2 Easy, Adorable Alternatives to Store-Bought Valentines

Martha Stewart

Handmade Valentines for Kids: Heart-and-Lollipop Flowers

This Valentine's Day, encourage kids to show sweet sentiments with tokens of affection that go beyond the store-bought card. With just a little TLC, colorful hearts flourish as the petals of a new flower variety --one with a lollipop center and stem.

Materials
Card stock
Construction paper
Hole punch
Scissors
Glue
Lolipop

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1. Use card stock to make a half-heart template about 3 inches high and 1 1/4 inches wide. Fold a 12-by-3 1/2-inch piece of construction paper in half vertically, and trace four half-hearts along the fold.

2. Cut out hearts; unfold.

3. Stack hearts; punch a hole 1/4 inch up from bottom. Position petals to form a flower, making sure holes line up. Secure by applying glue around holes; let dry. Write name on a petal. Insert lollipop.

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Handmade Valentines for Kids: Cupcake Goodies

This Valentine's Day, encourage kids to show sweet sentiments with tokens of affection that go beyond the store-bought card. Fill flattened cupcake liners with candy for a treat you won't have to bake. The liners' pleats nicely frame scrap-art pictures or paper hearts (we used scalloping scissors to trim some). A craft punch or paper flowers can make cute borders.

Materials
Flattened cupcake liners
Scalloping scissors
Craft punch or paper flowers (optional)
Glue
Candy
Ribbons, or paper or fabric flowers
Construction paper

1. Flatten two paper cupcake liners. Place one liner face up, and lay the other face down on top of it.

2. Lift the edge, and apply glue along a short section. Press to attach; let dry. Continue gluing in sections, leaving the last section open. Fill with candy; seal opening with glue.

3. Cut out heart or other shape from construction paper; add cut-out images, ribbons, or paper or fabric flowers, and write or stamp a note. Glue onto center.

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Divert from the norm and forget chocolate this Valentine's Day!