Unique DIY Valentine’s Day Favors
by Lindsay on February 8, 2010
This post is re-published from one I wrote in February of 2009. This is the week for Valentine’s parties at school, so I thought it may be helpful to some of you who may be scrambling to pull together some creative Valentine’s favors. Enjoy!
This year, I set out to make the cutest Valentine’s treats ever for Zack’s preschool class. You may remember that last year didn’t go so well. I think I more than made up for it this year.
While I was browsing the dollar store, I ran across some tiny little flower pots that were 3 for $1 and an idea “bloomed.” Didn’t the pots make adorable little treats?
These little flower pot treats are very simple to create. I didn’t post a tutorial before Valentine’s Day because
I’m lazy I didn’t want any of the other preschool mother’s to try to out do me. I’m just kidding. It’s really the lazy thing and the fact that I waited until the absolute last minute to put these together for Zack’s classmates.
Anyway, I think these would be equally as adorable with a flower shape instead of a heart. Can you imagine them as little treats at a little girl’s tea party or garden party? You could even do a few different flower shapes – daisy, tulip, etc – and make a little bouquet. Swoon!
Let me show you how. I gathered a few supplies from the dollar store, some from the grocery store, and a few more from around the house.
Zack and I made a pan of “Marshmallow Crispy Squares” using
this recipe, but I used Fruity Pebbles instead of Rice Krispies so that the hearts would be colorful. I cut the squares so that they were slightly larger than my heart-shaped cookie cutter (which was actually part of the favors from our wedding…let’s have a collective, “Awwwwww!”).
I lined a cutting board with foil and sprayed it with cooking spray so the treats wouldn’t stick to the foil. I then cut out the heart shapes and inserted a lollipop sticks into them.
Next, you need to put plastic coverings over the treats so they will stay fresh. You can be all fancy and buy clear lollipop bags at the craft store, or you can be like me and cut the zipper part off of a Ziploc bag. I used the snack size baggies for mine since my hearts were small, but you may need to use a sandwich size if your shapes are larger. I gathered the excess plastic at the bottom of the heart and tied it closed with a little piece of curling ribbon.
With some craft gift tags I already had on hand, I made little “Grown with Love” tags to add to the treats. If I needed to buy some at the store, I would have bought some that were smaller than this, but I didn’t really see the need to buy more since I already had these. On the back of the tags, I wrote each child’s name and Zack drew a little picture…of a straight line, which he said was a jump rope. He cracks me up.
I tied the tags onto the sticks with some curling ribbon. In hindsight, I think it would have been super cute to use green pipe cleaners to make little leaves instead. If I ever do this with flower shapes, I think that is what I will do. The ribbon was fun, though, and I don’t think you can ever have too much curling ribbon on hand. I think I have some in every color.
Next, cut a piece of floral foam to fit inside the little pot. Yes, I am the mother who uses floral foam in a craft project for 3 year olds. I am a little over the top. Just part of Living with Lindsay.
After sticking the lollipop stick into the floral foam, I added some chocolate hearts around the foam to hide it as best I could. I wasn’t able to completely hide it, but I think I hid it well enough.
That’s all there is to it! So sweet and simple. And they trump foil Lightening McQueen valentines any day of the week. Yay me!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours! I hope you get to spend the day with the people you love. Make every day count.
I’m linking this post up with Kimba’s DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land.
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Tagged as:
Children,
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holidays
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Brilliant, what a lovely idea.
What a wonderful little treat. So cute!
Too cute, but I still don't think I have the patience. I would need to make 22 for my daughter's kindergarten class. Maybe I will save this idea for her birthday when I would only have to do 6, lol.
Thanks for the idea!
Very cute! Last year I did homemade pink play dough for DD's kindergarten class. This year, I'm stumped for ideas! So far, DD and I have done a stained glass foam heart kit but I kinda wanted something more. But it's not really for me. And DD is happy with them I think. My husband thinks it would just be easier to buy a box of cards.
you are always so crafty and have fab ideas! I will steal this for my daughter's 2nd grade class, but have them make it!
What a sweet and clever way to say I Love You!
What a CUTE idea! Love it.
P.S. I'm so glad I got to meet you in Nashville, Lindsay!
Perfect idea! Thank you!!!
Liz
Loving This Mom Stuff
absolutely adorable.
i haven't been able to quite decide what i want my daughter to give this year and i love this idea!! thanks for sharing! love your blog.
Super cute idea! I always want to do something homemade, but here I am
again, 2 days from the boys' parties, with nothing. I almost resorted to the paper Spiderman valentines, so you may have just saved my children from valentine mediocrity!
Such a cute idea!
oh my word…that is so cute! what a great idea!
Super cute! 4 more years until I get to make Valentine's for my son's class… he's just barely 2
Love the Fruity Pebble pops!
And I love your hot glue gun in your signature!! So cute!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love new blogger friends. I'm your newest follower!
How cute! Loving these – even though my kiddos are too big for party treats *insert eye roll*
I love the idea – it turned out adorable.
Very cute, Lindsay. Almost makes me wish my grown kids were young again. Almost…
Maybe I can stash this idea away for when I am a super cool grandma some day.
Oh, my kids would love that. Too cute!
XOXO
Jen
SUPER DUPER CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!
Lori
thepaisleyturtle.blogspot.com
adorable !! I know what a beating it is getting 25 (or in my case 50) cards/goodies together for valentines day parties at school, and you just raised the bar!!
So, so cute! Great favor!
Adorable! Love it!
Oh, I love this idea & hope to steal it!!
I love this! I have an almost 16 yr. old so I don't have to worry about Valentine's anymore but these are so cute.