"Easy Valentine’s Crafts for Your Loved Ones!" by Alyssa S

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Hello! I’ll be showing you how to create three simple Valentine’s Day crafts that can be used for a friend, family member, or significant other. Here’s a quick glimpse of the three different types of crafts you can choose from:

#1: Jigsaw Popsicle Stick Photo

#2: Rose Lollipops

#3: Heart-string Plate Decoration

Remember: Simple gifts can go a long way and make an ordinary day special. Don’t forget to have fun while making your unique craft!

Craft #1: Jigsaw Popsicle Stick Photo

Supplies:

-       Popsicle sticks

-       Photo of your choice

-       Mod Podge (I used the “Glossy” Mod Podge in this tutorial)

-       Paint brush

-       Xacto knife

-       Marker or Sharpie

Steps:

1.     Print out a photo on normal printer paper. Make sure that the height of your photo does not exceed the height of your popsicle stick.

2.     Place as many popsicle sticks as you need side by side in order to match the length of your photo.

3.     Once the popsicle sticks are lined up neatly, glue on the picture on top by applying Mod Podge with the brush. Afterwards, paint on a top coat with the Mod Podge to seal your picture. Try and use as minimal and quick strokes when applying the Mod Podge to prevent the picture’s ink from smearing.

4.     After the Mod Podge is completely dry, flip the popsicle sticks over and write a message on the back (it’s easier to write while the popsicle sticks are intact and not loose). Be sure to write slowly, as the gaps between the popsicle sticks can be difficult to write over. 

5.     Once you finish writing your message, carefully use the Xacto knife to cut in between each popsicle stick and separate them. Make sure you cut slowly and evenly, as having jagged, uneven cuts can affect the photo on the other side.

6.     Scramble up the popsicle sticks and let the gift receiver solve the puzzle to find the picture. If you’d like, you can give the popsicle sticks tied up with a bow and then you’re finished!

Craft #2: Rose Lollipops

Supplies:

-       Pink & Red felt (if you don’t want to use felt, you can replace this with construction paper)

-       Hot glue/glue gun

-       Scissors

-       Lollipops

Steps:

1.     Cut the pink and red felt into several hearts (sized a little bit larger than the lollipop).

2.     Start gluing the hearts around the base of the lollipop, working your way around. You can alternate the colors or use a single color. Be sure to glue onto the paper part of the lollipop and not the actual sucker so the hot glue won’t affect the candy. 

3.     Once you finish the first layer of hearts, move your way outwards to create as many layers as you’d like. This will create the “rose” or flower-like shape.

Craft #3: Heart-string Plate Decoration

Supplies:

-       One sheet of printer paper

-       Scissors

-       Pencil

-       Paper plate

-       Hole puncher (with only one hole)

-       Pink and/or Red string

-       Tape

-       Mini clothespins (optional)

Steps:

1.     Using a sheet of printer paper, fold the paper in half and sketch half a heart. When you sketch your heart, make sure it is not bigger than the paper plate. Cut your outline of the half-heart to make a perfectly symmetric heart.

2.     Press the heart from Step 1 onto the paper plate and use the shape as a stencil, tracing the outline of the heart onto the plate.

3.     Leaving about a one-inch margin outside the outline, cut out the heart. With the hole puncher, follow the line used to trace the heart and punch holes along the line.

4.     Afterwards, connect each of the holes with string (your choice of color). Then, use a criss-cross pattern and loop the strings from hole to hole across the plate. The more random, the better!

  

5.     Once you are satisfied with your design, tape the excess string onto the back of the plate.

6.     Add a looped-string to the top, center-most hole to hang your heart as a decoration. Finished!

OPTIONAL STEP: Print out photos and attach them with mini clothespins to further embellish your craft. Extra points for memories!

I hope you enjoyed these little crafts, and hopefully the steps + pictures were easy enough to follow along with. Happy Valentine’s!

Alyssa ♡