Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and if you don’t find yourself ‘loving’ some of the prices you see in the stores, then check out some of my ideas for saving money on crafts, activities, and meals that both your kids and your wallet will fall for!
Crafts:
Why pay jacked-up Valentine’s Day prices on flowers that are going to die anyway when you can make your own? I save all the tissue paper that comes in gifts throughout the year and use it to make tissue paper flowers with my kids! It’s easy: take your recycled tissue paper and smooth it out flat. Cut it in half. Stack the two pieces on top of each other, cut them in half again (cut along the ‘hamburger’ side- sheets should be short and fat, not long and skinny). Accordion fold the sheets (like you would for a paper fan) and bind the middle with a pipe cleaner (this will be your stem) so it looks like a bowtie. Gently peel apart the layers of your bowtie to fluff them up into a flower. Spritz with some perfume to make it smell more authentic!
https://youtu.be/31M1zciuCz4 (Paper flower tutorial video)
Again, why pay crazy high prices for greeting cards that are going to get thrown out anyway? We cut out good old fashioned paper hearts and used marshmallows and heart shaped sponges from the Dollar Tree to paint on hearts. Add a message or a picture of the kids, stickers, stamps, hand or footprints- whatever you like and you have a personalized keepsake for the grandparents!
https://youtu.be/2h6jIqOUYcE (Paper heart cutout tutorial)
Foam fun! We raided our art closet and used foam hearts, markers, glue, and jiggle eyes to make all sorts of fun valentine’s critters- dogs, fish, butterflies, monkeys, mice, bunnies. Looking for more ideas? Steal some from Pintrest- I did!
Free coloring pages. Crayola has a nice selection this year. Plenty of coloring pages, but also a greeting card, package tags, and bingo cards!
https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/holidays/valentines-day-coloring-pages/
Cooking:
What’s more fun to eat for dinner on Valentine’s Day than a heart shaped pizza? You can whip up your own pizza dough or buy pre-made dough from Trader Joe’s. Roll out your dough, pinch the bottom into a point, dimple the top to complete the heart shape. Add sauce, cheese, and any toppings you want. Cook and taste the love!
Heart shaped cookie cutters are a dime a dozen. Whip up your favorite sugar cookie recipe, roll, cut, cook, decorate, and enjoy! Want to make it more expensive, but easier? You can buy Valentine’s Day Funfetti mix and matching frosting from Target and use it to make your cookies- just make sure you freeze your raw cut outs briefly before baking them so they don’t ooze and puff into a mess while they cook!
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9870/easy-sugar-cookies/ (Basic sugar cookie recipe)
Why not start your Valentine’s Day with some love too? These heart shaped pancakes were easy-ish to make and tasted delicious. Start with your favorite basic pancake recipe. Add red or pink food coloring. Either pour them into heart shapes, or to make life simple- make regular round pancakes and use those heart shaped cookie cutters to shape them postproduction! Add whip cream, sprinkles, fresh fruit, or chocolate chips to make them extra special!
https://www.marthastewart.com/338185/basic-pancakes (Pancake recipe)
Work Outs: Click on the links below for some kid friendly Valentine’s Day themed work outs to help burn off all those cookies, pizza, and pancakes!
https://youtu.be/OpkKIOWGR-8 (traditional work out with jumping, squats, etc)
https://youtu.be/6erW0wzHsgI (Video game-esc work out where kids have to jump over hearts)
https://youtu.be/qRmyQ1OMpdI (Fit Nation kids workout- super cute with warm up hugs and ‘cupid’ crunches)
https://youtu.be/g1l2DYCE_RA (PE with Mr. G find the gnome workout- so fun)
https://youtu.be/XxbXqVt-nNA (PE with Mr. G Cupid on the run, another fun video game style work out)
Party activities:
Got some watercolor paints and a paintbrush? If you do, then you’re all set for face painting! Even I was able to master some vague, heart shape-ish masterpieces. Just make sure you avoid the eyes!
Pin the arrow on the heart. I whipped this game up by cutting out a big paper heart from red construction paper. The arrows are popsicle sticks painted red with arrow tips and feathers also fashioned out of construction paper. Add a bandana blindfold, a couple of spins, and you’ve got instant fun!
‘Cupid egg’ hunt. I know you have piles and piles of leftover plastic Easter eggs laying around (and if you don’t- the resale shop does). I sifted through our collection and picked out the pink and purple ones and filled them with pocket change, little candies, and valentine toys from the Dollar Tree. It was too cold to hide them outside so ‘Cupid’ dropped these little ‘love bombs’ in our basement for the kids to find.
There’s no better way to wind your kids down after a long day of games and sugar than a nice, warm, Valentine’s Day themed bath. Here’s the goodies I found this year from left to right: Crayola bath paint in pink and red (red pictured on the right) courtesy of the Target dollar bin. The heart shaped sponges came from the Dollar Tree. Crayola foam soap in pink was on Christmas clearance at Walmart. Pink champagne soap and pink bath confetti were at Walgreens. Kiss and hug bath bomb was also a Dollar Tree find while the heart shaped LOL doll bath fizzer was from Walmart in the kid’s bath product section. The assorted pink and red rubber ducks came from Target’s dollar bin last year, but Oriental Trading Company has some really cute options this year too. Check out the link below and make sure you wait for free shipping!
Hope these ideas help your family spread the love this Valentine’s Day!
Cheers!
Love,
Marie
The thrifty-momcom 