You can find the DIY here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2016/02/valentine-bead-hearts.html
Heart Bath Bombs
Valentine's Day is all about pampering loved ones and making them feel special, right? Would could be better for pampering than homemade bath bombs? Heart shaped home made bath bombs, of course!
This was a project that the kids were able to work on with very minimal help from me. Hooray! In fact, apart from designing the header card and assisting with packaging up the bath bombs, the kids did everything themselves.
We made pink rose and white lavender scented bath bombs and packaged up one of each for each of the kids classmates.
Heart Bath Bombs
Valentine's Day is all about pampering loved ones and making them feel special, right? Would could be better for pampering than homemade bath bombs? Heart shaped home made bath bombs, of course!
This was a project that the kids were able to work on with very minimal help from me. Hooray! In fact, apart from designing the header card and assisting with packaging up the bath bombs, the kids did everything themselves.
We made pink rose and white lavender scented bath bombs and packaged up one of each for each of the kids classmates.
You can find the DIY here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2016/02/bath-bomb-hearts-for-valentines-day.html
Seeds of Love
I like the idea of giving out sustainable gifts for Valentine's Day rather than just pieces of plastic that will inevitably end up in landfill. Flower seeds are about as sustainable as it gets!
One year we packaged up glassine bags with California native wildflower seeds (ones that I knew would grow well in the Bay Area) and growing instructions, attached a label that Ava had designed, and handed them out to her classmates. I love that it's a gift that keeps on giving down the track when the plants grow and then again when the flowers bloom.
Seeds of Love
I like the idea of giving out sustainable gifts for Valentine's Day rather than just pieces of plastic that will inevitably end up in landfill. Flower seeds are about as sustainable as it gets!
One year we packaged up glassine bags with California native wildflower seeds (ones that I knew would grow well in the Bay Area) and growing instructions, attached a label that Ava had designed, and handed them out to her classmates. I love that it's a gift that keeps on giving down the track when the plants grow and then again when the flowers bloom.
You can find the DIY here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2014/02/seeds-of-love-for-valentines-day.html
Big Squishy Marshmallow Hugs
When there are no restrictions on food based goodies for Valentine's Day at school I like to send in tasty homemade treats.
One year Lola and I made big squishy marshmallows for her class. They were pretty easy to make but as most of the cooking takes place on the stove top this is definitely a recipe that requires parental supervision. We covered these marshmallows with shredded coconut but they're pretty tasty plain too. If you've never had fresh marshmallows you really must try them!
Big Squishy Marshmallow Hugs
When there are no restrictions on food based goodies for Valentine's Day at school I like to send in tasty homemade treats.
One year Lola and I made big squishy marshmallows for her class. They were pretty easy to make but as most of the cooking takes place on the stove top this is definitely a recipe that requires parental supervision. We covered these marshmallows with shredded coconut but they're pretty tasty plain too. If you've never had fresh marshmallows you really must try them!
You can find the recipe and printable header card here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2015/02/squishy-marshmallow-hugs-for-valentines.html
Strawberry Meringue Hearts
If marshmallows aren't sugary enough for you, how about meringues? They're pretty much all sugar! Well, sugar and egg whites - and a little strawberry flavoring and food coloring in this case.
Last year Lola and I made strawberry meringue hearts for her classmates and they were such a hit that she is planning on making them again this year for her new class.
Meringues are pretty easy to make but they can be a little particular so make sure you stick to the recipe and avoid making substitutions ie. don't switch out real egg whites for the carton kind.
Strawberry Meringue Hearts
If marshmallows aren't sugary enough for you, how about meringues? They're pretty much all sugar! Well, sugar and egg whites - and a little strawberry flavoring and food coloring in this case.
Last year Lola and I made strawberry meringue hearts for her classmates and they were such a hit that she is planning on making them again this year for her new class.
Meringues are pretty easy to make but they can be a little particular so make sure you stick to the recipe and avoid making substitutions ie. don't switch out real egg whites for the carton kind.
You can find the recipe here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2020/01/strawberry-meringue-hearts-for.html
Valentine, You're A Catch!
Sweethearts for my Sweetheart
Our first ever Valentine's Day!
I never actually shared a DIY for this one as they're just sugar cookies (and I'm pretty sure I used a packet mix) but I wanted to share them here anyway because they're a super simple idea. We made heart shaped sugar cookies and sprinkled on a mix of red and pink sugar before baking. This gave the cookies a sparkly finish; perfect for Valentine's Day.
Ava posed for a picture dressed as a baker and I included this on the cards that we topped the bags of cookies with.
Heart Sun Catchers
Ok, so this one isn't actually a gift to hand out for Valentine's Day (although you totally could make them smaller and hand them out) but I had to include it because everyone seems to like it.
One year for Valentine's Day we made heart sun catchers to decorate our living room windows. These are really easy to make and are a fun project for kids. I cut out heart shapes and attached them to a piece of clear contact paper and the kids got to work filling the heart for cut up pieces of tissue paper and glitter). Once they were done I folded another piece of contact paper over the top and trimmed around the edges. We stuck them on our windows with a little double sided tape and they looked beautiful as the sun shone through them.
Valentine, You're A Catch!
Are food based snacks allowed at school but no sugary treats? This is a pretty common scenario. Never fear, Goldfish crackers to the rescue! Goldfish crackers make the perfect treat for Valentine's Day gifts because not only do all kids (and lots of adults) love them, there are so many great Valentine's Day puns to go with them. "I'm glad we're in the same school", "You're a catch", "There are plenty of fish in the sea but I choose you"...
We decided to go with "Valentine, you're a catch" and made cards that featured Ava holding a bag of Goldfish crackers. Classic.
You can find the DIY here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2015/02/valentine-youre-catch.html
Sweethearts for my Sweetheart
Our first ever Valentine's Day!
I never actually shared a DIY for this one as they're just sugar cookies (and I'm pretty sure I used a packet mix) but I wanted to share them here anyway because they're a super simple idea. We made heart shaped sugar cookies and sprinkled on a mix of red and pink sugar before baking. This gave the cookies a sparkly finish; perfect for Valentine's Day.
Ava posed for a picture dressed as a baker and I included this on the cards that we topped the bags of cookies with.
Heart Sun Catchers
Ok, so this one isn't actually a gift to hand out for Valentine's Day (although you totally could make them smaller and hand them out) but I had to include it because everyone seems to like it.
One year for Valentine's Day we made heart sun catchers to decorate our living room windows. These are really easy to make and are a fun project for kids. I cut out heart shapes and attached them to a piece of clear contact paper and the kids got to work filling the heart for cut up pieces of tissue paper and glitter). Once they were done I folded another piece of contact paper over the top and trimmed around the edges. We stuck them on our windows with a little double sided tape and they looked beautiful as the sun shone through them.
You can find the DIY here: https://www.littlehiccups.net/2015/02/valentine-heart-sun-catchers.html
Do you make Valentine's Day goodies with your kids? I'd love to hear what you've made in the past so make sure to comment below. If you make any of the goodies I've shared here I'd love to see a pic! You can post to my Facebook page here.
Do you make Valentine's Day goodies with your kids? I'd love to hear what you've made in the past so make sure to comment below. If you make any of the goodies I've shared here I'd love to see a pic! You can post to my Facebook page here.
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