Bug Valentine Craft with Free Printables

February 10, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

Even though many of us are barely recovering from Christmas, Valentine’s Day is quickly creeping up on us – crazy, right? With 4 kids in school this year, we’ve got plenty of kids’ Valentines for school to deal with. Luckily, these Bug Valentine pencils are a super easy craft, turn out adorable, and we even included the free printables for you!

You all know I love joining in Craft Lightning every month – and we’ve done some awesome crafts for every theme! Remember the snowman fingerprint activity last month? For those that don’t know – with this party we only share 15-minute (or less) crafts. I was able to do at least a dozen in that time, so within an hour I had plenty for my kids’ friends. Here’s for not waiting until the last minute – Woot woot!

Supplies

These Printable Bug Valentines – Download the 8.5×11 sheet here
Pom-poms
Pipe Cleaners
Hot glue/gun
Scissors
Googly eyes
Pencils
Hole-punch

Directions

Glue a pom-pom onto each pipe cleaner at the top. Glue 2 googly eyes onto the front. Cut the pipe cleaner to your desired length (or leave it longer, up to you) and wrap around the pencil.
Cut out the bug valentine cards. Hole punch at the top and bottom, then slide your pencil through.

That’s it – see, I told you it was a super easy Valentine idea! The kids are really excited to give these out – and were glad we did such a variety of colors for their friends to choose from.

Another bonus? It’s a non-candy Valentine idea, meaning less sweets to deal with! I like this partially because my kids don’t need even more candy, as I’m sure their friends don’t either – but while doing the craft I’d probably eat well more than I should if it was candy! I’m much safer with pencils and pom-poms 🙂

Now head over to see the other amazing Valentine’s Day crafts for this month’s Craft Lightning!

If you missed our other Craft Lightning crafts….

Heart Shaped Crayons for Valentine’s Day

February 5, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

If you’re a mom of littles, you know how important crayons are. And you also know that with crayons, come the crayon bits that are leftover. They get everywhere, am I right? Once the crayons aren’t brand new anymore, the kids just seem to leave them alone and want a shiny new box! Happens. Every. Time. Honestly, I hate wasting perfectly good crayons so I had to come up with a way to reuse them and I think the kids will love it! With a few simple supplies, you can make these fun Heart Shaped Crayons for Valentine’s Day.

Contains affiliate links that help keep this blog up, at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure.

I can’t wait to surprise my kids with these. They are so fun and it also means I won’t find bits of crayon ground into the flooring or stuck in pockets at laundry time. It’s a win win! 😉

What You’ll Needed

Crayons
Silicone Heart Mold

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 F.
Take paper off of crayons.
Break into small pieces. (Unless you’re like me and have tiny crayon pieces everywhere. 😉 )
Put 2 different crayon colors in each mold or mix a few different colors. Be creative – there are no rules here!
Place mold on cookie sheet and place in oven for about 5 minutes. Watch carefully and take them out when crayons are melted.
Let them cool completely, then pop crayons out of your mold.
You’re ready to color!

I love this project so much, that I’m even thinking ahead to stocking stuffers and classroom gifts! Since you can use any mold you like, these heart shaped crayons for Valentine’s Day can become turkey shaped for Thanksgiving, or elf shaped for Christmas. If you try it, tag me on Instagram so I can see your work!

Silly Monster Valentines

February 4, 2017 by Kelly Dedeaux

I don’t know about you, but growing up I remember going to the store before Valentine’s Day, scanning all the shelves full of Valentines to give to classmates and taking forever to pick out a favorite set. With the advent of Pinterest, I think things have gotten a little easier for modern day moms. Now we can just park our kids in front of the laptop and have them pick out a favorite set of (FREE!) Valentine’s Day cards to print out and label for their classmates. How awesome is that?! This year, I thought I’d add to the offerings and share with you this fun set of Silly Monster Valentines.

Contains affiliate links that help keep this blog running, at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure.

These will be great for our youngest kiddos, but I can see older kids getting a kick out of the silly monsters too! And, if I do say so myself, I really love how positive and friendly these turned out. The color scheme would be great for boys or girls too!

I’d recommend printing them out on some nice sturdy cardstock so they hold up while being transported to school in a backpack. (You mamas know what I mean!)

You could easily attach a lollipop in fun mystery flavors (we love Dum Dums!) to give these a little something extra! I hope your kids enjoy them.

Download & Print Your Silly Monster Valentines HERE

Printable Teacher Valentine Gift Card Holder

January 9, 2017 by Keri Houchin

I received compensation for the links in this post. All opinions are mine alone.

Gift cards make the best teacher gifts. Let your child’s teacher know that you appreciate all they do with this simple printable teacher valentine gift card holder. Add a card to your teacher’s favorite coffee shop for the perfect gift.

I wanted to make this printable cute and thoughtful and something a teacher would really enjoy. I know teachers don’t love getting weird Pinterest-inspired gifts and I think we’re all guilty of doing that at one time or another. (*Raising my hand*)

Teachers work so hard and they definitely deserve a treat every now and then. One of the best gifts for teachers is a gift card. If your child’s teacher loves coffee, this valentine is sure to hit the spot!

And for my kids’ teachers, I think coffee is probably a necessity as much as a treat.

Teacher valentine gift card holder

This printable card says “I like you a latte, Valentine!” and has a cute little cappuccino with a foam heart.

This would also make a fun valentine idea for a coach, a girlfriend, or anyone else that you want to do something sweet for. In fact, this would even make a fun surprise for your spouse that you could turn into a date night.

Click to download the printable: Teacher Valentine

This Valentine’s Day card prints on regular 8-1/2 inch by 11-inch paper and trims to 6 by 9 inches. I recommend printing it on card stock for durability. You could also slip the cards inside an envelope, of course. Or, get professional help to order custom gift card sleeves. You can put anything on them, and store them away to use for other teachers.

Attach a Starbucks gift card {or your favorite local coffee shop} with washi tape for a cute finish or hide some double-sided tape on the back. There’s a bit of blank space if you want to add a signature.

This is a nice and inexpensive way to give a practical gift you know they’ll use, but still making it something cute and personal!

Here are a few more Valentine’s Day ideas you’ll love:

Printable Watercolor Valentines

Printable Fruity Valentines

Valentine’s Day Treat Poppers

Sweet Rewards

February 12, 2016 by Lynn Driver

Here’s a simple idea you can use this Valentine’s Week (or anytime!) to encourage your kids to “be sweet.” How about offering a few little SWEET REWARDS as incentives?

I’m Lynn, and I blog about my home and family at Riggstown Road. It’s important to me to try to cultivate good attitudes and character traits in my children. Easy little tricks like sweet rewards help me do that in a fun way.

My kids know that there will not always be a tangible reward for doing the right thing. In fact, sometimes in real life, we are even persecuted for doing the right thing. They need to know and understand this. On the other hand, even we as adults enjoy it when something good we do gets noticed. Bonus at work anyone? Get a thank you card in the mail lately? As parents, we spend a lot of time preventing and correcting bad behavior (and rightly so.) But sometimes, an effective way of doing that can be to point out the good behavior. For the most part, I use predictable rewards and consequences. But I have found that sometimes, great motivation comes from those spontaneous, unexpected rewards. Ok, enough with the disclaimers. Now on to the sweet stuff…

Y’all probably know by now that I like simple things- simple recipes, simple projects, and simple solutions. Well, this little incentive idea is perfectly sweet and simple. Seriously, all you have to do is stop by the store and get a bag of chocolate kisses (or your kids’ favorite treat) and hide them. 😉 {I rarely just hand my kids candy, so this is a big deal for me!} First, I would spend a few minutes at bedtime or breakfast reading and talking about 1 Corinthians 13 (Love is patient, love is kind…) Then, be on the lookout, and whenever you catch a child doing something sweet (i.e. showing love), give them a “kiss” and tell them why. Don’t be surprised if you see an increase in sweet gestures on their part! Make this a fun tradition for Valentine’s Day or week. It’ll be rewarding- for you and them!

Sometimes the simplest things…can be the sweetest!

Interested in more parenting tips and ideas? Get the details on a simple sanity-saving Consequence Chart HERE…

and go HERE to read about one of my favorite tools to use for children and chores!

Valentines Day Oatmeal Monster Cookies

February 11, 2016 by Angela Paris

Make these Valentines Day Oatmeal Monster Cookies with your kids to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s a fun and delicious way to get in the kitchen with the kids!

There’s not a single thing I don’t love about an oatmeal cookie. The chewiness and the texture from the oats with the brown sugar is like no other cookie. These Valentines Day Monster Cookies are perfect for bake sales, classroom parties, or just because. My kids love helping to make cookies, stealing nibbles of chocolate chips and M&Ms as we go. Baking with the kids is a great way to talk about math concepts like measurements, and also the importance of making healthy choices with our foods.

Here’s how simple it is to make these Valentines Day Oatmeal Monster Cookies:

Print Recipe

Valentine’s Day Oatmeal Monster Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups creamy or chunky peanut butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon wheat germ
1 tablespoon milled flax seed
4 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup M&M's plain or peanut butter chocolate candies Valentine's Day themed
1 cup chopped walnuts optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the peanut butter, butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs. Add in the baking soda, wheat germ and milled flax seed and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
Add in the quick cooking oats, chocolate chips and M&M candies and mix well.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet.
Cook for 10-12 minutes until golden brown, taking care not to over bake.
Let set 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Store cookies in an airtight container or bag for up to 1 week.

Now these Valentines Day Oatmeal Monster Cookies are packed with mini chocolate chips and Valentine‘s Day themed M&M candies. Nuts are optional, but if you enjoy them, I would recommend finely chopped walnuts for some extra crunch. You might be surprised by two of the ingredients on the list above, but hear me out. Nearly all of my baked good recipes include a tablespoon or two of wheat germ and ground flax seed for a little extra boost of nutrition. You’ll barely notice it’s there, if at all. Trust me, if my picky eater enjoys these cookies, so will yours!

Want more great Valentine’s Day ideas?

Follow my Pinterest board for lots of inspiration!

Follow Juggling Act Mama – Ang Paris’s board Valentine’s Day on Pinterest.

DIY Glitter Cupid Jars

January 28, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

Guys, I love glitter crafts. I know, it gets everywhere and is a disaster to clean up – but it’s so fun and sparkly! When you add it to fun Valentine’s Day projects, it just brings on a whole happy dimension. These DIY Glitter Cupid Jars are so cute, and would be perfect gifts or party favors!

Despite what you may think, these cupid jars are also super easy to make – and you can customize as you’d like! Choose different colors or stickers, fill the jars with different treats or surprises, just have fun with it.

If you’re not sure what kind of jar to use, just find what you have or use something inexpensive. These little jars that I used for my cupid gifts were just empty sprinkle containers! See – be imaginative and I’m sure you can find something perfectly useable 🙂

Supplies

Jars
Glitter
Spray Adhesive
Feathers
Adhesive Sparkles/Jewels
Stickers

Directions

#1: Spray the outside of your jars with the adhesive spray, then sprinkle with glitter so it coats the entire outside. Allow to dry while you work on the lids.

#2: Add a few sparkle/jewels to your feathers – don’t make them too heavy, but dress them up a bit. Then use a sticker (or a large adhesive jewel, up to you) to stick 2 decorated feathers onto the top of the lid – like cupid wings!

Now just fill with treats, notes, whatever it is you’d like to gift! Easy-peasy, right?

I’ll admit, I almost went a little crazy wanted to do adhesive spray and glitter to more things, especially in my craft room. I kept myself under control, but had a BLAST decorating these cute Valentine’s jars!

I still haven’t decided what I want to fill mine with – maybe chocolates? Heart candies? Heck, I could even use these to give some rolled up dollars to my kids’ teachers for Valentine’s day. Cute, or dorky? I’m gonna say cute and run with it 😀

More fun Valentine’s Day Posts…

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls

January 26, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

Is it bad that I’m THRILLED Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year? I’d rather Saturday, but as long as it’s a weekend I feel like hubby and I can really relax. No pressure to go out, just be at home with the family, making yummy food ourselves. I whipped up these Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls last week and he loves them so much, he’s already requesting them again!

Don’t they look amazing? A perfect flavor combo of red velvet, cinnamon filling and a cream cheese frosting drizzle on top. It’s seriously the perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast – and the best part? You can make it ahead of time to avoid the morning rush! That’s right, make it the day before, store it in the fridge overnight, then just bake and enjoy. I love easy overnight breakfast recipes!

To whip up these yourself, just head on over to Thirty Handmade Days where I’m sharing the recipe! And you know what? If you choose to have these for dessert, too, I won’t tell anyone – we did that, too!

Printable Fruity Valentines

January 24, 2016 by Keri Houchin

Kids love jokes and puns. These printable fruity valentines are the perfect silly cards to send to school with your child. Add them to a package of fruit snacks or fruit-flavored candy for an easy treat to hand out to the whole class.

My nine-year-old son cannot resist a good joke. He has read every joke book in the library and never resists the opportunity to sneak a pun into conversations.

When I was afraid these were too cheesy, or maybe too mushy to hand out to friends, I asked for his opinion. After I read each card to him, he laughed out loud. I think we have a winner here.

I made these silly printables with a class Valentine’s Day party in mind, but they would also be cute to sneak into lunch boxes year-round.

The valentines include six designs on a single page and there are two options. First, I made them using just the outlines of the fruit. They’re easy on your ink cartridge and would be a fun coloring activity for younger kids.

The second style is colored in lightly. They still don’t use much ink, but they look a bit more finished if you’re in a hurry or have a preteen who’s too cool to color.

Click to download the printable fruity valentines: OUTLINES or COLORED

These printable fruity valentines make it easy to send a thoughtful and clever treat for the whole class. Start by printing and cutting out a few pages. Staple each one to a package of fruit snacks and you’re done.

These would also be good with fruit-flavored candy, like Starburst, Lifesavers, or Runts.

For a healthier option, fruit leather or fruit cups would be nice.

Looking for more Valentine’s Day ideas?

Printable LEGO Valentines

Valentine’s Day Treat Poppers

Bug Valentine Craft

Dr Pepper Cheesecake Shooters

January 19, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

It’s apparent by the red and pink filled aisles at the store that Valentine’s Day is creeping up on us, whether we’re ready or not. With everything hubby and I have going on right now, we plan to just be mellow and relax a bit together – but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy these super delicious Dr Pepper Cheesecake Shooters for a special Valentine’s dessert!

Not only do these pudding desserts look fun and festive, but they have a perfect blend of cheesecake and pudding flavor – topped with a cute chocolate-covered strawberry, of course! I think that’s my one tradition for Valentine’s day (other than spending time with hubby) – the chocolate-covered strawberries, plus sparkling cider. Give me those, a comfy blanket and my hottie for a relaxing evening in and I’m all set!

Ingredients

12 oz. White Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
3/4 cup Dr Pepper
8 oz. (1 package) Cream Cheese, softened
1 regular box Vanilla Instant pudding (or Cheesecake)
Red food coloring
Crushed graham crackers
Sprinkles for garnish, if desired
Chocolate-covered strawberry for topping, if desired

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the white chocolate chips and heavy cream over low heat. Stir occasionally until it’s smooth, keeping over low heat so it doesn’t burn. Remove from the heat and stir in the Dr Pepper, then allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes.
Once cooled, beat the white chocolate mixture with the cream cheese, pudding and little red food coloring (if desired) until it’s all creamy. Place in the fridge about 10 minutes.
Prepare your cups: if your glasses have empty stems like mine did, you can add some sprinkles for a more festive look. At the base of the cup scoop some graham cracker crumbs (about 1-2 tbsp).
Scoop some pudding mixture into each cup, topping off with a strawberry. Store, covered with plastic wrap, in the fridge until serving.

Supplies

Directions

If you missed our other Craft Lightning crafts….

Directions

Valentine’s Day Oatmeal Monster Cookies

Ingredients

Instructions

Supplies

Directions

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Ingredients

Directions

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