Weaving Construction Paper Valentine Holders

It's a little early to start Valentine's projects with the kids, but we went ahead, and made our Valentine's pockets today, so the kids can take their time, and fill each other's with cards and goodies, over the next couple of weeks.

I found instructions for this craft in an Expert Village video, on YouTube. It offers pretty clear instructions, so I won't repeat them. But, each heart takes two pieces of construction paper, scissors, glue, a stapler, a ruler, and a pencil.

***Or, for a longer lasting, fabric version, check out this tutorial, at Pickup Some Creativity (thanks Chris, for the heads up about your post!).***

Weaving construction paper was too difficult for the youngest children (those under 8), but they enjoyed folding, and cutting, the paper, and with a bit of help, they all managed pretty well. It was a good chance to evaluate the young ones' cutting skills, and the older children's ability to follow multi-step directions, not to mention, my patience.

I realized after the first fold, it wasn't going to be a good group craft, so while I worked one on one, with each of them, the rest of the kids cut, and crafted Valentine's for each other. Though, I think there was more cutting, than crafting going on.

The heart shaped pockets, hang nicely on the back of their chairs, and have plenty of room for treats from each other.

It reminded me a lot of the shoe boxes we used to decorate in school, for receiving classmates' Valentines. In fact, it made me quite hungry for some frosted sugar cookies - you know, the kind with the red hots on top. Where is that room mother when you need her?

It's great to be a homeschooler.