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DIY Valentines For School

We made some easy Valentine’s Day goody bags for our daughter’s classmates. The first thing we did was troll the aisles of Target (we hit up The Dollar Spot, and Valentine’s Candy section, and the kid’s party aisle, just to check out everything that was left). In The Dollar Spot in the front of the store, we found these cute little clear bags in a set of 20 for $1. Sold!

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Then we walked over to the party aisle, where they sell lots of kid-items in bulk, like stickers and markers and even glow sticks. After mulling over all of our options, we settled on some little boxes of washable markers, which were $2 for 4 (so we could get 16 for $8) but Clara seemed “meh” on them, so we didn’t commit to them fully. Then in the V-day section among all of the candy hearts and lolly pops and chocolates we saw it: a cute little red and white striped box full of crayon sets – and the entire box of 24 crayon sets was marked down to just $3.

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So since that box of crayons plus our little baggies were only $4 in total, we decided to poke around a little more just to see if there was something else we could toss into the bag along with the crayons. Boom, these little spiral notebooks were being sold in sets of 8 for $1.50 each.

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So for $3 more, each little bag could contain a striped box of crayons and a spiral notebook for kid doodles (I actually keep a small notebook with crayons in my purse to keep Clara busy while we’re in a restaurant or waiting at the doctor’s office). We asked Clara what she thought of the notebook and crayon idea, and her “I want to draw in the notebook with the crayons now” answer made us feel like it was a good choice. So $7 later we returned home with our bounty and opened it all up:

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Then we just stuck one pack of crayons and a little notebook into each bag, like so. Clara was such an awesome and fast helper, all the photos were blurry. Ha! But she was very good about only putting one box of crayons and one notebook in each one.

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We already had square labels (which we decided to use to seal the bag and indicate who the bags were from) so we got those out and had fun whipping up a quick little design that we could print directly onto the labels. At this point it was around 9:30 (and Clara was in bed) so we racked our brains to come up with something Valentine-ish that has to do with crayons and notebooks for the labels. After a bunch of duds like: “Hope your Valentine’s Day is cray” or “You draw me to you. Happy V-day!” (terrible!) we finally came up with “Crayons are red and yellow and blue, preschool is fun because of you!”

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It only took one sheet of the square labels that we already had to knock them out, and then we just peeled them off and stuck each one on the back of a bag to hold it closed.

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So for anyone who’d like to adapt that little label of ours for some last minute V-day making (which can be customized with your child’s name, etc) you’ll just need to grab this font from Font Squirrel (it’s free) and then download our label here and use Photoshop to edit it. Ours is sized to fit Avery 288 labels, and you can download a printing template for them right here from the Avery website. Of course you can also just hand-write stickers or print your own designs if you don’t have Photoshop or the same labels that we used.

Oh and here’s how they looked all assembled. Cute, huh? Clara can’t wait to hand deliver them to all of her friends. And she made sure there was one that she got to keep too. Haha. What can I say, the girl likes crayons…

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If you’re looking for some more kid-friendly Valentine’s projects, here’s a free Valentine’s Bingo Printable you could toss into your goody bag. Or this Love Bug Craft is super cute too!

Comments

  4. Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says

    Such a cute idea for Valentine’s Day. I love how devoted you guys are to DIY… even to the point of making Clara her own labels. They are adorable!
    My daughter, Noah, is only fifteen months but we made cards for everyone in our family. We dipped her little hands in paint and made hearts with the hand prints. I then wrote, “Ten little fingers can”t count the ways I love you with all my heart.”
    Happy Valentine’s Day!

    Reply

  5. Laurie says

    This post cracked me up–I just got off the phone with a friend who was stuck trying to think up something to send to school for her son’s class for V-Day. As I was giving her suggestions, in the back of my mind I was thinking, “I wish Target was here!”. Ha ha — you guys rocked it again for Clara’s class (and without resorting to candy). Target arrives in my wee town this coming summer. I grew up in Calif., but live in B.C. (Canada) now, so I have missed American Thanksgiving and Target very much! Off topic, how do we find out if we won a give-away on this blog? PS: John looked very handsome in that picture as you were watching tv. Hope you all have a happy Valentine’s day!!!

    Reply

  7. amanda a says

    Cute pictures. I’ve never had a valentine. I haven’t even had a date in about 6 years. Maybe longer. After 5 years, do you have to keep track? If I hadn’t already been rejected by the nuns, I’d probably join a convent. But alas, I’ll just sit here with my blogs.

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  8. Lizzy says

    Just fwiw – I would use a font that’s a little more pre-school friendly. They’re starting to recognize letters and such, and with a standard print front, the kids would probably recognize Clara’s name.

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  9. Abbie says

    Cute valentines. And I completely agree about the scruffy man in glasses. My man is hottest when he’s like that. I tell him that all. the. time.

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  10. Caitie says

    love these! i can’t wait til my maddy noelle has a class to make valentines for :) this year we just made valentines for the family -we folded up construction paper, stamped her little foot on the front, and added a sweet note inside.

    Reply

  11. Harrovian Mama says

    Such a great idea for preschool Valentines! My daughter will be starting in Spring so definitely worth remembering for next year!

    We have just moved into a new house in London and are in the process of decorating-your blog is coming in so handy. I am having to remember though that little London houses don’t suit everything that works on big American houses! Love the space you have!

    Reply

  13. Cristina says

    Sorry… totally OT… but I remembering reading a while back (I think in a DIY mag) that you recommend a picture frame that displays one picture, but holds multiples pictures in the back of the frame for kid’s artwork. I am having trouble finding these. Do you have ones you recommend?

    Reply

  16. Jeanine says

    I am a “Candy-Nazi” and my poor kids know it. I always try to come up with a great non-edible gift to buy their love without sugar. This year we made some blinged-out personalized pony bead zipper-pulls (say that fast 3 times!) for the 1st graders and birdseed hearts for the preschoolers.
    Don’t get me wrong, I can bake a mean cookie in 12-15 minutes (or whatever the wrapper says), but someday, they will thank me for this.

    Reply

  20. Amber @ Pooch and Puddy says

    Yay for scruffy guys in glasses! I actually have to tell mine not to shave because he’s all, “But it’s patchy!” and I’m all, “So? You’re not baby faced or a mountain man. A+ patchy.”

    I just had to introduce him to “Hey Girl” to show him that picture because scissors and puppy and it’s funny! Now he’s reciting “Hey Girls” at me. This may have been a mistake.

    Reply

  24. Kaely says

    We took pictures of the kids for their Valentines cards, photoshopped some text on them and printed them out on sticker paper to seal their treat bags. Saves us from have to address all those bags. And good for the little ones because they can’t write their names (or read their friends names yet either).

    I keep a lock through the handles of my “good scissors” so no one can use them without asking. It’s a little trick I picked up in college (Costume Design major) to keep people from ruining my shears by cutting through pins or using them on paper.

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  25. Megan says

    I love the little valentine’s! All of these Hey Girl memes are cracking me up. Our High School students (well, the girls) love them some Ryan Gosling. I see like fifty pins a day of just Him. Our students would die if I made some of my husband (aka – their youth pastor). I’m going to have to do it! haha! Have a sweet day!

    Reply

  26. rachel says

    hand made my valentines and birthday cards! between valentines and birthday i sent out 14 cards in the mail this week :) Vday cards said: “Love you more than ______ loves ______ (fill in the blanks)” :)

    Reply

  30. Katie says

    Those are so funny!

    I’ve made some home made valentines art for my boyfriend with lyrics from his favourite band, like the canvases that you paint one colour, stick adhesive letters over, paint another colour and peel off the letters.

    http://tenantchic.blogspot.co.uk/ although the post isn’t up quite yet not for another hour or so as I havent’t actually given it to him yet!

    p.s. I started this blog last week and so far I have exactly 0 followers, but you guys are totally an inspiration to keep going :)

    Reply

  31. Brittany says

    Love your ‘Hey Girl’ of John! I am SO on the ‘Hey Girl’ bandwagon. I linked up to the ‘Hey Girl’ party that Kelly is throwing over on her View Along the Way blog! You should check it out : ) My husband is so embarrassed but I love it!

    Reply

  32. Caitlin says

    For our Valentine exchange in the daycare class I teach, I picked up some fruit squeeze pouches and tied on little cards that I typed up that said “You’re so sweet, I could SQUEEZE you! Love, Ms. Caitlin.” I loved them and it was so much better to give them fruit instead of candy. . . Seeing as they’re 1-2 years old.

    Reply

  33. Sarah says

    Clara’s little valentines are so cute! Love that you guys went with a non-food item. I’m sure the kids will get plenty of sweets, so pencil & a notepad seems like a great alternative! :) Plus it’s totally adorable.

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  34. Jenny Aubrey says

    I am constantly getting irritated and telling my family NOT to touch MY green handled Fiskars!!! They are for MY crafting ONLY!!! They can use the cheap Dollar Tree scissors….

    Reply

  36. Jackie says

    I love that you did a no food valentine for Clara. Also love, men with scruffy hair and glasses. That’s definitely what caught my eye with my husband!

    Reply

  37. Yulia says

    Thank you so much for showing how easy it is to make treats that do not involve food! I saw several comments where readers seemed to think that candy is necessary, but for children with food allergies it is a serious health hazard. My son has celiac disease and he came home today with a bag of lollipops and other sweets that have no printed ingredients on the wrappers, so unfortunately he is not allowed to have any of it. I’m waiting until he is asleep to throw it out, so that he won’t be tempted by them tomorrow. Food allergies are so common now that I hope more people will be inspired by your post to forgo edible treats! Thanks!

    Reply

  38. Chrissie says

    Geeky boys are the hottest! Those glasses actually look really good on John. If only my husband didn’t have such perfect vision! (Joking – I’m quite short sighted and it’s a pain in the arse to wear vision aids all the time)

    I love those bags, and that you found a non-lolly valentine’s gift option. It’s so easy for little kids to get heaps of sugar at holidays like these, so I’m sure the other parents will appreciate a more practical option.

    Reply

  41. Miyu says

    Love your Blog!!!!

    The one about the revealing glass door cracks me up!! But, did it have a lock on it? Some of these high-tech doors, when it locks, it frosts! Like this door on this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRYxvpgkqYI

    A club in Las Vegas had this for their bathroom doors… except some girls with a little too much to drink didn’t bother to lock the door and everyone could see everything!

    Reply

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