Three Ideas for Quick Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Day lends itself to crafts, especially paper ones. And they don’t have to take a lot of time to be beautiful and appropriate to the holiday.

Here are three ideas for quick Valentine’s Day crafts.

1. Candy Rings

This is a good craft for kids who want to give gifts to their class or to a group of friends. Here’s what you’ll need:

* Wrapped candies, preferably hard or chewy candies (chocolate tends to melt if left on a hand for a while)
* Hot glue
* Pipe cleaners (chenille variety)

Coil each pipe cleaner into a ring the size of a child’s finger (the easiest way is to wrap it around a child’s finger and remove it). Use the whole pipe cleaner, as you’ll need a thick base for the candy. Then hot glue the candy on top and let it dry (hot glue dries in seconds).

2. Tissue Paper Roses

You can make as many roses as you want with this craft. You’ll need more chenille pipe cleaners (or regular pipe cleaners) as well. If you like, you can twist green and brown pipe cleaners together to make a multi-colored stem. Then get:

* Pencil
* Clear tape
* Red tissue paper
* Scissors

Cut eight 3-inch squares from the tissue paper (don’t try to cut them exactly right – some variation makes the petals look more realistic) and pile them in two stacks. Use scissors to round off three of the four corners of each stack. Then lay the pencil on one of the stacks over the pointed end and roll up the edges of the tissue paper. “Scrunch” the paper a bit as you go. Then repeat with the other stack of four without removing the first roll from the pencil.

Remove all tissue from the pencil and form into a rose shape, making tighter rolls in the center and looser ones toward the outside. Leave an inch or so of tissue at the bottom and secure this by winding the pipe cleaner around it. Add another pipe cleaner by twisting it onto the coiled one, and add pipe cleaners until the stem is as thick as you like.

3. Marshmallow “Flowers”

This is a sweet bouquet! You’ll need:

* Large marshmallows
* Chocolate chips
* Crushed graham crackers, candy canes, and red candy sprinkles
* Bamboo skewers

Melt the chocolate over a double boiler and stick the skewers into the marshmallows. Dip each marshmallow into the chocolate and then roll it in one of the three coatings suggested above. Place on a waxed paper-covered baking sheet to harden. Then place them in a vase and give as a gift.

Photo Credit:  Cirofono