One of the great joys I’ve had being a Mom has been making homemade Valentine’s with my son, Cooper. He’s 15 now and it’s been a few years since we’ve made them (big sigh), so I did what any mother with over 15 years worth of photos online would do- went back into my archives for a nostalgia hit.
I’ve always tried to make Valentine’s cards as simple as possible for him because he doesn’t really like making art.
He’s left-handed and he hates writing things by hand. Doing art with me “annoys him” (at this point in life) because I get too excited to have creative time with him. I suppose it’s because I am giving him what I always wanted as a kid- art time and undivided time with my Mom. My Mom would also get too excited (enthusiastic!) about things so I guess I really am like her... I find that equally comforting as I do annoying. I am getting a taste of my own medicine and I know she’s up above smiling somewhere over that ;)
Anywho…
Here’s what we have worked on over the years:
When he was young, I would have him paint on a roll of paper to decorate it. We picked out the colors together- pink, purple, and some red.
For these cards, I cut the paper into hearts and I had him write his name on white tape.
In schools these days, kids don’t write each other’s names on the cards. It’s meant not to offend anyone. That makes it easier for kids like Cooper who freak out if they have to write down that many things on paper.
We have always enjoyed making melted crayon art together. This particular year, we made crayon art with red, purple, black, and pink crayons. We melted the crayon on index cards and I had him write on the backs.
My Mom loved Valentine’s Day.
Every year for Valentine’s Day, my Mom sent us chocolate lollipops in the mail.
They looked like this:
When she died, I was left with her chocolate molds so I carried the tradition on with his Valentine’s. I suppose carrying on her love for sending love notes + chocolate is how I keep her magic alive.
We made lollipops and I had him make his own template on paper. He cut them out and we hole-punched each tag in the right place. Attached each to the lollipop.
This was a fun year. We made crayon art AND lollipops.
Instead of having him write out his name, he typed FROM: COOPER in a cool font on my computer. We printed out labels with my label printer and stuck them on each of the cards.
We did a few store bought cards…
Always with a treat. This year I attached little packages of Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips for his valentines.
Each card got a baggie of cinnamon sugar tortilla chips.
We took it a step further the next year and I had him create a Valentine template in Procreate on my iPad.
I printed a polka dot pattern on cardstock and then on the backs, I printed out his Valentine. We cut them out together.
It was always fun to get the ones he made at school :)
I hope this inspires you to make things simple, with love.
For more Valentine’s day card inspiration, check out how I made a Ladies Craft Night making Valentine’s together.
If you need some menu ideas to Woo Your Boo, I’m here to help too!