Y’all know I’m not much for crafts. They require a lot of forethought and planning, and I just usually don’t have time for all of that nonsense. However, to continue my promise to myself to only do things that bring my joy this year, I am going to attempt to replicate some of the things I keep pinning on Pinterest. Why? Well, why not?
Love Bug Valentine’s Day Craft
Most of the crafts and recipes I want to try come with easy, simple to follow instructions and require little to no extra trips to the store to buy the supplies to complete the task. Sure, that raspberry souffle with decadent chocolate ganache sounds divine and looks great in your photograph, but does it require more than 10 steps and a special trip to Whole Foods to buy whatever the heck goes into a ganache? Yeah, I won’t be doing that one.
Easy Craft for Kids
With Valentine’s Day approaching, I thought it might be fun to tackle a project the girls and I could do together. Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays I’d rather not recognize (I mean, really, it’s just a little silly and is only 2 weeks after Neil and I’s anniversary, so I just feel like it’s a bit much), but I know the grandparent’s love to get handmade gifts more than anything so I figured eh, ok. After scouring Pinterest for a few minutes, I came across several variations of a “Love Bug” craft and thought, “I could do that!” So I did.
Love Bug Craft Supplies
Here’s what you’ll need to create your very own Love Bug:
- Construction Paper
- Coloring Supplies (markers, pencils, crayons, etc.)
- Glue stick/hot glue gun (not pictured)
- Pipe cleaners
- Popsicle sticks
- Scissors (not pictured)
Love Bug Craft Directions
Here’s the most organized, stress-free way to go about creating these beauties so you don’t want to strangle your kids when you’re done:
1. Pre-cut heart shapes out of construction paper. You’ll want to cut some small and some large for a layering effect.
2. Have you kids color the popsicle sticks however they wish
3. Assist your kids in gluing the paper hearts together and then glue them onto the colored popsicle stick.
4. (Adults) Use your hot glue gun to attach the pipe cleaners. They’re heavier than paper, so a glue stick won’t work well.
5. Let your kids decorate the wings of the “love bug.” I didn’t have any appropriately themed stickers, and I was not feeling the glitter today, but you can totally jazz them up however you choose.
6. Decide if you want to attach googly eyes or not. I took a few photos with and without so you can see how they look, but I think my girls preferred the googly eyed look.
Ta-da! Instant, adorable, heartfelt Valentine’s Day gift for a friend or family member. The girls and I actually had fun doing this craft together, and no one had a meltdown while making it (winner!). What other easy crafts have you discovered for your kids? Do you have any fun plans for Valentine’s Day yet?