Valentine Craft Night

Everyone likes crafting and with friends it's even better.  Be the planner and make it easy for everyone to jump in and have a fun time creating something they love while spending time together.  Tips and ideas below.

littleislandartdepartment.blogspot.com: VALENTINE CRAFT FOR KIDS (ADULTS TOO)EASY, LARGE S...

littleislandartdepartment.blogspot.com: VALENTINE CRAFT FOR KIDS (ADULTS TOO)EASY, LARGE S...: VALENTINE CRAFT FOR KIDS (ADULTS TOO) EASY, LARGE SIZE (24") PAPER MACHE VALENTINE FOR FRONT DOOR OR WHEREVER NEEDED.  THIS IS AN ES...

littleislandartdepartment.blogspot.com: VALENTINE HEART A big paper mache heart with a spe...

littleislandartdepartment.blogspot.com: VALENTINE HEART A big paper mache heart with a spe...: VALENTINE HEART  A big paper mache heart with a special place for valentine goodies ~ cards, candies, and other good things.   Larg...

littleislandartdepartment.blogspot.com: VALENTINES Roofing tin (flashing) is inexpensiv...

littleislandartdepartment.blogspot.com: VALENTINES
 ..

VALENTINES

 

Roofing tin (flashing) is inexpensive (hardware stores) and has a great look.  Spray painted with red high gloss paint, hearts can be painted and or decorated.  After painting and or decorating, hearts are durable enough to hang outdoors.  For kids, adults can cut hearts (with scissors or tin snips) in a variety of sizes and then paint with high gloss red spray paint.
Great stuff for decorating can be found at 99 cent stores such as beads, jewels, ribbon, stickers or anything festive like the "love" sign.  Fun to do in a group or to give to kids who are spending time in the hospital or are unable to be active.  Just bring painted hearts, acrylic paints, glitter, and ribbon or wire.

Materials

Roll of roofing tin  (flashing) from hardware store or Home Depot.  Buy a small roll to start with (unless you know you are making lots of large size hearts) and buy the lightest weight they carry (0.010 thick). 

Bright red high gloss spray paint.

Acrylic paints in assorted colors, paint brushes, glue, thin wire or ribbon or string or twine, small hole punch, sand paper and if decorating hearts, any items you may want to use such as glitter, beads, gems, stickers, etc.  If you like the "love" sign but can't find one at a 99 cent or craft store, you can make one out of aluminum wire, 18 guage.  Spray paint red.

Instructions

Decide on size hearts you would like to decorate and cut out some patterns for tracing.  I always use newspaper for patterns.  Trace hearts on your flashing.  The flashing is a little hard to handle when it comes off the roll as it wants to stay curled so you have to bend it just a bit to make is flatter.  Don't force it too much or you will end up with dents.  Trace hearts on tin and cut with tin snips or scissors.  Sand the edges a bit.  Edges will still be a bit sharp so when working with kids, remind them not to run their fingers along the edges.

Lay hearts out on some newspaper or drop cloth and spray red.  Wait till dry, turn over, and spray the other side.  Only spray one side if you plan on hanging hearts where just one side will show.

When dry, hearts are ready to paint and or decorate.  If you are hanging hearts in a row as shown in samples, you will need to punch holes in tops and or bottoms.  Attach hearts together with wire or ribbon or string.   

  Have fun!

EASY CHRISTMAS CRAFTS FOR KIDS ~

Wreaths and Christmas Trees

Simple fun craft projects that are easy for kids and work well for a group or party.  Adults will need to do a little work to get things ready but these holiday crafts keep kids busy and they love them.

PINE CONE TREES ~ 

Collect or buy medium size (or any size you like) pine cones (amount you will need) and spray them with glossy red and green paint.  

Make little stands (about 1"x1") out of scrap wood or dowels and glue to base of pine cones with hot glue gun.  If you don't have a saw, you can use cardboard tubes instead or even cut pieces of cardboard.  You may have to remove some pieces from the pine cone bottoms here and there to even it out.

Make or buy stars for tree tops and glue to trees with hot glue gun.  I cut up a garland of silver stars I found at the 99 Cent store which is a great place for finding craft supplies (actually decorations) especially at holiday times.  You can also make stars out of poster board and add glitter.

Search craft stores, 99 Cent stores and fabric stores for supplies and trims kids can drape and glue to their tree.  Put them out in plates and bowls for kids to choose from.  I buy the large bags (variety of sizes) of pom poms from Oriental Trading. I use them year round because kids love them. 

WREATHS ~

Buy or make wreaths.  I found a few different kinds of wreaths at the 99 Cent store (including the snowflake) and I made a few out of garland (cut and wired together) also from the 99 Cent store. 

Cut mittens (5" or so) out of white card stock for kids to decorate and hang on their wreaths along with a piece (8" or so) of thin wire to attach them together and then to the wreath.  

Cut a variety of trims (ribbons, zig zag trim etc) along with pom poms, stars and any good things you can find to glue on mittens.  Provide markers as well so kids can draw designs on their mittens if they choose, or combine with trim.

For decorations to glue on the wreath, use large size pom poms and any fun items you can find or make like stars and snowflakes.  I found the snowflake trim at the 99 Cent store and cut it apart. 

I usually put tacky glue in little cups or paper plates and provide sticks as it works better than glue bottles and tacky glue works better than school glue.

  

Twig Christmas Trees

Easy craft to do with kids, lots of creative possibilities ~ paint, decorate, add ornaments, glitter, trims, yarn, or leave natural.

Collect twigs with kids or have them do the collecting.  If none are close by you can always go to a park.  Arrange twigs in tree shapes and zap corners with a glue gun (adults should do this part) to attach.  Add cross pieces.  Cut stars out of lightweight cardboard, tag board or poster board, glue to a small twig, and then to tree top.  These trees are delicate and will need to be hung on a wall or door.  They look great in a group or row or alone.  They can be left natural or decorated.  Some ideas include paint, glitter, little tied on ornaments (such as the little cut out watercolor houses shown), trims, yarn draped on the cross pieces, loops of colored paper and anything you can think of.