I have a strong dislike for the mass printed Valentines cards that appear in every grocery and drug store every year as soon as the Christmas lights come down. They just aren’t interesting enough and, increasingly, seem to feature violent looking characters, which just doesn’t make sense when you are talking about a day dedicated to love. So in response, I’ve spent the last few years thinking up fun and kid friendly valentines that do not come out of a thin cardboard box, and this year is no different. Because my son is now old enough to work the sewing machine (teach your boys early and they’ll love it!) he’s doing most of the work this year with me serving as the supervisor and occasional paper holder. But these are also fun to do yourself and can be made out of just about any paper. Red tinted vellum or leftover wrapping paper would be excellent alternatives to waxed paper for this project.
Things you need:
Wax paper
Scissors
Sewing machine
Red or pink thread
Candies, little gifts or messages
Things to do:
1. Cut two pieces of waxed paper into a heart shape slightly larger than the gift you want to enclose. This craft works best with flattish treats such as M and M’s or Conversation hearts or simple written messages.
2. Holding the two layers together, stitch around 3/4 of the shape using a zigzag or decorative stitch 1/4 inch from the edges.
3. Without removing the paper from the machine (it helps to leave it in the down position) slip the treats or messages into the heart before stitching the rest of the way around to seal up the package.
4. Trim all of your threads before giving.
