Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day crafts can help you reduce the pressure for getting special gifts for a classroom gift exchange.
I know you’re busy, and getting things ready is one more thing to add to your to-do list. Like Easter & Halloween, you feel obligated to buy something for your children to share. In addition, you also feel guilty for creating more garbage. Or you may not even believe in this commercially emphasized event.
But as a mom, you don’t want to disappoint your children. So I want to help you reduce the pressure by providing creative solutions!
In this article, you’ll find 5 Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day gift ideas for children to make using what you already have!
5 Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Before we begin, I need to let you know that you may need to help your children. It depends on their age, but think of this as an opportunity to have quality time with your family. On top of that, creativity reduces stress. So let’s get started!
1. Origami Heart
This is one of the simplest if you have origami paper. Don’t panic! Even if you don’t have it, you can easily create one with any paper you have.
The best part of the origami heart is that receivers get to enjoy unfolding it and reading the message inside. Then they get to learn how to fold it into the heart again. Yes, your children can be their teacher! Kids love teaching others, and that makes them feel special!
Click here for How to make an origami heart with message.
2. Message Card
Now, it’s time to get rid of some of the school paper work accumulated in your closet! You’re going to create small message cards with them, and you’ll feel great by repurposing.
What you need:
- cereal (or similar) boxes
- colorful school work paper
- glue
- scissors (regular & zigzag)
Instructions:
First, cut the box into smaller sized cards. (The pieces in the picture is roughly 8cm x 8cm.) When it’s done, fold a piece of colored paper and start cutting out hearts. As you can see in the picture, you’ll cut them in rows.
Next, place a card with the picture facing up. Then start gluing hearts one at a time until whole picture is covered. Flip it over and write a message. If you want a cleaner look, trim around the edge to complete.
Tips: Once you cut out the hearts, group them by color for easy access. When you start gluing, rotate the colors for an even look. You can always add a few pieces at the end, so let your kids enjoy gluing!
3. Book Mark – Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gift
If you are looking for the easiest gift, these simple bookmarks may win! As you can imagine, it’s ideal for mass production. But it allows your children to make them all unique with bits and pieces of different items.
What you need:
- bits & pieces of scrap paper
- some hearts from the message card craft above
- scissors
- glue
- hole punch
- twine/string (natural materials)
Instructions:
Let’s gather bits and pieces of paper. For the bookmarks, scrapbook paper works well due to its variety of designs.
First, cut out some hearts like what you did in the last project. Once you have enough hearts, move on to creating the main body. I cut roughly 9cm x 15cm for a book mark, but it doesn’t have to be precise.
Then fold it into three, and make sure the edges overlap a bit. Once you have it how you like, glue it in place. Next, flip it over and glue hearts on it.
At last, make a hole and put twine through to complete. Now, your children can write a message on the back, and the bookmarks are ready for Valentine’s Day!
4. Tissue Paper Heart
Unlike the first three projects, creating a wrapping tissue paper heart takes a bit more time. But I know you and your children will both enjoy the therapeutic part of tearing paper & scrunching it up. Since it takes a half sheet of used tissue paper to create each heart, this one may be ideal for teachers and staff.
What you need:
- cereal box or similar
- used/saved tissue paper
- glue
- twine/string
- hole punch
Instructions:
To begin, fold part of a cereal box in half and cut out a heart as you can see in the first picture. Then make a hole and put twine through it and tie. Before you forget, ask your children to write a message. It’s much harder to write anything once the tissue gets glued on.
Next, flip it over and apply glue on the picture side. Then tear the tissue paper and scrunch it, and place it on the heart. Repeat the steps of tearing, scrunching, and gluing until the surface is nicely covered.
It’s definitely a special gift that your children can create with LOVE!
Tip: The size of the heart was roughly 10cm x 10cm, and it used a half sheet of the wrapping tissue. The bigger heart it is, more tissue and time it takes.
5. Medicine Bottle Vase
The last one is creating a flower vase and arrangement. Like the last project, it requires more time and materials, so it may be more suitable for teachers/staff. Or give it to the office for the school community to enjoy! And don’t forget to make one for your family!
Click here for How to turn a medicine bottle into a vase.
Reviewing 5 Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day gift ideas
What do you think of the 5 Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day gift ideas? Getting gifts ready can be overwhelming, but focus on creativity rather than consumerism. As I mentioned earlier, when you use your creativity, it reduces stress. And your children will be so proud to hand out their special gifts.
Let’s look at a couple of concerns we had at the beginning.
Do those crafts create more garbage? – No, they actually help reduce garbage because you’ll reuse/repurpose. So they’re Eco-Friendly!
Are the gifts unique & special? – Yes, since you’ll create with what you have, they are all one of a kind! And what’s better to receive than a gift someone created just for you!!
Now, I want you and your children to look for items to use for creating any of the 5 craft ideas. When you make one, please take a picture and share with us. I would love to see your children’s creations!
with Love & Care❤️
Kumiko