valentine's lacing craft

Are you looking for a fun way to work on your child's fine motor skills? With Valentine's Day right around the corner, it is the perfect time to take the opportunity to make your every own lacing activities. This is a inexpensive, fast, and easy project. I stopped by our local dollar store and picked up a pack of pre-cut foam-shaped hearts and pink and white yarn. I pulled out my hole-punch and a roll of tape. I punched holes around the edge of the heart about 2cm apart, cut a piece of yarn and taped the ends. Voila! It literally took all of two minutes to complete.

Little Miss L. loved threading the yarn though the holes and I loved the fact she was developing her fine motor skills. We need to remember that fine motor skills are the foundation children often need before they learn handwriting. Lacing activities are a great option to match with different themes or holidays.

valentine's fever

We have Valentine's fever around here. In preparation for the big day, we have been getting our bake and craft on. If you walked into our home right now, you might ask "who threw up pink and red hearts all over the place?" Everybody perceives Valentine's Day differently. In our household, we have so many things to be thankful for, and I can't think of a better way than celebrating "love day." If you are looking for a few crafts to spice up your space, check out what we have been up to...

Each month I like to have a new theme when it comes to our playdough table. This month it is all about hearts.

Little Miss L.'s favourite thing to do...heart shaped cookies.

Time to make our tissue paper hearts. Super easy to make, all you need is card stock, tissue paper, and glue.

Little Miss L. working hard.

The finished product.

Our heart-shaped mobile.

The kids loved making this Valentine garland to hang in our playroom. 

Baby D loves spending time just looking up at the pink, white, and red creation we made.

Baked Valentine's ornaments we made to hang throughout the house.

Little Miss L. loves her magnetic wall. I purchased pre-cut heart shapes out of foam at our local craft store and glued magnetic strips on the back. The kids spend countless hours making heart-shaped caterpillars and snowmen.

a valentine's gift to cherish

As you know, I am always looking for fun and easy activities to do as a family. With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought it would be the perfect time to make some homemade gifts for loved ones. I went to our local dollar store and purchased a Plaster of Paris kit (plaster & mold). Little Miss L. loved putting her hands into the cold and gooey mixture. Only a few steps involved and clean up was fast and easy. After plaster has dried over night, add your own personal touch. Paint, sponge paint, add a flower, or write a saying...really, it is all up to your imagination where there are endless possibilities!

Simple four step process!

Daddy pouring the plaster into the mold.

Little Miss L. experiencing the cold and gooey mixture. 

I love these tiny little hand-prints! Plaster must sit overnight to completely set.

The finished product. We opted to use crayons to write a loving message.

Adds a great personal touch to any room. This keepsake sits perfect on this photo stand which we had in the house already. 

valentine's day craft for the kids

Are you looking for a fun and easy craft to do with your children for Valentine's Day? Well, look no further - Little Miss L. had a blast making this candy Valentine's Day ornament.

All you need is a glue gun, Styrofoam ball, festive ribbon, and candies of your choice.  

Use hot glue gun to apply candies onto the Styrofoam ball.  For children too young to use a glue gun, get them involved by asking them to pick the candy and place the candy on the ball. Once candies are attached, apply festive ribbon.

The finished product is then hung to set the Valentine's Day mood.

Note: When using a hot glue gun around children please proceed with extreme caution.