Need Valentine's day ideas. Last year we bought hershey bars and created new wrappers for them with a valentine message. I see now hershey bars are different and no longer have the removable sleeve/wrapper so am looking for another idea.
Thanks!
Yvonne

By Marg on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 09:21 am:

My mom always got little, special gifts for holidays like Valentine's, St. Patrick's, 4th of July, etc. We didn't have much money, but when I came home from school there was always something small on my pillow.

She used to get me little pins I could wear for the holiday or lip balm.

I now have passed on the tradition because we have 3 dds.

Avon has little cute hear pins for $2.99 and I thought about some lip balm. But if I see something in the store I'll pick it up

Good luck and that is a really cute idea! Last year I "painted" their bedroom windows with messages on them so when they opened the blinds/curtains they were surprised. Of course, it if washable paint

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 09:25 am:

I always give my kids Valentine's presents too. What I am looking for is ideas for their class (so 30 little gifts)
Thanks!
Yvonne

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 09:28 am:

I used to get the girls socks, or toe socks for every occasion. They always loved that. Matter of fact, so do *I*! LOL

My sons never really cared about it, one way or another.

One thing I used to do was make a red velvet cake.....they all loved that.

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 09:34 am:

I guess I didn't word my post very well.
I am hoping to find ideas/suggestions for my childrens class ( a large group of kids) instead of just a card.

By Marg on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 10:08 am:

Yvonne, I know this may cost money, but my husband is a behavior specialist and we spend our own money for kids in his class.

Did you every try the Oriental Trading Company? You can buy in large quantities and its cheap.

www.oriental.com, I better look this up, I'm not sure of it!

By Marg on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 10:10 am:

yes, that it the correct address. They have stuff for all seasons, even crafts for kids to do. I used to buy this for girl scouts and now for dh classrooms. Good luck

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 11:09 am:

I just bought a box of the small candy canes and by twisting the bottom of the package (keeping candy canes in wrappers) and taping the top I formed a heart. It looks pretty cute! I will check out Oriental Trading Co.

By Andi on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 11:40 am:

Why not just hand out Valentines and tape a little cany bar to it? You could fill baggies with Hershey Kisses or M&M's. Maybe a Valentine Sucker.....Hope those help.

By Amyl on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 12:14 pm:

I know I don't usually post but I mad chocolate lollipops for my DD's class two years ago. you get the melting chocolate in different colors with the molds and the sticks, (we got valentine's molds) and then put a little valentine cellophane (sp) baggie and tied the bottom with red and pink ribbon, all the kids thought they were neat. This was for my DD's 1st grade class.

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 12:25 pm:

Great idea! The chocolate molds are so fun!
BUT our school only allows packaged
candy. We can't even bring in homemade cookies or cake for celebrations. The big stinker is both my kids have 25 kids in their class so I have to buy 3 dozen whatever because you can't open packages (like cupcakes that come a dozen to the box)

By Mommyathome on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 12:49 pm:

Our school has the rule "nothing homemade...everything must be wrapped" as well.

We've done the candycane heart thing and it works great. In fact, in K-mart yesterday candycanes (red and white stripe...leftover from Christmas) were only 10 cents a box. I wasn't even thinking valentines, or I would have grabbed some for DD's class.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 01:47 pm:

I was just going to chime in and suggest avoiding food treats at school due to food allergies. Both my kids have severe nut allergies and school treats are a big threat. Home baked goods are totally off limits unless I do the baking. LOL! Even packaged foods can be risky. There are some that contain undeclared allergens.

SAFE options are festive pencils, stickers and party favor type things. They don't cost much and the kids love them.

By Tunnia on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 02:04 pm:

Try the Family Fun site

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/season/specialfeature/valentines_gifts_ms/

Last year a friend of mine who had a child in my child's class made the pencil toppers for all the kids and they turned out really cute.

By Insaneusmcwife on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 02:45 pm:

I agree with Marg, oriental trading is the way to go. I was just thinking that I need to order some valentines and easter stuff for ds class.

By Kaye on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 05:22 pm:

Okay here is my idea...you have to picture it. Cut a piece of paper about the size of a small index card ( 3x5). Decorate one side just however you want (I stamp them). Then run souble stick tape (like the flat scotch type) as directed. So the tape directions, turn the undecorate side up, make it a horizontal. On the top right place tape on the right side, somewhere between half and a fourth of the top. Then place tape down the entire left side and then half of the bottom (on the left). Anyway I am sure that is clear as mud. Anyway, after it is taped you roll it up like a toilet paper tube, then squish one end together, then the other end in an opposite direction after it is filled (think sour cream container). I fill these with mints or hershey's kisses or little notes, etc. So after you have it finished, I punch a hole and tie a bow. Very cute really!