Fist-Print Valentines Day Cards

This is a cute craft to do with any age child. Since my child is so young, I had to "guide" his hand into the fist position and do the stamping myself. Then I created a card to send to some friends and family, but He colored the inside with crayons by himself.

What you'll need:
· Multiple sheets of valentines colored construction paper/ scrapbook paper
· White poster board, cardstock, or heavy paper
· Crayons
· Acrylic paints (we used light blue, purple and pink)
· Scissors
· Glue/Glue-stick
· Paintbrush

· Hole-punch

· Ribbon

How to make it:
1. Have child make a fist with both hands or hold their hands in a fist position for a younger

child.
2. Start with the left hand. Use the paintbrush to paint the side of their pinky finger and the

side of the hand below it. Press onto the poster board to form the left side of the heart. Repeat

these steps with the right hand, creating the right side of the heart. (See Picture Below)
3. Repeat step 2 for each child, or with different colors for multiple cards.
4. When the painted hearts are dry, trim the excess paper around the prints.

5. The rest is up to you! Create a unique card with your childs prints on them. HAVE FUN!

Easy Salt-Dough Valentines Magnets

Here is an easy craft you can do with your kids for valentines day. It makes a great little gift for Grandma and Grandpa too!

What you'll need:
½ cup salt
1 cup flour
½ cup water
Wooden spoon
Rolling pin
Extra flour
Heart-shaped cookie cutters
Magnets
Hot glue
Acrylic paint (pink, white, red, light blue, yellow, white, pink, silver)
Paint brush
Acrylic sealer
Wax paper
Cookie sheet
Optional Decorations (Glitter, etc)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Mix together, salt, flour, and water until dough is formed.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour and continue to do so until stickiness is gone. Do not add too much flour as this will dry out the dough and cause it to crack before it's baked.
4. Roll out the dough to about ¼" thick with a rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.
5. Use different sized heart-shaped cookie cutters to create as many pieces as you like.
6. For smaller children, use a single shape to make it easier at painting time. For older children, you can double up and even triple some of the hearts for a 3D affect
7. Place all hearts onto an ungreased cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.
8. Bake for 2 hours.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
10. Paint with acrylic paints, glitter glue and/or glitter paint and spray finished projects with acrylic sealer.
11. To write the words on the conversation heart pins, use a toothpick dipped in white paint.
12. Hot glue a round magnet to the back of larger hearts to hang on the fridge.

Keep in mind these were made by my 16 month old...

and it turned into a finger painting project...

Finger-painting *Fun for Everyone*

Finger-painting can be a fun activity for kids of any age. Below is a quick and easy recipe for making your own fingerpaint at home. A few tips before you paint:

1. Strip the kids down to their underoos/diapers for this adventure

2. Go Outside

3. Put a large sheet down to avoid extra messes

4. Have FUN!

HOMEMADE FINGER-PAINT:

Ingredients:
2 cups white flour

2 cups cold water

Food coloring

Posterboard or Heavy Paper

Directions:
Put water into a large bowl. Slowly add the flour, while stirring. (If your child is old enough- let them help with the stirring). Once it's all mixed together, divide into smaller bowls and add food coloring. ENJOY!

Here are some pictures of my little guy and his friend

enjoying finger-painting for their very first time