Last-minute Valentine gifts to make with the kids - Cool Mom Picks (2024)

Even if Valentine’s Day is coming up quick, there’s still time for kids to make these last-minute craft ideas and printables to make anyone’s February 14 extra special. (Even if their sweetheart is just Dad or Mom.)

While a full school week left until Valentine’s Day may not feel “last minute,” those of us with kids who are busy with after-school activities and homework need ideas that are fun, easy, and affordable. Whether you need to decorate the front door, fun up a Valentine’s Day classroom party, or make little classroom gifts that are ready by February 14, enjoy these last-minute Valentine’s craft ideas for kids!

Also, be sure to catch our posts on the sweet, easy Valentine’s Day crafts young kids can make their BFFs and our huge list of last-minute Valentines treats that can also be great for crafty kids to hand out to classmates.

Happy Valentine’s Day crafting!

Top Image: Paper Heart Garland from Upcycled Maps | Crafting a Green World
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Valentine’s Paper Heart Garlands

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Printable Conversation Heart Banner Craft | Hello Little Home

Her free printable makes it so easy to enjoy the non-caloric version of this Valentine’s Day gift staple. You could even use the heart crafts individually as note cards for a sweet last-minute Valentine’s card from the kids for the whole family (don’t forget grandparents!) or the whole classroom.

Last-minute Valentine gifts to make with the kids - Cool Mom Picks (2)

Paper Heart Garland from Upcycled Maps | Crafting a Green World

One more variation: We love custom map artwork to mark an important place (or future vacation). Similarly, this project from Crafting a Green World lets kids make use of those old Rand McNally pages that we’ve given up in the age of GPS. If you have an old gas station map sitting around somewhere, this is the perfect craft to help kids’ make the most of it — and eco-friendly too!

Confetti Scrap Heart Craft

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Confetti Scrap Heart Craft | Moon Frye (Web Archive Link)

Whether you have a hot glue gun or just stick with a basic glue stick or rubber cement, this craft from Soleil Moon Frye’s former blog is ridiculously cute. Use tissue paper, scrapbook paper, or whatever you have. My kids would want to turn theirs into pins to wear on their sweaters as DIY jewelry. You could also glue them to card stock and fold to make handmade Valentine’s cards — or just pop one in your kid’s lunchbox with a love note on the back.

Printable Valentine’s Kiss Labels

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Printable Valentines Hershey Kiss labels | Makdoodle

As one of those moms with no time but plenty of good intentions, I love this super simple last-minute Valentine’s craft, thanks to a printable that make those little Valentine Edition Hershey’s Kisses just a bit more personal. Hand them out in cute baggies with custom labels (if you’re Camille from Makoodle) or by the handful right out of your bag (if you’re me) and you’ve got a little Valentine’s Day gift that doubles as dessert! (Or uh, breakfast in our home.)

Valentine’s Day Embroidery Art

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Heart Strung Valentines Day Embroidery for Kids | Moomah (Web Archive Link)

I would never suggest that young kids should undertake embroidery (or anything with a sharp needle) as an “easy last-minute craft idea” for Valentine’s Day, but Moomah has a tutorial that’s fairly simple for them–provided you’re crafty enough yourself to get it set up. Alternatively, skip the needle and make a DIY Lacing Card using a cardboard heart, which could be fun for preschoolers.

Of course, you can always use loads of that embroidery floss our kids have hanging around and make some DIY friendship bracelets in every shade of pink, purple, and red, too. Here are some of our favorite patterns.

Glitter Heart Necklace Craft

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DIY Glitter Heart Necklace | The Alison Show

Alison Faulkner of The Alison Show had a wonderful tutorial for this last-minute Valentine’s craft that’s perfect for our bauble-loving girls. Sadly it’s gone (sniff) but with a stainless heart pendant from Michael’s or stainless crafting charms from Amazon, it’s easy to just add glitter! Voila! Easy craft that makes fun last-minute gifts for friends or the whole family. You can also cover with stickers, beads, tiny pom-poms — whatever looks fun for your kids.

DIY Handmade Paper Flower Bouquet

Last-minute Valentine gifts to make with the kids - Cool Mom Picks (7)

DIY Handmade Paper Flowers | Dozi Designs

Our associate editor Christina made this DIY bouquet with her own kids by following the instructions, and she swears they are super easy and come out just like the pictures, even making them last minute for Valentine’s Day. (Unlike most crafts on Pinterest.) Whether you glue your paper flowers to branches, place them in a bowl or hand them out to classroom friends, scrapbook paper in fun red patterns or just simple construction paper means they’re bound to last longer than a real bouquet of flowers. Or real chocolate for that matter!

Printable Giant Heart Coloring Page or Gift Wrap

Giant Printable Valentine Coloring Page | Mr. Printables

If coloring is your kid’s thing, this free Valentine’s Day printable is a great group craft for a classroom. Or, add in a new colored pencil set and it could keep a single kid occupied long enough for you to sneak some special alone time with some of the good chocolate.

Also be sure to see our entire post on printable Valentine’s cards that kids can hand out to friends — whether they like the cute stuff, or prefer dinosaurs, robots and monsters

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Color-In Valentines Gift Wrap Printable| MinieCo

Along the lines of coloring pages, we love this DIY gift wrap that comes in three different paterns. Paint, crayon, marker — all good! It’s a wonderful way for kids to make any Valentine’s gift a little more personal, whether they made it themselves or bought an “I Love You Dad” mug from a local store.

DIY Papercraft Valentine’s Love Note

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DIY Pop-Out Valentine Love Letter | Mini Co

If your kid wants to get more crafty than printable Valentine’s cards allow (which I heavily rely on, so no judgments) this is such a neat and easy last-minute craft idea for a DIY Valentine’s Day card. Just add your own beautiful A4 paper like you would for scrapbooking, or any colorful card stock! Even if the kids scribble a name with a pencil on the envelope it will be sweet.

Valentine’s Marshmallow “Petit Fours”

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DIY Marshmallow Valentines Petit Fours | Say Yes Blog

There are so many easy handmade Valentine’s treats that kids can hand out, and this one is such a clever cheat from Liz Stanley of Say Yes. It mostly involves dipping mini marshmallows in tinted white candy melts, or white chocolate, then decorating. Hey, we’re busy! We always love a good dessert shortcut when we’re down to the wire with last-minute crafts for the kids!

Also be sure to see our post on 150+ last-minute treats, desserts, and edible gifts the whole family can make. It will be hard to pick just one!

Photo Lollipop Valentine’s Card

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Photo Lollipop Valentine Cards | DesignMom

Card meets Valentine’s treat? Why not! We remain impressed with this classic Valentine’s craft that kids can do last-minute — with just a little help from a parent. This is one card that everyone in the class will want on Valentine’s Day! And hey, if you have leftover lollipops just call them a lollipop bouquet, tie it with some ribbon, and there’s an actual last-minute Valentine’s craft right there.

“Love Rocks” Painting Craft

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DIY Painted Heart Rocks | Color Me Katie

It doesn’t get much easier than this last-minute Valentine’s craft project. I know my girls would love to have a bowl full of them on the dining room table that they could bring out every year. (If they ever let me put them away.) If your kid has a steady hand and a smaller brush or fine-tipped paint marker, paint phrases like “love rocks” or borrow from conversation hearts (QT Pi!) for a wonderful little Valentine’s gift that’s clearly handmade with love.

Tags: crafting + diy, free downloads, holiday crafts, party ideas, printables, Valentine's Day, valentine's day gifts, valentines cards

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

Introduction

As an expert in crafting and DIY projects, I can provide you with information related to the concepts used in the article you mentioned. I have extensive knowledge and experience in various crafting techniques and can help you with last-minute craft ideas for Valentine's Day. Let's dive into the details!

Last-Minute Craft Ideas for Valentine's Day

The article you mentioned provides a variety of last-minute craft ideas for kids to make Valentine's Day extra special. Here are some concepts used in the article along with additional information:

  1. Valentine's Paper Heart Garlands: Paper heart garlands are a popular Valentine's Day decoration. They can be made using various materials such as colored paper, upcycled maps, or even old Rand McNally pages. Kids can cut out heart shapes and string them together to create beautiful garlands [[1]].

  2. Confetti Scrap Heart Craft: This craft involves creating heart-shaped decorations using tissue paper, scrapbook paper, or any other materials you have on hand. Kids can use glue to attach the scraps to cardstock and fold them to make handmade Valentine's cards [[2]].

  3. Printable Valentine's Kiss Labels: This craft idea involves adding a personal touch to Valentine Edition Hershey's Kisses by using printable labels. You can hand them out in cute baggies with custom labels or simply distribute them as they are. It's a simple and sweet last-minute Valentine's Day gift [[3]].

  4. Valentine's Day Embroidery Art: While embroidery may not be suitable for young kids, there are simpler alternatives available. For example, you can create a DIY lacing card using a cardboard heart, which can be fun for preschoolers. Additionally, you can use embroidery floss to make DIY friendship bracelets in various colors [[4]].

  5. Glitter Heart Necklace Craft: This craft involves making a glitter heart necklace using a stainless heart pendant or crafting charms. Kids can add glitter, stickers, beads, or tiny pom-poms to personalize their necklaces. It's a fun and easy last-minute craft that can also be given as a gift [[5]].

  6. DIY Handmade Paper Flower Bouquet: This craft idea allows kids to create beautiful paper flowers using scrapbook paper or construction paper. The flowers can be glued to branches, placed in a bowl, or given as gifts to friends. They are a long-lasting alternative to real flowers or chocolates [[6]].

  7. Printable Giant Heart Coloring Page or Gift Wrap: This concept involves using printable coloring pages to create a group craft activity for a classroom. Kids can also use the coloring page as gift wrap for Valentine's Day presents, adding a personal touch to their gifts [[7]].

  8. DIY Papercraft Valentine's Love Note: This craft idea involves creating a pop-out Valentine love letter using beautiful A4 paper or colorful cardstock. Kids can personalize the letter and envelope, making it a heartfelt last-minute Valentine's Day card [[8]].

  9. Valentine's Marshmallow "Petit Fours": This craft idea allows kids to create adorable marshmallow treats for Valentine's Day. By dipping mini marshmallows in tinted white candy melts or white chocolate and decorating them, kids can make delicious and visually appealing treats to share with friends and family [[9]].

  10. Photo Lollipop Valentine's Card: This classic Valentine's craft combines a card with a treat. Kids can create personalized Valentine's cards by attaching photos to lollipops. It's a fun and interactive way to spread love and joy on Valentine's Day [[10]].

  11. "Love Rocks" Painting Craft: This simple craft involves painting heart-shaped rocks with phrases like "love rocks" or cute messages inspired by conversation hearts. It's a wonderful last-minute Valentine's gift that showcases creativity and thoughtfulness [[11]].

These are just a few of the last-minute craft ideas mentioned in the article. I hope you find them helpful and enjoy creating special Valentine's Day crafts with your kids!

Conclusion

Valentine's Day is a great opportunity for kids to engage in fun and creative craft activities. Whether it's making paper heart garlands, creating personalized gifts, or crafting heartfelt cards, there are plenty of last-minute ideas to choose from. Remember to involve your kids in the process and let their creativity shine. Happy crafting and Happy Valentine's Day!

Last-minute Valentine gifts to make with the kids - Cool Mom Picks (2024)

FAQs

Do parents give kids Valentines gifts? ›

Yes, giving your child a Valentine's Day card or treat is a lovely thing to do. Those who include their children in Valentine's Day tend to go all out on presents and special meals and messages of caring and kindness. "We have little presents and special dinner," says Stephanie M. "My little boy calls it Love Day."

What is the most gifted thing on Valentine's Day? ›

What are the most popular gifts to send for Valentine's Day?
  • Flowers & Chocolates. ...
  • Cook a Romantic Dinner Together. ...
  • Treasure Hunt. ...
  • Couples Activity. ...
  • Make Your Own Card.

What to make her for Valentine's Day? ›

30 Cutest DIY Valentine's Day Gifts You Can Make for Cheap
  • Snickers Bouquet. Yes, flowers are a nice gift, but bring them to the next level by literally wrapping them in candy! ...
  • Romantic Cork Board. ...
  • Photo Box. ...
  • Memories Shadow Box. ...
  • Kisses Jar. ...
  • Bath Bomb Valentine. ...
  • Heart-Shaped Bath Bombs. ...
  • Felt Heart Mobile.
Feb 5, 2020

How to make a simple Valentine gift? ›

Your take on homemade Valentine's gifts might mean an easy craft (anything heart-shaped will do), a sweet treat (think chocolates, pink candies or homemade donuts) or a DIY Valentine's Day card. Whatever your style, this roundup proves it's easier than expected to make your own presents.

Should a 10 year old have a Valentine? ›

"The holiday is perfectly OK as it's a celebration of love. Valentine's Day is an all-inclusive day that doesn't differentiate between the gender of partners."

Should dads get their daughters something for Valentine's Day? ›

It's not only appropriate; it could make for a meaningful tradition. True, it might seem odd or uncomfortable. Boys might even say, “Dad, that's weird.” But it isn't—and deep down, you know they're eating it up. What kinds of thoughtful things would a dad do for his daughter for Valentine's Day?

Do kids still do valentines in school? ›

Most teachers and etiquette experts we spoke with indicated that it is usually recommended to give every student in the classroom a valentine, especially if your child is passing them out at school.

What is the second most popular Valentine's gift? ›

Overall Spending

The most popular gifts were candy (56%), greeting cards (40%), and flowers (37%).

What is the most popular Valentine's candy? ›

Chocolate is the most popular candy for Valentine's Day for a reason. These delicious treats pair perfectly with any gift. Give chocolates alongside flowers or stuffed animals. You could also gift them as a dessert after a fancy dinner, or to go with a nice bottle of wine.

What is the best Valentines gift? ›

Everyone loves getting a big bouquet of flowers as a gift. We found 25 (non-bodega) options, including a classic rose-forward bouquet, a box of blooms that supports local growers, and a candy-pink potted anthurium that won't start wilting on February 15.

Should you celebrate Valentine's Day with your kids? ›

Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to teach children the value of expressing love and appreciation for others. Also, celebrating Valentine's Day with your children can create special memories and traditions that will last a lifetime, and these traditions can become an annual part of your family's celebrations.

References

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