Make homemade Valentine’s Day messages using recycled items from around the house.
By Andrea Mulder-Slater
You could go to the store and pick up ready-made Valentine’s Day cards for your kids to distribute among friends and family on February 14th. Or, you could show them how to recycle some household paper goods into sweet messages of love and affection.
The required materials are few, and chances are you’ve already got everything you need in your office or basement.
What You Need:
Simply gather some cardboard tubes (from paper towels, wrapping paper or toilet paper), scrap paper (pink, red, & white), markers and/or crayons, a pair of scissors, and a splash of red and white paint.
In addition to the above, you will also need paintbrushes, a container of water and some newspapers or an old tablecloth to protect your work surface. And maybe some cinnamon hearts, for energy.
What You Do:
Fold a cardboard tube into the shape of a heart by running a crease down the middle.
Press the folded tube flat and cut into 3cm sections. You’ll probably want to toss the end pieces as they tend to unravel.
Gather your little hearts. Using poster, acrylic or tempera paint, give the hearts some colour.
While you’re waiting for the paint to dry, create some fun messages on scrap paper using markers, crayons or whatever you have on hand.
Roll the notes, tuck them into the little painted cardboard hearts and voila, they are ready to share.
Aren’t they sweet? Your child can set her Valentines in a bowl and let loved ones choose their own.
Or she can hide them in unlikely places, like inside the fridge or in the cupboard next to the coffee filters and cake mix. Either way, these messages of love will be truly from the heart.
This post originally appeared on Erica Ehm’s YMC with the title: Be My (Green) Valentine: DIY Love Notes Your Kids Can Make.
