Valentine Crafts

Some adults enjoy knitting, sewing or crocheting items with Valentine themes. We also bake cakes in heart-shaped pans and decorate with red, pink and white frosting. Valentine's candy is easier to purchase than to make, and is so rich in ingredients that we probably shouldn't eat it. But we do.

However, children make most of the paper Valentine crafts today. They are carrying on a tradition started during the Victorian era, when improving communications made sending Valentine cards possible and popular. The Victorians valued such hand-made cards. They were decorated with lace, flowers, feathers, and fabric scraps such as silk or satin. Many times, those who could afford it used gold foil as well.

In place of lace, children can cut up paper doilies to insert into the cards. Construction paper is certainly available in red and pink and white. Paper flowers are available or can be made from layers of tissue paper folded together and fastened in the center with a pipe cleaner or chenille stem, then carefully teased out as petals. And marker pens come in many colors, including ink that glitters. Add a child's love for a secret pal or a parent and the Valentine can hardly be bettered by anything made commercially.

Valentine Crafts Leave Special Memories

A Valentine received by a lonely person, someone who has no family perhaps, will be kept and treasured for many years. Sensitive teachers know this and will encourage children to make several Valentines, if they're old enough to do so. Some children will send a box of hand-made Valentines to the troops. Others will accompany their teacher when she delivers Valentines to a nursing home.