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Valentine's Day Crafts (for Kids and Adults!)

© Christine Barron

We are right around the corner from one of my favorite holidays of the entire year, Valentine's Day. I couldn't let this holiday go by without sharing with you some of my ideas and favorite websites for creating a memorable and loving Valentine's Day gift. Valentine's Day is for sweethearts of all ages! This is the day when we take extra time, more so than any other day, to show our sweetheart how much we love them. And while those heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and a traditional card are always nice (Hey, I NEVER turn down chocolate!), I prefer to go down a different road and give something a little different. This is an opportunity to use your creativity and turn a regular holiday into something very unique and ultra-special.

Who knew that Valentine's Day evolved from a Roman festival where the Romans gave thanks to Lupercus, one of their gods, for protecting them from wild wolves? And who knew that the practice of exchanging paper Valentines (cards, etc.) stemmed from the tradition of "name drawing" that was performed at that Roman festival? For more in-depth history of this holiday, refer to these sites: http://www.cia-g.com/valstory.html and http://ancienthistory.miningco.com/libra...

As I mentioned, I like to give something a little atypical for Valentine's Day. This year, I plan to give my two little sweethearts some big, oversized pillows. I am going to make them out of a solid color on one side, and the other side will be a Valentine print. On the other side, I am going to transfer a candid family picture, using one of the photo transfer glues that is on the market now. I know these will bring them lots of love and sweet dreams as they cuddle up with them every night! Perhaps I will give them a little container of candies and goodies on the side (in memory of the Roman festival, of course!).

Kids love to create Valentine's Day crafts too. It is another way for them to show us how special they think we are. Here are some nice sites for kids crafts: http://www.makestuff.com/hanging_hearts.... http://www.makestuff.com/tissue_valentin... and http://www.family.go.com/Categories/Acti... For the older child, try working with polymer clay. It allows for lots of "changeability" and provides lots of time to get the project "just right." Check out these sites, geared mostly toward kids, for jewelry made of clay: http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/valpins.... and http://www.family.go.com/Categories/Acti... Kids love to show us how much they love us, and that's one of the things they do best!