superman valentines

 Lately my kids have been interested in Super Heroes. My kids can list off a huge list of them (some that I had to verify were real ones like Dr. Octopus, or something like that.) So I thought that it would be cute if we made Superman valentines. Simon helped me make these since Claire was at school and I think that he did a great job. I'm hosting a little play date for Simon and his friends the day before Valentine's day (while Claire's at school celebrating) and I thought these would be perfect for him to give to his friends.

Supplies:
Cardstock (I used white)
Paint (blue and whatever colour you want to make the face, I mixed white and brown)
Markers (red, yellow, blue and black)
Googly eyes (optional)

I cut the paper into rectangles measuring 3x4inches. Simon dipped his thumb into the cream(ish) colour paint and pressed it firmly onto the card. He did all of the cream coloured thumbprints and then did all of the blue ones right next to them. Once the paint was dry I used the markers to finish embellishing the cards. I used the blue to draw the arms and legs and black for the hair. (Yes, I'm aware that there will come a point where my children far surpass my artistic (ha!) abilities.) Then I used the red marker to draw a smile and a the outline of the cape. I used the yellow marker to draw a diamond like shape on the cape which I coloured in yellow. Then I finished colouring in the cape. I added a few stars as well. To finish Superman I glued on some small googly eyes.

Then I tried to think of something clever to write on the valentine. I googled Superman's catch phrases, but Superman didn't give me much to work with :) He does say up, up and away, hence the use of that on the card. Simon signed all of his cards and now they're ready for him to pass out to his friends, so that when his sister comes home with  a bag of valentines, he will also have one!

valentine lunches

I love making valentines lunches. Oh wait, I just love packing lunches in general. All of these are packed in my EasyLunch Box containers. They make packing lunch SO easy.

 I cut Claire's sandwich into two hearts using a sandwich cutter that I picked up at the grocery store. I added a few pretzels to the top of the sandwiches. I skewered some blueberries on heart (cocktail) skewers. I added a few grapes to a silicone cup and added some heart shaped strawberries.

 I used a penguin cutter to cut Claire's sandwich into penguins. I added a heart sprinkle to each penguin. Using a heart silicone container I gave Claire some blueberries and grapes.

 Claire was asking me to add some sprinkles to her lunch, so I cut off the crusts of her sandwich and used a small heart cookie cutter to cut a heart out of one piece of bread. I made the sandwich using WOWbutter. After I put the sandwich together I added some chocolate sprinkles through the heart piece. I packed some more blueberries in a silicone cup and added in a few chocolate chip cookies for a snack. I also added in an applesauce.

I cut her sandwich in the shape of a heart, as well as the apples :) I used a bit of washi tape to make a little skewer flag for her cup of blueberries.

Linked up with: Tatertots and Jello, Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons, Six Sisters, Skip to my Lou

train themed Valentine bookmarks

In years past, I've made a lot of different Valentine bookmarks with them. Last year we did a fruit themed series and the previous year we made some animal themed ones. This year, Simon and I made some train themed ones, after his favorite show, of course!

It can be tricky to find or make Valentines that aren't made of pink and purple hearts and covered with lace  glitter. I tried to incorporate Simon's interests to make these bookmarks. If you watch the Thomas show at all, I hope that you can recognize all of these trains! The ones in the above picture are Charlie, Thomas, James and Percy. The trains below are Gordon, Duncan and Henry.

These are so simple to make. Start by cutting a piece of white paper into 6x2" pieces. Decide what trains you'd like to make and have your child stamp their finger in the paint and then onto the paper. Once all of the colored dots have dried, have your child stamp their pointer finger into some grey paint and then onto the center of the colored dot. Once that paint is dry use a thin black marker to decorate the train's face. Don't forget to add the funnel, buffer (use a red marker) and some wheels. I added a bit of washi tape to the bookmarks because I love it. And have to start using my hoard collection of tape. If you have any questions about the bookmarks leave it in the comments and I will get back to you!

Happy crafting :)

Linked up with: Tatertots and Jello, Six Sisters, Skip to my Lou

Valentine's Day lunch

This was a quick little lunch that I made for the kids the other day. Naturally, the kids started with the chocolates. Wouldn't you?

I used my pancake mold to cut their sandwiches into hearts. I filled a heart shaped silicone cup with blueberries, which just happen to be my kids favorite berry.

I had planned on making a countdown to Valentine's day calendar for the kids, but that didn't end up happening. So, I used the chocolate kisses and stuck some stickers on the bottom of them and added them to the kids lunches. I got these stickers from the It's Written on the Wall facebook page.

Hope that everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day. I'm off, and can't wait to enjoy the day with my kids!

valentine jello cubes

Who doesn't love jello? My kids get so excited when they see a bowl of jello in the fridge (it's usually been poked a few times to see if it has set yet.) I've never made jello jigglers before, but they were so easy to make!

While the kids were eating breakfast, I boiled the water. I used two packs of jello (4 serving size) and mixed the jello packs with 1 1/3 cups of water. Once it was all mixed together, I poured it into a glass loaf pan. Jello jiggers don't take as much time to set as regular jello. Somehow this batch of jello evaded any poking!

When it was time to eat the jello, I ran a knife along the edges of the pan to loosen it up a bit. Then I put a bit of hot water in the sink and sat the loaf pan in the water to help loosen the jello from the bottom of the pan. I did end up using a spatula to help the jello come out of the pan smoothly. I just put the block of jello on a cutting board and cut it into squares for the kids.

The result? They loved it. Obviously. I mean, jello that you can eat with your hands, is a clear win.

Linking up with: Six Sister's Stuff &  Skip to my Lou & Tip Junkie & Weekly Kids Co-op& One Artsy Mama  & Tatertots and Jello 

heart stamped valentines

I love handmade valentines. These ones are no exceptions. The best part is that you probably already have everything on hand that you need to make them.

Supplies needed:

small heart cookie cutter

various shades of paint

washi/decorative tape

cardstock

corner rounder (optional)

 

I cut the paper in little rectangles measuring 3" x 4 ". I poured the paint on a piece of tin foil. Claire had a great time choosing the colours of paint that she wanted to use, and creating her own patterns. 

 Once the paint was dry, I added a piece of washi tape to each Valentine. I used my corner punch on each Valentine.

 Then I handed them back over to Claire so that she could write her little message on them. (She was practicing writing N's, that's why there are two together in Valentine.)

How easy is that? Obviously, if we were handing these out to class mates (which we're not, since Claire's not in school yet) I would write the Happy Valentine's Day bit. Actually, I'd probably find a stamp, and stamp that on the back of each card. 

Linking up with: Six Sister's Stuff &  Skip to my Lou & Tip Junkie & Weekly Kids Co-op & Tatertots and Jello 

Footprint Race Car Valentine!

In an attempt to create a more boyish Valentine, Simon and I created the footprint race car. If we're being technical here, Simon begrudgingly let me paint his foot and sort of let me press it on the paper. Last year we created the footprint dump truck (Simon was slightly more agreeable last year!)

This one was fairly easy to make, once the child's footprint had been done. I used red paint, slathered the paint all over Simon's foot (he was sitting a chair), and then stood him up and pressed his foot on the paper. Make sure not to have too much paint on the foot, or it will just slide around too much when the child steps on the paper.

Once the paint is dry you can add in some of the extra details. Use a black marker to draw the road lines (hopefully yours will be slightly more parallel than mine.) Draw some wheels, the number on the car, and then the finish line sign. I used a green marker to add some grass (I just wanted to add a little colour). I couldn't find a red marker, so I used my red felt tip pen to add the spoiler thing on the back of the car. I drew (sort of!) a person inside the car with felt tip pens as well. Then just write you Valentine message on the top of the paper.

My plan is to scan this project, and print out some copies that we can send to Simon's Grandparents.

Am I the only one working on Valentine projects already? Let me know what you've been working on, I'd love to check it out. Leave the link in the comments.

Linking up with: Six Sister's Stuff &  Skip to my Lou & Tip Junkie & Weekly Kids Co-op & Tatertots and Jello 

thumbprint Valentine bookmarks: part 2

Longtime blog readers may remember the thumbprint bookmarks that Claire and I made last year for Valentine's Day. Turns out, they were one of my most popular posts ever. So, I decided to make a few new ones for this year. If you're new to my blog, I'd love for you to follow me on my facebook page.

For these ones, I choose a fruit theme. (I have another set that I'll be posting shortly.) These are so easy to make, and aside from the drying time for the paint, they hardly take any time at all.

To Make:
Coloured cardstock.
ribbon
paint
decorative tape
corner punch (optional)
coloured pens/markers

To start, I cut my 12x12 paper in half, and then cut the bookmarks to measure 2"x6".
Decide what fruit you'd like to create, and have your child stamp their thumb on the bookmark.
Once dry, embellish the fruit with stems & leaves. I used some coloured pens to write the puns on the bookmarks.

I finished off the bookmarks by adding some washi tape to the top of the bookmark, and rounding the corners. Lastly, I punched a hole on top of the bookmarks, and folded a bit of ribbon through the hole.

You can have your child write the names of the lucky recipients of these bookmarks on the back of them.

Linking up with: Six Sister's Stuff &  Skip to my Lou & Tip Junkie & Weekly Kids Co-op & One Artsy Mama & Tatertots and Jello 

Valentine's Day crafts

Some people like to wait a while before jumping into the next holiday, but I sort of like to jump in, feet first. I also know that it can take a while to plan crafts with kids, so now you'll have lots of time to make these Valentine crafts. The kids and I have already starting working on some new Valentines to hand out this year. Check back on Monday to see that post!

1. Footprint Dump truck
2. Puppy (made of hearts) Valentine
3. Bee Mine tag
4. Toilet paper roll Valentines
5. Thumbprint Bookmark Valentines
6. Gumdrop wreath
7. Mosaic heart
8. Peanut butter cookies
9. Love sign

puppy love Valentines

Looking for some last minute Valentine ideas? These puppy cards are a cinch to make. I had done the prep work before we sat down to make them so that Claire wouldn't get annoyed with cutting out hearts. I did give her one to cut out, but she didn't get quite close enough the outline of the heart, so when you flip hers over it just looks like a blob of paper :)

Supplies needed:

dark and light grey paper (of course you could use brown paper too)
cardstock for the Valentine (I used purple)
googly eyes
sequin or jewel for the nose (optional, you could of course just draw on the nose)

heart template

1. I cut up a sheet of 12 x 12 paper into 4 inch squares. Then I used my punch to round the corners.
2. Cut out several light and dark grey hearts. I used a white piece of paper, folded it in half, and drew my heart. Then I cut that one out and used it to trace onto the grey paper. I cut out a few hearts. I cut all of the dark grey hearts in half to make the puppy ears.
3. Glue the light grey heart on the piece of square paper. (Use a glue stick for this part. If you use school glue, your paper may or may not get bubbly. Not that I know this from personal experience or anything.)

4. Glue the ears on either side of the heart. (You can use the school glue here.)

5. Glue on the eyes, and nose.
6. Draw some freckles on the dog (cause all dogs have freckles, right?)
7. Once dry, add your Valentine message.

There you have it- the most adorable little puppy dog Valentines. The best part of these, is that with all of the prep work done ahead of time, each Valentine only takes a minute to make.

Hope that you all have a lovely Valentine's Day.

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Linking up with: Skip to my Lou & Tip Junkie  & Toys in the Dryer & Tatertots and Jello

Peanut Butter Valentine cookies

After seeing these cookies all over Pinterest, I decided to make some myself. They were so easy to make, and I didn't have any problem getting rid of leftover cookies either :)

Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies 

from Kraft Canada

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup of sugar

1 egg

That's it! Pre heat oven to 325°F. Mix all ingredients until blended. Form into balls and place on cookie sheet. I used a glass to flatten the cookies, so they'd be nice and smooth for the hearts. You could use a fork to flatten them too. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. (I'm pretty sure I baked mine for more like 15 mins.) 

While cookies are baking, unwrap chocolate hearts. I used Comet brand ones, because that's all I could find here. 

Transfer to cooling racks as soon as you take the cookies out. Then quickly and gently press a heart onto each cookie. After just a few minutes the chocolate heart will have melted enough that you can press it down a little further.

These cookies would be the perfect accompaniment with a sweet little Valentine.

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Linking up with: Skip to my Lou & Tip Junkie &  Tatertots and Jello

heart mosaic

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Have a toddler and looking to keep them busy for a bit? Then this is the perfect craft to make. 

I grabbed a piece of 12 x 12 pink scrapbooking paper and drew the outline of a heart using a pencil. Then I gave Claire some scraps of pink patterned paper. Claire cut random shapes out of the pink paper. Then I gave her the bottle of glue and asked that she glue the paper all within the heart shape. She kept going until the whole heart was full. The best part was that when she was done this heart, she asked to make another one!

What are you making for Valentine's Day?

Linking up with: Skip to my Lou  & Tip Junkie & Toys in the Dryer &  Tatertots and Jello

footprint dump truck carrying love

Are you looking to send an extra special Valentine to someone this year? Maybe Grandma, Grandpa, or even a teacher? Then this is it! It's a footprint dump truck, carrying an extra special load of love.

This was a very easy craft to make. I painted the kids feet yellow (I mixed in a bit of orange so that the yellow would be easier to see) and stamped them on the paper. Then once the paint was dry, Claire and I set out to finish off our trucks. We drew on our windows and wheels on the truck. (Some of us have different visions of what windows look like.)

Then I cut a piece of brown paper (because that dump truck is working hard pulling that load of love up the hill) and glued it underneath the truck.We drew some grass on the hill, and then set out to fill up the dump truck. Claire can't (or won't) draw hearts yet, so we used an old heart punch that I have to cut hearts out of paper. She had a great time gluing them on the truck.

If you don't have a heart punch, or your child knows how to draw hearts (!) then the footprint dump truck looks just as adorable with the hearts drawn in.

 So, get out the paint and paper, and set to work to surprise someone with one of these special Valentines this year. And if you do make these, let me know. I'd love to see how yours turn out!

 
   
Linking up with: Skip to my Lou & The Grant Life & An Original Belle& Michelle Paige & Tip Junkie &  Tatertots and Jello

bee mine Valentine

Looking for a quick and simple Valentine this year? How about these bumblebee, be (or bee!) mine Valentines. Want the how to? Keep on reading...

I used some tags that I had leftover from my thumbprint snowmen tags that I made for Christmas. I think these would look great on standard office supply tags too. I mixed some yellow paint, with just a touch of orange paint, just to make the yellow a bit darker. Claire went to town stamping her thumbprints on the tags. After Claire was in bed that night, I used a red pen to draw on the heart at the top of the tags. I also wrote be mine. Claire just started writing her letters so she probably would have taken up this whole tag to write those words!

When Claire woke up the next morning she was anxious to finish drawing the bumblebees. She drew on their strips and faces. Together, we drew on the wings. I attached some twine to the tags and we were done!

Pass out these sweet Valentines this year!

Linking up with: Skip to my Lou & The Grant Life & An Original Belle& Michelle Paige & Tip Junkie &  Tatertots and Jello

thumbprint Valentine Day bookmarks

 Valentine's Day is just around the corner. We're getting a head start on our projects this year, mostly because Claire loves working on new 'projects'. Switch it up this year and hand out little Valentine Day bookmarks. These were quite easy to make- and you probably have all of the supplies on hand right now. Paper, paint, markers and googly eyes (optional). Go ahead, go check for them. I'll wait right here. 

 Claire loved drawing all the faces and gluing the eyes on the animals. And the back of the bookmark is the perfect spot to write a little message to your special Valentine.

 I cut all of the paper before Claire and I sat down to start this craft. I used 12 x 12 paper. I cut it in half, and then cut two inch strips (so the bookmarks are 6 x2). I did use my corner punch to round the corners of the bookmarks, but obviously this is a very optional step. Using my hole puncher I punched the hole for the ribbon.

 Using brown paint Claire stamped her thumbprint. Once it was dry, we used a brown marker to draw the ears. I used my hole puncher to punch some holes from cream coloured paper for the nose of the bear. Claire glued on the eyes.

 The lion was the easiest of all of the bookmarks. I mixed a little bit (and I mean tiny bit) of orange paint with the yellow paint so that it would look more lion-y (I know that's not a word.) Draw on the mane, and mouth, and glue on the eyes.

 We used red paint for the bird, and then used an orange marker for the comb and legs. A black marker for the smile, and then we glued on googly eyes.

I mixed a bit of the purple paint with white paint so that we'd have a lighter shade of paint for the top wings. Once the paint was dry we used a grey marker to draw the body of the butterfly and the antennas. We added a smile with a red marker, and glued on googly eyes.

 After Claire stamped her thumbprint with the white paint, she dipped her pinky finger in the white paint to stamp the ears. Once it was dry, we used a pink marker to colour in the ears, and draw the nose. We used a black marker for the smile and whiskers. Googly eyes finished it off.

 Stamp the frog using green paint. Once it's dry use a green marker to draw the legs and the round balls behind the eyes. Use a black marker to draw the nose and smile. Glue the googly eyes on top of the frog.

Show me what you're making for Valentine's Day. Link it up in the comments. 

Linking up with: Skip to my Lou & Toys in the Dryer & Tip Junkie &Today's Creative blog  &  Tatertots and Jello