valentine kids crafts and party ideas {reader submission}

Remember my amazing friend Kerri, the Mom-of-the-Year candidate? She passed on some fabulous ideas for kids Valentines and Valentine party games, snacks, and crafts for me to share with you. I'm sorry I couldn't get them posted sooner--baby and I are sicky and getting less done than usual after literally being up all night. Even without that, why is it so hard to sit down at the computer for 5 minutes with a newborn? Anyway, if you can't use these this year, for sure Pin It for next Valentine's day!
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Kids Valentine Party Games 

Valentine Math Bean Bag Toss 

This is a jazzed up version of the bean bag toss. Each child tosses the bags into the mouth and must do the addition and subtraction (with help from and adult if needed), depending on where their bags land: 5 points if they make it in the mouth, 10 points if they hit the teeth, and minus 5 if they miss.

Photos:
1. Simple sewn candy hearts for the bean bag math toss.

2. Mouth with moving teeth to toss the candy hearts in.

Spin the Bottle

3. Each child spins the bottle and then does the activity it lands on. You can make up anything or do the ones I thought up:

*Stuff 4 marshmallows in your mouth and say “Happy Valentine’s Day” 3 times!
*Turn to your neighbor and say “ I love you, but I just can’t smile” without smiling!
*Balance an M&M on your nose for 5 seconds…good luck and don’t sneeze!
*Make your funniest face to the person across from you. 
*Try and move a valentines candy from your chin to your mouth…then eat it!

Hot/Cold Packs Craft

4. For the Craft we are going to make little reusable HOT/COLD packs.
They are all pre-sewn we'll fill them with a funnel and then they will get to try their hand at sewing (it's only about an inch). Then we'll put them in a little bag with this note attached:

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 Reusable hot/cold pack

growing pains - aches - owies - bumps - bruises

Simply place the pack in the microwave* for a hot pack, or in the freezer for a cold pack.

*Microwaves vary. Start by heating the pack for 30 seconds and add time if needed

CAUTION:HOT!

Snack (not pictured) 

For the snack we're making "Love potion" with the little single serve drink packets and water bottles, string cheese, and a healthy pretzel, Craisin, almond snack mix. Here's that recipe:

2 1/2 c. pretzels 1/2 c. almonds
2 tab. brown sugar
1 Tab butter or margarine
1 Tab. Honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1 6 oz. package dried tart cherries or cranberries (1 1/2 cups)

1. Line cookie sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray. Combine pretzels and almonds on it and set aside.
2. In a small Sauce pan combine the brown sugar, butter and honey. Cook over med. heat until butter is melted and mixture is combined. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla
3. Pour warm mixture over pretzel mixture. Stir until ingredients are sell coated. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 min. or until mixture is golden brown, stirring once. Stir in Craisins or dried cherries, then let cool on a wire rack. Can be stored in an airtight container in fridge or freezer up to 1 week! Makes about 12( 1/3) cup servings

Fun Teach Valentine Treat

1. Red Velvet "cake mix" whoopie pies  Last year I made the real thing, but this year I feel pinched for time so I tried this out and they worked great. Super fast teacher gift!

*1 box cake mix
*1/2 c. oil
*2 eggs
Mix all ingredients, then roll out and use heart cookie cutter to cut pairs of hearts. Bake @ 350 for 8-9 minutes. Fill with cream cheese frosting and package in a cellophane bag.

2. "XO" Valentine wreath. Kerri and I worked on our burlap wreaths together at Christmas. Look how she reused hers for Valentines--as the "O" in "XO"!

Get two sticks of equal size from your yard. Pick a ribbon in a coordinating color. Glue gun them bottom, then wrap the sticks with the ribbon. Glue together in an "x" shape. Hang above your wreath.

3. Love note in a bottle. 

 

Makes a great teacher or friend gift. Fill a washed out glass soda bottle with candy of your choice, then cut a long strip of fancy paper and have your child or you write what they love about the person receiving the gift. Roll the paper up like a message in a bottle and cap it. Add some paper flowers and there you have a super cute, fast gift.

4. Bird feeder for friend Valentines. 

I found this great recipe substituted the bird food for some wheat I had around and they turned out so cute (recipe from saltwater-kids.com). (You may want to find out what kinds of feed the local birds in your area prefer.)


You'll Need:
3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3 tbsp. corn syrup
4 cups birdseed (I used wheat from my food storage)
molds (muffin tin, cookie cutters, etc.)
nonstick spray
drinking straw
waxed paper
ribbon/twin

Directions:
1: Combine the flour, water, gelatin and corn syrup in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well-combined.

2: Add the birdseed to the mixture, stir until well coated.

3: Spray your mold(s) with cooking spray, and spoon birdseed mixture into each mold. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to pack it down, and make the top smooth.

Poke a hole through top of each birdseed mold using a drinking straw, making sure it goes all the way through.

4: Leave the birdseed mixture in the molds for two to three hours. Then, remove the straws and lay out a sheet of waxed paper. Gently remove the hardened ornaments from the mold, and place them on the wax paper upside down. Allow them to dry for at least two to three more hours, or overnight.

5: Cut your ribbon and carefully put it through the hole.

6: Package them up!

5. Valentines candy dish. 

 

Made a kissing ball with paper flowers and Styrofoam ball. I used a vase I had around the house, filled it with treats and put the kissing ball on top. So cute for a centerpiece for a party or just general decor around the house!

Isn't Kerri out-of-control amazing? I think she needs to start her own blog! ;) Happy Valentine's day!